Freezing Up - suggestions?

[REP0MAN]

Skuzzy and the gang,

My PC has presented me a unique problem. It works like a champ on everything I do. Internet browsing, school work in Word and everything else, except.....

when I get into AH2, I have no trouble until I actually get into the game. Then a few seconds and FREEZE. Locks the whole system up, have to hit reset button.

Same with COD2. I can get through the graphic intense game start but as soon as I get into the actual game, FREEZE. Locks the system up, have to hit reset.

I'll post the dxdiag in a bit but system specs are below.

1.3 AMD Celeron
ASUS MB
Nvidia G-Force 4 64MB
512 MB RAM

I know this system is low on resources. Keep in mind, this system has worked absolutely perfect for both games up until this past weekend. No changes to my system. No updates or driver changes before the issue started. Have updated VC, SC and a few peripheral drivers since the problem started.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

[4deck]

Sounds like your memory may be going bad on your video. Too me its sounds of a hardware failure, or possible disk corruption of a file, that is shared by both games. When it locks up, Im assuming you have no way to get back to windows.

[Speed55]

Maybe call the housekeeper to give it a good cleaning?

Something might be overheating..  just a possibility.

[REP0MAN]

It IS dirty but why would it only act up in the game(s)? It does it at the same point, every time, in both games. Could a thorough cleaning help the issue?


4Deck, no, there is no way to get back to Windows (that I've found). I, too, am leaning towards a hardware issue. I was thinking VC Memory as well.  A further question in that respect; why wouldn't the PC freeze in the same fashion during the dxdiag video tests? Is there a way that I can test the VC card in order to pin point the issue?

Thanks for the help gents. It is very appreciated.

[The Fugitive]

opening sequence in a game is just a video. The game itself is more draining than a video, that may be why it freezes after it launches the game part of the game.

Heat can crush a video card, and a 64 meg card is on the low end as it is, so it won't take much to drop it out. Clean out your computer box. You can get cans of compressed air, or co2 and "blast" the crud out of the box. Check to make sure all the fans are running and the air is moving well. If the computer is in a closed in space, add a bit off warm weather and a dirty box and you can have heat problems all of a sudden.

You can get a free program to monitor the heat in your box (google it). You can also get a "benchmark" program that can push your video to to see if its holding up under pressure. Compairing benchmarks will tell you how well your card preforms against others that are posted.

[REP0MAN]

Thanks Fugitive.

Which "Benchmark" program do you recommend?

The PC case is open, as in no sides, and is in an open area under my desk. It does generate heat. We can feel about a 5-10˚ difference in the room temperature from the other rooms of the house when the PC is on.

It will be clean as a whistle by morning.

Thanks again for the help.