Computer Keeps Crashing While Running SH3

[Subnuts]

I seem to be having the worst luck with SH3 these last couple days...

I'm running SH3 v 1.4 with GWX and no other mods. I can start a new mission or campaign or mission just fine for up to 20 minutes, and BAM, it happens. My computer just shuts completely down, and I'm staring at a "no signal" message on my monitor. I uninstalled SH3 and GWX and reinstalled both, making sure all traces of the original were removed from my PC. Same problem again. I'm not getting this problem with any other programs on my machine, so I'm assuming it just hates SH3. Anyone have any ideas of what might be going on here?

I swear, when I get a new computer, it's not going to have Vista installed. It's as gamer-friendly as a kick in the crotch.

[L_DOG]

maby your cooling fans need cleaning ?

[Gerald]

I seem to be having the worst luck with SH3 these last couple days...

I'm running SH3 v 1.4 with GWX and no other mods. I can start a new mission or campaign or mission just fine for up to 20 minutes, and BAM, it happens. My computer just shuts completely down, and I'm staring at a "no signal" message on my monitor. I uninstalled SH3 and GWX and reinstalled both, making sure all traces of the original were removed from my PC. Same problem again. I'm not getting this problem with any other programs on my machine, so I'm assuming it just hates SH3. Anyone have any ideas of what might be going on here?

I swear, when I get a new computer, it's not going to have Vista installed. It's as gamer-friendly as a kick in the crotch. and you should make an upgrade, I would choose Windows 7 before Vista.What has occurred can be memory related, what are your other PC spec. :hmmm:

[Pisces]

maby your cooling fans need cleaning ?I think so too. It must be a power issue or temperature fail-safe.

[Jimbuna]

I think so too. It must be a power issue or temperature fail-safe.


Agreed...especially when considering the time aspect :yep:

[HW3]

Yes it is definitely a heat/cooling related issue.:yep:

[pickinthebanjo]

Processor hit it's max thermal limit and shut itself down to prevent the cores from burning. If your running an Intel chip download this -http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1691/mirrors.php if it's AMD use this one instead - http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/Core-Temp-setup.exe

Run those while running prime95 and watch your temperatures climb. If they go above 80 degrees you have to either get a better heatsink/air cooler or clean your old one and apply some new thermal compound.

It's a simple process really, shouldn't take more than an hour

[Subnuts]

I installed the CoreTemp program that pickinthebanjo recommended and decided to go for a trial run. I was at 45 degrees when the main menu loaded, 46 degrees when the U-505 mission started, 47 degrees when I came under attack by one of the DDs, and 49 degrees after the first depth charge run. My computer konked out shortly after a second spread a couple minutes later.

I'm running a 2.33 GHz Intel Q8200 Quad Core, 8 Gb of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics card. I used to be able to play SH3+GWX for hours on end without my PC SCRAMing itself. I've never had this problem with any other program. I think my machine is just trying to detoxify myself from my naval warfare addiction! :nope:

Edit: Just found out that my machine is notorious for overheating/shutdown problems that can be remedied by installing proper fans. Go figure!

Another Edit: Checked Real Temp a few minutes ago, and my GPU temperature was hovering around 70! Eight minutes later, and it's still hovering around 65-67, and I'm just running Firefox with two tabs open. I think my graphics card is the issue, not my CPU. Either way, I'm going to call up my Brother In Law and see if he wants to do some computer surgery next week. If I don't get some proper ventilation going in this thing, my Nvidia card is going to go belly up.

[timmy41]

yup, heating issue.
clean it out, then clean it again. then take off the side and have a fan blowing in while you play like i do :P

[Svendog]

Hi Subnuts, If the cooling upgrades don't fix things have a look at the power supply. I had a similar problem while running the psu that came with my case, I upgraded it for a decent quality 600 watt unit and it solved the problem. Best of luck, Sven.:salute:

[Gerald]

I installed the CoreTemp program that pickinthebanjo recommended and decided to go for a trial run. I was at 45 degrees when the main menu loaded, 46 degrees when the U-505 mission started, 47 degrees when I came under attack by one of the DDs, and 49 degrees after the first depth charge run. My computer konked out shortly after a second spread a couple minutes later.

I'm running a 2.33 GHz Intel Q8200 Quad Core, 8 Gb of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics card. I used to be able to play SH3+GWX for hours on end without my PC SCRAMing itself. I've never had this problem with any other program. I think my machine is just trying to detoxify myself from my naval warfare addiction! :nope:

Edit: Just found out that my machine is notorious for overheating/shutdown problems that can be remedied by installing proper fans. Go figure!

Another Edit: Checked Real Temp a few minutes ago, and my GPU temperature was hovering around 70! Eight minutes later, and it's still hovering around 65-67, and I'm just running Firefox with two tabs open. I think my graphics card is the issue, not my CPU. Either way, I'm going to call up my Brother In Law and see if he wants to do some computer surgery next week. If I don't get some proper ventilation going in this thing, my Nvidia card is going to go belly up. which I replied that it could be memory or similar,although it is now a heat problem with cooling, so is the temperature of the environment Also important.

[stoneys-nutz]

Try reseating the CPU with new thermal paste before buying more fans or getting too involved, its an easy quick fix to do.

[pickinthebanjo]

Try reseating the CPU with new thermal paste before buying more fans or getting too involved, its an easy quick fix to do.

usually a sure fire way to drop 10 degrees :up:

[Pisces]

usually a sure fire way to drop 10 degrees :up:If you don't make the thermal paste layer too thick. It really should be only to fill up scratches and grinding patterns. Try to make it more of a thin film rather than a layer

[Hans Uberman]

Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRRWbQUqW1Y&feature=fvw) is a video of one of the methods for applying thermal compound.

[pickinthebanjo]

then there is always this - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/GoodAtIt/DSC_0148.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/GoodAtIt/DSC_0150.jpg
winter is coming

[timmy41]

LOL thats ridiculous, why not just put the computer at the window?

[K-61]

I like Zalman thermal compound. It is a liquid and comes in a bottle with an applicator brush, just like nail polish. It's very easy to apply a thin layer evenly and precisely with the brush.

[pickinthebanjo]

LOL thats ridiculous, why not just put the computer at the window?

thats exactly what I thought when I seen it, but I do like the idea

[pickinthebanjo]

Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRRWbQUqW1Y&feature=fvw) is a video of one of the methods for applying thermal compound.

:yeah: Same video I used when I was applying it on my CPU for the first time

[pickinthebanjo]

just took my own advice and cleaned off the heatsink on my cpu. Dropped 10 degrees off core 2 and almost 20 off cores 1,3-6

[BilgeMatt]

heh as I demonstrated in my recent 'stuttering' thread. And yeah Pickin, I think I mistook your post for being the person who actually had used the dryer hose method! :)

Fwiw, I've always had good luck with Arctic Cooling CPU coolers. They tend to be a bit big, but are aimed at efficient cooling with minimal noise. They're well-made and easy on the wallet compared to the big names. And hey, like those u-boat thingies...they're German! edit: d'oh now i remember! They SPEAK German ... the hq is in Switzerland :-)

Also, in my recent scrambling for cool, I came across this article that runs tests on 22 different thermal pastes. While I'm not one to get into the minutiae of one thermal compound vs another, this writeup did make me go 'hmm'. :hmmm: Seems like diamonds are the next big thing :know:
http://hardwarelogic.com/articles.php?id=5379
(http://hardwarelogic.com/articles.php?id=5379)
"After a visit to Newegg.com (and spending $85), I have more syringes than Amy Winehouse." :haha:

[pickinthebanjo]

Fwiw, I've always had good luck with Arctic Cooling CPU coolers. They tend to be a bit big, but are aimed at efficient cooling with minimal noise. They're well-made and easy on the wallet compared to the big names. And hey, like those u-boat thingies...they're German! edit: d'oh now i remember! They SPEAK German ... the hq is in Switzerland :-)

Also, in my recent scrambling for cool, I came across this article that runs tests on 22 different thermal pastes. While I'm not one to get into the minutiae of one thermal compound vs another, this writeup did make me go 'hmm'. :hmmm: Seems like diamonds are the next big thing :know:
http://hardwarelogic.com/articles.php?id=5379
(http://hardwarelogic.com/articles.php?id=5379)
"After a visit to Newegg.com (and spending $85), I have more syringes than Amy Winehouse." :haha:


I just ordered an A70 off Newegg for about $50, I will have to grab some good thermal compound so this article is quite usefull thanks, though I will have to read it when I get back from work

[Herr-Berbunch]

You could always use fans instead of a case...

http://www.geekologie.com/2007/11/26/cooling-mod.jpg

Or force some air in with...

http://www.picshag.com/pics/092009/leaf-blower-cpu-cooler.jpg

[pickinthebanjo]

I like that "fan case" I've seen alot of stuff but never anything like that

[Jimbuna]

Why the need for all the fancy high-tech gadgetry?

Simoly follow my example and leave a small ventilation gap around strategic parts of the casing :smug:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1803/knackeredpc.jpg

[Gerald]

:haha:

[Draka]

Man, in all my years as IT I have NEVER seen anything like that - does it actually RUN??!!??

[Jimbuna]

Man, in all my years as IT I have NEVER seen anything like that - does it actually RUN??!!??

As good as the day I built her :smug:

[flag4]

Why the need for all the fancy high-tech gadgetry?

Simoly follow my example and leave a small ventilation gap around strategic parts of the casing :smug:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1803/knackeredpc.jpg

...i recognise this photograph: a fine example of mid-life crisis. except my tape snapped a couple of years ago. hooold oon - its comiiiing!!

[pickinthebanjo]

yeah, it looks as if someone beat that thing bad :haha: but whatever works I guess.

[K-61]

Why the need for all the fancy high-tech gadgetry?

Simoly follow my example and leave a small ventilation gap around strategic parts of the casing :smug:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1803/knackeredpc.jpg

Amateur! Every good Canadian knows the real solution is duct tape. :O:

[Gerald]

This image above is taken from the U.K high-tech works, and these products are available in most of them home in England, :O: