Computer constantly freezing while gaming

dhende917 · **Computer constantly freezing while gaming -** 08-15-2012, 05:50 | posts: 5

Hi, first off I'm pretty much a noob at computers so bear with me. I recently built my own computer. It works like a dream except that games sometimes freeze my computer causing me to do a hard restart. Sometimes it does a grey screen of death and sometimes it just goes blank. I've read many forums and it seems like it's a problem with my video card. I have a Radeon HD 7850 working at factory settings (975 coreclock/1200memclock MHz). I have read over and over to try and reinstall my drivers using Driver Sweeper in Safe mode and then reinstalling. I tried installing Catalyst 12.4, but the problem persisted so I just went ahead and reinstalled 12.6 again. After all that the problem still persists. Actually it has gotten worse. At first the problem only occured in Star Wars: The Old Republic, still allowing me to play countless hours of Crysis and Skyrim. But now it has started freezing in Crysis. In my noobish head I'm haboring thoughts that I may have royally screwed my computer trying to fix this issue (I reinstalled the drivers like 5 times). Should I try lowering my clock settings? I've also heard that reseating the GPU may help the problem. Any suggestions??

DerSchniffles · 08-15-2012, 06:14 | posts: 757 | Location: Washington

What kind of PSU is that? Its looking a little low. How are your temps while you are gaming? CPU and GPU.

dhende917 · 08-15-2012, 06:31 | posts: 5

CPU temps are high 50's low 60's and GPU is high 50's

dhende917 · 08-15-2012, 06:34 | posts: 5

Oh and here's a link to the PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151093

The Goose · 08-15-2012, 07:00 | posts: 1,274 | Location: shropshire,UK

is your motherboard bios up to date,what cpu cooler are you using(over tightening cpu cooler screws can cause issues) and what thermal paste have you used,what case cooling do you have,maybe motherbord temps causing issues

please provide full list of specs

dhende917 · 08-15-2012, 07:42 | posts: 5

Found that my bios was a little outdated. I'm just using the cooler and thermal paste that came with the cpu(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116506). I have two intake fans and one out, along with the fan in the psu. I have checked my motherboard temps while gaming and they rarely go above high 20's. I'm currently trying to download the bios update but I'm having a little trouble. I have the download and extracted the CAP into a flash drive. What now?

Again sory for being a noob

dhende917 · 08-15-2012, 07:49 | posts: 5

Also tried to download BIOS updater but it said that I didn't have an ASUS motherboard which is definitely wrong

Veteran · 08-15-2012, 08:15 | posts: 7,405 | Location: United kingdom

Go into start menu type cmd to get the cmd box up.
Once the box is up type sfc /scannow (press enter)

This wil now run through a scan to see if any of the system files are corrupted,this can also cause hardfreeze in gaming.

It could also be you ram,your gpu driver,psu or you pc is overheating althougth when cpu overheats you normally get throttling but it can stll cause a hardfreeze depending on hardware.

bonob · 08-15-2012, 10:12 | posts: 328 | Location: France

you can also check out the event viewer of windows.

krispy378 · 08-16-2012, 22:31 | posts: 62 | Location: PA, USA

Sounds like a software thing to me... Grab a spare HDD and install a fresh Windows and see if you can replicate the issue. If you cant, it is a software thing most likely. (Improper shutdown, file corruption etc...) Low 60's for the CPU seems kind of high though... Just my opinion. Good luck

P.S. Why does everybody appologize for being a NOOB? Weren't we all ?

---TK--- · 08-16-2012, 22:34 | posts: 14,735 | Location: New Jersey, USA

I would run p95 blend max memory for a few hours

krispy378 · 08-16-2012, 22:41 | posts: 62 | Location: PA, USA

Light bulb moment ! Also, check your CPU heatsink retention mechanism screws etc... I am not an Intel guy, mostly AMD, but I have socket 775 experience and if the newer sockets use a similar retention design to the 775 socket, I have found it very easy to improperly seat the heatsink with too little tension/force applied. The plastic clips and locking screws seem to be somewhat flexible and weak for such a required clamping force, whatever that may be. (JMO) Check if it is too loose and make sure the thermal paste is properly applied too. Just about any CPU thermal paste will work too . . .

krispy378 · 08-16-2012, 22:44 | posts: 62 | Location: PA, USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ---TK---

I would run p95 blend max memory for a few hours

I agree. Isolate as much good/bad hardware as possible, then go to the software. Memory does degrade cumulatively, especially if it is bad to begin with. Also, CPU cache needs to be disabled for the mem testing yes?

---TK--- · 08-16-2012, 23:08 | posts: 14,735 | Location: New Jersey, USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by krispy378

I agree. Isolate as much good/bad hardware as possible, then go to the software. Memory does degrade cumulatively, especially if it is bad to begin with. Also, CPU cache needs to be disabled for the mem testing yes?

that would be testing the cpu and memory

saud1 · 08-18-2012, 18:48 | posts: 63 | Location: Saudi Arabia

go to run then type msconfig <<<enter
under general tab click on normal start up
give this a try it might help