Game Suddenly Freezes

[Dalva]

Well here is the problem:

 

When I'm playing Fo3 for like 10 minutes, The game just suddenly Freezes for a few seconds, Often is just restarts my PC. If it didn't restart the PC, there's some strange rainbow artifact or a complete black texture replacing the original Object Textures Ingame. Sometimes it even fill the whole screen with random triangular artifacts. I have this issue since the first time I install Fo3.

 

At first I'm thinking maybe a CPU Temp Problem. so i open the heatsink, and i see the Thermal Paste has solidifies. so i change it with Toothpaste. Then when i test it, i gained 10C Lower in temperature. But the problem still exists. Then i tried Reinstalling Windows, since my windows seems to be Infected with Virus. It runs very slow at Windows Interface, but still flawless when playing game. After i reinstalled windows and Fo3, The Windows itself runs faster, but the Fo3 issue still exists.

 

Now, I'm thinking about the GPU is the one that overheats. But when i see the thermal paste, it's still feels like a gel. so i keep it that way. but when I check the temperature and run a benchmark using OCCT Perestroika, I see the GPU temperature reaches around 110C at full load and it shows 3 errors at the Log. Then i do some research to find out that overheating GPU tends to create Artifacts like that.

 

Am i right that this issue caused by the GPU overheat Or is it some bug-in-the-game?

Is there any way to solve this problem?

Any kind of help will be appreciated.

 

I use Intel Celeron D, Nvidia GeForce 6200 and 1.5 GB or RAM

Note: I know it's under the minimum system requirement for Fo3 specified at the description, but Upgrading PC is not an option.

oh and i didn't Overclock the Hardware

This might seems to be an off-topic question, since it's more Hardware-relevant than Fo3-relevant. But since i only have this issue on Fo3, i ask here.

[bben46]

This sounds like a power supply problem. Many off the shelf big name computers (Dell, HP etc) have marginal power supplies to begin with. If you add a new video card, they will not be able to supply enough power. This causes low voltages when the video card is working hard. When the voltages drop, the card heats up, the fans run slower and you will see the video artifacts. When the 5 volts get low enough, the computer will reset. Sometimes you can hear the fans change speed.

 

Using toothpaste instead of thermal past is a bad idea. Toothpaste has a very fine grit for cleaning, and NO thermal transfer at all. One purpose of the thermal paste is to create a smooth surface by filling in microscopic scratches in the surface to allow better heat transfer. The grit will prevent this.

 

Use alcohol on a clean soft cloth to clean the toothpaste off of your heatsink. when you think it is completely clean, clean it again.

 

I think Radio Shack (or just about any electronics parts place) will have a small tube of real heat sink compound that will work much much better. Use just barely enough to coat the surface with a VERY thin coat. A thick layer of heatsink compound is worse than not enough. If compound oozes out around it when you press the chip down, you have too much on it.

 

110 degrees C is way too hot. I'm surprised it hasn't failed yet at that temp. You should be smelling something, and some plastics will start to melt.

 

Check your video card fan. make sure it is turning. check the air channels in the video card - clean out the dust. Make sure you have good air flow to and away from your video card fan.

 

Case fans in the front of the case should blow IN while case fans in the back and top should blow OUT. Make sure none of the case fans are clogged with dust and all are working.

[roquefort]

Using toothpaste instead of thermal past is a bad idea.

 

As an electronics tech, I'd say that was not just a bad idea, but the craziest one I've ever come across :whistling:

[Smosh]

Well here is the problem: I know it's under the minimum system requirement for Fo3 specified at the description

 

That right there should tell you all you need to know.

[Dalva]

Toothpaste is bad? i do some research and sees that Toothpaste is a good Temporary Thermal Paste replacement. Since im still looking for the real Thermal Paste, so i just use Toothpaste temporarily.

 

Then, for the power supply, is it a bit strange that i only got this problem in Fo3? i mean, if i play CoD4 with max settings, it never artifacts, restarts, or do something like that. and the Fan spins at steady rate. i cannot hear any speed reductions.

 

and for the cooling problem, i already open up the casing and place a big fan outside it.

 

For the radio stuff, what you mean by "Radio Shack"?

 

then, the Heatsink is already very clean. still, the temp hovers around 110. Yet no plastic melts. (damn my GPU is tough! :P)

 

yea it's under the minimum reqs, but upgrading is still not an option.

[roquefort]

Toothpaste is bad? i do some research and sees that Toothpaste is a good Temporary Thermal Paste replacement. Since im still looking for the real Thermal Paste, so i just use Toothpaste temporarily.

 

Then, for the power supply, is it a bit strange that i only got this problem in Fo3? i mean, if i play CoD4 with max settings, it never artifacts, restarts, or do something like that. and the Fan spins at steady rate. i cannot hear any speed reductions.

 

and for the cooling problem, i already open up the casing and place a big fan outside it.

 

For the radio stuff, what you mean by "Radio Shack"?

 

then, the Heatsink is already very clean. still, the temp hovers around 110. Yet no plastic melts. (damn my GPU is tough! :P)

 

yea it's under the minimum reqs, but upgrading is still not an option.

 

Radio Shack is the name of an American chain of suppliers of electronic stuff. http://www.radioshack.com/home/index.jsp

 

However, any electronics supplier should have heatsink compound. It comes in a tube and isn't expensive ;)

[Dalva]

i have figured out the problem. after logging GPU temp when playing Fo3, the PC restarts if the temp is too high. now i always play with aircon on and external fan at full speed. makes temp goes down to around 60-70, and no lags/restarts.

 

thanks for all your help