All Games Crash - Heating problem, or not?

[obydd]

Hi all,
My PC is crazy or reheated, I'm not sure.
When I play ANY 3D game (for example Doom3 or NFSU), after a random time (from 3 minutes to 30 minutes) the game ends without notice and the PC returns to Windows (NO Blue Screen, the system continues to work normally).
I test the same games, but opening the PC box and cooling externally the PC with a normal fan. At this way I could to play indefinitely (I test, obviously, only for one hour more or less).

This is the PC description:
Proc: P4 2.4 GHz
Mem: 512 Mb DRAM 333 MHz
Mobo: DFI NS80-EC G
Grap: ATI Radeon 9600 128MB

And about the software:
Windows XP + latest DirectX + latest Catalyst Drivers + latest MoBo drivers


With the open box test, could I discard different causes from the heat?
For example RAM issues or Drivers issues (I begin to test with the open box when I finished to update all the drivers that I could to imagine that I could update, for example I update the the MoBo drivers with the Chipset Manufacturer driver because they have a newest version of the AGP driver)?


For refreshing my system I have:
- Two Fans, one to get cold air from out the PC (front-down) and one to expulse the hot air from the PC (back-top)
- One Fan + Heatsink to refresh the Processor
- One Fan to refresh the Graphic Card

Yes, the graphic card is the cheapest version from an unknown manufacturer and without fan, only with a heatsink.
The graphic card is very similar to the card that appears in this photos:
http://www.ati.com/designpartners/me...GB_MID_RES.jpg
http://www.torica.com/products/toric...0SE_128-s.jpeg

My questions is for the experts in this kind of issues:
Could I discard any other cause for the crashes that the heat in the graphic card?
Could be another the problem that make tha games crash? Heat in the Nortbridge? in the Processor?

And, what do you think that could be the solution for this problem?
I am really happy if you put a link to the fan or the system that I coul buy to solve the problem (or a name to search in google).

Any response would be apreciated.

obydd

[krusher]

The first thing you should do is organize your cables.
This is to promote maximum air flow, which in turn will help lower your temperature.

See here...
http://www.insideproject.com/index.p...ask=view&id=56

If you need more cooling, simply google case cooler

This is one of the best...http://www.zalmanusa.com/usa/usa_index.asp

[obydd]

krusher:
I use rounded cables for the IDE connections.
My problem is: I am not sure what is the source of the heat?
Could be the ATI graphic card? Or could be another part or the PC?
I need to know the cause to work in the solution. And I do not know that test I can do to get the cause of the problem.

[krusher]

To be specific, you will need temp. readings.
This may help with narrowing it down if it's the mob...
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=337
or
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=204

if the above software does not help, then there is the hardware alternative.

for example: http://www.macpower.com.tw/products/...als/dd/dd5plus

[obydd]

OK.
With the MoBoMonitor I had can watch that: BEFORE PLAY GAMES: Temp CPU: 51 ºC Temp MoBo: 33 ºC AFTER PLAY(& CRASH) GAMES: Temp CPU: 60 ºC Temp MoBo: 34 ºC
Unfortunately, I think that my Ati card has not chip for temperature monitoring. I had tested the AtiTool without lucky.
Are this temperatures too high? Could be the problem in the heatsink of the Processor? Or with this temperatures could I discard this posibility?

Thanks.

[krusher]

If those readings are indeed accurate (or close), then the cpu needs a new hfs. The temp should be much lower when idle.

I'd start with replacing the hsf with a good copper one and don't forget thermal grease. Ideally you want to try and keep it under 60 ºC overall.

Also, check your voltage and bus speed in the bios.
Overclocking will also increase the temp.

[obydd]

Thanks krusher,
You are right, the heatsink is not well installed. I removed, put new glue (i do not know the english correct word) and install another time the heatsink. And then the temps now are:
Before Play: Proc: 47 MoBo: 32 After Play: Proc: 54 MoBo: 33.
And No crashes in the middle of the games.
I am very happy now and I thanks you very much, but I do not understand what is the reason forwhat the PC do not freeze and only crash the game returning to Windows. Misterys of the PC.
Thanks...

[migmoto007]

Originally Posted by krusher

To be specific, you will need temp. readings.
This may help with narrowing it down if it's the mob...
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=337
or
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=204

if the above software does not help, then there is the hardware alternative.

for example: http://www.macpower.com.tw/products/...als/dd/dd5plus

i dont know if this is very helpful but if you go to run and type %temp% i belive it should take you tothe temp folders.