My system locks up while playing games

C

Chris_H

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Like the title says, my system has started locking up while I'm playing games ever since it started getting warmer. I've remove one gfx card from the system to test, the system locked up, swapped the cards and tested second one, it still does the same. CPU never goes over 50 degrees C.

With both cards in the system it locks up when the gpus reach 50 degrees and with only one card in the gpu goes up to 70 (same settings as with sli) and then the fan adjusts and after about 15 minutes at 70 degrees the system locks up.

This is the mobo I've got: http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=114208.0

Anyone think I need to chuck it and get a new one? My guess is that those components between the first two PCI-e slots are getting too warm? I've taken the cover off of the box and have two large fans blowing air over the cards.

Ps. my PSU is rated for SLI with 290GTXs in SLI so it has enough power.
 
U should increase it both to 100% just to make sure its the temps that f-ing it up.

U sure its not the PSU getting too hot? ;)
 
Nameite said:
U should increase it both to 100% just to make sure its the temps that f-ing it up.

U sure its not the PSU getting too hot? ;)
Click to expand...

I have increased both to 100% and it doesn't make a difference (except for the moerse noise lol). I have never actually thought of checking the PSU for heat problems... how will I go about doing that?
 
Would have really been useful if the mobo had onboard VGA to see if it locks up with that activated :)
 
It happens with the more graphics intense games... for instance:
Call of Juarez = 5 minutes till lockup
Farcry 2 = 5 minutes
Crysis < 5 minutes
Guild Wars = never freeze unless system already hot and then only after about 15 minutes... Thought it might be the heat generated by the cards but it can actually be the PSU overheating from the extra power required by the cards...
 
What about the PC's ram, run some memory tests on it... The nVidia cards from the 8 series and up all run damn hot anyway. the 8800GT would easy hit 90C in crysis. So I managed my GPU temps with rivatuner. Still use it on my GTX280. My Temps peak at about 60 on the GPU.

As for your PSU, exactly what have you got? If you are running GTX260's in SLI, I would reckon you need minimum 700-1000w PSU and a good brand name one with good amps on the 12v rails.

Edit: according to this http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html looks like 900-1000w is the average.
 
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IRG said:
What about the PC's ram, run some memory tests on it... The nVidia cards from the 8 series and up all run damn hot anyway. the 8800GT would easy hit 90C in crysis. So I managed my GPU temps with rivatuner. Still use it on my GTX280. My Temps peak at about 60 on the GPU.

As for your PSU, exactly what have you got? If you are running GTX260's in SLI, I would reckon you need minimum 700-1000w PSU and a good brand name one with good amps on the 12v rails.

Edit: according to this http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html looks like 900-1000w is the average.
Click to expand...

I've done numerous memtests on the system to make sure. They all pass, even testing cpu runs fine for hours. The PSU is 750w Inwin Commander, it has got 4 12v rails dedicated at 18Amps each, each 260GTX uses two rails and a max of 6amps and 75w per rail I believe so I have more than enough amps and I am left with 450W power for my mobo, cpu and 2 HDDs...
 
From nVidia for the stock 260...

Thermal and Power Specs:
Maximum GPU Temperature (in C) 105 C
Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 182 W
Minimum System Power Requirement (W) 500 W
Supplementary Power Connectors 6-pin x2

So in high demand resolution games, you will be sucking 364W from that 750...

Edit: http://www.guru3d.com/article/in-win-commander-750w-psu-review-test/1 OK so that is more than enough for the 2X GTX260.
 
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Ok, lets say the PSU is too weak for two cards at max performance, why is the same thing happening with only one card at a time?
 
Easy check is to swap out psu and see if it still happens. PSU could be on the way out (nvr heard of that make)
 
Chris_H said:
Ok, lets say the PSU is too weak for two cards at max performance, why is the same thing happening with only one card at a time?
Click to expand...

Dude .. after reading the performance test on that PSU - they ran two GTX295's on it and OC'd the CPU - Nothing wrong with your PSU!! I'm thinking CPU or Mobo right now. What does your CPU go up to in temp?
 
IRG said:
Dude .. after reading the performance test on that PSU - they ran two GTX295's on it and OC'd the CPU - Nothing wrong with your PSU!! I'm thinking CPU or Mobo right now. What does your CPU go up to in temp?
Click to expand...

CPU idle about 40, peak never goes higher than 55.
 
Chris_H said:
I have increased both to 100% and it doesn't make a difference (except for the moerse noise lol). I have never actually thought of checking the PSU for heat problems... how will I go about doing that?
Click to expand...

Well do this, just touch the psu on the top during intnesive gaming to see if its hot.

Then check if the fan speeds up, any dust inside on the fan etc. The heat from ur cards and cpu normally passes thru the PSU then out the system, so if all ur other temps are normal then psu overheating is the next most likely thing.

If u can get some more airflow in the case, like a few more 12cm fans that may help a bit.
 
what about the NB chipset?

does it have a fan on it?

I know when it comes to summer my pc runs a bit hotter, and used to have an issue with my NB chipset.

your could fry eggs and bacon on that thing! The "optional" clip on fan that came with was a piece of crap, and I swapped it out for a 80mm zalman

problem solved, even in the middle of summer!
 
HTC_guy said:
what about the NB chipset?

does it have a fan on it?

I know when it comes to summer my pc runs a bit hotter, and used to have an issue with my NB chipset.

your could fry eggs and bacon on that thing! The "optional" clip on fan that came with was a piece of crap, and I swapped it out for a 80mm zalman

problem solved, even in the middle of summer!
Click to expand...

I think it is the NB sitting between the two pci-e slots, it is connected to a heatsink... http://img181.imageshack.us/i/p7nsli1pd4.jpg/
 
What I was meaning with the onboard GFX is that it could be your memory. I know you are really thinking it's your heat but those temperatures are just fine. Games obviously plough through a lot more memory than a normal application, so it could just be that. You may just be lucky with Guildwars :)
 
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