screen blacks out while playing different games

Darkdrium SG

Comp :

E6600 2.4 GHz

2GB RAM

8800GT 512MB

Problem : While playing games, doesn't matter which game. My screen will black out half way later. I had this problem 3 weeks ago where I can't turn on my computer, the screen is just blank, my old card was 8800GTS 640MB, then I sent my computer to repair, they said the card was spoilt and then changed a new one, 8800GT.

I got back my computer then, I could boot up, play games, but then half way later. My screen would black out but I still can hear sounds from my speakers, but the sound is frozen if you get me.

I last week sent my computer to repair again, they changed the power supply just incase. Got back my computer, but still got the same problem. Did a full format, still black screen.

It can't be my RAM as I changed it on July, cause that time I keep getting BSOD and it was my RAM.

Any ideas what is causing it?

NOTE : This only happens if I am playing games.

tripsky SG

update your card driver..?

Anonymous User SG

i was gonna say try bumping up ur clk & mem speed, but since u still got warrantly, dont.

had somewhat of the same problem as you, screen goes berserk half way during games, ati helpdesk gives weird answers, so i just bump up the speed try try... but it works. apperently my gpu is unstable below certain speed...

could happens to yours too...

check ur speed, clk should b 600mhz, mem 900mhz (1800 DDR)...

Darkdrium SG

Thanks for the reply.

It could be the speed, but may I know how to check the speed?

Anonymous User SG

Can use GPU-Z:

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

Almost forgot, ur problem could also be heat-wise too. Does ur casing have good air-flow?

Darkdrium SG

I downloaded that program, here is the speed.

http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gpunh9.jpg

And about the heat thing, I don't really know about it.

I tried removing the casing and play, it will still crash.

I will try to change monitor soon.

If it doesn't work, my 8800GTS is sent to repair, when I get it back I will test with it.

Anonymous User SG

How old is ur monitor? does the whole comp hang when ur screen goes black?

Ur gpu speed is good though, nothing wrong wif that...

Any recent upgrades u made before tt problem started?

Darkdrium SG

My monitor is 1 years old, my uncle gave it to my only last year June.

It's an Acer AL2017.

And the recent upgrade is this card.

I changed it because my 8800GTS was screwed up.

That time when I was on my 8800GTS (the last time), playing game.

My screen suddenly black out. Then I turned off the computer and

try to boot up again, I can't boot up. So I waited awhile, I could boot up

and start Windows. But after awhile my screen will blackout.

Then I can't boot up already. The casing has light but the monitor is just blank.

I sent to repair, they changed to 8800GT.

I could boot up and play as stated at the top.

But only it will black out when playing games.

MyPillowTalks SG

i believe is the card's fault

or application crash halfway

crimsontactics SG

mind telling us what games you are playing?

Darkdrium SG

I play different games,

Here are the list of games that crash :

Natural Selection (Half-Life mod) - This is the worst one, I won't last more than 5 mins in that game. My screen would black out before then.

GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas - This 2 games, the crash is random, sometime I can last long and sometime it will crash early.

Games I play, so far didn't crashed :

The Sims 2

STALKER

Anonymous User SG

PSU what power rating? but since u sent it for repair before, it wont be too important.

Mother board model leh?

If u can, try unplugging the card and use the intergrated graphics to run GTA. That will determine which is the problem.

crimsontactics SG

I play different games,

Here are the list of games that crash :

Natural Selection (Half-Life mod) - This is the worst one, I won't last more than 5 mins in that game. My screen would black out before then.

GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas - This 2 games, the crash is random, sometime I can last long and sometime it will crash early.

Games I play, so far didn't crashed :

The Sims 2

STALKER

Or you can simply try to reduce the quality of the image to as low as possible. It may work.

Darkdrium SG

How do I do that? The integrated graphics.

I'm sorry but I'm not expert at computers.

@ crimsontactics

I will try that, thanks.

Midlusionz SG

What's your power supply? For 8800GT to run smoothly i think it need 550w if i am not wrong .. another issue might be your motherboard.. My old P3 had this problem b4 except it die after a few crashes =(

Darkdrium SG

My power supply is 750w.

And for my motherboard, my dad say if it were my motherboard. My computer would be dead by now.

I don't really know, I'm not an IT expert, and my motherboard is a P35-DS3R.

MyPillowTalks SG

750watts is enough, im running my 3870x2 using that

mobo died does not mean everything died.

Integrated graphics means the graphic(DVI, VGA,HDMI) output on the motherboard itself, not the graphic output on the graphic card. Before that, does your P35 have onboard graphics? gaming motherboards usually do not have them

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2543&ModelName=GA-P35-DS3R

Is urs the motherbaord in the link above? that dun seems to have any onboard graphics

do u have another graphics card to test? Any of your friends bought 8800? or any card that can be placed in the pci express 2.0 x16 slot

Darkdrium SG

My dad's computer has an 8800GTX, but I think it would be useless to test on that.

Cause I had an 8800GTS, I changed to 8800GT, it still crash.

And yes, that is the motherboard I'm using. I suppose it doesn't have onboard grahpics then.

I'll give it a try anyway, test the GTX card.

MyPillowTalks SG

ya....test around

ur family do alot of gaming ar?

btw, did u overclock ur card too much? does ur case have enough ventilation?

i had Overclock my graphic card too much(860mhz) and i do not have enough cooling, and i do receive the same thing, just that my screen and sound froze just there, u can see it on my utube video

i changed my graphic card 1 to 1, to the same model but with better heatsink

Darkdrium SG

Nah, he share it with my little brother.

I don't overclock cards, don't know how and never intend to.

I'll test the GTX after school..