Well, based on your responses, I'm still leaning towards an overheating
problem. Here's my suggestions.
1) Try running with the cover off, see if it gets better if you go naked.
Put the cover back on for the next tests, though.
2) Get the Asus Probe application (
www.asus.com, go to the downloads). Use
that to monitor your system temperatures. You'll have to run Prime95 or
something to stress it while you're monitoring it, and since your system
boots you out, you won't be able to run a full-screen game to test it. This
should stress-test your processor without affecting your video card. But
run the Asus Probe while doing the other tests, and monitor the motherboard
temp as well. Also use the Asus Probe application to monitor the voltages
your PSU is putting out. If they fluctuate or are wildly off the stated
values, look at replacing your PSU.
3) Try the ATITool (
http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/), and run through
the "Scan for Artifacts" test. It will display the GPU temp, if it's
available. This will stress-test your video card as well as your CPU to a
limited extent. If it blows up on this app, but not on the Prime95, I'd
suspect your video card is due for a replacement. Is it under warranty?
4) Try the Memtest application to see if your memory is ok.
Clint
My first thoughts are overheating, power supply or a defective card (in
that
order), but that's just a guess. I'd start by getting a can of compressed
air at your local Costco or office supply place, and blowing all the dust
bunnies out of your heat sinks (CPU and video card in particular). Make
sure all the fans are running when your system is.
Some serious (late) spring cleaning has the games running for slightly
longer (some 15 - 20 mins), but the crash still seems inevitable. Both
fans are running and relatively clean.
Does the crashing happen right away, or do you get to play for awhile
first?
Did this system used to work, and now it doesn't anymore, or has it never
worked for running the games.
It used to run considerably longer, though I've always had the odd
crash or freeze. Before the dusting, it was down to 3-4 mins.
Graphics during playing were excellent and undistorted, just pooffff...
out of the blue.
What games have you tried?
Empire Earth, Age of Empires, Civilizations, both Zoo Tycoons, ...
List your hardware here, including brands and model numbers. Processor,
motherboard, PSU, etc may help.
Here we go. It's in Dutch, but I think you might be able to work it
out.
SiSoftware Sandra
Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.60GHz
Snelheid : 2.60GHz
Prestatie Rating : PR3457 (geschat)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Interne Data Cache : 8kB Synchroon, 'Write-Through', 4-way set, 64 byte
line size, 2 lines per sector
L2 'On-board' Cache : 512kB ECC Synchroon, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line
size, 2 lines per sector
Moederbord
Bus(sen) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
MP Ondersteuning : 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC : yes
Systeem BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 080009
Systeem : To Be Filled By O.E.M. To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Moederbord : ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P4C800
Totaal Geheugen : 511MB DDR-SDRAM
Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc 82875P,E7210 Memory Controller Hub
'Front Side Bus' Snelheid : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Totaal Geheugen : 512MB DDR-SDRAM
Geheugen Bus Snelheid : 2x 200MHz (400MHz data rate)
Video Systeem
Monitor/Panel : Plug en Play-monitor
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES
Adapter : RADEON 9600 SERIES - Secondary
Logische Opslag Apparaten
Harde Schijf (C
: 75GB (49GB, 66% Beschikbare Ruimte) (NTFS)
Onderdelen
Seriële/Paralelle Poort(en) : 2 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller -
24D2
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller -
24D4
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller -
24D7
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller -
24DD
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller -
24DE
USB Controller/Hub : USB-hoofdhub
USB Controller/Hub : USB-hoofdhub
USB Controller/Hub : USB-hoofdhub
USB Controller/Hub : USB-hoofdhub
USB Controller/Hub : USB-hoofdhub
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host
Controller
Toetsenbord : Standaardtoetsenbord (101/102 toetsen) of Microsoft
Natural PS/2-toetsenbord
Muis : Microsoft PS/2-muis
MultiMedia Apparaat
Apparaat : SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Power Management
AC Line Status : 'On-Line'
Besturingssysteem
Windows Systeem : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home 5.01.2600 (Service
Pack 2)
Netwerk 'Services'
Adapter : 3Com Gigabit LOM (3C940)
Forgive me if you've tried all these steps already, but you're not really
specific about what you've done already or what software tools you've
used.
I know - I'm better at pushing the buttons than at finding out what
lies behind, I'm afraid. After crashing, I got this standard Windows
hint to apply their memory test, which I did and it turned out just
fine. I ran all DirectX tests, and another benchmark thing I cannot
remember right now. The one you recommended, SiSandra, turned out
nothing out of the ordinary (unless the computer lingo is beyond my
vernacular English). Besides, like I said my machine is like a year
old or something - surely it should be able to cope with these games?
Thanks for your time anyway.
Joachim
