Ok So I bought the Game GTI Racer and It starts up just fine but when I run a race i get about halfway through and My computer freezes up causing me to restart the Machine. I know i meet system requirements as they are:
- Obviously Windows XP, Pentium 4 Or Athlon with 1.8GHz, 256 RAM,Video Card With 64MB, DX 8.0 Compatible (GeForce 3 Or ATI Radeon 9200), Sound Card DX 8.0 Compatible, 2.5GB Hard Drive Memory, DirectX 9.0c.

And This is What I have for Hardware in My computer:
- Windows XP Pro (Not Genuine), AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2.21GHz, 2GB Ram, PNY Nvidia 6600 256MB Graphics Card, BFG GeForce 4 Mobo, Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Gamer Edition Sound Card, 250GB Hitachi Hard Drive, DirectX 9

So My question is if Anyone knows why this is happening to me? And Sorry for the Super Long Post. Thank You In Advance!

Quote: Originally Posted by GMunroe998 Windows XP Pro (Not Genuine)

:r ofl:

if you can play the game then it is most likely your hardware failing

its probably your gfx if you dont have crashes at any other times... make sure your fan is spinning and check idle temps

Do you have the latest drivers? Have you looked for a game patch?
Can you tell us what your temperatures are? As in the cpu, system
and video card. Do you have any case fans running? Last but not
least, have you cleaned out the dust bunnies?

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate Last but not least, have you cleaned out the dust bunnies?

Yep, look for them. They're the worst kind of bunnies.

Game instability usually boils down to one of a few things, in the order of most common problems:

1. Unstable Overclock
2. Software (OS need a format?)/Drivers/Game Patches
3. Heat issues- CPU/ Video Card/Case Temps
4. Power Supply- Low voltages/Unstable rails (Ripple..commonly found in cheap power supplies!)
5. Memory failing/failure

Slaymate and the other guys pretty much covered it all, I just kinda put them in the order I would look at them, your not overclocking so I would skip that one obviously...

Of course if none of the above fixes it, it's time to check the rest of the hardware, Motherboard, CPU, Sta/Ide cables, Hard Drive, Ground issues...etc.

I always find the best way to eliminate heat from the equation, is to take off your side panel, and point the biggest loudest desk fan you can find inside your case...

If it still has problems, then I would assume it wasnt a heat issue.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate Do you have the latest drivers? Have you looked for a game patch? Can you tell us what your temperatures are? As in the cpu, system and video card. Do you have any case fans running? Last but not least, have you cleaned out the dust bunnies?

Well I looked for patches and drivers and could not find anything. As far as temps, I dont have a front panel displaying temps are there any programs i can use? Im running a 120mm exhaust and 2 80mm intake fans as well as the stock processor heatsink and oh yeah i have a Coolermaster Centurion Case with the full metal mesh front with a fan controller cranked up. I also have heat spreaders on the memory. I just built the system and have had it running for a little over 2 months so i know all the hardware is good. As far as evil bunnies, i clean my case out once a week. Also I jhave a 520 Watt MasterPower Power Supply (I work at CompUSA) And I Have yet to overclock anything yet until I get One of the New Zalman Ultra Quiet AM2/939 Heatsink


or the CoolerMaster Mars

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Yep, look for them. They're the worst kind of bunnies.

I know mine think the blowhole is a bunny door.

You should be able to get a temperature monitoring program here :-)
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=8
Depending on your mobo you may have to try a few. I like Motherboard
Monitor or SpeedFan. As for the heatsinks. I don't know about the Zalman
but I'm sure it's better than the CoolerMaster Mars. I did a review of the
Mars with a Core 2 Duo E6300 and it sucked. But it may perform better
with an AMD. I have a CM Mars heatsink sitting unused just a few feet
away. If you want it, it's yours for the cost of shipping. If you don't want it
then anyone else wanting it can have the same deal :-) PM me :-)

it may be your psu... masterpower????

It looks like at rest the temps are from top to bottom using speedfan: Temp 1 81F, Temp 2 99F, Temp 3 261F, Temp 89F, HDQ 86F, 104F and a Core of 111F. And with 3 programs running (PhotoshopCS2, Norton Internet Security 2007 Scan and My TV Tuner with an average of about 80% CPU usage its running: Temp 1 88F, Temp 2 109F, Temp 3 261F,Temp 89F, HDQ 100F, 104F, Core Of 115F to 120F. Again These are temps from top to bottom of the program. Im not sure what they all mean except for the Core Temp which once in a while the icon next to the temp turns into fire.

So what do you guys think? Are these temps good or bad?

It's hard to tell without knowing just what Temps match up with what components.
But the core temps should be the cpu. Most people use Celsius and not Farenheit.
111F = 43.8 C, this would be a good load temperature but I think it's your idle temp.
While I have heard of worse, it's not very good for a non oc'd cpu. Your showing a
load temp of 115-120F which ='s 46.1 - 48.8 which isn't bad considering your at 43.8
at an idle. I just got your addy today so I'll try to get that CM Mars shipped out
tomorrow. But I really don't see it helping you, I was very unimpressed with it's
performance. If I were you I'd start shopping at newegg.com, more products and
cheaper prices. Just cause you work at Compusa doesn't mean you can't save elsewhere :-)

they have decent coolers at compusa... they have a full line of zalman at the one near me... a zalman 9700 should do the trick

Considering at cost they are like 25 to 30 dollars cheaper. Alot of guys that work with me run the zalman coolers. But at the moment We don't have any decent socket 939 coolers (we are stocking almost nothing for cooling)

Ok I got the mars And For a power plug it uses the 4 pin only my mobo is a 3 pin. Wouldnt be a problem except there are capacitors or whatever the hell they are next to the cpu fan plug. So i trimmed off the part that wasnt needed and cut and taped the extra wire. But not before I verified that the 3 pin was gonna give power. Now When i turn it on the fan inside the Mars fires up along with the led for only about 5 seconds then stops. I can see that The fan trys to turn periodically but it almost looks like the motor isnt strong enough. (I know the motor is strong enough though, Im just describing the look). Any Ideas??

Quote: Originally Posted by GMunroe998 Ok I got the mars And For a power plug it uses the 4 pin only my mobo is a 3 pin. Wouldnt be a problem except there are capacitors or whatever the hell they are next to the cpu fan plug. So i trimmed off the part that wasnt needed and cut and taped the extra wire. But not before I verified that the 3 pin was gonna give power. Now When i turn it on the fan inside the Mars fires up along with the led for only about 5 seconds then stops. I can see that The fan trys to turn periodically but it almost looks like the motor isnt strong enough. (I know the motor is strong enough though, Im just describing the look). Any Ideas??

why cut the wire?
you could just bought an adapter for it

Virtual-Hideout | CoolerMaster Mars CPU Cooler Review

I still have the wire and everything So i can still solder it back on. But ii tried moving the jumpers around and nothing I left it out and enabled AMD's Cool and Quiet and still nothing. But even without the fan running it still cools really well.

I've also got one of these CoolerMaster Eclipse's :-)
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RR-CCB-WLU1-GP Eclipse CPU Cooler - Retail