Computers shut down while playing CoH

Orion_Energy · 05-23-2010 02:02 PM

Okay, so with i17 now released and Going Rouge on the horizon I got back into CoH. Again.

Unfortunately, I've run into a slew of issues. Neither of my two computers can play CoH any more.

The first computer is literally a brand new Windows 7 machine, with top of the line everything. Unfortunately however, I bought it through my father's workplace and as a result it didn't really come with a nice graphics card. What it does have is an Intel 400 Series Chipset Family, which according to tests on paper and on canirunit.com should be able to play CoH just fine. And it does, for a little while. The game runs beautifully on high settings, but not ultra mode. I've also updated the computer's graphic drivers. I experience little to no lag, with fast load times and all. It goes on like this for about an hour or two and then my machine shuts down all together. Pressing the power button doesn't turn it back on, and unplugging and replugging it into a different socket doesn't work either. I have to keep trying different plugs to find one that will let me turn my PC back on. I've come to the conclusion that it's either the graphics chipset being too weak and crashing the pc massively or the power cord being faulty. But not knowing anything about computers, I posted here for help first before I went out and started buying things.

My second computer, a laptop I've had and used since 2007. It's got an ATI Raedon X1200 card in it, and plays CoH at the lowest setting. In the past once I lowered the graphics I've had no problem, but now for some reason the game causes my laptop to overheat like crazy. I can still play other games at higher graphical settings for hours with no overheat problems. Right now according to Everest Home Edition Diagnostic my CPU is 41 degrees Celsius. According to the manufacturer's website the cpu should only overheat at around 55 degrees but I might've read that wrong. While the problem doesn't really originate to CoH I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on how to keep cpu temperature low and/or if it's my fan that's dying on me.

I realize it's a wall of text but anyone who could give me a hand would be much appreciated. :c

The_Killbot_5000 · 05-23-2010 02:16 PM

To me it sounds like both your machines are suffering overheating issues. There should be no reason why the first one will not work when plugged into one socket, but will work when plugged into another. I suspect it's too hot, and it's just a matter of time before it cools down, and then starts working again. Have you checked the temperatures on the first machine? I like machines in my care to run in the 20-30 degree Celcius range, anything above that I start getting worried.

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Nethergoat · 05-23-2010 02:19 PM

mine was doing that a while back and the culprit was an overheating video card.

got some canned air, blew out the heat sinks (it was a mess in there) and voila, back to normal.

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Orion_Energy · 05-23-2010 02:58 PM

I haven't checked the temperature on the first machine, but I'll download the diagnostic and check that. And I'll find/buy some canned air and blow everything out and see if that helps.

RedSwitchblade · 05-23-2010 03:05 PM

Try updating the OpenGL drivers for the heck of it on the laptop. Perhaps not having them is stressing the card to work harder than it should.

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Orion_Energy · 05-23-2010 03:23 PM

As for the laptop I updated it's ATI Raedon drivers if that's what you meant.. because I have NO idea what OpenGL is supposed to mean.

For my desktop Everest Home Diagnostic reported temperatures of 30 degrees celsius while idle and some other device in my computer at 38 degrees. I have no idea what it is, as it's named as some huge serial number, but if I had to guess it's my graphics chipset. I launched CoH and ran around on my blaster and there was no change in temperature and my computer eventually shut down again with no warning. As I mentioned earlier I'm suspecting a faulty power cord or something related to the way that the machine gets electricity.

The_Killbot_5000 · 05-23-2010 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orion_Energy

As for the laptop I updated it's ATI Raedon drivers if that's what you meant.. because I have NO idea what OpenGL is supposed to mean.

For my desktop Everest Home Diagnostic reported temperatures of 30 degrees celsius while idle and some other device in my computer at 38 degrees. I have no idea what it is, as it's named as some huge serial number, but if I had to guess it's my graphics chipset. I launched CoH and ran around on my blaster and there was no change in temperature and my computer eventually shut down again with no warning. As I mentioned earlier I'm suspecting a faulty power cord or something related to the way that the machine gets electricity.

"It goes on like this for about an hour or two and then my machine shuts down all together."

Good crashes take time. Have you played for an "hour or two" monitoring the temperature? I wouldn't discard it as a possible cause just yet. You might be right about the power cord, it's possible. Changing it for another known good one and playing for an hour or two to see if the problem persists should tell you whether it's a contributing factor or not.

That 'other device', if it's your graphics chipset, is kinda warm, and after playing for an hour or two might peak over into the 40 degrees range, which is not good.

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A Spanner In The Works Part One, ArcID: 336662, A Spanner In The Works Part Two, ArcID: 336665, Enter Japes, ArcID: 96001
In The Darkness Creeping, ArcID: 347709, When Dimensions Collide, ArcID: 412416.

Sermon · 05-24-2010 02:51 PM

Video cards should be able to go much much higher than 40 degrees celsius without concern. From what I have read, many cards won't experience wear until above 90 degrees celsius and perhaps damage over 100.

Anyways, the above sounds like a heating issue to me as well regardless. Has your gaming environment become significantly hotter lately?

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