Total System Crash

Since i19's release I have been experiencing total system crashes when dual boxing. The system would just shut off completely. When I reboot everything seems fine. Since i19.5 the crashes have expanded to when I am running a single instance. So far it only happened during the final Recluse and Kahn TF boss fights. I think the issue is related to my graphics card. I can tell a huge difference in my graphics cards volume, its just running louder. I am thinking I need a new card but I'd like to rule out any known driver or game related issues. I am unable to replicate the crash in any other game. Hope someone has a clue whats going on and can help me out.

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at February 8, 2011 19:40 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.100608-0458)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Dell XPS420
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A04
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 3326MB
.Net Memory Report: 2469MB out of 3325MB available
Page File: 5641MB (1205MB currently in use)
C Drive: (WDC WD5000AAKS-75A7B0) 257297MB out of 461523MB (55%) free
D Drive: (WDC WD5000AAKS-75A7B0) 5358MB out of 15359MB (34%) free
E Drive: (PLDS DVD+-RW DH-16A6S) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 7.00.6002.18107 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Dell SP2208WFP(Digital)
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT
Manufacturer / Chip: ATI Technologies Inc. / ATI display adapter (0x9588)
Video Memory: 1648 MB
Driver Version: 8.17.0010.1063
Driver Date: 1/4/2011 10:02:28 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers / Headphones (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)
Driver File: stwrt.sys
Driver Version: 6.10.5511.0000
Driver Date: 9/12/2007 3:40:48 AM

Sound Device Description: Line 1 (Live! Cam Virtual)
Driver File: livecamv.sys
Driver Version:
Driver Date: 1/15/2007 4:57:08 PM

Sound Device Description: Digital Output Device (SPDIF Out) (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)
Driver File: stwrt.sys
Driver Version: 6.10.5511.0000
Driver Date: 9/12/2007 3:40:48 AM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: 0TP406
Motherboard Version:
BIOS Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
BIOS Name: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A04
BIOS Version: DELL - 15
BIOS Release: 20080327000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1680x1000
3D Resolution: 1680x1000 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: No
Maximized: Yes
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes


Physics Quality: None
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No


Anti-aliasing: Off
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: None
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: Unknown (5)


World Texture Level: Low
Character Texture Level: High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 0.800
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: No
Shadow Mode: Stencil shadows
Shadow Map Shader: Unknown (0)
Environmental Reflections: Disabled
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: Off
Occlusion Strength: Off
Blur: Bilateral
Ambient Resolution: Performance


Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: Yes
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 0.098
Music Sound Volume: 0.000

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.250
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 80277 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 1950.201102010039.0
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
.\texture_library\GUI\Icons\Powers has 247 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\city has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Midnight_Squad has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Safeguard has 9 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\sewers has 44 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\static has 40 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\City has 1 file
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Outdoor_Missions has 9 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Static has 16 files

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"If a system can be exploited, it will be exploited. And if a developer thinks their system cannot be exploited, it'll be exploited like a new actress in her first porn movie." Sanya Weather MMORPG Examiner

Sounds like a cooling problem - overall system, CPU or PSU - graphics card crashing would tend to give you either a black or a white screen but you would still be in the game and would hear sound - CPU and PSU would cause the system to shut down to prevent damage.

If your graphics card is much louder than normal that would imply it is working harder and generating more heat which has to go somewhere - if your system is borderline on running temperatures that could be sufficient to cause it to shutdown.

Check all your fans are turning and not clogged.
If you have a desk fan available try directing that at the system inlets and see if it helps.

If you reduce your graphics settings that may help also.

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Mind of Gaia lvl 50 Defiant's first Mind/Storm 'troller.
Deadly Doc 50 Dark/Dark Corr
and lots more on Pinnacle,Union and Defiant

Well it's true, but... why does the GPU have more work to do since i19.5...

What have been changed in game to make the CG overheat?

I had 7 crash yesterday... on 2 different computers... and my teamates did crash too... There was a lot of lag yesterday too, with red netgraph... but no patch since last week...
so... what have been changed server side yesterday? The STOTW... so we know that something have been changed... But why is it impacting our client with crashes... it's our question.

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