Weird Lockup with screen error

Specs:
AMD XP2500+
1 gb DDR RAM
ASUS Geforce FX5950 Ultra 256mb
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe


After playing a game for a while sometimes my computer will lock up hard. Like it will repeat the sound that was playing in a short loop and give me this:
http://img63.exs.cx/img63/9666/screen38.jpg

It stays like this until I turn off the machine and star again. This doesn't happen in Windows, only in games. Upon returning to my desktop I will check my GPU temperatures, and they will be around 45-48 C. Is this an overheating problem? I am using the stock heatsink/fan for my vidcard.

that's not good

I have the same issue but I'm running on a PC Chips board. I know mine is due to overheating.

I'd say its vid card overheating.

I'd say its vid card overheating.
Well son of a bitch. I don't have it overclocked or anything. It only started doing this when I got my 120gb Maxtor drive and made it my OS drive. Never happened with my 60gb WD. :shrug:

Well son of a bitch. I don't have it overclocked or anything. It only started doing this when I got my 120gb Maxtor drive and made it my OS drive. Never happened with my 60gb WD. :shrug:
That's a nasty looking screenshot. Definitely has to be something with the video card, most likely overheating. I have a Maxtor 120GB HD, and according to the SMART readings, it runs at about 50C which I think is kinda hot. However, I also have 2 Seagate 80GB Barracudas which feel significantly hotter to the touch, but I can't read their temperatures. In any case, my internal case temperature averages around 40-42C, while my processor temperature (which should normally be hotter) runs around 4-5C less when idle. It also has an external fan directly over it.

So anyways, my point is that hard drives can significantly increase your cases temperature and the new hard drive may be making the video card get too hot. A good way to test the theory would be to take the side of the case off and see if it still happens. If that is the case, you have some options. Buy a new/better video card cooler (preferably one that takes up an extra slot for a fan to exhaust excess heat), buy a better case with side/top fans, or leave the side of the case off.

Do what Ixiterra suggested, take the side panel off the case. Ive even put a box fan to blow into the case and see if the problem is still there. If it is I would suggest trying it in a different system. If not, buy a different fan and heatsinks or try cooling the hd down.

The side panel has been off for a while, same deal. I will try the boxfan thing, lord knows I have atleast 5 of them in my house. ;)

Update: Box fan did the trick. No more overheating now. It is also cooler in my room now.

Thanks dudes. :bigthumb: :sunny:

haha the old box fan trick. :) Works every time.