[PastPerspective]

Hey guys, I've played APB (an online GTA-type MMO) since the very beginning, yet starting from yesterday my PC just locks up if an explosion happens near my character. I can't ALT TAB, I can't CTRL ALT DELETE, it requires me to turn the power off completely, then to restart the computer. So far I've tried:
Restarting my PC
Running APB without Steam
Reinstalling APB (both Steam & G1 launcher)
Uninstalling and reinstalling GPU drivers
Installing previous GPU drivers
Uninstalling/reinstalling PhysX
Taking out RAM (using two types, both DDR3)

Sometimes my screen will go black (not completely off, just a very very dark grey), and sometimes my screen will be covered in lines (as if my graphics card is artifacting). I've tried other games, and the same has happened on Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Specs:
ATI Radeon 7950 3GB
i5 2550k 3.4GHz
12GB RAM DDR3
1920x1080
Windows 7 64-bit
600W PSU

I'm not entirely sure what the problem is. Some people say it's the power supply, others think it's the graphics card. Any help would be infinitely appreciated.

[.Lycosa]

Sounds like the card's f*cking up if it freezes when displaying fire effects.

What mobo?

[PastPerspective]

It's not just fire effects, I played earlier and stood still for like 5 minutes. Went downstairs to make a cheese toastie, came back upstairs and the screen was black. As usual, had to hard-reboot.

I'm pretty sure my mobo is a Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3.

[Narcis_speed6]

Are you sure the card is not overheating?

[.Lycosa]

Try running it from the video port on the mobo and see if it still happens, then we'll know if it's the GPU or something else.

[PastPerspective]

QUOTE (.Lycosa @ Tuesday, May 15 2012, 16:12)

Try running it from the video port on the mobo and see if it still happens, then we'll know if it's the GPU or something else.

How would I go about doing that?

Also, I've checked the temperatures and they're absolutely fine. Neither my CPU or my GPU go above 65C.

[Wolf68k]

If that game has a Vsync setting, try turning that on and see if it fixes anything.

Get OCCT
Click on the GPU:3D tab
Use the following settings

Change the Resolution to whatever you use in game or better still to your desktop size.
Click the ON button and let it work.

Either your system will lock up, which it's doing anyway so no big deal, or you'll get some errors quickly enough (before it locks up) so that you know the problem is with the card.


I also want to note that it could be a PSU problem as well. I had a PSU that did this to me and I thought it was the card, RMA'ed the game with the same result then the screen went blank with a weaker card, replaced the PSU and fixed.

[PastPerspective]

QUOTE (Wolf68k @ Tuesday, May 15 2012, 16:32)

-Snip-

Downloaded the program, set it to how the screenshot showed, pressed 'On'. The screen went black and I couldn't get the PC to respond at all. Had to do a hard reboot.

Thanks for the help, does this mean my graphics card is screwed? Is there any way to determine if it's my power supply?

[Stinky12]

The easiest way for you to find out if your power supply is faulty is to grab another power supply and see if it still causes the same problem.
You can also use a multimeter to measure the voltages comes out of the power supply during full load and check if +12v, +3.3v, +5v are within it's acceptable range. Doing this test will not confirm your power supply is actually bad.

Graphic card can be tested for artifacts with a utility called FurMark.
Run that and it will stress out your video card. If video card has problems, you will see it right away.
Careful with the Xtreme Burn in mode as it will physically burn out the VRMs on your video card.

[Gareth Croke]

QUOTE (PastPerspective @ Tuesday, May 15 2012, 16:14)

Sometimes my screen will go black (not completely off, just a very very dark grey), and sometimes my screen will be covered in lines (as if my graphics card is artifacting). I've tried other games, and the same has happened on Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

That's the bit that makes me think that it is the Graphics Card, it doesn't sound like a PSU problem.

If you want to test your Motherboards on-board Graphics Card (which probably won't be as good), then simply turn off your computer (obviously) and unplug. Then open up your case, and use anti-static wristbands, if you want, I've never really bothered... yeah that's how I roll, if not use the other much simpler method hold something metal and use it to touch the screws on the housing of your wall socket (not for the love of all that is holy the actually sockets themselves) just the screws that hold the housing to the wall as this would be earthed and this will release any static discharge. Anywho, then release the screw to your Graphics Card and unplug your video cable and then just whip it out. then just replug in your video cable into the motherboards video out. and reassemble your case.

Now power on and your system should automatically detect the 'new' graphics card. You may need to run a couple of update on it, but it should give you a better idea if it is the graphics card that is the problem.

[Wolf68k]

QUOTE (PastPerspective @ Tuesday, May 15 2012, 11:25)

QUOTE (Wolf68k @ Tuesday, May 15 2012, 16:32) -Snip- Downloaded the program, set it to how the screenshot showed, pressed 'On'. The screen went black and I couldn't get the PC to respond at all. Had to do a hard reboot. Thanks for the help, does this mean my graphics card is screwed? Is there any way to determine if it's my power supply?

Start with the PSU first. It'll be cheaper than replacing the gfx.
Or get a real old card. If you have onboard video, then take out the card you have now and try using that

[PastPerspective]

The items are under warranty, I got a company to buy the components online (the ones I chose), to which they then built it. Each item has a years warranty I think, so maybe they'll test a different PSU, then get another 7950 if they deem the graphics card to be messed up. That might take a good two weeks or so though, which sucks big time.

[Wolf68k]

So you have to send the whole system to them or what?
You could talk to a friend to see if they have a spare PSU you can barrow. You only need to connect the mobo power, the OS drive and the graphics. Let it boot up and if OCCT caused it to black out in that quickly then you'd have your answer super fast.

[Slamman]

Better not to untangle something under warranty, they put the stickers voiding such things everywhere, even a basic case opening