My PC crashes when I play games or watch videos.

[Akatosh]

It's been happening for a while. I'll be playing WoW/M2TW or watching a video on youtube when suddenly BAM! My computer just shuts off, no blue screen, just shuts off. This is seriously pissing me off because I don't have cash for a new pc, and if I did I don't wanna deal with transferring my programs and games over to the new one.

Please help me diagnose the problem and get me solution that doesn't leave me broke.

PS: This usually doesn't happen though when I'm just on a video-less webpage or when playing Torchlight

Windows Vista
AMD Phenom x3 64 graphics card
4GB of Ram

[Jayhmmz]

Hmmm... maybe it's a memory problem, but then that would usually cause a blue screen... goodness knows. Never experienced this problem myself, but have you tried doing a disk clean, defrag and reg clean?

[Switchblade]

A computer usually restarts from over heating. May have an air flow problem if it's only recently happened. Could make sure you haven't got any unnecessary air flow blockages. Other than that, could be a virus or hack if you're playing online. Have you installed any recent updates or something? To be honest, I've never heard of it shutting down before. Mine restarts on updates in game which is slightly annoying, especially online.

[paecmaker]

Sounds like what I had for problem before, it only shuts down in games. My problem was overheating problem, if you havent try download speedfan and see the temp of the vgu(that was the problem for me).

[Akatosh]

Also, I don't know if this is the issue or is even important, but I never shut down my computer, I always put it in sleep mode

[Switchblade]

Your poor pc! :O

[Akatosh]

I'm guessing that's bad or your just being a smart-ass lol

[Switchblade]

Lol, it's not that bad, just like we humans sleep to recover. Companies leave computers in sleep most of the time, but give it some love and shut it down sometimes :)

[LiNuX]

Three things that could do this.

Switchblade mentioned overheating. Download speedfan or something and pay attention to the temperature when you're playing games or watching videos. The motherboard may trigger shut down if CPU is too hot or something else is about to fry.

Jay mentioned the second one which is memory. You don't always have to get the blue screen when memory fails. My home server's memory failed a few months ago (I still haven't replaced it) where it would just shut down without warning. No blue screen, no errors, just turns off. If you have more than one RAM Card, remove one, and try it. If it still shuts off, switch the card and/or slot on the motherboard.

Third one is Power source. The power source could be failing in which case you need a new PSU - definitely not as expensive as a new PC. Could cost anywhere from $30-$90 depending on the amount of power.

[Saph]

Things that'll make your computer crash:

Overheating: Buy a new coolant system/fan, or lower the voltage in BIOS(manifac pcs such as HP pavilions do not allow overclock functions, such as Voltage settings)

Faulty video card

Faulty graphics card(GPU)

Faulty Central Processor(CPU)

System lag: Do a disk defrag and reboot your system

Windows critical error: Big problem, and is quite rare, it requires a new version of whatever windows you're running, luckily for each windows generation, this problem is less and less common.

Clogged memory: Do a disk cleanup(It pretty much deletes any unused files and programs)

[GamingWeston]

I had a similar problem and the solution was: PSU ****up. It just restarted randomly and I couldn't find the right coherence between these restarts. Get it examined.

But I don't think it's video card related. In my experience video cards just go off and after it you don't see anything but a black screen whether you restart or not.

[paecmaker]

When I had it somthing with the vgu had broken down, I dont know if it was the fan or something else, I just hand it over in the store so they fixed it for free(even it took lots of time)

[Exentenzed]

Three things that could do this.

Switchblade mentioned overheating. Download speedfan or something and pay attention to the temperature when you're playing games or watching videos. The motherboard may trigger shut down if CPU is too hot or something else is about to fry.

Jay mentioned the second one which is memory. You don't always have to get the blue screen when memory fails. My home server's memory failed a few months ago (I still haven't replaced it) where it would just shut down without warning. No blue screen, no errors, just turns off. If you have more than one RAM Card, remove one, and try it. If it still shuts off, switch the card and/or slot on the motherboard.

Third one is Power source. The power source could be failing in which case you need a new PSU - definitely not as expensive as a new PC. Could cost anywhere from $30-$90 depending on the amount of power.

This. :)
Check the Temperatures first, and if it is to high then check if your fans are clogged with dust and dirt.
Remember that while removing the side of the case on the PC might seem like a good idea, it isnt in most cases since you would be limiting the effectiveness of your fans by messing up the airflow.


or lower the voltage in BIOS
Are you high? O.o

[paecmaker]

This. :)

Remember that while removing the side of the case on the PC might seem like a good idea, it isnt in most cases since you would be limiting the effectiveness of your fans by messing up the airflow.




And if your guarantee still is capable then it wont be after you pop the hatch open.

[LiNuX]

And if your guarantee still is capable then it wont be after you pop the hatch open.

Depends on the warranty terms. Most wouldn't mind if you just open the hatch, but warranties are void if damage is caused due to human error, so if you leave the side open and someone accidentally throws a ball in there and it breaks something off, then warranty is void.

[Switchblade]

lol, throws a ball in there :)