Resolved Black screen + noise while playing games

Hey guys,

Recently (I haven't really updated any drivers myself although windows update runs occasionally) when I play games (Empire: Total War, Fallout 3, The Witcher) the screen goes to black after about 30 minutes of gameplay, also a loud noise (not like something is broken, just like something is working hard) starts. I can't use CTRL+ALT+DEL nor the WINDOWS key. I've looked at several threads, but I don't really know what to do.

My system specs:
MS Windows XP Professional SP3
Intel Core2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13GHz, 2,0GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT (latest driver installed)

I have to restart my pc, by pushing the power button until it switches off, then restart it. It doesn't give any errors, it just seems to freeze.

Thanks in advance,

Erwin Lijklema

 

I would turn off windows updates it has probably messed up ur graphics drivers..maybe not ..but..download your graphics drivers from NVIDIA..set a restore point..than uninstall just them from the add/remove..reboot ..go to were you downloaded the new drivers an reinstall them..reboot..it might take 2 reboots

 

Luckily, there's been a new driver release, so I've downloaded it. --Edit-- Figured it was as system restore point, I'm going to set it now --Edit--

 

Well, I set a restore point, uninstalled the drivers, rebooted and installed the new driver then rebooted twice. Started the Witcher: Enhanced Edition, after an hour or so the screen went black again, could still hear sound (until that froze too). So the problem's not fixed yet.

 

Help!?

 

I'll run SIW while playing the game. Here are my system specs:

PC Make&Model
PARADIGIT MS-7235

Motherboard
MICROSTAR INTERNATIONAL MS-7235

Processor
INTEL CORE2 6400 @2.13 GHz

Memory
2.0GB RAM

Video card
NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

Hard Drive #1
MAXTOR STM33280820AS

Optical drive #1
Optiarc DVD RW AD-5170A SCSI CdRom Device

Power Supply
Voltages:
CPU VCore (value 1.22V Min. 1.16 V maximum 1.32 V)
VIN0 (value 1.59V min. 1.58 V maximum 1.60 V)
AVCC (value 3.30V min. 3.30V maximum 3.31V)
+3.3V (value 3.30V min. 3.30V maxiumum 3.31V)
Vin1/Vin2/Vin3/Vin4 (value 0.17V, min. 0.16V maximum 0.17V)

Temperatures
SYSTIN (value 33C, min. 30C maximum 33C)
CPUTIN (value 39C, min. 36C maximum 50C)
AUXTIN (value 42C, min. 42C maximum 46C)

It also has power supply/temperatures for my processor and video cards, do you need these too?

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 temperatures
Core#0 (value 41C, min. 41C maximum 55C)
Core#1 (value 39C, min. 39C maximum 52C)

Nvidia Geforce 9600 GT temperatures
(value 39C, min. 38C maximum 39C)

Make & model of sound card
Realtek High Definition Audio (no model)

Monitor#1
Plug&Play Syncmaster Sam01DE

32 Bit operating system.

When I start up a game (in this case: The Witcher)
Voltages are the same, temperatures aren't.
SYSTIN Temperature is at max 34C now.
CPUTIN Raise to 41C(far away from max)
AUXTIN raise to 43C (still ok)
Intel Core 2 Due temperatures also rise, but far from max temp.
Video card temperature rises to 40C, not far from max 42C.
MAXTOR STM3320820AS (my HDD) rises to max 39C temperature

Temperatures did keep rising after this.

 

Solved!
Through the site of MSI, I updated my BIOS and drivers.
I had already updated my chipset, but the site had a live-update kind of thing which also updated my sound card drivers.
Now the problem's gone.
Thanks for all the helps and tips, I can finally play for longer than half an hour now!!
(just tested it for an hour, worked perfectly)

Regards,
Erwin