Re: locking up in games
 

It could be a number of things, but one of the more likely causes is a problem with your RAM. Try running MemTest86, if there's a problem with your RAM then that will find it. It may take some time to complete though.

I assume you've done the obligatory Adware/Spyware/Malware checks?

As for your video card, I still have my doubts. Artifacts are most definately a sign of overheating. You say you updated your graphics card drivers, you weren't by any chance running Catalyst 3.8 beforehand were you?

Re: locking up in games
 

If you have more the one memory stick you could take one out and try playing a game with less ram and see how that goes.

Re: locking up in games
 

i really dont think its my video card now. i mean i saw those 2 artifacts, but i NEVER see any artifacts anywhere else ever. and why would it just start overeheating all of the sudden? as for testing the ram, my dad said he thinks its the ram also. Thanks for the help guys, im tryin that right now. Now im gettin some real answers :bows:

Re: locking up in games
 

What was your power supply?
Your card is dead, if you want a card a bit better than your 9800 pro then get a 6600gt, or if you want something much better, and definitly worth it get an x800 xl, i assume your on agp.

my card cant be dead, cuz it still plays cs:s but i havent checked if it stills locks up. as for memtest, i cant get it to work.
my psu is 450watts.

I tried the memory thing (switched out my ram and put in my moms geil 1 gig stick) and still locks up. please help i cant play any games and im an addict
:(

ok sorry guys for triple posting, but i know the source of the problem now!!! when i put cs:s into a window, i was monitoring my temps, and none of them went past 45degrees Celcius. and then later when i was playing it locked up and cs:s went black and then the VPU RECOVERY box came up!!! it said that the video card didnt respond to the drivers or something. so maybe u guys can really help me fix the problem now??? i already changed the agp to 4x which stopped it from restarting or locking up now it just crashes my games. i also changed the htt multiplier to 600mhz. so plz any help i need it so bad.

Post edited by: Rookie

Re: locking up in games
 

Why is your HTT Multiplier set to 600MHz??

Isn't your Video Card 8X AGP Aswell?

Re: locking up in games
 

i set it to 600mhz to see if it would work but it didnt. it was set to auto first. and yes its agp 8x, but i wanted to try 4x to see if that worked, but that didnt fix it either.

Re: locking up in games
 

600MHz Multiplied by what?? It is usually 5...If you didn't lower it then that is bad.

Re: locking up in games
 

no its not x5....its x3 atm. but do u have any solutions to my problem?

Re: locking up in games
 

First thing is set your HTT back to where it should be, your running the HTT way too high.

and if your getting a VPU recovery box stating the card is not responding, i would say your video card is going out on you. try completely uninstalling the ATI drivers and install the newest ones from ATI.com and see if you still have this problem.