Normally, what you describ, happens when the CPU isnt cooled enough, or the power supply is too low.

Just run SpeedFan and see if your CPU gets too hot, if it's not, then buy a new power supply (you can get for only 11$) and be happy

Did you try downloading and reinstalling those games? Assuming you've downloaded the entire bunch of games, there's a small change something went wrong along the way.

I had similar issues in the past and most of the time it turned out some corrupt files where reigning havoc whenever the games needed them, causing freezes or sound errors like the one you described.

@Invader: i'll keep that in mind, but this computer has gone years without changes in the BIOS, so i can't imagine it would be causing issues to come up just now.

@Michael Schwarz: thanks, i'll check out SpeedFan and see if that's the issue, and maybe i should get a new power supply. i was considering that a while ago when i got my graphics card (GeForce 9600 GT is a huge step up in power usage from the 7300 my computer came with).

i was under the impression that it wouldn't necessarily be the computer's power supply, but an issue where the socket in the wall is dysfunctional, because i never had crashing issues where it used to be set up, nor has the hardware changed since then. but i've also never heard the fan so loud where it used to be set up, so maybe it'd struggling to cool in its new location.

if it turns out it is getting too hot, what would be the best solution?

@PHeMoX: yeah, i have considered that; both games i've been playing lately (Left 4 Dead and CS:S) would have very few assets loaded dynamically, so i'm inclined to think that's unlikely. however, CS:S isn't very big so i'll give it a go anyway. maybe it gets caused by someone using a particular corrupt radio message that very rarely gets used; having it based on other peoples' actions would explain its exceptionally sporadic issues.

thanks again guys,

julz

source doesnt crash because of missing sound/texture/model files, just prints an error message to console. And it wouldnt even start if you are missing a dll and such.

fair enough Quad.

anyway, thanks to SpeedFan, i'm pretty sure heat's the problem:

GPU: 62C (flame icon)
System: 43C (tick icon)
CPU: 78C (flame)
AUX: 34C (blue down-arrow icon)
HD0: 42C (tick)
HD1: 43C (tick)
Core: 62C (flame)
Ambient: 0C (blue)

i'm guessing the blue arrow means 'very cool' while the others are self-explanatory.

and that's how hot it is right now, haven't played no games today, and done nothing except check my mail and these forums.

so... what do i do about it?

julz

i was playing l4d for like 4-5 hours (stopped playing an hour ago)

my GPU(9600GT sonic,they oc it, like yours): 40
(q9300 below)
my core0: 54
core 1 and core 2: 45

hdd: 23

for better cooling, you may try some gpu & cpu fans, if your case is too crowded and small, air may not flow freely, so try tidying up inside of the case, dont put the case under the table or something. (You may buy a new large case with 3-4 fans.)

how many fans your current case has? how are they placed? any object blocking them? air can flow freely inside the case?

thanks Quad, good comparison there. incidentally, i really like L4D and am really pleased with my overclocked 9600GT

i'll check out my fans in a minute or so (i'll switch off before pulling it apart and scoping out as much as i can). it's a very, very old case, (much much older than any of the pieces inside it, as this computer has just been upgraded over and over) and i wouldn't be surprised if that's the issue. it's on top of my table, so it should have plenty of room for ventilation but that's no good if the case is useless.

played CS:S until it crashed (didn't take long this time; two short rounds on cs_office) and almost immediately upon loading my temperatures went up (two screens meant i could have SpeedFan visible at the same time easily):
GPU: 66C (up 4C)
System: 46C (up 3C)
CPU: 83C (up 5C)
AUX: 54C (up 20C, and was very sporadic during loading)
Core: 66C (up 4C)

julz

EDIT: one fan on my motherboard, one on my GPU, no others.

I may said try better fans, but it's not a problem with your current fans, i guess. (i use stock fans on GPU and CPU,rams has coolers(i guess thats not the thecnical name of it but...) on them but no fans.)


In this case indeed you need a new case. New cases generaly has 2-4 fan on them, which helps air to flow inside,(take cold air in, hot air out).

this is my case and how fans placed/air flows:
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2896/casekx1.jpg
(i stuffed extra PSU cables to empty DVD rom places, so they dont block air flow.)

there are currently 3 fans(1 x 250 mm, 2x 120 mm ) on it(apart from Cpu's and Gpu's fan) as in the picture. There is also another place on top for an extra fan but currently i don use any fan here.

thanks very much Quad, you've been really helpful. those pictures are very useful for getting an idea about how it should work. similar to what i've seen in wikipedia. i'll get a new case asap.

i'm abouta be away for 5 or so days, so if anyone has anything useful to say between now and then, my gratitude will be delayed somewhat.

thanks again Quad, and everyone else who's been helping,

julz

EDIT: btw, any recommendations brand-wise?

put a big fan in front of your PC, helped me when my CPU fan was broken and not going at full speed