[icu222much]

I just got FarCry2 and Fallout3. After loading and playing the game for ~15 minutes, my computer would freeze. The screen would stay still, and the current sound effect and music would continuously blare out of my speakers. My mouse/keyboard would also become unresponsive.

I have already updated my drivers but it has no effect. My friend said it maybe because of my RAM. I currently am using 2X2Gb on WindowsXP. XP only reads 2.75Gb of RAM. Is this causing my computer to crash? Is there a way to stop my computer from crashing while I am gaming?

[Carbon]

Usually this is indicative of one of two things.

1. Overclocking. This is a very common symptom of a bad overclock. If your card is overclocked, loosen up those clock speeds and see if that resolves it.
2. A crappy PSU. Ripple or whatever throws 12V out of whack, card needs more power than it's getting, and you get a freeze. Usually this will cause a total system restart but this sort of thing can happen as well.

You may also check your memory voltage in the BIOS to make sure it matches what your RAM needs.

[thingie2]

Yea, I agree with what Carbon said, but to answer your question about the RAM, it won't be causing the computer to crash as it can't see it all, it can't see all the RAM because it is a 32Bit OS.

[icu222much]

I have not overclocked my computer in anyway, and I highly doubt the computer store I bought my computer from overclocked it as well. But just in-case they did, how would I be able to tell if he overclocked it?

I'm pretty sure I have enough power. I'm using Corsair TX750W PSU, E8400, 9800GX2. I also heard that Corsair PSUs are quite reliable.

I'll take a look at my BIOS to make sure the memory voltage matches my RAM.

Lastly, whenever I play recent games, like Fallout3, my computer crashes. However, when I play older games, like F.E.A.R., my computer runs fine. Is there some sort of of explanation for this?

[thingie2]

It's probably RAM voltage problem then or something similar, as the newer games will require more access of RAM, and therefore the voltages will be required to run properly.

[Carbon]

You can run GPU-Z and compare the "default" clocks to the regular clocks.

Corsair's 750W unit is made by some other crappy company, not Seasonic, but it should at least be OK in this situation.

[icu222much]

I am using a a Gigabyte EP45-DS3L and OCZ Reaper PC2-8500 2X2Gb. According to the OCZ website, the suggested voltage setting is between 2.1-2.3. I went into the Gigabyte BIOS setting and noticed that the memory voltage setting was set at 1.8. As I increased it to 2.1, I noticed that the voltage number began to turn pink. I went higher, proboly around 2.4, and I noticed that the voltage number turned red.

I have currently set my memory voltage at 2.0, where it is gray. The suggested minimum voltage that my RAM is suggested is 2.1, which according to my BIOS is marked in pink. Would it be safe to boost my memory voltage to 2.1?

In addition, what does giving my memory more voltage auctually do to my memory? Does it give it more power so it can perform better? If so, why can't I just boost the voltage to 3.0?

[Carbon]

Ignore your motherboard here. Boost it to whatever the box says.

Certain modules require a certain amount of power to work correctly. Increasing it to 3.0 would fry your RAM.

[thingie2]

Yea, ignore the colour codes, they are guidelines for standard spec RAM modules, but as the OCZ stuff requires more than standard voltages, it's irrelevant.

[icu222much]

Thank you. My computer seems to have stopped crashing when gaming.