Skyrim: Possible Overheat ?

[KrU5her]

Hey fellow Skyrim players,

I've been having trouble playing the game since yesterday. I can't seem to play more than 2 minutes without my screen auto-shutting off and going to "no signal"; the audio blurs, and i can't get the computer to start again. I have to shut it off manually, as I can't even go back to the Desktop ... Is anybody familiar with this kind of problem ?

[Miku]

Quick i want to go to bed. Give me your specs.

[KrU5her]

NightCore, you mean this ?

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/23/2013, 18:27:33
Operating System: Windows 7 Édition Familiale Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533)
Language: French (Regional Setting: French)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire M5811
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6104MB RAM
Page File: 1949MB used, 10254MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode

[Miku]

Do you have a video card i cant find it in there.

[KrU5her]

I do ! Here it is:

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GT 320
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GT 320
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CA2&SUBSYS_2150174B&REV_A2
Display Memory: 3774 MB
Dedicated Memory: 978 MB
Shared Memory: 2795 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: Acer LCD Monitor AL1951
Monitor Model: Acer AL1951
Monitor Id: ACRAD41
Native Mode: 1280 x 1024(p) (75.025Hz)
Output Type: DVI
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.2049 (English)
Driver Version: 9.18.13.2049
DDI Version: 10.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/21/2013 14:06:36, 15144928 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4FE2-11CF-FA7C-5D011FC2C435}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0CA2
SubSys ID: 0x2150174B
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Driver Strong Name: oem40.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section002:9.18.13.2049:pci\ven_10de&dev_0ca2
Rank Of Driver: 00E02001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C

[Miku]

YOur video card is not really strong. Set all your video settings to the lowest possible and update your video card drivers.

[Miku]

I can help you more tomorrow but i need a rest now.

[Jankila]

I had the same problem as you, but it turned out to my cooler wich is REEALLY ♥♥♥♥♥♥! so what i did was that i just put my laptop a bit over the surface (letting the air flow better) and the it worked. Try to do this and hopefully it will work (unless you have a stationary pc) :)

[CyberDown]

Your graphics card...

here is the benchmark http://videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GT+320 score of 547!

Im surprised you can use the internet with that.

By comparison here is a gtx 460, which is 3 generations old, but still a gaming class card: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+460+SE&id=123 score of 2239

The card might have dx11 capabilities but certainly not enough power for any modern game. If you are intent on gaming moving forward, you have a great CPU (its strange that CPU is way newer than your card i think, odd how you have such a dated card with that CPU) you might want to at least invest in an old GTX 460 (youll need a new power supply though) and if you want to keep playing modern games i suggest getting a more modern gaming class card than that.

But if you are intent on keeping the card, get yourself a can of compresed air, turn off the pc, open it up, dust the CPU heatsink then stick that little straw into the GPU fan and let her rip, chances are a mushroom cloud of dust will be ejected from it. This will significantly increase the cards cooling capability.

Do yourself a favor though, get a semi-modern budget gaming card, be warned you will probably need a new power supply.

[Miku]

^^^^^^^This guy is right.

If you can afford it get an gtx 760. Its expensive but todays second strongest gpu.
If you cant afford it better get gtx660. I say dont buy gtx 460 since its fairly old. You would need to upgrade in a while.
Watch your power supply!

[Andrius227]

I'm probably off topic here... But i have a GTX 680 and it's amazing .

Ok sorry... I better go now...

[KrU5her]

Guys, thank you so much for your kind feedback and help. I've been monitoring my gpu, it does overheat (going over 110 degrees) and then automatically shuts off. Weird fact: I could play far cry 3 on low spec just fine with the same graphic card ! Anyways, thanks for your help :)

[Andrius227]

Postat inițial de KrU5her:

Guys, thank you so much for your kind feedback and help. I've been monitoring my gpu, it does overheat (going over 110 degrees) and then automatically shuts off. Weird fact: I could play far cry 3 on low spec just fine with the same graphic card ! Anyways, thanks for your help :)

110 ?? O.o

My gtx 680 would probably explode at 100 degrees. Or even 90 degrees.

[Metuz]

Try to test ypur card is tools like OCCT, it can display temperature and you can strees test both CPU/GPU, but you really need a new GPU. You could check out Radeon 7970/7950 too, if you mod Skyrim the 3GB will give alot.

[jamesc70]

The new Tomb Raider was doing the same thing to my 2600k/580 PC. I live in a dusty area, so removed the 580, took off the cover by removing the screws, and found a mat of dust directly in front of the radiator air intake.

If you were able to play before, but now it starts to shut down, I'd tear apart your vid card (if you know what you are doing) and clean it.

[KrU5her]

I'm just going to try to play it on my laptop. I tested on Can You Run It, and on Low Spec it will certainly work. Just a short-term solution to my overheating gpu