Computer Crashes During HL2 Game Play

[lavatrout]

I bought HL2 three days ago and had clocked about ten hours on it with no problems, until now. At any random interval, my game will experience a sudden lag spike for a second, then go back to normal for about half a minute. Then the computer shuts down. I do not experience this with TF2, L4D, Garry's Mod, Portal, or Portal 2. I am running the game with all of its default settings with the exception of having "-dxlevel 70" set as my launch options. Below are my computer specifications.

Processor Information:
Vendor: AuthenticAMD
CPU Family: 0x10
CPU Model: 0x5
CPU Stepping: 0x3
CPU Type: 0x0
Speed: 3114 Mhz
4 logical processors
4 physical processors
HyperThreading: Unsupported
FCMOV: Supported
SSE2: Supported
SSE3: Supported
SSSE3: Unsupported
SSE4a: Supported
SSE41: Unsupported
SSE42: Unsupported

Network Information:
Network Speed:

Operating System Version:
Windows 7 (64 bit)
NTFS: Supported
Crypto Provider Codes: Supported 311 0x0 0x0 0x0

Video Card:
Driver: ATI Radeon HD 4600 Series

DirectX Driver Name: aticfx32.dll
Driver Version: 8.970.100.1100
DirectX Driver Version: 8.17.10.1129
Driver Date: 29 Apr 2013
OpenGL Version: 3.3
Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 59 Hz
DirectX Card: ATI Radeon HD 4600 Series
VendorID: 0x1002
DeviceID: 0x9490
Number of Monitors: 1
Number of Logical Video Cards: 1
No SLI or Crossfire Detected
Primary Display Resolution: 1440 x 900
Desktop Resolution: 1440 x 900
Primary Display Size: 20.00" x 12.52" (23.58" diag)
50.8cm x 31.8cm (59.9cm diag)
Primary Bus Type Not Detected
Primary VRAM: 1024 MB
Supported MSAA Modes: 2x 4x 8x

Sound card:
Audio device: Speakers (Realtek High Definiti

Memory:
RAM: 4095 Mb

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I love this game so much and I want to complete it.

[TheDagda509]

At the risk of sounding like crappy IT guy :), it's probably caused by overheating, most instances, like the one your experiencing, are usually related. Open your case, clear out any dust. check your CPU, GPU fans, then any internal fans in the case itself(if watercooling, check the well). If everything looks good there, it might be a failing power supply or your graphics card. if possible try swapping out either one out with a replacement. It might even be a failed memory module...these things are fairly annoying to figure out and you have to put a little time in to root out the cause.

I don't think it's the game's settings or the amount of RAM or anything like that. You could also trying closing/stopping any non-essential programs/services you have running. Lighten your system's overall load a little, then, in-game, push the settings down a notch. Hope this helps.

[lavatrout]

thank you so much for replying. will try this tomorrow and give you an update.

[BobTheMushroom]

I have the same problem I will play for about 15 mins or so and my screen will go black and the computer will shut down. I am able to run more strenuious programs like skyrim on high and it wont shut down. I am even able to have or 150 mods installed on skyrim and it still wont crash. My computer is only a year and a half old so I am not sure if its it or not. Here are my comp specs:
Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer MICHAEL-PC
Generator Michael
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium Home Edition 6.1.7601
Date 2014-01-06
Time 19:23


--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium Home Edition
OS Service Pack -
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name MICHAEL-PC
User Name Michael

Motherboard:
CPU Type 2x , 3000 MHz
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset Unknown
System Memory 7657 MB
BIOS Type Unknown
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6550D
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6550D
Monitor Compaq S1922 Series Wide LCD Monitor [NoDB] (CNC031R8RP)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]
Audio Adapter High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]

Storage:
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller A20M7KZU IDE Controller
Disk Drive ST500DM002-1BD142 ATA Device
Disk Drive WDC WD2500AAKS-00SBA0 ATA Device
Optical Drive ASUS DRW-24B1ST c ATA Device
Optical Drive VCB R4X6RCX2VS SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive VCB R4X6RCX2VS SCSI CdRom Device
SMART Hard Disks Status Unknown

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 446932 MB (119976 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 238472 MB (143965 MB free)
Total Size 669.3 GB (257.8 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Mouse HID-compliant mouse

Network:
Network Adapter Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8188SU Wireless LAN 802.11n USB 2.0 Network Adapter (192.168.1.130)

Peripherals:
Printer Fax
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB Device HD Webcam C310
USB Device Logitech HD Webcam C310
USB Device Logitech USB Camera (HD Webcam C310)
USB Device Realtek RTL8188SU Wireless LAN 802.11n USB 2.0 Network Adapter
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Input Device
USB Device USB Input Device
USB Device USB Input Device

[lavatrout]

I turned off google sky drive and it fixed my problem. Probably just a coincidence though.

[Candy shop]

Try closing all of your programs and exit programs that run and you dont need them. also try turning performance mode off. performance mode makes your pc heat increase 50% and that makes an over heat.