Can a Game Crash a PSU?

Bison · July 16, 2015, 12:15:49 PM

Weird. It sounds to me like you will need to break the bad news to the wife. Something like this: "Honey, I'm giving the boy my computer, which means I'm going to be buying a new one for myself. Sorry, babe. I was really working hard for this not to happen, but it's the only option left." And then hang your head in shame as you sleep on the couch for the next 2 to 3 weeks, all the while secretly smiling on the inside because of the new computer.

Barthheart · July 16, 2015, 12:29:06 PM

Quote from: Bison on July 16, 2015, 12:15:49 PM
Weird. It sounds to me like you will need to break the bad news to the wife. Something like this: "Honey, I'm giving the boy my computer, which means I'm going to be buying a new one for myself. Sorry, babe. I was really working hard for this not to happen, but it's the only option left." And then hang your head in shame as you sleep on the couch for the next 2 to 3 weeks, all the while secretly smiling on the inside because of the new computer.

Heh. I'm trying that gambit right now.... "Honey I've tried fixing your computer but I think it's toast. Maybe you should take mine and I'll get a new one. We can use your business to write off part of the expense." Soon... soon....

Tuna · July 16, 2015, 12:37:45 PM

Quote from: Barthheart on July 16, 2015, 12:29:06 PM
Quote from: Bison on July 16, 2015, 12:15:49 PM
Weird. It sounds to me like you will need to break the bad news to the wife. Something like this: "Honey, I'm giving the boy my computer, which means I'm going to be buying a new one for myself. Sorry, babe. I was really working hard for this not to happen, but it's the only option left." And then hang your head in shame as you sleep on the couch for the next 2 to 3 weeks, all the while secretly smiling on the inside because of the new computer.

Heh. I'm trying that gambit right now.... "Honey I've tried fixing your computer but I think it's toast. Maybe you should take mine and I'll get a new one. We can use your business to write off part of the expense." Soon... soon....

I new you guys would have some good recommendations!!! O0

Tuna · July 16, 2015, 01:13:54 PM

K.. system restore said it failed on two different end points.. Rebooted.. video looked really wacked and fragmented during BIOS and Windows Load then it Blue Screened.. and now it came up ok!... Something must've happened Video Driver wise, that my uninstall and cleaning didn't get rid of...

The real test will be when he comes home, to start playing... crossing fingers..

Tuna · July 16, 2015, 03:32:42 PM

He's playing GTA V and all seems well.. so basically the Star Wars game hosed his video driver so bad that it was corrupted file, so when I removed the drivers trying to fix, that didn't even work.

Some reason the 'failed' system restore's dskcheck I think got rid of the bad file.

I told him no more trying to play that game, at least not with his current configuration.

I also downloaded Malware Bytes after and did a scan.. nothing Malicious...

Yskonyn · July 16, 2015, 04:01:36 PM

Usually if it loses feed to the monitor, Windows or DirectX or OpenGL or whatever is trying to govern the videocard, is asking for a resolution OR a redreshrate the monitor doesn't support.

I've ran into a similar problem once.
I could start in Safe Mode and get rid of the conflicting software.

I am glad your problem seems to be sorted.

Swatter · July 16, 2015, 08:38:54 PM

If I were to place bets I would say its driver issue, but one of the rarer variety. You say the computer performs normally otherwise, so unless your son really cares about the game, just don't play it I suppose (which sounds like your solution).

If it was just killing you to find out, try updating other drivers (especially sound). If had issues before I swore were related to my video card that turned out to be old drivers on my sound card.

Tuna · July 16, 2015, 08:55:01 PM

Yeah. .I told him skip that game.. like us he's got many others to keep his attention.. and like us his gaming ADD was making him listen to his friends to try out this game. But he knows better now. I think it's just a fluke thing with his configuration and that game, some day if he upgrades his Video card or something he can try again. But why bother, we have so many games to choose from!

Nefaro · July 16, 2015, 11:59:49 PM

KOTOR and KOTOR II had some really weird bugs.

I recall KOTOR having to be patches shortly after it's release, years ago, due to some specific motherboard compatibility issues. Which is unusual.

I've also had KOTOR II repeatedly bug out on me in the most odd way, with a couple different computers. Character movement would freeze, but the rest of the game would just continue running. I could never get past the first area because my 3D character would stop mid-stride and I couldn't move anymore, but I could see distant enemy mobs wandering around per usual and the sounds were still running.

After checking into the latter problem, it's supposedly a hardware compatibility issue. Most odd freeze bug I've ever had was with the KOTOR engine. ???

Huw the Poo · July 17, 2015, 01:17:57 AM

It isn't unheard of for a game to blow up a monitor. ;)

Tuna · July 17, 2015, 08:44:48 AM

Yeah that's the thing, if the Game Crashes and won't run, that's one thing. But when it knocks a PC out of commission, my 16 year old was very sad.. Glad I was lucky enough to resolve.

If it had only happen the once, i would've said fluke. But when he's running fine for two weeks after the first incident and the first time he fires up the game again, same thing happens! May have just been a fluke of 'his' configuration, but still not worth the risk where he can run everything else in the world fine.

panzerde · July 17, 2015, 07:30:07 PM

If it's working in Safe Mode and if you keep it in plain vanilla VGA, you either have a bad video driver of some sort, or something wrong with the video card. Since it runs fine with anything other than that game I'd say the game is chewing up the video driver. Something about it and that driver aren't getting along.

Bison · July 18, 2015, 09:13:00 AM

Quote from: Huw the Poo on July 17, 2015, 01:17:57 AM
It isn't unheard of for a game to blow up a monitor. ;)

This is a classic review. This poor bastard would be hounded by a crowd of PC SJW assholes until he was in financial ruin and his character destroyed for writing an awesomely hilarious review, because it's insensitive and uses hurtful words.

Huw the Poo · July 18, 2015, 09:34:51 AM

It's amazing isn't it? I wheel it out whenever the opportunity presents itself. I mean, this is gold:

QuoteAt this point, you might be wondering whether my monitor was about to die anyway. All I can say is that why don't you try using that same logic on the surviving family members of people killed in a plane crash and see how it holds up there. Freedom: First Resistance BLEW UP MY MONITOR

QuoteI still haven't revealed whether Freedom is worth your four hundred and eighy three dollars and sevety four cents, but I would like to request that Red Storm not send us any more "free" copies of their games, especially the ones that BLOW UP YOUR MONITOR

Nefaro · July 18, 2015, 09:50:10 AM

Quote from: Bison on July 18, 2015, 09:13:00 AM
Quote from: Huw the Poo on July 17, 2015, 01:17:57 AM
It isn't unheard of for a game to blow up a monitor. ;)

This is a classic review. This poor bastard would be hounded by a crowd of PC SJW assholes until he was in financial ruin and his character destroyed for writing an awesomely hilarious review, because it's insensitive and uses hurtful words.

Forgot about that one. Both tragic and funny.

Oddly enough - the last pair of screenshots show a game window interface that looks exactly like those in the KOTOR series. Even though the original KOTOR didn't come out until around 2003 or 2004 and the review date listed is 2000. ???

Was that an earlier version of the engine or something?