I need some computer help..

[zagazsano]

I bought the game Left4Dead, and it's pretty great, yet sometimes whenever I run the game, my computer will either a.) freeze b.) crash c.) make weird noises d.) all of the above
I've tried upgrading my video card, yet it made no difference. I've tried updating my Windows XP to Service Pack 3 to see if it would do anything, unfortunately it didn't. It gets very irritating, and here is some computer specs. (Note: Please inform me if you need anymore information about my computer to solve the problem)
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz 3.00 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM (i just copied this from System Properites.) ATI Radeon 9600 / X1050 Series (I think that's the video card, I don't know much about computers, that's why I need all of your help xD) The game works great, it's just that my computer crashes sometimes when I play it. When I turn it off then turn it back on...it says CPU OVER TEMPERATURE ERROR! But I've only been using the computer for about 4 minutes or so.
And that's it.

 

[New Troll]

Upgrade RAM. Cheap and very effective.

As for your issue, make sure you're in a more dust-free environment and don't be afraid to buy some canned air to clean your computer out with.

Could be a bad fan, or processor sealant not put on correctly, but I'd say dust first. Not only is it the most common heating problem people have, but it's also the easiest and cheapest to fix. Canned Air, $5 at your local Wal-Mart.

 

[DazZ.]

Pretty sure your processor is overheating, download a program like Speedfan [http://www.almico.com/speedfan438.exe] and see what the temp is, if its over 60ish you probally need a new fan. Try cleaning it, could just be an insane amount of dust built up.

Also is that the only game you play on the computer? Does it do the same at any other point?

 

[teisjm]

1 GB of ram is not very much, get an extra GB or two, it's not very expensive

 

[zagazsano]

Pretty sure your processor is overheating, download a program like Speedfan [http://www.almico.com/speedfan438.exe] and see what the temp is, if its over 60ish you probally need a new fan. Try cleaning it, could just be an insane amount of dust built up.

Also is that the only game you play on the computer? Does it do the same at any other point?

No, the only time it crashes is when I play Left4Dead, or some other games. I'll try cleaning it. Thanks for the help.

 

[JRCB]

Get more RAM, a better fan (or clean it, as already suggested), and/or a new processor.

 

[zagazsano]

Get more RAM, a better fan (or clean it, as already suggested), and/or a new processor.

Uh, ok I'm kind of stupid when it comes to computer, but how do you get more RAM?

 

[JRCB]

Get more RAM, a better fan (or clean it, as already suggested), and/or a new processor.

Uh, ok I'm kind of stupid when it comes to computer, but how do you get more RAM?

You can go to pretty much any computer electronics store and pick some up. You take out the old RAM, and put the new RAM in. Fairly simple.

 

[Dottie]

Get more RAM, a better fan (or clean it, as already suggested), and/or a new processor.

Uh, ok I'm kind of stupid when it comes to computer, but how do you get more RAM?

go to a local computer repair person but you have to be stern with computer people they will sell you crap without even asking you or saying anything telling you they know what's best and charge you an extra 80 bucks for Norton they did this to my friend because she didn't come to me I said she deserved it. tell them you want them to install RAM and ONLY RAM no anti virus programs or anything like that. it should run you about 25 bucks tops

Edit: Plus how ever much the person charges for the service if you don't know enough about computers to install your own ram you should just stick to xbox.

 

[Outamyhead]

I'm guessing because of the warning message you were getting, your CPU is not being cooled correctly, once in a blue moon you may need to take the heatsink off, clean the old thermal paste off and then put some fresh stuff back on the heatsink for when you seat it back in place on the CPU; it may just need a damn good cleaning out with compressed air as well.

RAM isn't a bad idea as you only have 1GB of the stuff, my old system had 2GB before I built a totally new one.

You can get all the info of your system from a couple of free programs like CPU-Z, and Sisoft Sandra, it will tell you the speed you want, what type of memory it is, even who made it.

The most important info you need is what speed in MHz the RAM already is (could be 333, 400, 566, all the way up to 800MHz), and what type, I'm guessing DDR2 400MHz by the speed of the processor, but use the software mentioned to make sure.

Safest brands I know of are Corsair, Kingston, and my new favourite G Skill.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

wow i can't believe how many BAD answers are in here, this has NOTHING to do with the ram at all.

an issue with RAM is actually pretty random, except in a certain circumstances and only during game play is NOT one of them

this is a cpu fan issue, it is overheating. plain and simple

so what you need to do is go to a computer store, ie not best buy, and tell them you need better cooling for your computer. they will give you some new fans, you might also want to get a better power supply as well and pay extra money for a good one and not some generic one

 

[Outamyhead]

wow i can't believe how many BAD answers are in here, this has NOTHING to do with the ram at all.

an issue with RAM is actually pretty random, except in a certain circumstances and only during game play is NOT one of them

this is a cpu fan issue, it is overheating. plain and simple

so what you need to do is go to a computer store, ie not best buy, and tell them you need better cooling for your computer. they will give you some new fans, you might also want to get a better power supply as well and pay extra money for a good one and not some generic one

Which is what I as well as one or two others have said as well, the CPU overheat message is more about the heatsink or fan not doing it's job properly, I'm guessing it's not really been cleaned out, it's most likely dust build up, compressed air in a can should fix that, the less likely culprit would be a bad thermal sensor on the board, or the CPU itself reporting to the BIOS.