My new PC keeps crashing when playing games. Especially The Witcher 3.

[Moorbs]

My new gaming PC keeps crashing when I play games. Sometimes it will be fine, I was playing Crysis 3 for hours earlier, but other times it wont.

 

When it crashes the screen goes black and sound from the game continues for a few seconds then buzzes.

Next the system sounds like it's rebooting but doesn't post.

Sometimes I'll switch it off and on with the power button and it will either not post or beep 5 times (2 beeps then 3 faster beeps)

switching off the power supply at the switch then back on makes it able to boot properly.

it has also frozen a couple of times on the desktop which is odd for a new PC.

 

I've checked the temps, CPU doesn't go above 60c with prime95 and GPU doesn't go above 70c with intensive gaming.

I've also run memtest86 and the only RAM errors were on the hammer test (not important, very unlikely to cause a problem realistically)

I even updated the bios to the latest version.

 

specs here: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/XkX3nQ

 

Anyone have any idea what could be causing the problem?

 

[Tedster]

Welcome to the Forum.

 

What graphics driver version are you running?

[Moorbs]

Thanks, I have all the latest drivers fro everything, My GTX 970 has 352.86

[Tedster]

Thanks, I have all the latest drivers fro everything, My GTX 970 has 352.86

Okay. I've been experiencing crashes similar to yours (but posting and starting as normal) when playing GTA V with that driver - however I guess you really want the driver for The Witcher 3.

I'd try rolling back to the GTA V driver, see if that fixes the problem - but I don't know how well The Witcher 3 will run with the older driver.

[AstroBenny]

Latest graphics drivers?

Done all windows updates?

Have you overclocked your 970? - Games might be crashing from instability.

Also you might want to load default settings in the Bios and just enable XMP if you have XMP memory.

If none of these work I'd say reinstall windows and install all your drivers in the following order:

Once windows installation is complete:

1) Lan driver from your mobo dvd or usb stick so you can connect to internet.

2) Go to Mobo website and download relevant drivers - Chipset,USB,Lan,Audio

3)Go to nvidia website, get latest 970 drivers.

4)Windows Update

5)Install anti-virus here if you have one. (I recommend Norton or Kaspersky.)

 

Game on?

[Moorbs]

Latest graphics drivers?

Done all windows updates?

Have you overclocked your 970? - Games might be crashing from instability.

Also you might want to load default settings in the Bios and just enable XMP if you have XMP memory.

If none of these work I'd say reinstall windows and install all your drivers in the following order:

Once windows installation is complete:

1) Lan driver from your mobo dvd or usb stick so you can connect to internet.

2) Go to Mobo website and download relevant drivers - Chipset,USB,Lan,Audio

3)Go to nvidia website, get latest 970 drivers.

4)Windows Update

5)Install anti-virus here if you have one. (I recommend Norton or Kaspersky.)

 

Game on?

Yes

Yes

It's an EVGA factory overclock, could that be an issue? If so, how do I change it to a stock GTX 970 clock?

I'll try that now, is XMP a simple on-off thing or do I have to adjust settings?

 

 

[AstroBenny]

Yes

Yes

It's an EVGA factory overclock, could that be an issue? If so, how do I change it to a stock GTX 970 clock?

I'll try that now, is XMP a simple on-off thing or do I have to adjust settings?

If it's a factory overclock it will not be a stability issue. From the problems you describe its highly unlikely to be a stability issue anyway. As for enabling XMP, it will not stop the crashes you are experiencing. My point was that you should make sure you have your bios on load optimised defaults and enabling XMP for your memory to make sure it is running at full speed. I would recommend reinstalling windows as stated above.