new problem with video-intensive apps/games

[Alf2001]

Windows in Boot Camp was working fine for months and is still stable running powerpoint and the like. Several weeks ago we noticed this problem when running some games. I’ve listed specifics below but the screen typically goes black and then is sometimes restored; about 30 seconds later the computer restarts or freezes. I upgraded to Boot Camp 1.3 but that didn’t fix it. Since the partition was small (and I was going to do this anyway), I reinstalled Windows on its own 500 GB internal hard drive. I installed Half-Life 2 successfully but again the game crashed after several minutes. I went to the ATI web site for the current X1900 video driver and installed it that but it didn’t help much. I haven’t seen this problem mentioned before so it may be related to the X1900 Radeon card in my Mac Pro which was purchased last October:

MAC PRO/2.66QX/4X512/X 1900XT/250/500/SD

Part no. Z0D8003MQ

Model no. A1186

Family ID: Z0D8

 

Any suggestions appreciated. I asked a PC colleague and he said it was probably a video card problem - ie some upgrade broke the compatibility with Windows somehow? He also suggested just buying an Xbox 360.

 

Thanks

 

 

Notes from teenager running these games:

 

Civilization IV:

First time after about 30 minutes, the screen went black for a few seconds, computer made sounds as if working fast, everything returned back to the way it was. Second time about five minutes later, screen went black and would not return, computer did not make noise, had to manually shut down

 

Half-Life 2:

A few minutes after opened, screen froze, had to restart manually, (control-alt-delete didn't work)

 

Warcraft III:

First time a few minutes after opening, the screen went black for a few seconds but returned (just like the first time of Civilization IV). Second time a minute later, screen went black for about 5 seconds, then the Mac start-up noise sounded and the computer started up again (into Mac OS X because that is the startup disk default)

[U.C.]

Have you tried cleaning your GFX Card. Sounds to me like either the GFX Card is overheating or it is faulty or it is not receiving enough power.

 

I had similar crashes with my PCI-E 6600GT. I simply cleaned the fan+heatsink and put on a fresh layer of Arctic Silver. It worked perfectly ever after.

 

Though my AGP 6600GT required the Molex (Power) connector to be tightened, which supplied power to the card.

 

BTW Have you added any extra hardware recently??