What the heck?!

[Neoma]

Okay my computer will let me go on forums and the Internet in general.
When i want to play ANY game on my computer. (this includes Ever quest2)

My computer shuts down by itself after around 20 minutes, i have to unplug my computer wait for 5+ minutes, if i don't wait and i plug it in, all the lights on my computer blinks alot and freaks me out.
If i wait and plug it in it comes on normal like, then screws around, it ether shuts down my monitor and i can't get it back up and i have to do it all over again, or it goes to this screen that says a bunch of bad stuff about my computer it tells me to go to F1 for setup or F2 for desktop.

gah! i wanna play games!

[salvorhardin]

1. Sounds like a thermal issue

You really should have a local computer shop check out the heatsink and fan on the CPU. Also, make sure any other fans are working.

It could also be caused by your power supply going bad, but the fact that it happens after you start playing games (which use your computer's processor a lot causing a rise in temperature) I'd be more willing to bet your heatsink wasn't properly installed.

The worst case scenario is the motherboard or the CPU going bad.

[Ready4Change]

2. I was thinking thermal issue as well.

But I was thinking of the video card.

When you play many games it starts working the 3D functions in your video card, which starts generating extra heat. Eventually that heat causes your computer to shut down rather than become damaged through overheating.

If you're comfortable opening your machines case, do so and check for dust bunnys. Look for anything that might be blocking the rotation of any fans in there, like a power or ribbon cable. Also look to see if anything might be blocking air flow through the case.

Again, only if you're comfortable do this, start the machine with the cover off. Check to make sure the fans on at least the CPU chip and the power supply start spinning. If the video card has a fan, and it isn't spinning already, start up one of your games and see if it starts spinning due to the new heat being generated.

If you're not comfortable with any of this, find a guru or take it to a shop.

Good luck!

[Neoma]

3. Actually.

Both fans are running and the cover is already off.

[Ready4Change]

4. Ok, which two fans?

There should be at least one CPU fan, often attached to a big block strapped ontop of the CPU itself on the motherboard. There is also always another inside the power supply, blowing air out the back of the case.

There may also be fans on the graphics card, the case may have 1 or more additional fans, and there might be a second, smaller fan on the motherboard for the CMOS.

If all the fans are running, it's possible some of them aren't running at speed. When they are spinning your should be able to feel the airflow with your fingers.

I've also run into machines where multiple case fans were working against each other. For example, all of them were blowing air out of the case. That meant no air was going INTO the case, and it would over heat. Flipped one of those case fans around and things cooled right down.

Finally, is it possible your husband/wife/SO doesn't like you playing games and is somehow cutting the PCs power in order to send you a message?

:)

[Neoma]

5. nope, they both have airflow

But there is one on a card and one blowing air out...

[Ready4Change]

7. Sound's like you need to have a guru look it over.

The one on the card might be the video card. Or there were some CPU's that were on their own special cards.

But if you aren't sure which this is, nor if the one blowing air out is in the power supply or if it's a case fan, then you may want to get someone who can be sure about such things to examine whats going on in there.

Otherwise, I might give you the wrong directions and cause a serious problem were there is probably only an easy problem now.

[jayfish]

6. Unless You Have A Box Fan Aimed At It,...

you should keep your case cover on. Sounds like a heat issue to me as well. You could have inadequate or misapplied thermal compound between your heat-sink and CPU. Could also be you video-card overheating.

Jay