Please help

[southerngq]

I have a serious gaming problem that I can't seem to cure.
Gateway Performance PC
Intel PIII Katmai 500Mhz
50Gb hard drive
384Mb RAM
Direct X 9.0
ATI Rage Fury Pro video card
SB Live sound card

All latest drivers

Whenever I try to play complex games,
(ie. MechWarrior 4- Vengeance or Final Fantasy VIII )
I can load the software and start the games with no problems or error messages, however, after just several minutes of gameplay, my system freezes and I have to manually reboot. This happens every time, not occasionally.
I need help figuring this out.
Please send me any advice you can. I know this PC backwards and forwards and I can't fix it!

Thanks

[Rocketmech]

Take the case off and place a house fan to blow directly onto the mobo. See if it helps.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Yeah what are you temps like?

Check your heatsink/Fan are seated p[roperly, the fan is plugged in okay and running properly

--Jakk:t

[DocEvi1]

could it not be the lack of decent drivers for the old ATI cards? The other possibility is that your comp is simply to old to take the game.

I had a Hercules Prophet 4500 in my 1.4Tbird and not many games would work due to the lack of Hardware T&L, maybe you are having the same problem.

I personally doubt it could be temperatures, but always check all avenues - easiest first.

Are you running the beta edition of DX9?

Stefan

[southerngq]

Yes, I am running the BETA version of Direct X 9.0, however, had the same problem with 8.1

I fear that my system for some reason will not handle the higher graphics and action. Hopefully, someone will come up with a better alternative. The system I want is 2800.00! :-(