I have had problems with multiple games, Bioshock now Stalker. The games keep crashing and freezing even on the lowest possible graphics settings after only a few minute of play.

Two qustions:

1) Is there an obvious reason this could be happening? (note i have tried updating drivers)

2) Do I need to update my RAM, or graphics card or generaly get a better system? And how do you do things like that?

My specs:

HP Pavilion 061, System Model: EP076AA-ABU m7350.uk
Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon X1300/X1550 Series
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1022MB RAM

Your graphics card was pointed out by BIO Shock to be not compatable:

Minimum Requirements:

Operating Systems:

Windows XP (with Service Pack 2) or
Windows Vista
Minimum System Requirements:

CPU: Pentium 4 2.4GHz Single Core processor
System RAM: 1GB
Video Card: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 128MB RAM (NVIDIA 6600 or better/ATI X1300 or better, excluding ATI X1550).
Sound Card: 100 direct X 9.0c compatible sound card
Hard disc space: 8GB free space
Recommended System Requirements:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo processor
System RAM: 2GB
Video card:
DX9: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT or better)
DX10: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 or better
Sound Card: Sound Blaster X-Fi series (Optimized for use with Creative Labs EAX ADVANCED HD 4.0 or EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0 compatible sound cards)

Don't know why but will look further. Just thought I'd point this out for now.

Yes, I noticed that too but managed to scrape by and just about finish the game on the lowest graphics.

My real problem is playing stalker, unless i am mistaken i should be able to play that with the specs i have, but it is crashing worse that Bioshock which is the more demanding game. Which makes me think i may have a problem....

Do you know what your temperatures are?

No.... how can i find them out?

Try Core Temp for your CPU:

http://www.thecoolest.zerobrains.com/CoreTemp/

Not sure if your Graphics card would have a detector. Will look.

Hmm it says 'This is not an intel core processor. This program will not continue.'

Hmmm....
I assumed this was a dual core:

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)


But maybe just "hyperthreaded"?

Try Everest under > Computer > Sensor

http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=everesthome

That one worked.

Field Value
Sensor Properties
Sensor Type SMSC DME1737 (SMBus 2Eh)

Temperatures
Motherboard 36 °C (97 °F)
Aux 66 °C (151 °F)
WDC WD3200JD-60KLB0 35 °C (95 °F)

Cooling Fans
CPU 1355 RPM
Chassis 1917 RPM

Voltage Values
CPU Core 0.83 V
+2.5 V 2.50 V
+3.3 V 3.35 V
+5 V 5.00 V
+12 V 11.75 V
VTR 3.33 V
Debug Info F 72 0F FD 0A FF FF FF FF
Debug Info T 00 24 42 81
Debug Info V C0 69 C3 C0 BC

Hmm... I still do not see any CPU reading.

I am not sure what is showing up as Aux but whatever it is is quite warm.

Have you ever cleaned out the computer (dust) and checked all the fans?

When it crashes do you get a dump log or error report?

By the way how do you like these games?

Are you going to get HL2 Episode 2? Portal look interesting too.

Back to your original post: if this is not a heat issue then I would upgrade your graphics card.