Graphics Cards

[anaxcrosswords]

I feel this is something I should know - but I don't! Is there a difference between what a graphics card does in terms of running eg PC games and displaying internet content such as YouTube videos?
The reason I ask is that I can watch HD videos for hours on end, but after 10-15 minutes of playing a driving game the PC shuts down, I assume in response to overheating. The graphics card is about the best I can have on my PC. It's a Lenovo tower but not designed as a gaming machine (the tower is about half the width of a typical one) so I do understand overheating could be a problem.
The graphics card is very good and I've boosted RAM to a maximum 8Gb.

[TTG]

What's the model of graphics card? Can you open the case and see if any of it's fans are spinning?

[hc4361]

I suspect your fans are full of fluff.

[anaxcrosswords]

The card is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti - unfortunately I haven't got the right gear to open the case but the fan was working when my techie guy installed it.

[anaxcrosswords]

No, the fans are clean. The PC is only a few months old.

[SlackAlice]

Also, whats the game your trying to play and do you know the minimum specs for the game?

[anaxcrosswords]

The game is Wreckfest, which I downloaded via Steam. I don't really understand how Steam operates, but believe it runs in the background while you play the game.
Really, though, for now I'm most interested in the role of the graphics card when it comes to gaming/online video.

[anaxcrosswords]

BTW the recommendation was 4Gb RAM (I doubled it anyway). Other hardware was some way below what I have, but I don't fully trust the recommendations; if they reveal what's needed for high performance it may put off purchase by those with 'standard' gear.

[Old_Geezer]

Don't high spec cards work out the graphics in terms of triangles and shading and perspective for games, resulting in a lot of calculation, whereas for a video it simply has to colour the dots as instructed changing from frame to frame only those that changed ?

[Old_Geezer]

Anyway my NVidia card crashes on Dragon Age Inquisition. I think there's a flaw they aren't admitting to.

[Old_Geezer]

Try speedfan to check temperatures. My investigation suggests NVidia cards, or at least some of them, are designed to run as unexpectedly high temperatures.

[SlackAlice]

Specs for the game here.

http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=9029&;game=Wreckfest

Not particularly high end at all. Was known previously as the Next Car game, unfortunately not a very good game at all full of bugs and problems.

I remember trying it out on my gaming pc with poor results. I abandoned it!

[Togo]

Hi anax. That card is a pretty good "budget" graphics card for gaming purposes, but the techie gamers do recommend that your monitor is G-sync capable to prevent screen tearing or stutter whilst gaming. What problems are you experiencing. Also check your power supply outputs. ie are you getting a good 9v and 12v dc output.

[anaxcrosswords]

The only problem is the system shutting itself down - visually there are no problems, although I only get about half the ideal 60fps. Still very playable though. I'll need my techie to look at the power outputs and temps as I'm not experienced enough.
When the system shuts off it can't (I don't think) be rebooted via keyboard. The power light on the tower stays on, but I have to hold it down to fully power off, then hit it again to reboot.

[Togo]

My son used to drive me mad with his gaming spec requirements. We ran a desktop for 18 months with the side panels off to keep it cool, he was always upgrading drivers and clocking the ruddy cards to get an edge. I have just had a look and your power supply need a minimum of 300w capability, and the card will run at 95c top temp.

[anaxcrosswords]

The update is... it's the power unit. Temperatures are normal and all the other hardware is fine. Unfortunately, with the PC model I have, the power supply can't be upgraded.
Thankfully my techie has a game-ready tower which he'll give me for £40 and will set it all up on Friday. If - as he thinks may be possible - he can string an extra transfer button/box into the setup I can toggle between all 3 PCs. Failing that, I'll have to live with manually reconnecting my old XP machine, which is hardly ever used anyway. TBH I only need it for Photoshop!