Severe System Slowdowns during all games

[msenz07]

everytime i play a game, even the basic flash or CS or watever i get a severe system slowdown within 5 minutes of the game play. Once i start it up, my PC fan kicks on with avengance, and then within 5 minutes my frame rate becomes really choppy and my sound slows down. Setup:

512 MB ram
nVidia GeForce2 MX (64MB)
Windows XP Home

ive tried everything, downloaded latest drivers, defragged, virus scanned, MSCONFIGed all starting progs. off, check for spy/adware. I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT!! . My comp used to be able to handle CS but now it can't idk whats wrong. Should i get a new vid card? someone please help!! thanks

[Kestrel]

the only thing that strikes me straight off is that it sounds like an overheating issue.. almost as though the system is slowing your clock speed down due to high temperature...

as to why this would only start happening recently.. well.. the pads that come on modern heatsinks aren't perfect.. and after a time.. their efficiency can be compromised..

I would suggest removing the heatsink.. cleaning the pink pad off the heatsink and CPU.. and applying a cmall amount of arctic silver thermal paste to it..

also.. get an aerosol duster and make sure the fins on your heatsink are cleaned out thoroughly.. then see what happens

[msenz07]

kestrel thanks very much.
i have no idea what you were talking about with heat-sink and silver strip or whatever, but i took some aerosol spray and just sprayed all the dust.. (THERE WAS ALOT) around the 3 fans, the vid card and the processor and it worked! My fan doesn't kick in when playing CS and it works woohoo!! thansk so much for the insight.!!!

[Kestrel]

glad I could help