Surviving Mars - Computer freezes only if Surviving Mars is running (paused) when I go afk for 5-10 minutes... happens daily when playing game

[I. M. Notamoose]

Description
Computer freezes only if Surviving Mars is running (paused) when I go afk for 5-10 minutes... happens daily when playing game


Windows


Steam

What is your game version?
249143

Do you have Space Race installed?
Yes

Please explain your issue is in as much detail as possible.
I have been playing the game daily while listening to YT discussions. If I go take my dogs outside for 5-10 minutes (or similar activity), about once a day (sometimes twice) I come back and have to shut down and restart computer as my screen stays blank (screensaver) and I cannot get it to recognize my mouse or keyboard inputs. Only DLC, no other mods. Does NOT happen with other games or no games. Game and YouTube are paused before I head out. Win7/64, AMD Fx-6300 6 core 3.5 GHz, 12 GB Ram, SSD (happened back when I used a HDD). I run the game for up to 12-14 hours a day. It bothers me mainly because of the pain of relogging in to YT and Twitch each time and resetting my dark themes. I have my CPU and GPU fans set to run continuously as certain games (HoI4) will cause my GPU to overheat and cause a crash and reboot of the system. AMD Radeon R7-370 2 gb -- plan on replacing but do not have the $$$ right now.

Can you replicate the issue?
Yes, I just start the game and start playing as before, eventually when I leave for a bit and come back, it is frozen again.

Attachments
(DID NOT ANSWER QUESTION)

 

[I. M. Notamoose]

A another note that may or not be pertinent. Bought via Steam, play with Steam in offline mode.

 

[AndrewT]

Despite your precautions that does sound like an overheating issue.

Please attach here the latest (ONLY!) game log file, from here:
C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Roaming\Surviving Mars\logs\
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

Plus, DXDIAG is a program you run from a command prompt or the Windows start menu 'run' dialog box (or 'search programs' in Windows 7 or later). After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.


Please report the temperatures of your CPU and video (GPU)
1/ before starting the game up and
2/ after say 30 minutes' play.
If your PC's vendor has given you no way of reading temperatures, install
SPEEDFAN http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

 

[I. M. Notamoose]

Included multiple files because I had restarted the game after the crash. 21:50 -- CPU temp 44C, GPU temp 33 C (100% fan speed manually set as normal). Start game. Initial temp rise (save loaded, paused) CPU temp 90C, GPU 61C, after 10 mins CPU increased to 94C, so apparently I need a better cooling solution for my cpu. GPU stayed steady at 61-62C. I did not suspect this because I have played for 10+ hours straight with no issues.

 

[AndrewT]

IME anything over 80c is a potential cause of this, so 94c is definitely your problem I'd say! Unusual to have the CPU hotter than the GPU ...

Don't run the game again until you address the cooling, we don't want you to damage your machine.

Clean out all air vents it has (compressed air cans are good for this). Make sure airflow to them is not blocked by anything like walls, books or whatever.
If that doesn't drop the temps enough, you probably have a faulty fan or a heatsink/thermal paste problem. You may need professional help at that point.

Good luck with that!

 

[I. M. Notamoose]

The worst the CPU temp reaches playing other games has been 66C (I tested it today). I will blow it out in a few days using my oil free compressor -- it takes a while for me to get to it, but plan to order a water cooler shortly. Normally it has been running about 45C

 

[AndrewT]

One thing i should have mentioned - in the game's Display menu, set the frame rate limit to 60 - that will stop it going too fast, which can cause overheating itself (although more usually in the GPU of course).

 

[I. M. Notamoose]

I blew out (by mouth) my heat sink and reset it (plan on going to water cooling shortly). Set frame rate to 30 (I used to play dos-based games, so no big deal), cpu at 68Cm gpu at 59C. Will order water cooling probably next week for both cpu and gpu (gpu so I can hopefully switch to linux soon for most things - my r7-370's fan just cannot be controlled by any linux drivers I tried, so water cooling should make that issue moot - cheaper than a new card).