ok, Ive read all of your suggestions, thanks. I checked my events viewer, nothing out of the ordinary. I doubt it would get time to log it, everything dies. One strange thing about this is that my USB ports all die! I'm not sure how this could be related to anytrhing else except a power issue. Anyway, as for the graphics card I'll borrow one of someone and see if I have the same problem, if not time to go shopping.

I just went for a flight on FSX. I flew a flight for about 30 mins no problems. When I started a new flight, which started on the ground, bang, she froze.

Oh yeah, as I said earlier my PC never did this before, I havn't done any hardware upgrades so i suspect you may be correct when you say something or another may be going. It also kinds of rules out the chipset doesn't it? why would it start doing it now?? cheers.

Yes, sure. I missed that. Sorry. If you played the same things on that exact hardware without trouble before, this rules out the mentioned chipset issue. Then video card and RAM get into the focus. (But it could be the mainboard itself, too. You'll find out.)

They power down? Or what do you mean by "die"? Don't know if this is normal behavior for USB...Pretty much everything stops working when the whole system is halted. Even the keyboard - If I can't switch the num lock LED on and off anymore, I know it's completely frozen.

yeah, all of the lights on my joystick go off and nums lock etc cant be turned on or off. Yeah i was using the exact same hardware when i got it, so it must be something to do with that. Umm...is it possible that dust could be the problem?? it's like a crypt in there!

Almost everything or a combination of several things can be the cause of such issues, including dust (=overheat, dust can render coolers and fans useless) or dead animals. :mrgreen:

right, I'll have to test with other hardware, Ive just puchased a USB vacuum cleaner so i'll give it a thorough cleaning and see if that helps..well Im off to bed (it's late here) cheers.

Don't use a vacuum to clean out(try compressed air or a shaving brush), disconnect the cable from the PSU and get yourself connected to ground (touch the case) before touching anything.

Ok will do, cheers.

thia happens to my new dell with farcry and BF2
its cold as ice and has newest software so dont know why

yeah they are both graphically intense games...can I ask what your graphics card is??

radeon x600 256meg - it runs farcry on medium and battlefield 2 on medium just fine (1024x768) (1280x1024 is ok so long as im not playing online as that combined with lag is slow)