Specs
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-F2A88X-D3H FM2+ / FM2 AMD A88X
Operating Syste: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory
APU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor
PSU: Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power

So guys I finally bought my new computer installed windows 7 64 bit, everything's running great so far (so it seems)
I used speccy and a few other programs to check my temperatures and noticed that they were quite high
speccy was giving me 60 degrees celsius and then it dropped down to 42.

While easy tune was giving me a temperature in 20-23 celsisus range

Heres the problem

I tried to play Medieval 2 Total War, it loaded up fine NICE and fast I started a quick game and
a few seconds after being in game my monitor went black and lost signal! What could be wrong?
i'm pretty sure I installed my APU correctly along with it's heatsink maybe i didn't install it correctly?

Other notes:
I haven't messed with anything in BIOS, I simply installed all hardware put in my windows 7 CD installed it and then installed the drivers that came along with my motherboard.Hi

Are you using the standard AMD fan ?

When you mounted the fan did you put it straight down using the compound already on the heat sink without moving the heat sink before attaching the clips.

If you used your own hear sink compound did you clean off the AMD compound first. ?

If you used your own compound there should be a very thin film on top of the CPU if you remove the heat sink and the compound is bubbled then you have to much. The compound is there to exclude air ( which is a very poor conductor of heat ) and replace the air with compound, to much can give space for air bubbles which negates the purpose of the compound.

I am using the standard AMD fan i put it straight down using the compound
can i get some other input on possibility? patio, calumHi

When the monitor went blank what did you need to do to get an image back on the screen.

What I'm asking did you have to reset the computer with the reset button or totally power down and restart.

After the computer restarted did it boot straight into windows or run scan disk etc.

Can you duplicate the fault at the same place in total war ?

Does it go to a blank screen running other programs?

I have a computer of similar specs as yours and the APU Temperature is 37 to 42 degrees C with an ambient temp of 25 degrees C . So your APU is about the same temps so nothing to worry about.

If it's only in total war this is happening perhaps it is the game not liking something in windows  like Direct X version
.

 well now the APU is idling at 60 degrees celsius


to get the image back I pressed the power button and turn it back on again

when i TURNED it back on it said "windows failed to shut down correctly"

and just let me boot into windodws normally

it hasn't gone blank with any other programsSorry for asking so many questions but seems necessary as the cause is still not clear.

Could you clarify 

Can you duplicate the fault at the same place in total war ?

If it does then it is not hardware or a thermal problem.

Idling at 60C is not normal.  Sounds like your heatsink may not be making proper contact with the CPU.
Do you have any other thermal paste in order to remove the heatsink, clean it and the CPU, and then reseat the heatsink with new paste?
I would do that first, then re-check your temperatures.  If they're still high, check if the heatsink is getting warm - if not, you've either got bad contact or a faulty temperature sensor.  It would also be a good idea to check your temperatures while the CPU is under load, Prime95 is a good program to load your CPU up.  If your temperatures climb and the system crashes during a Prime95 run, that's a sure indicator of heat problems.well Calum here s whats weird the room my basement is in is pretty warm at the moment
and now my idle temp this morning is 45 degrees C.

I'll try APPLYING new thermal paste, I tried to remove the heatsink yesterday
and the heatsink came unlatched but did not lift up easily! i didn't want to force it
so i just relatched it, how am i supposed to remove my heatsink properly?

my friend said that maybe i fused the cpu to the heatsink but i doubt that.Hi

To safely RELEASE the heat sink  on a CPU it is best to twist the heat sink a few times with in the confines of the motherboard plastic fan clip. This releases the vacuum between the heat sink and CPU.  Also if you remove the heat sink you always need to replace the compound before remounting.
I wouldn't suggest twisting anything mounted to the MBoard...best method i have used is to run the PC at idle for approx 3 to 4 minutes to warm the paste...then disconnect all power to the PC and open the clips/retainers and pull directly upward...it should come off easily...

Replacing Thermal Paste...Hey Patio

It's an AMD APU not Intel. With an intel CPU when you release the black pins to remove the heat sink there is enough movement to assist in RELEASING the heat sink from the CPU. Also the Intel CPU's are clamped into the socket so can't be pulled out.

Not so with the larger surface and the clip system of the AMD APU's . If you remove straight up, even with running for 4 or 5 minutes there is the risk you will remove the APU with the heat sink. Which could damage the CPU pins. Not so if you twist the heat sink until the heat transfer compound releases and then remove the heat sink. Then we'll agree to disagree...
I stated i don't recommend twisting any component mounted to a MBoard...i'll stick with that.

BTW there are tons of iNtel chips that aren't clamped to the socket...Hi Patio

Yes there are tons of intel chips that are not clamped in the socket and use pins similar to AMD's. With those i would twist  about 1/16" either way to assist in releasing the compound.
So you can say with your method that you have never had a CPU come out of the socket with the heat sink ? I'll not entertain this squabble any further...
What i stated is what i'll stick with... Quote from: patio on January 12, 2014, 02:38:56 PM

Then we'll agree to disagree...
I stated i don't recommend twisting any component mounted to a MBoard...i'll stick with that.
BTW there are tons of iNtel chips that aren't clamped to the socket...