RAM? Motherboard? Who knows! 3D Issues!

[JrRacinFan]

OK, on my rig, anything 3D lockups at ANY FSB I set, I underclocked my video card, set my mch volts up to what I seem as high (rangin from 1.5v up to 1.95v), underclocked my ram to 533mhz 5-5-5-15 timings.

Here is what happens though, depending on fsb, it can be 5 mins or 15 mins into a game and it will give a screen freeze the whole display will corrupt. I will have to do a warm reset just to get back to a windows desktop.

I have done memtest @ 533mhz and 667mhz 5-5-5-15 timings without errors. Now the only thing I came to a conlusion that could be causing the problem is psu. But, with my old psu that is even weaker, would have caused this issue but worse correct? Well that is not the case, it does the same.

Also, there are NO overheating issues. CPU stays at a mild 37-47C, Northbridge very close to the same. GPU does get warmer but for stock cooler is mild, 54C idle 72C load.

Any input? Bad motherboard? Bad ram?

[WhiteLotus]

checked your drivers?

[alexp999]

Have you run orthos. That would tell you if a CPu/FSb problem.
Then it is either the PSu or GFx card. Have you got any other of the two (a PSu as powerful or more powerful) or another gfx card??

[JrRacinFan]

I have run Orthos. When I first got the scythe, stable for hours. I actually hit "stop" at 1 hour.

Drivers should be ok, I am running 169.21, it just started occurring when attempting to play Juiced 2:HIN.

[alexp999]

I have run Orthos. When I first got the scythe, stable for hours. I actually hit "stop" at 1 hour.

Drivers should be ok, I am running 169.21, it just started occurring when attempting to play Juiced 2:HIN.

Is it just that one game?

If it is then make sure you get any available patches. All updates for windows. Check all your drivers. Then give this a go:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_174.74.html

Its the latest beta driver. might fix it.

[JrRacinFan]

I can only assume at this time because I was playing it "A-Ok" last night, and I was at it all morning trying to get it to stable out with that one game. Most I could do is try again tonight when I get home.

At work currently.

EDIT: To add I remember my wife telling me Sims 2 did the same but not as frequent.

[cdawall]

raise your pci-e volts by +.05-.1v

[JrRacinFan]

That is my MCH, cdawall. I have tried ranging from 1.5v to 1.95v.

EDIT: Unless your saying try 2.0v?

[alexp999]

That is my MCH, cdawall. I have tried ranging from 1.5v to 1.95v.

EDIT: Unless your saying try 2.0v?

In case you missed the edit above:

Make sure you get any available patches. All updates for windows. Check all your drivers. Then give this a go:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_174.74.html

Its the latest beta driver. might fix it.

[sneekypeet]

is there another video card around...the screen distorting at the end make me think graphics ram issues!

[cdawall]

no your pci-e bus should be adjustable just like agp buses were increasing it increases the wattage to the vga card...just don't push very high or it goes pop :p

[JrRacinFan]

Updates updates updates, yick. I guess I will try 174.74.

I don't have that option cdawall, ask sneekypeet!

Sneekypeet, I underclocked the video card aswell. Still did it.

[sneekypeet]

IIRC that ABIT has no PCI-e control its locked at 100MHz all the time! Maybe a beta bios unlocked it since Ive had it!

[JrRacinFan]

Nope, no unlocks. Only one that is unlocked I beleive is 13.

[Nitro-Max]

I was gonna say graphics ram too like sneekypeet said.

[JrRacinFan]

Sneeky, can you confirm that it's locked 100% of the time?

@Nitro

Even if I underclocked it to 500mhz and still caused a lockup?

[sneekypeet]

IIRC the thread at Abit forums that Ketxxx was helping in, his main complaint was its being locked as it screwed him from running his Oc'd 1950PRO's the way he liked with a hike on the bus!

[JrRacinFan]

So, you guys are saying it's totally video card related? Ok, I will try the video card in my 2nd rig when I get home.

EDIT: I will even try to overclock it also.

[sneekypeet]

So, you guys are saying it's totally video card related? Ok, I will try the video card in my 2nd rig when I get home.

personally, I dont know if it matters, but I would put the spare card in the machine with the issue!

[JrRacinFan]

So, swap em around. What if they both play ok? Means my Antec PSU is shit, the strongest psu I own?

EDIT: And no I am not trying to sound like a jerk. If I do I dont mean to.

[sneekypeet]

So, swap em around. What if they both play ok? Means my Antec PSU is shit the strongest psu I own?

In my mind that goes without saying:) , but I had one smoke out! Lets take it one step at a time tho. Good luck!

[cdawall]

everyone sounds like a jerk when crap breaks on them JR don't worry about it...i'm still thinking like some otheras have said it might just be a driver f up

[JrRacinFan]

Really thanks guys! You just don't know how bad I have been wanting to play this game ...:ohwell::(:cry:

EDIT: I just thought of something, should I try the "Plug N Play" monitor driver? You guys remember when I was having Aquamark3 issues?

[cdawall]

its worth a shot...haha we all know how nv drivers are :roll:

[JrRacinFan]

Yeah, NV's can be puke. I will try to mess with drivers tonight before I do anything stupid. Like throw the card out the window.

[cdawall]

rofl you just haven't had good luck with cards first your 2600XT just pukes on you now this!


off topic you need to update your hwbot entries

[JrRacinFan]

Come to think abotu it may have been practically the same issue. Hmmmm ....

Thanks for bringing that up!

EDIT: Although the 2600XT did cause a no post issue.

[Cold Storm]

Man, JR, both Cda and Sneeky seem to have it going right for ya. Driver issues could be doing that. my Palit card just wouldn't work right with the 174... crashed just at the start... so I backed it down a notch.
I'd check both the suggestions that they said and get back with us. Also tells us how the volt tester shows for the video card connection to the PSU. That way you know if the PSU is losing power..

[JrRacinFan]

Also tells us how the volt tester shows for the video card connection to the PSU. That way you know if the PSU is losing power..

How am I supposed to check this without a DMM?

[DanishDevil]

Buy one :D

[JrRacinFan]

Buy one :D

Smartass. read the question again not with what, but also how. LOL

[DanishDevil]

Without a multimeter, I have no idea. I'm pretty sure you kinda need one.

[Cold Storm]

You can check most of the time by how your drop is on the card. Monitor it with your tool that is for your board. Find what the volts should be at with your psu, then see how bad its drooping.
I'm not a 100 percent sure with that.

[DanishDevil]

Ask RM. He would know where to have you measure.

What you can also do is take a lead from your PSU that isn't being used, and test a rail. I would test them under idle and under stress. +12V rail would be my biggest guess.

Do you know how to set the multimeter?

[JrRacinFan]

I know how to work a multimeter. No question about that, I am a skilled with an iron too.

[Cold Storm]

lol, then come down here and press my work cloths for me! lol... Just check the rail and also the connection. And you'll see if its getting the right volts to it

[DanishDevil]

Ok sweet. Just go black to case and red to a pin on a molex or something. See how much they fluctuate from idle to load. If they change more than 5%, the PSU is out of spec and should be replaced.

[intel igent]

red/orange/yellow will be POWER and black of course is GROUND, dont want to have a short;)

red = 7v, orange = 5v, yellow = 12v IIRC

:toast:

[Cold Storm]

There you Go JR, even a way to know not to short something for ya!

[JrRacinFan]

LOL @ Storm

Soldering iron silly

@intel

Yellow =12v
Red =5v
Orange =3v
;)

@DanishDevil

I doubt it will fluctauate, almost all my voltages @ idle are overvolted a little.
Also, bioshock does the same 5 mins into the game. I am going to reapply TIM on the video card. Will report back.

[JrRacinFan]

Muahahah ....

I played mad scientist and man differentt TIM works wonders.
http://img.techpowerup.org/080410/Capture012607.jpg

So far so good, cleaned up the gpu and removed quite a bit of dust out of the fan.

Here's another screenie showing my idle temps.
http://img.techpowerup.org/080410/Capture013958.jpg

So it was a temp issue. But, I cleaned the ram a little and noticed there was a little dust between the ram and thermal pads.

Where's an nflesher post when you need one.

[Cold Storm]

lol.. glad to see that it wasn't anything bad! clean your case more often and you won't be getting that!

[sneekypeet]

so the issue is sorted then and you arent corrupting screens any longer?

[JrRacinFan]

I think it's northbridge though cause I just tried to drop my voltage back down to 1.85v and it did the screen thing again. That run was @ 1.95V. I am going to try a 5 min game session @ 1.90 now.

[JrRacinFan]

Northbridge MCH @ 1.9v: 5 minutes of Juiced 2:HIN

http://img.techpowerup.org/080410/Capture014735.jpg

[JrRacinFan]

Guys, sorry for the triple post but what would cause a game to stutter for 2 seconds go full speed for 10 seconds and then stutter for 2, etc and so on?

[DanishDevil]

Not sure, but bump for ya buddy! Let's get your rig fixed!

[JrRacinFan]

It was a game issue with the stuttering. Disabled in-game audio, runs smooth as silk.
As of right now 2.1GHz with 267FSB 667mhz 5-5-5-13 RAM. MCH is 1.75v. 540/1200/700 video card clocks. Games like a mad fool.

[DanishDevil]

Onboard sound?

[JrRacinFan]

Not necessarily. I have read up on the problems with the game itself, it's Realtek HD Audio drivers that are the cause. To this point, I cannot find a driver that corrects the problem.

[DanishDevil]

I do have that Audigy 2ZS if you think it would solve the problem. Do you have a list of drivers that you've tried so we can see if we can find some others for you?

[JrRacinFan]

Nah, if its the only game that does it I have an old SB Live! I could use. Not important enough for just one game.

[DanishDevil]

K sweet. So everything's good now?

[JrRacinFan]

ALmost, you should see my other thread. Having some overheating northbridge issues I THINK ....

[DanishDevil]

What other thread...linky? I'll see if I can help.

[JrRacinFan]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=57536

[JrRacinFan]

OK guys, I think I need a new video card. I can only run ANY game at 540/1188/500.

Think a new cooler would help any?

[sneekypeet]

OK guys, I think I need a new video card. I can only run ANY game at 540/1188/500.

Think a new cooler would help any?

Is that 500 signifying you need to downclock the ram on the card I thought was buggy when this all started????? Back when you had the screen corruption at the beginning of this ordeal!

[JrRacinFan]

**sighs** Yes sneeky ... :)

[sneekypeet]

sorry to hear ya had to go through all that fuss to figure it out tho....SUX bigtime.....So do we see a new card in your future, or is RMA still an option to ya?

[JrRacinFan]

Probly just returning it tomorrow. Ive only had the card less than 30 days. I just dont know what to get in replacement.

[DanishDevil]

3850! 3850! 3850! 3850! 3850! 3850! 3850! 3850! 3850! 3850!

Remember what I offered...

[cdawall]

i 2nd 3850 hell while your at it get 2 :D

[Easy Rhino]

similiar problem happened to me. temps were on the cool side for both the cpu/gpu. but then i got an error one day in vista during a game crash. turns out that the thermal sensor on he gpu was essentially fried and reading the temps incorrectly. i replaced the gpu.

[Cold Storm]

@cdawall, how are those doing for you man!? I hope good!

sorry off topic... wanted to ask

[JrRacinFan]

In the end ended up picking up an HD2600 Pro + $47 gift card.

[Cold Storm]

Like we talked about JR, you can go cross fire down the road or find a cheap way to get that 3850 that doesn't require the computer to be down... there is reasoning behind not wanting the computer down for 3 days, and I'm for it! Work is the reasoning behind everything! I also hate the fact that I need to keep this computer running for work...

[cdawall]

@cdawall, how are those doing for you man!? I hope good!

sorry off topic... wanted to ask

still waiting for DD to send my mobo/cpu it goes out Monday priority mail so i should be up and running Thursday

[Cold Storm]

sweetness! I can't wait for the next weekend and have that whole thing up and running! Like I said to ya before, can't wait to see An ATI symbol on your avatar!

[cdawall]

well i have the cards so i guess i could change the avvy now

[Cold Storm]

nah man, wait till you have them modded and into the case running! It shows what your running now. I'm glad Jr that you got something that works for you!!

[cdawall]

i can't wait they are just going to be pencil modded to start but i figure a turnpot is definitely in order once i get some good coolers for them

[Cold Storm]

sounds good man! I think we are having someone test the nail polish effects... but its something that you don't want to do if you do trimpots... you have to have the card at stock in order for it to work... lol... i know from my card (now RM's) being done like that and dying! good old times!

[JrRacinFan]

Now all I gotta do is see if I can either find a 2600xt for cheap lil bit later on or just wait for HD4k's.

[sneekypeet]

So they gave ya your money back at BB?

I have to say you wont be throwing money away buying a 3850 either!

[DanishDevil]

3850 bro! Wait until you have some more cash, then buy a 3850 off the egg for $120 and $10MIR, return your 2600 when you get it, and join the HD 38xx Club! :D

[Cold Storm]

Thats a way to look at it. I hope he can do it... just have to see if JR can... Can't have the computer down because of the work.. grr that sh1tty!

[JrRacinFan]

So they gave ya your money back at BB?

I have to say you wont be throwing money away buying a 3850 either!

Unfortunately they gave me store credit.

[DanishDevil]

What dicks...

[JrRacinFan]

Meh, I am not to worried about it. Granted I am not thrilled either but oh well.

EDIT 3333th post w00t!

[intel igent]

are you stable now at least jR?

:toast:

[JrRacinFan]

Oh hells yah! I can game @ 1440x900 and before I couldn't without any lockups. That's even with underclocking the 86GT. Also, Im now running back up to 3Ghz on my proc! :rockout: