Searched the forums for a fix but haven't found one that solves the problem.
A little history: A little while back, I experienced the infamous BSOD nv4-Disp.dll error; this bug has (according to what I read online) a number of different critical problems that could be associated with it. After checking and unistalling every potential piece of hardware and software, I finally realized it was fault memory cards. Switched em out and voila! problem was solved.....or so it seems.....
With the release of PR .6 I'm having nightmarish flashbacks to the days of vBF2 with a BSOD after random amount of intervals. Except this time around, I'll be doing fine when my game simply freezes. No BSOD, no CTD, it simply freezes in mid-motion. The sound seems to lock up too; theres always a peculiar buzzing sound coming from my speakers. It varies in pitch every time it freezes, but there's always a disinctive buzzing sound coming from my speakers, not unlike being painted in an aircraft. There's no set time interval in which it happens; it could be 2minutes after I've joined a game, or it oculd be after several rounds. I've tried disabling 3rd party programs, but that hasn't solved the problem yet. I've used a temperature monitoring tool (I have dual fans and lined the graphics card and CPU with a cooling gel) and the core temp never exceeds mid 60C. My graphics card is fairly new (Nvidia 7800) with 2 gigs of ram, Intel Pentium4 3.20 Ghz. Creative SB Audigy 2 sound card. Latest drivers on everything I could think of.
Please help! I'm getting old urges to put my fist through my monitor every time this happens, especially when it cuts into my already limited airtime in Kashan.
Freezing Problems
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-dEpRaVe-
- Posts: 42
- Joined: 2005-07-14 09:50
Freezing Problems
Last edited by -dEpRaVe- on 2007-08-11 08:02, edited 1 time in total.
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Wolfe
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: 2007-03-06 03:15
Question:
Does your computer freeze when you're NOT playing games or only when you're playing? If it's only during games, then that suggests freezing under stress loads or a driver mismatch (but I'm willing to bet it's freezing under load which almost always means one thing: too much heat).
Nvidia 6600 cards and higher experienced a manufacturer flaw that caused a certain part of the card to overheat away from the processor. Since the temp gauge only measures heat at the processor area of the card, the overheating flaw doesn't register on temp gauges.
I had the same problem with random freezes. After 3 days of intense troubleshooting, I found an obscure tech thread that talked about the nvidia flaw. It said that only a few batches of cards were affected and that Nvidia was offering refunds/replacements for the faulty cards but was not making it public for obvious reasons. As it turns out, I had one of the faulty cards. Unfortunately, I didn't have the receipt.
I fixed the problem by positioning a fan directly next to the card, so that it blows off heat from the entire card, not just the processor/heat sink. I haven't had a freeze since.
Now, I'm not saying you have one of these defective cards, but if you do, it's an easy fix. To find out if you do, just place a fan (even a floor fan) over the card, making sure that air is passing directly over the entire card. Play as normal. If you don't freeze, then cooling is the problem. Replace the card or increase airflow.
Also make sure that your power supply has enough wattage and make sure that it too is receiving enough air. Sometimes the fans inside the power supply go bad, causing it to overheat, and can also result in freezes under load.
Does your computer freeze when you're NOT playing games or only when you're playing? If it's only during games, then that suggests freezing under stress loads or a driver mismatch (but I'm willing to bet it's freezing under load which almost always means one thing: too much heat).
Nvidia 6600 cards and higher experienced a manufacturer flaw that caused a certain part of the card to overheat away from the processor. Since the temp gauge only measures heat at the processor area of the card, the overheating flaw doesn't register on temp gauges.
I had the same problem with random freezes. After 3 days of intense troubleshooting, I found an obscure tech thread that talked about the nvidia flaw. It said that only a few batches of cards were affected and that Nvidia was offering refunds/replacements for the faulty cards but was not making it public for obvious reasons. As it turns out, I had one of the faulty cards. Unfortunately, I didn't have the receipt.
I fixed the problem by positioning a fan directly next to the card, so that it blows off heat from the entire card, not just the processor/heat sink. I haven't had a freeze since.
Now, I'm not saying you have one of these defective cards, but if you do, it's an easy fix. To find out if you do, just place a fan (even a floor fan) over the card, making sure that air is passing directly over the entire card. Play as normal. If you don't freeze, then cooling is the problem. Replace the card or increase airflow.
Also make sure that your power supply has enough wattage and make sure that it too is receiving enough air. Sometimes the fans inside the power supply go bad, causing it to overheat, and can also result in freezes under load.
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-dEpRaVe-
- Posts: 42
- Joined: 2005-07-14 09:50
Yeah it only happens during games, only during PR 0.6 actually. I have a 7800; the thing is last time I got the BSOD, I applied for an RMA and the company was just like "well, we don't have any more 6800's so uhh.....here's a brand new 7800! Enjoy!" I was pretty happy, but getting 2 defective cards in a row seems unlikely...but I suppose that has to be the problem if nothing else is. Can you elaborate a little on the driver mismatch? Does that mean like my Graphics driver doesn't sync with the mouse driver/motherboard very well? Something like that?
Isn't there a program out there that allows me to monitor my GPU and CPU temp levels in game (something like Rivatuner?) so i can check on the overheating problem? Because we've already taken precautions with that video card and CPU by lining them with a heat retardent gel to ward off overheating and prolong the life of the card and CPU and added a huge extra fan. Also wouldn't a cooling failure in my power source (I installed a frickin' HUGE powersource so sufficient power isn't the issue) simply shut down my system and cause a burnout rather than freezing my game? Thanks for your reply!
Isn't there a program out there that allows me to monitor my GPU and CPU temp levels in game (something like Rivatuner?) so i can check on the overheating problem? Because we've already taken precautions with that video card and CPU by lining them with a heat retardent gel to ward off overheating and prolong the life of the card and CPU and added a huge extra fan. Also wouldn't a cooling failure in my power source (I installed a frickin' HUGE powersource so sufficient power isn't the issue) simply shut down my system and cause a burnout rather than freezing my game? Thanks for your reply!
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Wolfe
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: 2007-03-06 03:15
Computers are so complex that shutdown/freeze issues can be almost anything; it's hard to track them down but in my limited experience it's almost always heat related.
The most common problem, heat, is also the easiest to diagnose, which is why I recommend placing a box fan next to your computer (take the side panels off). If you don't crash, there's your problem.
Having 2 defective cards in a row is a real possibility, so don't rule it out on probabilities.
Somebody posted a screenshot of PR with a temp monitor in the upper left corner, but I don't remember the name of the program or which thread it was on.
The most common problem, heat, is also the easiest to diagnose, which is why I recommend placing a box fan next to your computer (take the side panels off). If you don't crash, there's your problem.
Having 2 defective cards in a row is a real possibility, so don't rule it out on probabilities.
Somebody posted a screenshot of PR with a temp monitor in the upper left corner, but I don't remember the name of the program or which thread it was on.
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Darkpowder
- Posts: 1527
- Joined: 2006-08-30 22:00
Ah buzzing sound coming from speakers with lockups, that is usually one of two things.
1 - too much power being drawn down the PCI/PCI-E bus, as some early cards don't have power connectors on the end of the board. When combined with a high-power draw sound card this causes lockups, and the buzzing.
2 - Overheating on gfx cards, but this is usually combined with weird colourd artifacts (strange shapes and lines) during gfx load, - (3d gaming), it will prob work fine when just running the desktop.
Check that your system has enough power to drive all your kit, ensure that you are using the same 12V rail if you have multiple 6 pin connectors from your PSU for the same card(s). Check that a mobo connector is compatible with rail sharing on your PSU. if you are running multiple hard-discs and multiple optical drives along with a high power gfx card, a low end PSU (or a PSU with not enough stability or current) will not hack it.
1 - too much power being drawn down the PCI/PCI-E bus, as some early cards don't have power connectors on the end of the board. When combined with a high-power draw sound card this causes lockups, and the buzzing.
2 - Overheating on gfx cards, but this is usually combined with weird colourd artifacts (strange shapes and lines) during gfx load, - (3d gaming), it will prob work fine when just running the desktop.
Check that your system has enough power to drive all your kit, ensure that you are using the same 12V rail if you have multiple 6 pin connectors from your PSU for the same card(s). Check that a mobo connector is compatible with rail sharing on your PSU. if you are running multiple hard-discs and multiple optical drives along with a high power gfx card, a low end PSU (or a PSU with not enough stability or current) will not hack it.
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Communist
- Posts: 17
- Joined: 2007-07-24 11:16
Rivatuner is able to monitor your GPU temp in-game. http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?page=rivatuner
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-dEpRaVe-
- Posts: 42
- Joined: 2005-07-14 09:50
Could you tell me exactly how to set it up? I d/led it but I'm a complete noob when using it, don't know what anything does. Thanks!
Well I do have 2 hardrives installed (one 80GB and one 150GB I believe) and an Audigy 2 soundcard, along with an Nvidia 7800 GS all hooked up to a really, REALLY big power source. My dad and I had to remove a bar in the computer frame to fit that sucker in, but I'll double check the connections. Is there's some way to check on what kind of PSU i have w/o removing the frame of my computer? Can a really power PSU not have enough stability? As for the weird colored artifacts, I don't get those....what does it meaaannn lol. Thanks for all the help.
Well I do have 2 hardrives installed (one 80GB and one 150GB I believe) and an Audigy 2 soundcard, along with an Nvidia 7800 GS all hooked up to a really, REALLY big power source. My dad and I had to remove a bar in the computer frame to fit that sucker in, but I'll double check the connections. Is there's some way to check on what kind of PSU i have w/o removing the frame of my computer? Can a really power PSU not have enough stability? As for the weird colored artifacts, I don't get those....what does it meaaannn lol. Thanks for all the help.