Freak High Frame Rate then Freeze

[RufusLeaking]

On my alternate machine, I got greater than 75 frame rate for a while.  Long enough to launch a sortie, then it froze.

I did not have the limit set on my ATI Catalyst control center.  The DxDiag below reflects the limit of 75 set after.

Now I am routinely getting un-useable 15-25 frame rates. 

Let me back up.  I was getting 50-60 FR for a while.  Several nights with patch 6.  Then, when logging off, I got one of those "Windows will shut down after installing update.  Installing 1 of 1 ..." messages.  It was a long time downloading.  After that, I was hit with the 15-25 FR.  Then, tonight, bang, super FR.  Then it froze up.  Not WSOD, but frozen video and sound.  A hard reboot and I set a limit on Refresh to 75 Hz.

So, what the heck happened?  I have been looking at the task manager with Aces High running and it is pegged at 100%.  Is this expected?

The DxDiag:
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/24/2009, 22:05:38
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.090206-1233)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ELITEGROUP COMPUTER SYSTEM CO.,LTD.
       System Model: NFORCE6M-A
               BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+,  MMX,  3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 466MB used, 3472MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9589)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9589&SUBSYS_33301545&REV_00
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6973 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 7/2/2009 12:24:44, 335872 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 7/2/2009 12:49:32, 4125696 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D6C9-11CF-C86D-3A13A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x9589
        SubSys ID: 0x33301545
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SigmaTel Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7682&SUBSYS_10192608&REV_1036
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.5407.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 3/5/2007 23:38:50, 1228296 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: SigmaTel
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xB5B
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 44100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

            Description: ATI HD Audio rear output
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1002&DEV_AA01&SUBSYS_00AA0100&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: AtiHdAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.00.40001.0008 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 8/22/2007 21:06:53, 84992 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: ATI
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xB5B
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 48000, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: SigmaTel Audio
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.5407.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 3/5/2007 23:38:50, 1228296 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xCC0

 

[RufusLeaking]

Following the CPU pegged at 100% lead, I ran a full Symantec virus scan overnight.  It found 11 trojans, a few of which it said would be deleted on the reboot. 

I just rebooted and the cpu is 80 to 100%.  Nothing was opened except the start up.  I had already uninstalled Skype, Itunes and a few other start up stuff.  Msmessenger no longer fires up at start up.

What next?  Something is draining my CPU.

Edit:  Ran Iobit Gamebooster and gt the CPU down into the 50% range.  This still seems high considering I have started nothing but the Task Manager and a Firefox window.  This is also the first time in a while that "System Idle Process" has appeared on Task Manager.  "System" has been soaking up 40 to 50% and remains in that range before and after Gameboost.

[Skuzzy]

Aces High is supposed to run at 100% CPU Usage.  Microsoft designed DirectX to work that way.

With nothing running, check the task manager.  It should be at 0% CPU usage and only occasionally spiking to 1%, maybe 2%.

Also note, the ATI 2600 video card is about 2 years old now and when it was introduced it was not a very fast video card.  Generally speaking it is about half the speed of the NVidia 8600GTS, which was not that fast of a car either.

You really need to shut off "Detailed Terrain" and do no0t force any anti-aliasing either.

[RufusLeaking]

I expect a CPU usage as you described.  Typing this, it is about 80%.  The big hitter is "System SYSTEM."

My Ctrl I display shows 512 MB available and ~60MB used.  So, if I am following, the issue with the 2600 is the GPU itself. 

Well, at the very least, I am getting an education in modern computers.

My uneducated opinion is that the problem is whatever is hogging the CPU.  I have seen frame rates in the 60 range consistently.  This morning, as the third guy in the EW arena, I was 15 to 22 FR. 

The only advanced graphic I have on is bump mapping.  I have toggled it on and off and it does not seem to make a difference.

Is Catalyst A.I. something to be disabled?  And, what effect does OpenGL triple buffering have and should it be enabled?

[gyrene81]

Rufus go download a copy of process explorer so you can see all of the processes running. If the system process looks huge, you probably still have a malware process running at start up.

Do you happen to have "viewpoint media player", "search tools" or anything else installed on your system? If so, it's infected and that cpu usage on a fresh boot sitting idle will not go away. Also, what anti-virus program do you have running on there?



After researching DirectX and cpu utilization for the past month (because my system does not use 100% cpu when AH is running) this is my understanding of DirectX and cpu utilization with 3D programs. If your graphics card can support DirectX hardware acceleration, then cpu usage will not spike to 100%. The load gets transferred to the GPU to the limits of the GPU and the system CPU takes the remainder. The last thing I've found is that in some cases people running multiple displays can experience higher than normal system cpu usage...especially on WinXP and earlier...my eyes are bleeding from all of the reading.   

[Skuzzy]

DO NOT RUN the ATI Catalyst Control Center in the system tray!  It will cost you a considerable amount of performance.

[RufusLeaking]

Rufus go download a copy of process explorer so you can see all of the processes running. If the system process looks huge, you probably still have a malware process running at start up.

Do you happen to have "viewpoint media player", "search tools" or anything else installed on your system? If so, it's infected and that cpu usage on a fresh boot sitting idle will not go away. Also, what anti-virus program do you have running on there?



After researching DirectX and cpu utilization for the past month (because my system does not use 100% cpu when AH is running) this is my understanding of DirectX and cpu utilization with 3D programs. If your graphics card can support DirectX hardware acceleration, then cpu usage will not spike to 100%. The load gets transferred to the GPU to the limits of the GPU and the system CPU takes the remainder. The last thing I've found is that in some cases people running multiple displays can experience higher than normal system cpu usage...especially on WinXP and earlier...my eyes are bleeding from all of the reading.   

I appreciate your patient help.

How do I know which processes are the bad ones?  I tried killing a random one, something "Remote," and it popped a window counting down the shutdown of the computer.

I have been trying Gamebooster from Iobit.  It does not seem to have any effect.

Malwarebytes anti-malware scan is running.  I need to leave on a business trip, so I will not be here for the results.

I do not want to mess with reloading the O/S or mess with the register.  But, the things we do for AH 2.

DO NOT RUN the ATI Catalyst Control Center in the system tray!  It will cost you a considerable amount of performance.

It has been in the system tray for the last year.  I will shut it down from here on out.

Thanks for you response, too. 

I'll be back in a couple of days.  If I can't get this machine figured out, I will get another AGP card on my upstairs machine.  I have seen an ATI 4650 available in that interface.  That would probably make my CPU, circa 2004, the limiter.  In a year or so, I will be getting a whole new rig. 

[RufusLeaking]

After killing an svchost.exe process that was using 30-40% CPU and taking Catalyst out of the system tray, My CPU usage is a normal 1-5%.

Anyway to identify exactly what it was that hog process was doing?  Edit: Obviously something important because Aces High will not even launch.

[gyrene81]

Yeah, you have to be careful with killing any svchost.exe processes...those are Microsofts generic host processes that can be hosting anything...most of it supposedly necessary.

[RufusLeaking]

gyrene81, thanks for your patience with my obvious ignorance.   

Just logged on with patch 8 and hit the max 75.  In the EW with no other action around, but still, a better performance.  One malware was deleted. And I canceled the update item in the systems tray.  This wasn't running, or at least I didn't activate it, but when it appeared in the tray was when my CPU usage jumped. (I was watching task manager as soon as I could on start up.)

Another thing I managed to do was stop my Firewall from  asking me for permission to access AH with the new patch.  Symantec would not allow me to configure manually.  Kept getting "send/not send" erro messages.  Any ideas on a quick fix?

[RufusLeaking]

Flying along, 67 FR, looked left with keypad and ... Freeze.

Hard reboot back and Task manager shows >50 percent CPU usage. 

The instability of this rig is driving me crazy.

For trouble shooting, I pulled the plug on the network, and the CPU stayed above 50%.  The hog now is System.  Is it related to the hard reboot?

I've temporarily turned off auto updates, firewall, and anti-virus.  Stuck at CPU usage >50%.

[Skuzzy]

After killing an svchost.exe process that was using 30-40% CPU and taking Catalyst out of the system tray, My CPU usage is a normal 1-5%.

1-5% is not normal.  Normal is 0-1%.

It sounds like your computer has a virus or spyware/malware infestation.  It may be bad enough to warrant a reformat and re-installation of the operating system, given what you are describing.

[Eagleclaw]

It sounds like your computer has a virus or spyware/malware infestation.

Did someone say... Virus!? Okay, yes, what you are describing is what I call a virus, trojan, worm, rootkit whatever. Spyware is possible too, more likely actually, with such high CPU usage. I also recommend you not delete, random CPU processes. Try running a VERY thorough virus scan, try Kaspersky or another anti-virus because yours obviously isn't picking up all the viruses/spyware. Having a virus TEARS UP YOUR COMPUTER!! You need to defragment your C: Drive. Until you get a better anti-virus i would also recommend not downloading anything you aren't sure of and also going to sites you aren't sure of.

If you have McAfee, AVG, Norton, Trend Micro, just go ahead and get rid of them. They are invasive, take up a lot of space, and don't pick up all the bugs dragging your system. Web Root SPYSWEEPER and Kaspersky are both excellent programs, Spysweeper is actually specifically for spyware.

[RufusLeaking]

Being a bad combination of stubborn and ignorant, I went at the problem all wrong last night while working a frozen rum drink.

I downloaded a so called registry cleaner, but was too chicken to use it as there are several posts warning against them.  I downloaded a couple of driver "doctors."  I ran one and it apparently went after my registry anyway.  The cpu usage went down to 0-ish percent, but I lost sound.

So, this morning, I downloaded motherboard specific drivers and everything seems to be working.  So far.

Other things already done was a Symantec virus scan, a MalwareBytes scan and a defrag. All within the last couple of weeks.

[guncrasher]

rufus d/ the advanced system care from iobit and run it.  i adentifies and cleans lots of  adware and other junk also will clean up your registry and lots of other goodies.  it worked for me.  be carefull removing mccaffey i tried removing mine and i screwed up my system so bad that i had to reinstall windows xp again, which is not too bad, casuse my puter runs faster than before now .

semp