Same old problem (only worse)

[Krusty]

I had this problem:

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=163667


I still have it. Only, now it only seems to happen in AH. Never anything else. It seems to have gotten worse since 2.05 came out. At first I thought it was just a new optimization issue, but I've got BOTH of them off. Now today I froze up 4 times exactly 30 minutes apart. I was trying to fly frame 3 malta and got 2 hours of NOTHING but climbing to alt and then a PC freeze-up *every* 30 minutes. That's 4 times in 2 hours, for a total of 2 hours wasted, no fun had, no enemy even seen.

I have turned everything off in AH. I have got 256 textures going. I've got everything in my vid card properties turned OFF or to PERFORMANCE, and this still happens regularly. It's not a matter of "if" anymore, but of "when" it happens.

I run HL2 demo at full settings with little slow down (and yes, on a DX8 card, no less!). And AH can't run for 30 minutes without locking up not just AH but my entire PC.

I'm freakin' annoyed as heck here.

DXDiag shows no problems. Windows shows no problems. It's not overheating (have had the side off my case with a fan blowing in, just in case, but no parts are warm to the touch except vid card, and with the fan on it that never gets too hot, especially since it really can't do much anyways.

Have listed before, will list again.

P4 2.66GHz 533MHz FSB.
ASUS p5p800
1x512MB ram
SB Audigy PCI.
AGP GeForce 4400Ti 128MB (no FSAA no Aniso, set to Performance, vsync set to application controlled) running Det 61.77.

AH running:
1280x9xx resolution.
Textures 256
All effects turned off (had these on before 2.05, never had thsi problem then).
Hardware Vertexes set to on, it's been this way since this checkbox has existed, I don't think that's the problem.
skins download enabled. Skins on other planes enabled (but I never freeze when planes enter the area, so it's not a skin display issue)
sliders set about 2/3 from left to right (closer to the "near" end of the specturm)

EDIT: Optimization for terrain and objects set to OFF. At first I thought these were the problem, but it was just random luck that for a while I didn't lock up as often. Since 2.06 I have only logged off willingly a handful of times, and all other times I've frozen up. The times I logged off was after only ~20 minutes of flight.

This cannot continue. This needs to be remedied.

[Krusty]

I *finally* found something related, although this person was using XP64, it sounds similar.

I emailed ASUS about the problem and they recommend that I get a stronger power supply. He said this often happens when an inadequate power supply is being used. He recommends the board be used with a power supply providing at least 18-20 amps on the 12 volt rail, 35 amps on the 5 volt rail, and 28 amps on the 3.3 volt rail. My current power supply meets the minimum requirements, but just barely. Especially the 12 volt rail. My supply only provides 22 amps on the 12 volt rail. This has to power 3 hard drives, a DVD burner, and an ATI 9800 pro video card. Apparently the 9800 pro cards are very power hungry and really require a power supply with dual 12 volt rails. So I have an antec TP II 550 supply on order. It should be in on Monday.

It's funny how the computer is running though. I have gone 4 days now with no freezing at all while it froze 3 times the day before. So hopefully a new power supply will fix the problem. Even if it doesn't though, at least the power supply will support my next board. It supports PCI Express, 4 SATA drives, has 4 regular molex connectors for hard drives, and up to 3 fans.

Since the side of my case is off right now I took a look. My +12 is 12amp max... wtf?? It's a new PSU and the rest of the specs meet or exceed.... Dangit don't have money for it, but will try to replace it.

[JTs]

best psu made

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/home/

[Krusty]

What would you suggest in the 400-500W range? There's a lot of different models there.

EDIT: I'm looking for something moderately priced. What I need starts about $50-$60, according to newegg. I was looking at this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182009

[Skuzzy]

You get what you pay for in power supplies.

I would lean towards this one.

[AKDogg]

I Have that power supply Skuzzy.  Works great.

[Krusty]

Well it means saving for a little longer *sigh*

But in retrospect I agree 100% with "You get what you pay for". My current PSU I got on sale (1 day sale) for $5.00 (I kid you not!) normally about $40 non-sale price. This is the one with the +12v with 12A max. *shakes head slowly*

[AKDogg]

Hate to say it but U were suckered.

[Krusty]

Rest of it's fine.. just the 12v sucks

Hey skuzzy I got a question, maybe mw can help too. That PSU you listed has 2x 12v rails, but each one is only 18 amps. Well what if your mobo only has 1 24-pin power plug? What good is that other rail?

EDIT: And correct me if I'm wrong, the 24-pin is the +12v?

[AKDogg]

There is a second plug used on MB to supply second rail.  Its a sqare 4 pin plug with 2 yellow and 2 black I believe.

I just checked mine.  Its is 2 yellow and 2 black wires.

BTW, I was mistaken on my PS.  I have the Antec Neo480 which is a 480w power supply.

[Krusty]

Yes there's the P4 power, but that's the 5V I think. If the PSU has 2x 24 pins and I only have 1x24 pin socket, I don't think I'll have the juice I need.

[AKDogg]

Yes U will.  Take mine for instance.  I have 2 sets of cables coming out besides the 24pin and the square 4 pin connectors.  These cables have the 4 pin molex connectors on them.  Each of these 2 cables is supplied by 18 amps on my for a total power of 36 amps on the 12v rail.