Varience Unstable

[Kermit de frog]

Story of the last 2 weeks of my computer.

First, HD crashed.  Was unable to boot into windows or safe mode.  Was unable to even do a chkdsk.
I then got a new HD and installed windows and everything else.  I was then able to read the failed HD which I have set up as my D drive.
Then I bought 2 sticks of 1gb ram.  I originally had 3 sticks of 512mb and so I gave 1 stick away and now have 2 sticks of 512 and 2 sticks of 1gb.  I installed then correctly to give me Dual Channel Mode.  Then I was unable to play AH.  I mean, I would fly for 20min or so and then BAM!  Game just pauses.  I then have to hit the reset button.  I've tried many drivers for sound and video and I even upgraded my BIOS!  I've even tried different ram configs like using just 2 sticks even just 1 stick.  I've spent 2 weeks troubleshooting.  I finally reformated my HD and only installed what I needed.  I can't play this game for 5 min before it will pause.  It may then come back alive and the pause again.  Pauses can last a full minute.

I've tried setting sound accell to as low as 1/4.

System Specs:
WinXP Pro SP2
ASUS P4S800D-X Motherboard
BFG 7800GS OC AGP 256MB
P4 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB
3GB DDR400 Dual Channel
480W Power Supply
2 HD both ATA133 (200GB and 120GB)
Sony DVD
Sony CD/RW
Thermaltake Water Cooling System Internal
7 out of 8 USB devices
Audigy 2
Hauppage WinTV PCI card
System Temps: CPU 40-50 celcius, Motherboard 28 celcius
My HD's are cool and RAM sticks are cool to touch.  I have a cool system

I fear that I may have to replace my motherboard.  Please help me skuzzy.
Here is my DXDIAG:
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/18/2007, 23:58:20
       Machine name: KERMDOG
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.061219-0316)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
       System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 09/07/05 17:04:08 Ver: 08.00.09
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 1536MB RAM
          Page File: 158MB used, 3275MB 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. DirectDraw test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 7 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 8 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 9 test results: All tests were successful.
        Sound Tab 1: DirectSound test results: All tests were successful.
          Music Tab: DirectMusic test results: All tests were successful.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found. DirectPlay test results: All tests were successful.

--------------------
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: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 7800 GS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00F5&SUBSYS_1FA419F1&REV_A2
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1360 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8421 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 3/9/2006 15:29:00, 3968512 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 3/9/2006 15:29:00, 3650368 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-43B5-11CF-A45A-AE3F03C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x00F5
        SubSys ID: 0x1FA419F1
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: 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
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: 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: All tests were successful.
 D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D9 Test Result: All tests were successful.

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [EF00]
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0442 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 11/18/2003 19:13:54, 366160 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Creative
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 62
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 62
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: All tests were successful.

[Kermit de frog]

This dxdiag is from my recent computer configuration.  I haven't put back all my sticks of ram, nor have I plugged in my 2nd HD again.
I also didn't update the sound card drivers off the website this time.


My variance was looking like a series of digital pulses and sometimes it would be like low level noise and sometimes a triangle pulse and towards the end, it was perfectly flat.  The game just locks up and no longer pauses only to come back.  It pauses and I have to hit the reset button to get back to my computer.

[Kermit de frog]

[Skuzzy]

Variance swings are normally caused by the CPU being off doing other things, instead of running the game.

Background processes can cause it (other programs, spyware/malware, worms, viruses...), excess network traffic (ping floods, P2P requests...), resource starvation (video, sound, memory...) and a melee of other things.

You said you re-installed XP.  If your version of XP is really old and lacking some key securty patches, you could almost instatntly get a worm when connecting to the Internet.

If you are behind a NAT router, you may be able to subvert that.  You would need to make sure all the NETBIOS ports (135-139) are closed to the Internet, as well as port 443.  Make sure file and printer sharing are disabled in your local compters, then connect to MS Update and get the security updates.

[Kermit de frog]

First thing I do is update windows after a reformat.
I'm down to 24 processes.
I only installed the hardware I need to run AH and it still crashes on me.
I'm going to swap the video card with the same brand/make/model.


My CPU jumps around from 0% to 1% when no applications are running.
When I google 7800gs lock ups, the first link is a guy with same problem and almost the same hardware as me.

BTW, my CPU is 3.4GHz w/ HT.
My Power Supply is an Antec 480W PSU.  (4 years old)  I'll buy a new one of these as well.  If it doesn't work, I'll return the new items.

Thanks for the information Skuzzy.

[Kermit de frog]

After buying a 500W Antec PSU, my fans are now running an average 500rpms faster!

My CPU CASE temps dropped from 87 F to 75F.  CPU also dropped in temps to just 95 F when just surfing the net.

Sadly, AH still crashes.  I can sometimes fly for 30min and sometimes only 30 seconds.  The game no longer says lost UDP or "host disconnect" nor are the variances going up and down.  The line is flat, and sometimes even dotted.

The game just crashes, goes black and then I get an error.  I have to hit alt+tab to get to error window where I can hit "don't send".  I am unable to run AH after that until I reboot system.

I'm going to now try a NEW VIDEO CARD.  It will be the same exact make/model as before.  I will uninstall the drivers now.  Shut down and do the swap and then reinstall the correct 84.22 nvidia drivers.

[Kermit de frog]

New card didn't work.
I even took out sound card and used onboard sound.
No dice.

Looks like computer shopping I will go.

I'll post my wishlist soon.  Hope to get comments good/bad or I have that and I wish I got X instead.

Thanks for reading my post skuzzy.

BTW, I am behind a NAT router.

[Skuzzy]

I would suspect RAM.  I have always had bad feelings about mixing different sizes of RAM's.  Primarily due to the timinig differences that normally accompany different size RAM's.  It just seems to be asking for trouble.

[Kermit de frog]

I tested everything with new parts,  New PSU, new video card, used onboard sound instead of Audigy 2, tried it with 1 stick of my original ram, I tested all ram with memtest anyways, I even unpluged an extra HD and CD rom drive.
Problem still existed.  After reformats and installed updated only drivers or used orginal drivers from cd's the problem still existed.
I came to the conclusion that my Motherboard is bad for games.
I've bought a new motherboard and had to buy a PCI-e along with Sata HD's and DDR2 memory!  I'm happy to say Aces High doesn't crash on me anymore

Heat was never an issue because I modified my case to fit 120mm in the front and an internal radiator inside.

[quig]

Originally posted by Kermit de frog
Posts: 1176

I see you still talk too much without ever really saying anything

[Kermit de frog]

This the quig from the UNFORGIVEN years ago?

[quig]

Sure is. Thought I'd hop in and poke fun at you for old times sake.

[Kermit de frog]

Quig!

Been a long long time since I've flown with you.  My memories of h2h are pretty much all gone.  Time sure does fly.


Let me know if/when you will fly again.