AH and Computer Freeze

[AOPA197]

For some strange reason, I noticed constant screen freezes while trying to play AH after the patch 3, never had any problems before that.

I dont have ANY AH download add-ons, now after I completely removed everything and re-installed AH the problem still exists.
But, it's only on AH.  I've done system diag, All passed.
Even did a HD wipe and System Restore and another re-install of AH,,,,,still get a frozen game within 10-15 minutes of play,,,at best. Also happens Offline.
I've changed video settings in the game to the lowest settings although it buys me more play time, maybe another 10 more minutes 'til frozen.

My overall system stats are:
System Model   AcerPower S285
Processor   x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3066 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date   Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-B1, 12/16/2005 ver 2.3
Total Physical Memory   512.00 MB
Available Virtual Memory   1.96 GB
Page File Space   1.22 GB
Adapter Description   NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Adapter RAM   128.00 MB (134,217,728 bytes)
OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600


This is the same comp I've started playing AH back in March '07.
Would appreciate Any ideas on this one.

[bj229r]

I found mine had a correlation to temperature....seemed to have been that way since I swapped out mobo (same tryp board, same cpu) ....PC runs LOTS hotter with cpu fan backwards!

[The Fugitive]

Run DXdiag on your computer and post the first third of that report here (save to text button is int he lower right corner of DX box.)

From what you posted already, you might just be on the edge with your machine. What texture size are you running in the game, and are you "pre-loading" any textures (start game and look under the Video button)

With only 512 memory the upgrades in graphics in patch 3 might have been enough to choke your system a bit. You may be OK with just turning down some of the eye candy in the game.

[AOPA197]

Originally posted by The Fugitive
Run DXdiag on your computer and post the first third of that report here (save to text button is int he lower right corner of DX box.)

From what you posted already, you might just be on the edge with your machine. What texture size are you running in the game, and are you "pre-loading" any textures (start game and look under the Video button)

With only 512 memory the upgrades in graphics in patch 3 might have been enough to choke your system a bit. You may be OK with just turning down some of the eye candy in the game.

Hey Fugitive, is this the info your looking for?
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/23/2007, 08:48:39
       Machine name: ACER-C2D0F03B5F
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer
       System Model: AcerPower S285
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 512MB RAM
          Page File: 379MB used, 871MB 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.

Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce FX 5200
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0322&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.7184 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 2/24/2005 01:32:00, 3973888 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes

I always ran in 1024 32bit hires with all the bells and whistles on,even dl'd the hires pack, But after the Patch 3,,,,,I cannot enjoy that anymore.

From what your saying, that P3 update must have included alot more eye candy thats now killing my machine?  
Guess that means increasing ram and/or more mem on video card?

Thanks again for the help.

[goober69]

I have just about the same system specs 512 ram.
But i am runnign a Nividia 6200 oc.
just to be able to play the game my texture size is as low as it goes, all the eye candy off only thing raised is ground detail which is about 3/4,
object detal at middle.
i still have problem of the nvidia driver freezing and getting a frozen screen with sounds running, after about a minute the sytem restarts and says its recovered from a critical error. only happens about 2 out of ten times i play.
(error says that the driver stoped responding or some rot)
Anyway to the point set your texture to 512 or low as it goes and see if it still happens, make sure you have vsynch enabled or forced on on the card; (this made it stop crashing everytime i played) turn off any optimizations too. it may run like that.
here in the next year or so im gonna get my own computer(preferably one with a lot of memory and at least a nvidia 7 card and soundblaster sound card.

[AOPA197]

Ok,
I think I found the source of my issue ( atleast maybe one part of it anyway)

I installed another flt sim-LockOn actually, turned all the eye candy on low or off and started to get very very poor results.
Rebooted system, went back to AH after seeing another reply here and I turn everything back down to low settings,,,froze again after getting into a pnzr.

So I shut everything down, opened up the computer, checked everything, inspected every component, then pulled out my video card and,,,,,BINGO!

There are 3 - FZ61 1000 16v Capacitors, two of them have bursted at the top, with a nice little dry coating of Orange goodness that ooozed out.

Noticed the other capacitors are exactly the same type but lower voltage rating, and they are allll clean and pretty

So unless I can find the same capacitors to replace, it's time for another V-Card.

Perhaps the AH Patch 3 was tooo much for them

[The Fugitive]

ya your ram is pretty low.....512 is barely enough to run XP. On top of that you were pushing that video card pretty heavy with the hi rez and stuff. I wonder what kind of temp you were getting before that sucker popped