Author Topic: System shut down from AH (Read 683 times)

Tilt · « **on:** June 14, 2001, 06:14:00 AM »

One of our pc's has a persistant problem when playing AH.

After about 35 >40 mins the whole thing shuts down. It will not allow a soft restart and we have to reset via on/offing the power supply module switch at the rear.

Although a lower spec pc (see below) its stripped for gaming with no other extranious programs running except RW. frame rates whilst not good are a decent and consistent 15 to 32.

The machine is a Chaintech mother board with 366 celeron (socket370), 64 MB RAM, Voodoo 2 8mB (total), sb16 pci, DX7.0a, win98 se, msppro (using the sound port).

We access the net via a home network through a dial up modem under winroute pro. The hub is a Linksys 100/10.

This problem does not occur on other admitedly higher spec machines on the home network. Also we are certain its independant of other activity on the home network.

I am going to do some investigation re thermal stuff in the box.

But in the mean time wonder if anyone has other ideas.

This problem does not occur on other quite graphically intensive games but AH is the most grapically intense game this pc plays on line. ( the only other being AW)

Tilt

214thCavalier · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2001, 01:32:00 PM »

try swapping PSU from one of your other machines and see what happens, had very similar problem before and it was the PSU thermal protect powering off PSU, changed PSU problem cured.

bloom25 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2001, 07:15:00 PM »

Sounds like a power supply issue to me as well.

Tilt · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2001, 03:47:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by 214thCavalier:
try swapping PSU from one of your other machines and see what happens, had very similar problem before and it was the PSU thermal protect powering off PSU, changed PSU problem cured.

After further investigation I find that power is still left on to the MB. It seems to be as if some thing is forcing the system into a form of suspend mode. I have disabled the power management system in the Bios. Now when this event occurs the system immediately reboots with the usual "you did not shut windows down properly message".

Other obsevations.....

The Bios has a video memory setting @64MB yet this is also the total RAM.

Ctrl I reports using 4195 of 8500 (ish) video memory.

Its not just a time thing...... I now detect a pattern.

In game I have icons incoming associated with wierd PC MB activity (i can hear it).

Stuff i am going to do.

Increase bus speed to 100mhz

Instal a 800 mhz CPU and increase RAM to 128.

(The celeron 800 may require a Bios upgrade as the present ceepu stuff only permits 5 x 100)

If that does not work then its a new MB so I can use a better graphics card.

Any thoughts?

Tilt

bloom25 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2001, 03:56:00 AM »

A bad (or weak) power supply can cause an instant reboot. As can a bad stick of ram or a bad cpu.

My bet is on the power supply still...

Lephturn · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2001, 12:31:00 PM »

I agree with Bloom's assesment.

Heat is another possible problem. Try running with the side off of the thing and a desk fan blasting at it. At the least, that is a simple way to eliminate heat as the cause.

You DO have a 300 watt power supply right? If not, that could be the culprit.

Also, if you have anything overclocked... try turning it back down to stock.

If that mainboard will take SDRAM, that's your cheapest and best upgrade for sure. You can get a good 256 meg stick of Cas2 PC133 for ... well way cheap. What like $50 in the US now?

If it won't take SDRAM... look at rebuilding a new box.

FYI, the Celly 366 will OC pretty well on a good mainboard and a good Heatsink/fan. My home server runs dual Celeron 366's on an Abit BP6 board with both of 'em overclocked to 500.

It runs Win2k and has been up for 2-3 months at a time without a reboot or a problem.