Aces High Bulletin Board
Help and Support Forums => Technical Support => Topic started by: AcId on April 23, 2001, 11:30:00 AM
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For a while now I thought that I was the only one because I saw no mention of this before and attributed it to a 'system problem' because it was relatively new. Now I have seen a post that describes what I am seeing.
Originally posted by delta:
FYI
I tend to not like the B model but primarily because I've noticed it studders (graphics halt momentarily) in a furball and generally tends to have slightly lower fps than other types. Has anyone else noticed this? ?????
delta
The thread was about the P-51b but putting that aside he talks of a studder in which the graphics/game halts/stops momentarily. It's like all time stops for about 1.5 to 2 seconds, then the game 'jumps' you to the point at which you would have normally travelled in those "frozen" seconds and things continue normally. For me this started after 1.06. Now for some info about occurances, It seems to happen at random I can't say that it happens with 'that' plane and not 'this' plane. It always seems to happen in a dogfight (murphy's law) probably other times too though. It hasn't happened while filming (don't film much anyway). I don't remember if it was occuring on the 'lake uterus' map but it is occuring on the current map. It doesn't seem to be discriminent on amount of objects nearby or lack thereof. Once it did halt completely without continuing, plane suspended in air, couldn't use any keys accept 'Alt-tab' to desktop to stop then attempt an AH restart unsuccessfully, reboot was required. If I think of any more quirks involved I'll post them.
System Specs:
Compaq Deskpro 300 (http://www.compaq.com/products/workstations/300/index.shtml)
Intel® Pentium4 1.50GHz
Intel® 850 Chipset
Six expansion slots (five PCI, one AGP)
LeadTek GeForce 2 GTS 32mb
128MB ECC PC800 RDRAM, expandable up to 1GB
Ultra 160 SCSI pci controller with 2x18.2Gb 10k rpm Hard drives
Intel® Pro/100+ Management Adapter (10/100 Mb/s Autosensing Ethernet)
Integrated SoundBlaster 128 Audio
Dual installation Windows 2000 Windows 98-SE
DX8.0a (I think, will verify)
Occurences happen in 98 btw, I dont play games in Win2k
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Originally posted by AcId:
For a while now I thought that I was the only one because I saw no mention of this before and attributed it to a 'system problem' because it was relatively new. Now I have seen a post that describes what I am seeing.
-SNIP-
k
I wonder how many more of "us" are out there?
I've tried a whole slew of things to try to isolate/cure this problem
and all to no avail. Shut down everything from
the task list prior to entering AH, upgraded? from DX7.0a to 8.0a,
installed the latest drivers for my TNT2, re-installed and older version of my TNT2 drivers,
changed video modes from 16-bit to 32-bit, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera...
The stuttering problem I observe is definately exacerbated
by flak bursts and possibly tracers. Initially
I observed the problem when I manned a gun on
a fleet ship and of course there
was a LOT of flak about...
I suspect some wierdness related to sound-USB-Video but can't see anything abnormal except the effects of the problem.
Nothing abnormal in the task list, processor usage, memory resources or frame rate.
It's as though the processor gets dragged away to some other task(s) and bogged down
for a second or two, meanwhile the AH sound
and display freeze.
Damned annoying and since the problem becomes worse with time
I eventually have to log and re-boot! NOT a good thing if
one plans on flying in scenarios (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Let's hope more folks that see this problem step forward and perhaps
we can fins the cause or at least arrive at a solution short
of dropping AH.
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=GB=
Eat at Joe's!
KAW...KAW...KAW!
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Its not a lag spike is it? Right after it happens did you check your network status and look for a big spike...? Just an idea...
batdog
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I didn't even think about net lag until I started writing my earlier post....I meant to make mention of it but lost track and forgot....DOH!
To answer your question Batdog, I truly don't know. I have made a mental note to check next time, if I'm able.
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make sure EVERYTHING has it's own IRQ. Share nothing. Make sure you have the latest pci-usb drivers for your boards chipset. Zonealarm or other firewall off. Nothing else running in background. Antivirus, disable. Enable DMA for CD roms and Hard drives if you have the option.
gl
Eagler
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Originally posted by Eagler:
make sure EVERYTHING has it's own IRQ. Share nothing. Make sure you have the latest pci-usb drivers for your boards chipset. Zonealarm or other firewall off. Nothing else running in background. Antivirus, disable. Enable DMA for CD roms and Hard drives if you have the option.
gl
Eagler
I'm running a DSL 1.5Mb connection...ZA OFF is NOT an option!
I'm about to chance setting all the IRQ's by hand instead of
letting Plug&Pray do it but I hesitate to dick with a
system that is performing well in all other applications just
to satisfy one misbehaving application.
I'm certain there is no network connection aspect to
this problem since it happens both online AND offline. IMO it is some obscure glitch in the code
that is failing to clean itself up and thus the cumulative degradation effect.
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=GB=
Eat at Joe's!
KAW...KAW...KAW!
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For all you people out there with a VIA KT133A motherboard and an SB Live! (dead) card experiencing frequent lockups (freezes 1-5 seconds with disk activity) try the 686B Bug Patch v.14 found at www.viahardware.com (http://www.viahardware.com/download/viatweak.shtm) or flash bios if your MB-maker has posted a fix.
It cured my system (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
--
BigUC
[This message has been edited by bigUC (edited 04-23-2001).]
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Originally posted by Gypsy Baron:
I'm running a DSL 1.5Mb connection...ZA OFF is NOT an option!
do you get the freezes/stutters also off-line with ZA turned off ??
if ZA should be the problem, try TPF from www.tinysoftware.com, (http://www.tinysoftware.com,) also a free firewall with outbound detection.
Goner - KAW
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Originally posted by Goner:
do you get the freezes/stutters also off-line with ZA turned off ??
if ZA should be the problem, try TPF from www.tinysoftware.com, (http://www.tinysoftware.com,) also a free firewall with outbound detection.
Goner - KAW
I believe I checked this, however I will shut off my DSL modem, kill ZA
and then try AH offline again to be sure.
The problem definately occurs offline as well as online
and once it's "there" it remains even after closing AH down.
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=GB=
Eat at Joe's!
KAW...KAW...KAW!
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As we are discussing in another thread, it is likely that GB's problems are related to IRQ sharing/conflicts.
All of you having these issues should check your sytems out. From the Start menu choose Run, and type "msinfo32" (without the quotes) and hit OK. On the left hand side of the program, expand Hardware Resources and then select the Conflicts/Sharing folder. If you have anything showing in this section, it may be causing you problems. List your shared resources here and we'll try to help get you sorted out.
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Sean "Lephturn" Conrad - Aces High Chief Trainer
A proud member of the mighty Flying Pigs
http://www.flyingpigs.com
Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome (http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/) for AH articles and training info!
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I've been suffering from that multi-second lockup as well. Many blamed Roger Wilco, so I turn that off in the background, but it still happens. I've noticed it will only happen once per session. That one lockup could occur 5 minutes into my gaming, or 2 hours into it, but it only happens once per session. It never seems to happen when I'm on autopilot either (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) It's happened while diving down and opening fire, or sitting in a flak, even when I was starting to fire at a Spittard from a B17. Nine times outta ten you come back dead. I've also tried slowing down audio hardware acceleration, doesn't help.
I run Win2000 Pro and from what I've been told, it's perfectly fine to share IRQ's in 2000, but then again, who really knows besides Bill Gates himself.
My system:
Asus P2B MB
P3 550
192 mb RAM
Geforce DDR
Yamaha SCSI 16/10/40 RW drive
Plextor 32x Ultraplex CD drive
SB Live Value (w/Klipsch Promedia v2.400) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
All IBM Deskstar hard drives
Here's my 'conflicting irq's' that Lephturn suggested to give:
System Information report written at: 04/28/2001 03:44:18 PM
[Conflicts/Sharing]
Resource Device
IRQ 9 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
IRQ 9 e-GeForce DDR
IRQ 9 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 9 Intel(R) PRO/100B PCI Adapter (TX)
IRQ 9 Adaptec AHA-2940U/UW Dual/AHA-394xAU/AUW/AUWD PCI SCSI Controller
IRQ 9 Adaptec AHA-2940U/UW Dual/AHA-394xAU/AUW/AUWD PCI SCSI Controller
IRQ 9 Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
IRQ 9 Promise Technology Inc. Ultra66 IDE Controller
Thanks for reading!
CheezHed
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If you install windows 2000 in ACPI mode all cards will and should share IRQ 9. Theretically it should work ok, however drivers and current devices aren't ideal. Sometimes you get problems. I'd probably try updating your video and sound drivers to the newest available.
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bloom25
-MAW-
(Formerly of the)
THUNDERBIRDS
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I had the stutter for many weeks and tried all kind of cures to get rid of it.
My stutter happened when firing guns - online & offline. Did a couple of tests etc... yadda yadda - turning off V-Sync and setting prerendered frames at 1 cured the problem for me.
Now, using the 12.00 NVidia drivers (GeForce2GTS) the stutters gone for good even with Vsync turned on.
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Hardware interrupt sharing is a bad thing, no matter how well drivers are written. Consider the flow the operating system takes when an interrupt occurs, and when devices are sharing hardware interrupts.
Let's take a USB port sharing an interrupt with a video card, wth the USB port having your flight controller on it.
1) The interrupt occurs from the sound card.
2) The operating system realizes there are multiple interrupt service routines that must be called. The order of the calling is arbitrary and assigned during initialization time.
3) Call the USB interrupt service routine. Now, if you have moved you stick the stick interrupt service routine says, "Oh my, I have an interrupt to service", without knowing that the actual interrupt was intended for the sound card.
4) The USB interrupt service route (ISR) does its thing, and returns.
5) The operating system calls the sound card ISV, now the sound card finally gets to service the original interrupt.
6) During the sound card ISR, you move your stick again. Well, the sound card is still in ins ISR, so your stick interrupt will have to wait.
Voila, stutter.
This is a very simplistic look at how interrupt sharing can effect your systems performance. I did not get into, ISR's that alway assume the interrupt is for them, nor into what happens when more than one interrupt has already occurred for the same device and has not been serviced.
It does not matter what operating system you run, sharing hardware interrupts will decrease system performance, can cause unreliable behaviour of a system, and, in general, is a very bad idea.
Know, this. When an operating system is in the middle of an ISR, no other operations will be done until that ISR is complete. ISR's cannot be interrupted, so the more devices you have sharing a hardware interrupt the more you system efficiency and performance will degrade. And that is the good news.
Incorrectly written ISR's that assume the interrupt will be for them, when they get called, can wreak all kinds of havoc on a system. And even when they are correctly written, they may execute a ton of code before determining the interrupt was not for them.
Hardware interrupt sharing bad.
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Roy "Skuzzy" Neese
President, AppLink Corp.
http://www.applink.net
skuzzy@applink.net
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I had this stuttering problem and found if I turn off everything running in background except my firewall (McAfee) it cures the prob. Seems even the screen saver(Setiathome) will couse it. Try ctrl-alt-del and close everything except SYSTRY and EXPLORER that may help
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I *REALLY* want to fix this, it's causing me to die way too often. One thing to note, when it happens online I check my NET STATUS, and it's peaked for 5-8 seconds. Would an irq problem cause me to have delay such as this?? I have a DSL connection and it is always rock solid. For the second time now when I regain control after a lockup (where I somehow didn't crash) my guns are still firing. I blew through 1200 rds in my 51D tonight because of that damn lockup.
Kirin, where would I set the V-sync and the 'prerendered' settings?
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Yes Cheesehead,..you really need to get all those devices from IRQ9 and move them to separate interrupts or you will always suffer some type of system performance/reliability problem.
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Roy "Skuzzy" Neese
President, AppLink Corp.
http://www.applink.net
skuzzy@applink.net
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Guys another suggestion
If the stuttering occurs when you fire your guns, or some sound occurs (like flak bursts), turn down your sound card hardware acceleration down at least one (preferably two) notches on the slider in Windows.
It fixed mine.
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
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cheesehead
Bet your joystick is USB. Sounds like your USB to PCI is hogging your resources, get this one on it's own IRQ first and see if there is any improvement. That is why when you fire it locks up, it's conflicting on IRQ 9 with the other million things using that interrupt. Also make sure you have the latest Intel driver for that chipset. But 1st rearrange your IRQ's.
Eagler
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Greetings all. Lots of responses...
No, none of my gear is USB, it's all serial piggy-backed into each other and plugged into the soundcard. Only thing USB is my mouse.
I can't move my irq's! Doing so would really mangle my system. It's all ACPI!!
I'm thinking of picking up that Hercules sound card, some new one that supports 4-channels (I have the Klipsch Pro-Media's)...think that would work better than my SB Live as far as hogging my interrupt 9?
~CheezHed
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Here's my current IRQ assignment:
0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 3dfx Voodoo Series
3 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
4 Intel(r) 82371AB/EB/MB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
4 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
5 Creative AWE64 16-bit Audio (SB16 compatible)
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 Adaptec AHA-154X/AHA-164X/AHA-1535 SCSI Host Adapter
10 3Com Fast EtherLink XL 10/100Mb TX Ethernet NIC (3C905B-TX)
10 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
11 HPT366 Ultra DMA Controller
11 HPT366 Ultra DMA Controller
11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
12 Kensington MouseWorks Driver
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
can u disable your serial ports? there's two more IRQ's if you can. Set assignment to manual. Playing around you sound be able to manually set them to where you need them. I don't think it matters which card you have in there, you have to many processes trying to share resources simultaneously. Think you can turn off the ACPI.
gl
Eagler
[This message has been edited by Eagler (edited 05-03-2001).]
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Eagler, he has ACPI enabled. He CAN'T move anything, it won't let him.
Is there an option in the BIOS to disable ACPI?
Unfortunately, ACPI was on when Win2k was installed was installed, so the OS is configured in ACPI mode. The ONLY way to fix this is to turn ACPI off in the BIOS and re-install Win2k. I know, it sucks. On top of that, your mainboard will not ship with the option to disable ACPI most times. You will have to go get a newer BIOS version that allows you to disable it most times. Older mainboards may already have the option to disable ACPI in the BIOS, you'll have to check.
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Sean "Lephturn" Conrad - Aces High Chief Trainer
A proud member of the mighty Flying Pigs http://www.flyingpigs.com (http://www.flyingpigs.com)
Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome (http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/) for AH articles and training info!
[This message has been edited by Lephturn (edited 05-03-2001).]