[SOLVED] Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU...

R3VOLV360 · 04-21-2009, 10:24 AM

The last major change I made to my system was update from an AMD Athlon x2 3800+ to an AMD Athlon x2 7750+ BE (unfortunately I have BIOS from hell so overclocking via the multiplier isn't an option). But, with this being the last major change, some games of mine have developed a tendency to stutter and freeze for a while. I first noticed it with UT3, but apparantly that is also an Nvidia bug and I haven't played it for ages. But then I tried Portal, which I knew ran perfectly before the upgrade but now is giving the same issues. Where should I begin to start to look?

Specs:
AMD K9AGM3
AMD Athlon x2 7750 BE @ 2,7 ghz
Nvidia 8600 GTS
2gb RAM

P.S. how do you add that little "My System" tab under your profile at the side there, thanks ;)

**koala** · 04-21-2009, 03:43 PM

Did you reinstall the chipset drivers and AMD Dual Core Optimizer after the upgrade?

Did you clean the thermal paste off the CPU/heatsink and replace with new, or are you just using the thermal pad?

Is the heatsink firmly locked into position, and the fan spinning with no obstructions?

If you've made any changes in BIOS or overclocked using software, set everything back to default until we can find the cause of your problem.

How much free hard drive space is left, and did you defrag after installing the games?

**5NIPER_WOLF** · 04-21-2009, 03:57 PM

Did you try updating your BIOS? getting all your CPU drivers?
Make sure there are no hardware conflicts, Press 'Windows Logo' + Pause/Break and go into the Device Manager, press all the plus signs and look for an exclamation mark, double click on whatever has one and report what is said.

R3VOLV360 · 04-22-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Did you reinstall the chipset drivers and AMD Dual Core Optimizer after the upgrade?

Optimizer, yes. Chipset Drivers, no. Would this be the motherboard's RS690 drivers?

Quote:

Did you clean the thermal paste off the CPU/heatsink and replace with new, or are you just using the thermal pad?

Is the heatsink firmly locked into position, and the fan spinning with no obstructions?

I don't believe it's a heat problem, but now that you mention it I did change fans back to the 3800's fan because the new one was loose in its own fitting and rather noisy. I'll reapply paste when I have some paste to reapply with, but I don't think it's a heat problem. Aquamark3 ran fine in its 100fps or whatever and neither nVidia monitor nor SpeedFan show any high temperatures.

Quote:

If you've made any changes in BIOS or overclocked using software, set everything back to default until we can find the cause of your problem.

How much free hard drive space is left, and did you defrag after installing the games?

Everything is at default. After installing the games for the first time I actually formatted my hdd so I doubt a defrag would help.

Quote:

Did you try updating your BIOS? getting all your CPU drivers?
Make sure there are no hardware conflicts, Press 'Windows Logo' + Pause/Break and go into the Device Manager, press all the plus signs and look for an exclamation mark, double click on whatever has one and report what is said.

Running LiveUpdate now. There are no hardware conflicts visible.

My other solution is to buy a new motherboard. I am doubtful if this would make a difference but previously the computer techies that we sent it to decided to put a motherboard with an ATi chipset in with my nVidia graphics card, which I find rather silly, why not just have one brand?

R3VOLV360 · 04-22-2009, 03:54 AM

Just installed and played Oblivion for a bit. Runs perfectly... but still not any of the others

R3VOLV360 · 05-17-2009, 08:27 AM

Just to say that I've now got a K9N2 SLI Platinum and everything is now running perfectly. So, to summarise, don't buy an AMD Athlon x2 7750+ BE if you have a K9AGM3-F... only bad things will happen, it seems.

**wrench97** · 05-17-2009, 08:47 AM

Using the CPU support list before buying is always a good idea> http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=pr...d_no=1346#menu

R3VOLV360 · 05-17-2009, 10:04 AM

I feel an idiot. Must have been looking at the wrong motherboard. The K9AGM3-F and -FIH are hard to differentiate, so I must've been looking at the -FIH. At least I score a new motherboard anyways :D

04-21-2009, 10:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
R3VOLV360 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP SP2 My System	[SOLVED] Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU... The last major change I made to my system was update from an AMD Athlon x2 3800+ to an AMD Athlon x2 7750+ BE (unfortunately I have BIOS from hell so overclocking via the multiplier isn't an option). But, with this being the last major change, some games of mine have developed a tendency to stutter and freeze for a while. I first noticed it with UT3, but apparantly that is also an Nvidia bug and I haven't played it for ages. But then I tried Portal, which I knew ran perfectly before the upgrade but now is giving the same issues. Where should I begin to start to look? Specs: AMD K9AGM3 AMD Athlon x2 7750 BE @ 2,7 ghz Nvidia 8600 GTS 2gb RAM P.S. how do you add that little "My System" tab under your profile at the side there, thanks ;) Last edited by R3VOLV360; 04-21-2009 at 10:27 AM.

04-21-2009, 03:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,359 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU... Did you reinstall the chipset drivers and AMD Dual Core Optimizer after the upgrade? Did you clean the thermal paste off the CPU/heatsink and replace with new, or are you just using the thermal pad? Is the heatsink firmly locked into position, and the fan spinning with no obstructions? If you've made any changes in BIOS or overclocked using software, set everything back to default until we can find the cause of your problem. How much free hard drive space is left, and did you defrag after installing the games? __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here Last edited by koala; 04-21-2009 at 03:46 PM. Reason: link

04-21-2009, 03:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
5NIPER_WOLF Senior Tech, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 3,251 OS: Windows VISTA Home Premium 64-Bit/Fedora 11/Mandriva/WinXP SP3 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU... Did you try updating your BIOS? getting all your CPU drivers? Make sure there are no hardware conflicts, Press 'Windows Logo' + Pause/Break and go into the Device Manager, press all the plus signs and look for an exclamation mark, double click on whatever has one and report what is said. __________________ Apps - CCleaner FireBug Network Mapper WinDirStat Process Explorer SpeedFan Info - Very Important NVIDIA Drivers ATI Drivers PSU Info I do not give support with MSN/E-mail or Private Messages.

04-22-2009, 03:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
R3VOLV360 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP SP2 My System	Re: Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU... Just installed and played Oblivion for a bit. Runs perfectly... but still not any of the others

05-17-2009, 08:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
R3VOLV360 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP SP2 My System	Re: Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU... Just to say that I've now got a K9N2 SLI Platinum and everything is now running perfectly. So, to summarise, don't buy an AMD Athlon x2 7750+ BE if you have a K9AGM3-F... only bad things will happen, it seems.

05-17-2009, 08:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,595 OS: Win7	Re: Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU... Using the CPU support list before buying is always a good idea> http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=pr...d_no=1346#menu __________________ Power Supply and Selection

05-17-2009, 10:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
R3VOLV360 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP SP2 My System	Re: [SOLVED] Games stutter and freeze with a better CPU... I feel an idiot. Must have been looking at the wrong motherboard. The K9AGM3-F and -FIH are hard to differentiate, so I must've been looking at the -FIH. At least I score a new motherboard anyways :D