Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help

tprice87 · 04-25-2009, 11:55 AM

When I play Dark Crusade, Winter Assault, or Dawn of War for around five minutes my computer crashes. The screen freezes and what looks like rows of the letter "w" appear in red all over the screen. I believe it is crashing my graphics card because i can still hear sound in the background.

I have reinstalled the game multiple times, i tried while running XP and now Vista. I have also tried to reformat my HD (500GB, no simple task). I dont have any other ideas about how to fix it. My PC runs new games like fallout 3 and red alert 3 on highest graphics possible with no problems.

I am no computer expert, so this problem really has me at the end of my patience...I'll attach a dx diagnostic

Thanks for any help!

Mcninjaguy · 04-25-2009, 12:01 PM

whats your PSU (make and model)

try running ATI tool (scan for artifacts button) and see if your graphics card makes any artifacts (run it for around 20 to 30 minutes)
http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

what are your system temps
use Speedfan
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

temps while under load (DOW)
temps while idle (desktop)

thanks for uploading the dxdiag it helps but it doesn't answer everything

tprice87 · 04-25-2009, 12:46 PM

Its a PC Power & Cooling, Silencer 610 EPS12V.

I had trouble with the ATItool, something about no digital signature. Also, the weirdest thing happened - I downloaded speed fan to see what my temps were, and the next time i tried to play the game i havent had any trouble with it (knock on wood). Would that be because speedfan can manage my internal fans?

My peak temp during gameplay for the GPU was 73C, average 70C. The CPU was at 65C, with a mean of 61C. At rest they are 60C and 53C respectively.

Mcninjaguy · 04-25-2009, 01:19 PM

I would up the GOU fan to about 65% using rivatuner (its beside forceware driver then system settings)
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163

The CPU temps is a little high

I would redo the paste with arctic Silver 5
$9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

tprice87 · 04-25-2009, 04:23 PM

Well, its doing it again. I moved them up to %65, but still the same problem. I also took off the side of my computer to and have a fan blowing in there to see if that would help, but no luck. I am running ATItool now.

Thanks for your help so far, btw

tprice87 · 04-25-2009, 04:54 PM

With the side open, and running ATI tool for 30 minutes, the GPU got up 65C and the CPU was at 58C. ATI tool didnt find any errors either.

Mcninjaguy · 04-25-2009, 08:57 PM

try playing Dawn of War with just a single core

open game
minimize
open task manager (alt ctrl del)
find the process
right click and find the option set affinity
make sure only one core is clicked

tprice87 · 04-25-2009, 10:01 PM

no luck...could it be that the graphics card is not compatible with the Dawn of War since it's an older game?

Mcninjaguy · 04-25-2009, 10:44 PM

you could set hardware acceleration down to basic using nvidia control panel

tprice87 · 04-25-2009, 11:31 PM

I didn't see a "basic" option, but I did change it from "multi-display performance" to "single display performance" and then "compatibility performance" and neither helped. I also tried uninstalling the graphics driver and reinstalling, but to no avail...could it be a bad card? I would think so though, i dont have any problems with it with new games - only DoW and the Sims 2

Mcninjaguy · 04-25-2009, 11:39 PM

run the game as administrator and XP SP2 compatibility

right click on the game's exe
properties
compatibility
and admin and XP SP2

up the security on it too
right click on the main folder the game is in
properties
security (tab)
edit (button)
change all the users to allow full control

do both of these for the sims 2

tprice87 · 04-26-2009, 02:08 PM

still nothing. actually, it crashed at the menu as soon as i selected my profile.

Mcninjaguy · 04-26-2009, 04:39 PM

take off compatibility SP2

tprice87 · 04-26-2009, 08:46 PM

crashed in the startup menu again

Mcninjaguy · 04-26-2009, 11:43 PM

I forgot to mention this but...
your CPU is too hot during load
should be way below 60C on load

redo thermal paste with artic silver 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

clean of old paste with rubbing alcohol
and spread a super thin layer on your CPU or heatsink surface

tprice87 · 05-07-2009, 10:35 PM

After redoing the thermal paste and moving my hardware into a heavily ventilated case I still have the same issue.

Mcninjaguy · 05-07-2009, 11:36 PM

What are your temps using speedfan?
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

tprice87 · 05-08-2009, 01:19 AM

64C for GPU under load and 45C and 40C for CPU

Mcninjaguy · 05-08-2009, 02:10 AM

Try these two things
Install latest DirectX 9
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Install new drivers (try an earlier one)
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvist...8.24_whql.html

tprice87 · 05-08-2009, 07:18 AM

installed directx 9, how do i find the earlier driver for Vista 64 bit? the link is for 32

04-25-2009, 12:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help whats your PSU (make and model) try running ATI tool (scan for artifacts button) and see if your graphics card makes any artifacts (run it for around 20 to 30 minutes) http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/ what are your system temps use Speedfan http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php temps while under load (DOW) temps while idle (desktop) thanks for uploading the dxdiag it helps but it doesn't answer everything

04-25-2009, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help Its a PC Power & Cooling, Silencer 610 EPS12V. I had trouble with the ATItool, something about no digital signature. Also, the weirdest thing happened - I downloaded speed fan to see what my temps were, and the next time i tried to play the game i havent had any trouble with it (knock on wood). Would that be because speedfan can manage my internal fans? My peak temp during gameplay for the GPU was 73C, average 70C. The CPU was at 65C, with a mean of 61C. At rest they are 60C and 53C respectively. Last edited by tprice87; 04-25-2009 at 12:49 PM.

04-25-2009, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help I would up the GOU fan to about 65% using rivatuner (its beside forceware driver then system settings) http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163 The CPU temps is a little high I would redo the paste with arctic Silver 5 $9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

04-25-2009, 04:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help Well, its doing it again. I moved them up to %65, but still the same problem. I also took off the side of my computer to and have a fan blowing in there to see if that would help, but no luck. I am running ATItool now. Thanks for your help so far, btw Last edited by tprice87; 04-25-2009 at 04:24 PM.

04-25-2009, 04:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help With the side open, and running ATI tool for 30 minutes, the GPU got up 65C and the CPU was at 58C. ATI tool didnt find any errors either.

04-25-2009, 08:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help try playing Dawn of War with just a single core open game minimize open task manager (alt ctrl del) find the process right click and find the option set affinity make sure only one core is clicked

04-25-2009, 10:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help no luck...could it be that the graphics card is not compatible with the Dawn of War since it's an older game?

04-25-2009, 10:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help you could set hardware acceleration down to basic using nvidia control panel

04-25-2009, 11:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help I didn't see a "basic" option, but I did change it from "multi-display performance" to "single display performance" and then "compatibility performance" and neither helped. I also tried uninstalling the graphics driver and reinstalling, but to no avail...could it be a bad card? I would think so though, i dont have any problems with it with new games - only DoW and the Sims 2

04-25-2009, 11:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help run the game as administrator and XP SP2 compatibility right click on the game's exe properties compatibility and admin and XP SP2 up the security on it too right click on the main folder the game is in properties security (tab) edit (button) change all the users to allow full control do both of these for the sims 2

04-26-2009, 02:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help still nothing. actually, it crashed at the menu as soon as i selected my profile.

04-26-2009, 04:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help take off compatibility SP2

04-26-2009, 08:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help crashed in the startup menu again

04-26-2009, 11:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help I forgot to mention this but... your CPU is too hot during load should be way below 60C on load redo thermal paste with artic silver 5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007 clean of old paste with rubbing alcohol and spread a super thin layer on your CPU or heatsink surface

05-07-2009, 10:35 PM	#16 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help After redoing the thermal paste and moving my hardware into a heavily ventilated case I still have the same issue.

05-07-2009, 11:36 PM	#17 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help What are your temps using speedfan? http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

05-08-2009, 01:19 AM	#18 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help 64C for GPU under load and 45C and 40C for CPU

05-08-2009, 02:10 AM	#19 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help Try these two things Install latest DirectX 9 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en Install new drivers (try an earlier one) http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvist...8.24_whql.html

05-08-2009, 07:18 AM	#20 (permalink)
tprice87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 14 OS: Vista SP 1	Re: Dawn of War dark crusade crashes video card please help installed directx 9, how do i find the earlier driver for Vista 64 bit? the link is for 32