Freezing problems while gaming!

wagglesk · 05-24-2005, 03:03 AM

My problem is a simple one! I want to thank everyone in advance for helping! Basicly while I'm playing any game that stresses my Radeon X800 Pro (Counter-Strike: Source, World of Warcraft, City of Heroes), after awhile there will be a static sound from my speakers and a sudden stop of EVERYTHING. I'm not running any anti-virus/spyware, so I don't think thats the problem. I thought it could be an audio problem so I tried updating my drivers. No luck. I use an onboard Realtek AC97 soundcard, just for the record :P
After I updated my drivers, I came across the thought that it maybe my video card overheating. I got ahold of ATITool to turn up my fan's speed. That works just fine but I noticed it wasn't an overheating problem (so I thought.)

Quick system specs from DxDiag:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/11/2005, 18:49:21
Machine name: WAFFLEBOX
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: INTELR
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 178MB used, 2283MB 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

Thanks,

Waffles

PS: I'm using a 350 power supply

**Sarkast** · 05-24-2005, 08:53 AM

That video card is quite power hungry. Is the 350W PSU generic or brand name ?
If it s generic could you read its supposed output values off the label ? 3.3, 5 and 12V are important to know.

Have you tried taking a look at your CPU and SYS temperature and the voltages that come from your PSU with a program like Speedfan or MBM5 ?

wagglesk · 05-25-2005, 07:09 AM

Its a brand name power supply, I have to look for the box. I bought it from a friend being that he couldn't use his. My older power supply was a 250 so I'd imagine this is better. I haven't checked the voltage. I'll check ou those programs for sure. :) The temps. for my system range from 40-50c, so heating isn't a problem, CPU wise. Like I said, the ATI does like to heat up though.

wagglesk · 05-25-2005, 10:14 PM

I just noticed that I freeze while playing flash games/movies. Odd... :|

ebackhus · 05-25-2005, 10:50 PM

Hmm, have you tried turning down hardware acceleration?

wagglesk · 05-26-2005, 04:32 PM

I haven't. How might I go about doing that?

**Sarkast** · 05-26-2005, 04:36 PM

Right click on your desktop, properties, settings tab, advanced, troubleshooting tab.

wagglesk · 05-27-2005, 02:33 AM

I tried, no luck ;(

ebackhus · 05-27-2005, 08:24 AM

Check your BIOS to see if Fast Writes are enabled, if so then turn them off. Still, that PSU sounds like the culprit.

wagglesk · 05-29-2005, 01:13 PM

A noticed something new! As I was playing World of Warcraft, the system did freeze! I noticed a greenish/multicolored streak of color on the bottom of my screen. A long line that stretched across, so... If that helps any.

**UncleMacro** · 05-29-2005, 04:55 PM

What are the power supply voltages when running in 3D mode? You can also exclude overheating for sure by underclocking with ATITool. Does that card die randomly in games or does it tend to croak after about the same amount of time playing the game? If you haven't already, you should slow down your AGP as shown here.

wagglesk · 05-29-2005, 05:18 PM

Not sure of the voltage, but its becoming less of a problem as of lately. Freeze time is around 1-2.5 hours

kllngtme · 05-29-2005, 06:39 PM

check for bios updates is what i would say.

wagglesk · 05-30-2005, 04:34 PM

BIOs updated! I finished doing that last night. Heh. Still freezing :( I'm thinking of buying 2 new fans + a better powersupply.

wagglesk · 06-18-2005, 05:33 PM

Up! Its been awhile since I posted here and I have news! I installed a new Creative Live 5.1 soundcard, a PCI Fan card! Still freezing/locking up!

05-24-2005, 03:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Freezing problems while gaming! My problem is a simple one! I want to thank everyone in advance for helping! Basicly while I'm playing any game that stresses my Radeon X800 Pro (Counter-Strike: Source, World of Warcraft, City of Heroes), after awhile there will be a static sound from my speakers and a sudden stop of EVERYTHING. I'm not running any anti-virus/spyware, so I don't think thats the problem. I thought it could be an audio problem so I tried updating my drivers. No luck. I use an onboard Realtek AC97 soundcard, just for the record :P After I updated my drivers, I came across the thought that it maybe my video card overheating. I got ahold of ATITool to turn up my fan's speed. That works just fine but I noticed it wasn't an overheating problem (so I thought.) Quick system specs from DxDiag: ------------------ System Information ------------------ Time of this report: 5/11/2005, 18:49:21 Machine name: WAFFLEBOX 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: INTELR System Model: AWRDACPI BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz (2 CPUs) Memory: 1024MB RAM Page File: 178MB used, 2283MB 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 Thanks, Waffles PS: I'm using a 350 power supply

05-24-2005, 08:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sarkast TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NY Posts: 2,715 OS: WinXP	That video card is quite power hungry. Is the 350W PSU generic or brand name ? If it s generic could you read its supposed output values off the label ? 3.3, 5 and 12V are important to know. Have you tried taking a look at your CPU and SYS temperature and the voltages that come from your PSU with a program like Speedfan or MBM5 ? __________________ P4 2.4@2.9 / XP-90 / Albatron PX865PE Pro V2.0 / Kingston Hyper-X 512MB Dual Channel CL2-2-2-5 / Geforce4 MX440x8 64MB / WD80GB 7200RPM 8MB / Thermaltake 420W PSU --> SEE IT ALL GLOW <-- MBM5 - SpeedFan - PSU Calculator - MemTest86 - ThrottleWatch

05-25-2005, 10:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,249 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Hmm, have you tried turning down hardware acceleration? __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-26-2005, 04:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sarkast TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NY Posts: 2,715 OS: WinXP	Right click on your desktop, properties, settings tab, advanced, troubleshooting tab. __________________ P4 2.4@2.9 / XP-90 / Albatron PX865PE Pro V2.0 / Kingston Hyper-X 512MB Dual Channel CL2-2-2-5 / Geforce4 MX440x8 64MB / WD80GB 7200RPM 8MB / Thermaltake 420W PSU --> SEE IT ALL GLOW <-- MBM5 - SpeedFan - PSU Calculator - MemTest86 - ThrottleWatch

05-27-2005, 08:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,249 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Check your BIOS to see if Fast Writes are enabled, if so then turn them off. Still, that PSU sounds like the culprit. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-25-2005, 07:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Its a brand name power supply, I have to look for the box. I bought it from a friend being that he couldn't use his. My older power supply was a 250 so I'd imagine this is better. I haven't checked the voltage. I'll check ou those programs for sure. :) The temps. for my system range from 40-50c, so heating isn't a problem, CPU wise. Like I said, the ATI does like to heat up though.

05-25-2005, 10:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	I just noticed that I freeze while playing flash games/movies. Odd... :\|

05-26-2005, 04:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	I haven't. How might I go about doing that?

05-27-2005, 02:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	I tried, no luck ;(

05-29-2005, 01:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	A noticed something new! As I was playing World of Warcraft, the system did freeze! I noticed a greenish/multicolored streak of color on the bottom of my screen. A long line that stretched across, so... If that helps any.

05-29-2005, 04:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	What are the power supply voltages when running in 3D mode? You can also exclude overheating for sure by underclocking with ATITool. Does that card die randomly in games or does it tend to croak after about the same amount of time playing the game? If you haven't already, you should slow down your AGP as shown here.

05-29-2005, 05:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Not sure of the voltage, but its becoming less of a problem as of lately. Freeze time is around 1-2.5 hours

05-29-2005, 06:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
kllngtme Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP sp2	check for bios updates is what i would say.

05-30-2005, 04:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	BIOs updated! I finished doing that last night. Heh. Still freezing :( I'm thinking of buying 2 new fans + a better powersupply.

06-18-2005, 05:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
wagglesk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13 OS: XP	Up! Its been awhile since I posted here and I have news! I installed a new Creative Live 5.1 soundcard, a PCI Fan card! Still freezing/locking up!