Having PC troubles.

alanon

alanon

Jender's Next Victim
Adventurer
Joined
Jul 6, 2004
Messages
3,753
Age
50
Server
Quetzalcoatl
Linkshell
NoizyTribe
FFXI
Alanon
Over the Weekend I built (rebuilt actually) a computer, loaded XP Pro on, and FFXI. I'm really enjoying the graphics (I normally play on a PS2) but Im having a problem where I can be doing something and BOOM! the FF program just closes and throws me to the desktop. Hell I dont even have to be doing anything, just standing there and BAM! It has even caused my whole computer to reboot twice.

Details:
It did it with DirectX 8.1, and continued after updating directX to 9.X.
Did it with both SP1 and now SP2
Countless Video driver changes including the WHQL ones

The new parts are:
Nvidia GeForce FX5200
MSI MB
Intell Pentium4 3.2GHz

512MB of PC2700 (from previous PC, 1 SIMM)

The WindowsXP is a fresh install. There is nothing on there but the patches and FF.

Im gonna run a memory test program tonight to test the memory. If it turns out to be bad, Ill replace it with 3200, but if its not than Im out of ideas. Anybody run into anything like this and maybe have suggestions?
 
yeah, sounds like it could be bad memory. however, i run a geforce fx 5600 ultra card and a while back i tried updating the drivers for it and i ran into no end of wierd graphical problems with ffxi online.
i ended up having to run a registrey cleaner get the updated ones off and revert to version 4.14.10.4523, the only ones that had given no trouble.

might try the older driver install if memory checks ok, i can post it up someplace if you cant find the verson.

~Syn
 
Bad Video Memory
Bad GPU Cooling Fan
Bad System Memory
 
Got any apps running in the background? My antivirus used to do the same thing until I got the windower... any time it would auto-update, FF would dump to POL.

If your system is rebooting though, I would also have to vote on bad ram. Get Prime95, go to Options » Torture Test » Blend, and let it go for at least 10 minutes (run it overnight if you can). If it terminates with errors, replace the memory with known good and try again. Worst case scenario: freaky mobo, damaged traces in memory bus.

EDIT: Pascal's got a point, could be a stiff fan - I was having a similar problem with a Radeon 9700. Looked at it, realized there was a freakin' screw barring the fan against the heatsink fins, preventing it from moving.

Alanon said:
512MB of PC2700 (from previous PC, 1 SIMM)
Click to expand...
That's actually a DIMM; SIMMs are single-inline and date back to the 486 era. I believe DIMMs were first introduced on Pentium II-class chipsets. i440bx anyone?
 
An update:

The memory passed every test.

However, I had the case open and noticed that the heat sink on the Video Card was incredibly hot. I popped in a old GeForce2 card I had lying around. The PC already seems to be running smoother. Gonna try FF tonight and see what happens. Not sure if it will run FF but Ill try.
 
alanon said:
An update:

The memory passed every test.

However, I had the case open and noticed that the heat sink on the Video Card was incredibly hot. I popped in a old GeForce2 card I had lying around. The PC already seems to be running smoother. Gonna try FF tonight and see what happens. Not sure if it will run FF but Ill try.
Click to expand...

Do you have a rear case fan pulling air over the video card? Also consider doing a case mod to put a full size case fan blowing directly on the video card. Will generate more noise but it will help cool the video card down. If possible replace the factory cooling fan on the video card.
 
Pascal said:
Do you have a rear case fan pulling air over the video card? Also consider doing a case mod to put a full size case fan blowing directly on the video card. Will generate more noise but it will help cool the video card down. If possible replace the factory cooling fan on the video card.
Click to expand...

I do have a rear case fan. In fact the reason I had the case open was to make sure the 2 fans and the processor fan were running. Funny thing about the Video card cooling fan ittself: There isn't one. :evil:
 
alanon said:
Pascal said:
Do you have a rear case fan pulling air over the video card? Also consider doing a case mod to put a full size case fan blowing directly on the video card. Will generate more noise but it will help cool the video card down. If possible replace the factory cooling fan on the video card.
Click to expand...

I do have a rear case fan. In fact the reason I had the case open was to make sure the 2 fans and the processor fan were running. Funny thing about the Video card cooling fan ittself: There isn't one. :evil:
Click to expand...

There are after market heat sink/fan kits for video cards, but depending on how they mounted the current heat sink, it can be a bit tricky. The biggest problem comes if they used glue. You can also try to mount a chipset fan directly onto the existing hit sink, if the fins are wide enough and you can find the right size screws.
 
Had this problem a while ago with XP pro, double check the CPU multiplier in your bios, especially if things are running hot such as your video card etc... Check your manual to get an idea of what it should be at.
 
Logxiix said:
advice advice advice Check your manual advice advice advice
Click to expand...
Nothing personal on you Logxiix, but manuals are the 9th sin on the 7th layer of Hell as far as I'm concerned. If I ever open another manual for advice, I authorize the nearest sane individual to plant a 12-gauge against my cheek and save myself the misery and torture that I was about to endure.

Back to topic... good luck running FF at a decent res on a GF2, especially when you get to Jeuno. You may want to run out and pick up a cheap 9800 or something, maybe x300 if you got pci-e.
 
CmdrFly said:
Logxiix said:
advice advice advice Check your manual advice advice advice
Click to expand...
Nothing personal on you Logxiix, but manuals are the 9th sin on the 7th layer of Hell as far as I'm concerned. If I ever open another manual for advice, I authorize the nearest sane individual to plant a 12-gauge against my cheek and save myself the misery and torture that I was about to endure.

Back to topic... good luck running FF at a decent res on a GF2, especially when you get to Jeuno. You may want to run out and pick up a cheap 9800 or something, maybe x300 if you got pci-e.
Click to expand...

I don't know what kind of kindergarten manuals your reading (no pun intended), but with a system such as what alanon has here, I'm pretty positive it won't have any bogus information and/or wrong settings.
 
alanon said:
Over the Weekend I built (rebuilt actually) a computer, loaded XP Pro on, and FFXI. I'm really enjoying the graphics (I normally play on a PS2) but Im having a problem where I can be doing something and BOOM! the FF program just closes and throws me to the desktop. Hell I dont even have to be doing anything, just standing there and BAM! It has even caused my whole computer to reboot twice.
Click to expand...

The story of my FFXI life. :(
 
So, the things that can cause auto restarts is : bad memory, bad Video card, and overheating prosseser?

Just took a peek inside, felt the back of my vid card... burning hot.. and my GPU correct me if I'm mistaken the metal grill thing with a fan on it, was burning up as well.

I have a Gforce 2, and AMD Athlon 3000 stock fan and GPU, ran that Prime95, things seemed fine.

Computer worked fine with that set up till around October last year, I had returned the comp to the manufacturer back in Febuary wile my Over the phone warrintee was still active. They "Retatoo'd" the mother board, didnt help with the random restarts or sending me back to the desk top.

Any suggestions on how to fix this? Maybe just buy a new video card? I am not very knowledgable in making/building computers. (I don't speak any Computertechno-gismo.)(Please forgive me.)
 
When you build a new computer with those new "fast" high clocked GPU's having a lot of air movement near the GPU is a must. Moreso if you have a 7,500 rpm hard drive or faster and a "fast" hot running CPU. Meaning get a big roomy case not one of those "mini" towers that have no airspace in them, tuck your cables to the sides so they don't impede air movement, and most important install fans. Throwing your well cooled case into a enclosed computer cabinet is a nono. And putting it next to a furnace is another.

I'm not saying this is the problem on this thread, because I have no clue. But it does sound like a heat issue.

Just a few things I've learned in the past.........
 
Auto Restarts and Dump Outs can be caused by a lot of things. What you look to troubleshoot it is what the system is doing when it happens. Heat Problems are not uncommon with 3D games; it can also be Video Driver Issues. It is very important to always have the latest video card driver. Keeping the system cool is also very important.

Darkdante has a lot of good tips for cooling, but I would like to add to try to keep your air flow even. For every fan blowing into the system you want to have a fan pulling air out of the system (A better way is to know how much CFM of air your fans are moving and balance them).

Even if you are not having problems, keeping your computer coo will not only make it run better, it will also prolong the life of the parts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top