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Unknown Gaming Issue
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Posted by: Vyth
I've been through hell with this problem. about 4 months ago after my computer getting surged i replaced my fried video card and reformatted.
The problem comes when i start up a game. I have mainly been testing on BF 1942, but the problem has ocurred on others games as well. I can get into games fine but in BF, usually anywhere from 30 sec to 5min. it freezes up and goes into an infinite loop. video freezes and music/sound skips. i cant exit or do anything so im forced to manually restart. The strange thing is, i played the XIII demo for about 2 hours before it happened.
I have all of the lastest drivers installed. I have tested different components of my computer in my roomates computer. Power supply is fine. Video card is fine. Memory is fine. The only thing left is the Mobo and i have already ordered one from the internet to see if that is the problem. I fear its caused by lingering damaged caused by the surge, but im still not sure at all.
System Info is as follows:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.030422-1633)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: Award Medallion BIOS v6.0
Processor: AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.7GHz
Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 222MB used, 1027MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0b (4.09.0000.0902)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0902 32bit Unicode
------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.
--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)
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Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce FX 5600
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0312&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: ViewSonic A72f-2
Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.5216 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/6/2003 14:16:00, 4246528 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/6/2003 14:16:00, 1550043 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4052-11CF-D077-0A2000C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0312
SubSys ID: 0x00000000
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D9 Test Result: All tests were successful.
-------------
Sound Devices
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Description: SB Audigy Audio [C800]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_00531102&REV_03
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0383 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 4/11/2003 10:32:36, 502160 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: All tests were successful.
Posted by: nerb
What im about to say wont help you much dude, however, im having exactly the same problem, although i havent had a power surge. (nice to know im not a loner though).
Ive tried everything, such as reformating my computer (about 6 times now), getting all the latest drivers as well as older drivers, and using different versions of directX., all to no avail.
It happens in every game running Direct3D, mainly Medal of Honor, Ravenshield, SplinterCell, Call Of Duty, Ghost Recon, IL-2 Sturmovik and more.
Its too early in the morning here to write all my system specs out, but im running a GF2 MX200 on WinME. I was gonna go out and get a new video card, but according to you that didnt work, so i wont. (thanks, you just saved me a couple of hundred $$$)
Some days i can play for about an hour (which is rare), and some days it will take not even a second before it siezes and does as you say (sound looping, video frozen).
Im not sure if your problem has been caused by the surge, as i can not recall myself having any power surge, yet i am still experiencing the same problem.
If you are gonna go ahead and get the new MoBo, can ya please let me know whether it fixes it or not?
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP.....its bloody annoying.
Posted by: Vyth
yeah ill definately tell you what happens after the mobo comes. i've heard of others having the same problems. but i guess since formatting doesnt work its gotta be a hardware thing. either way ill keep you posted cuz i know how truly crappy this problem is.
Posted by: Workdawg
whats the computer temp when ya start going in the game? my computer used to do this, only it would allow me to play for a while before it happened. What i finally did was open the case and put a fan on the computer to cool it down. Start up a game and when it freezes restart and go immediatly to the bios where you should be able to fine a couple temps. The cpu temp should be lower then 50C for sure, and the system temp (temp inside the case) i wouldnt think should be much higher then room temp if you have correct cooling. If the CPU isnt running to hot, could it be the video card thats not being cooled properly? I could see the video card cooling being a problem if the system temp is to high.
I hope i helped
Posted by: nerb
Thanks for that Vyth.
And Workdawg, in reply to your suggestion (thanks for that too), after restarting my computer when it froze last, i checked the temps and its running at around 50C and was even down to 49C last night, and system temp was a bit lower (cant remember exactly what). It may well be a temp issue, which could explain why even after Vyth replaced the video card it was still doing it. Furthermore when i was running my computer during winter, late at night (and it gets bloody cold in my room) it seemed to last longer before it would crash. Then as summer comes and it warms up, it doesnt last very long at all.
But if it is a temp issue, why wasnt it doing it before? (My PC ran fine for ages, after i first bought it).
And the plot thickens- worked out something interesting which might help. It only crashes when I move around (Using Medal of honour for example). I can start the game and the mission, and stand there for bloody ages with nothing happening. The trees will still be swaying, and P47s will fly over, and all the sounds are still playing. However if i start walking and looking around (in the game, not in person), after a while it will crash. Did it in RavenShield too. I stood there, doing nothing, the guy on the screen kept breathing and it was all good. But then i moved his weapon and had a look around, and it went kaput. Does yours do the same Vyth?
Anyway, thankyou again WorkDawg, i might go and try opening the case and getting it a bit cooler, and will let you know what happens.
Posted by: Vyth
ok i got my motherboard today and it fixed the problem. The only downside, is that i couldnt pinpoint the problem because obviously the motherboard controlls alot =P Nerb as a course of action, i suggest you do what i did and get a friend who has a working comp, video card, etc. and test your video card in his comp to see if it works. I also checked my power supply by buying a new one (you could just use your friends if it is around the same or higher wattage), that didnt work so i returned it and got my money back. i also checked my RAM. Also you said you formatted a bunch of times which i tried also, and that doesnt work. i also tried the temp issue, but that wasn't the problem.
If you have eliminated all of those possibilities i would consider the motherboard. I cant promise it will work, but it fixed my problem. Remember, my comp was surged. I really wish i could have been more specific as to what the problem is, but my knowlege is limited. Maybe someone who reads this would know what might have happened. It might just be a setting in my new BIOS, but i really have no idea. If you end up trying a new Mobo, make sure to carefully read the return policies, so in case it wasnt the problem, you didnt waste any money.
And as for your question, yes it seemed to happen when i was moving/interacting with things.
This was by far the worst and most frustrating problem i have encountered yet with my computer. I experimented with every god damn part of my comp. When you dont know what a problem is you just gotta do process of elimination. But remember if you format, and it doesnt solve the problem, its a hardware issue.
Best of luck my friend. I hope this breathes some life into your campaign. Ill be keeping watch on this thread incase you have any other questions.
Posted by: nerb
Hope it breathes some life into my campaign - Bloody oath it did! Thankyou very much.
At least now weve narrowed down the problem. Im going to keep playing around before i get a new MoBo, and since my PC is already stuffed, i might take the chance and stuff around with the BIOS.
Theres a high possibility that mine couldve been the result of a surge too, but like i said i cant remember one. It does sound like we've experienced the same problem so i wouldnt be surprised if it has the same cause.
I'll go and have a play around, and let ya know what happens.
(At least if i do have to get a new MoBo it might inspire me to get a new soundcard and videocard too!)
Once again, thanks alot, youve been a great help. 
Posted by: nerb
How are ya's?
Im still having the same problem. Only thing is, i dont have the money to fork out and buy some new hardware. So could you keep the suggestions coming please? Because i dont want to resort to havin to buy new stuff.
Do any of the OTS official smart people have any idea of how to stop the problem? or how to narrow it down?
Vyth, if your still reading this, hows your PC going? Not showing any signs of it?
Rock on.
Thanks. 
Posted by: N.W.A_Kid
Those are a crapload of system specs. I don't think anybody can say you were unclear about your computer. 
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