Troubleshooting Help!

Dozer · Jun 15, 2003, 05:33 PM

I usually try not to ask these type of open ended questions but I am completely out of ideas. I recently purchased a new pc from a fairly well known game machine manufacturer after years of loyalty to HP. The specs are as follows:

Athlon 2500+ (Barton), 333 fsb
512 mb pc3200 400 mhz memory
80 gb 7200 ultra DMA-133 hard drive
LeadTek nforce2 MB
ATI 9700 Pro 128 mb
Creative Sound Blaster 5.1
Windows ME

I know...I know, ME. Well, that is for two reasons, the first is that I think it works well with games and I'm old and don't handle change well. Also, I have a TSW2 wheel that connects too a game port. Anyway, the problem is that when I attempt to run anything that is somewhat graphics intenstive like Madden 2003, F1 2002, Nascar Racing 2003 Season or Battlefield 1942, the system just locks up or throws me back to the desk top after a few minutes. If I reboot and try again, same thing.

I have tried everything I know how including reinstalling the operating system, applications, checked the registry for old entries, the sys.ini for odd entries, reinstalled the sound card, video card and drivers, IRQ settings...etc...etc.

Nothing has worked. Its acts as if it starts out ok and then just seems to loose interest. I don't know if the system is not releasing memory or what.

Anyway, if any of you have any ideas, I would really appreciate the help. Thanks in advance for your help.

Don

tek · Jun 15, 2003, 05:59 PM

When did you buy that ATI 9700 PRO, and do you still have warranty on it? Have you tried doing any mods on it, overclock it.. or anything?

I know it's a pain in the ass when these kinds of things happen and you just dont know what the hell it is, even after you've tried everything possible..

I feel your pain man.. but we'll get through this.. also, around when did you buy all these parts?

-tek

Kgentatszu] · Jun 15, 2003, 06:11 PM

well, if its random jumps from games to your desktops, then it could be the memory not working as it is supposed to. try lower the memory frequency in the bios settings and see if it helps...

Dozer · Jun 15, 2003, 06:16 PM

Thanks everyone for your replys. I have not tired to overclock or mess with anything like the video card or processor. Also, I'm not sure how to change the memory frequency as was suggested. I did run memeoryDoc and it passed all tests.

Also, it appears it is also happening when I'm just surfing or downloading anything. After awhile, the system slows to the point that the mouse and keyboard entries are delayed or slowed to a crawl. I reboot and I'm good again.

Thanks again, I better stop typing before I run out of gas again!

Don

Kgentatszu] · Jun 15, 2003, 06:32 PM

ok, post your CPU and Mobo temps, then we'll see......

tek · Jun 15, 2003, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maxwell1234
ok, post your CPU and Mobo temps, then we'll see......

Yeah this seems like a Temp problem... post your CPU temps ASAP, if you dont have a temp measurer get MbM (http://mbm.livewiredev.com/) -- d/l it and run the settings.

Dozer · Jun 15, 2003, 06:52 PM

Ok...Sys Temp 43C/109F - CPU Temp 47C/116F. I have two case fans, one 12mm in back and one 8mm in front.

I may have a breakthrough! In the Adavnced Chipset portion of my BIOS the Memory Frequncy was set to 120% for 400mhz. I changed the setting to Synch, which changed the mem. freq to 333mhz. I ran Nascar Racing 2003 for about 15 minutes without any problems. That is a record for this PC.

I'm not sure why PC3200 would not run at 400mhz or what Synch does, but at this point I may not care so much.

Thanks,
Don

tek · Jun 15, 2003, 07:42 PM

Lol.. exactly man, run your memory @ SYNC unless you have some real good memory like Corsair, GEIL, or OCz.
I think that has fixed your problem.. and it looks like CPU temp. is OK, could be better.. but OK, keep the memory at SYNC.. and if lockup start again/or whatever -- change your timings.. like I got a new processor, and on my old processor I could run 5-2-2-2, but now with the same RAM and diff. processor I cant run 5-2-2-2, I can run 5-3-3-2.. which is what I'm running right now.. ahh RAM.

Dozer · Jun 15, 2003, 08:00 PM

Thanks very much for the help. I have been working on this for a week and could never get any closer to a solution. Life is good again!

Don

Necrosis · Jun 15, 2003, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dozer
Ok...Sys Temp 43C/109F - CPU Temp 47C/116F. I have two case fans, one 12mm in back and one 8mm in front.

I may have a breakthrough! In the Adavnced Chipset portion of my BIOS the Memory Frequncy was set to 120% for 400mhz. I changed the setting to Synch, which changed the mem. freq to 333mhz. I ran Nascar Racing 2003 for about 15 minutes without any problems. That is a record for this PC.

I'm not sure why PC3200 would not run at 400mhz or what Synch does, but at this point I may not care so much.

Thanks,
Don

109F for your system temp? Um, that is rather high too. How many fans are in your case, and their arrangement please.

Dozer · Jun 15, 2003, 08:58 PM

I have two fans, a 12mm in the back of the case and an 8mm fan in the front of the case. Also, what ever fan comes on the CPU heat sink. I have room to add one more 8mm fan in the front.

Don

Necrosis · Jun 15, 2003, 11:24 PM

I would advise you to add the extra fan in front, what is your average room temp.?

Jun 15, 2003, 05:33 PM	#1
Dozer DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northwest Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	Troubleshooting Help! I usually try not to ask these type of open ended questions but I am completely out of ideas. I recently purchased a new pc from a fairly well known game machine manufacturer after years of loyalty to HP. The specs are as follows: Athlon 2500+ (Barton), 333 fsb 512 mb pc3200 400 mhz memory 80 gb 7200 ultra DMA-133 hard drive LeadTek nforce2 MB ATI 9700 Pro 128 mb Creative Sound Blaster 5.1 Windows ME I know...I know, ME. Well, that is for two reasons, the first is that I think it works well with games and I'm old and don't handle change well. Also, I have a TSW2 wheel that connects too a game port. Anyway, the problem is that when I attempt to run anything that is somewhat graphics intenstive like Madden 2003, F1 2002, Nascar Racing 2003 Season or Battlefield 1942, the system just locks up or throws me back to the desk top after a few minutes. If I reboot and try again, same thing. I have tried everything I know how including reinstalling the operating system, applications, checked the registry for old entries, the sys.ini for odd entries, reinstalled the sound card, video card and drivers, IRQ settings...etc...etc. Nothing has worked. Its acts as if it starts out ok and then just seems to loose interest. I don't know if the system is not releasing memory or what. Anyway, if any of you have any ideas, I would really appreciate the help. Thanks in advance for your help. Don

Jun 15, 2003, 05:59 PM	#2
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	When did you buy that ATI 9700 PRO, and do you still have warranty on it? Have you tried doing any mods on it, overclock it.. or anything? I know it's a pain in the ass when these kinds of things happen and you just dont know what the hell it is, even after you've tried everything possible.. I feel your pain man.. but we'll get through this.. also, around when did you buy all these parts? -tek __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Jun 15, 2003, 07:42 PM	#8
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	Lol.. exactly man, run your memory @ SYNC unless you have some real good memory like Corsair, GEIL, or OCz. I think that has fixed your problem.. and it looks like CPU temp. is OK, could be better.. but OK, keep the memory at SYNC.. and if lockup start again/or whatever -- change your timings.. like I got a new processor, and on my old processor I could run 5-2-2-2, but now with the same RAM and diff. processor I cant run 5-2-2-2, I can run 5-3-3-2.. which is what I'm running right now.. ahh RAM. __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Jun 15, 2003, 06:11 PM	#3
Kgentatszu] DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,802 Rep Power: 0	well, if its random jumps from games to your desktops, then it could be the memory not working as it is supposed to. try lower the memory frequency in the bios settings and see if it helps...

Jun 15, 2003, 06:16 PM	Thread Starter #4
Dozer DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northwest Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	Thanks everyone for your replys. I have not tired to overclock or mess with anything like the video card or processor. Also, I'm not sure how to change the memory frequency as was suggested. I did run memeoryDoc and it passed all tests. Also, it appears it is also happening when I'm just surfing or downloading anything. After awhile, the system slows to the point that the mouse and keyboard entries are delayed or slowed to a crawl. I reboot and I'm good again. Thanks again, I better stop typing before I run out of gas again! Don

Jun 15, 2003, 06:32 PM	#5
Kgentatszu] DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,802 Rep Power: 0	ok, post your CPU and Mobo temps, then we'll see......

Jun 15, 2003, 06:52 PM	Thread Starter #7
Dozer DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northwest Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	Ok...Sys Temp 43C/109F - CPU Temp 47C/116F. I have two case fans, one 12mm in back and one 8mm in front. I may have a breakthrough! In the Adavnced Chipset portion of my BIOS the Memory Frequncy was set to 120% for 400mhz. I changed the setting to Synch, which changed the mem. freq to 333mhz. I ran Nascar Racing 2003 for about 15 minutes without any problems. That is a record for this PC. I'm not sure why PC3200 would not run at 400mhz or what Synch does, but at this point I may not care so much. Thanks, Don

Jun 15, 2003, 08:00 PM	Thread Starter #9
Dozer DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northwest Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	Thanks very much for the help. I have been working on this for a week and could never get any closer to a solution. Life is good again! Don

Jun 15, 2003, 08:58 PM	Thread Starter #11
Dozer DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northwest Posts: 63 Rep Power: 0	I have two fans, a 12mm in the back of the case and an 8mm fan in the front of the case. Also, what ever fan comes on the CPU heat sink. I have room to add one more 8mm fan in the front. Don

Jun 15, 2003, 11:24 PM	#12
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	I would advise you to add the extra fan in front, what is your average room temp.?