Computer hangs when play games/video

madster · Jun 20, 2005, 08:17 AM

Hey I have experienced some problems with my computer (see specs below) lately and I hope I can get some advice from you guys. Thanks for all the help!

Whenver I play games or video (whether be divx, xvid, or rmvb), the computer hangs occasionally after some period (around 30-40mins, but not always). This happens a lot with games like GTASA and CSS, and when it hangs, the sound freezes but everything in the game seems to go on in slow motion except I can't control it, which leave me with no choice but to reset the computer. I have tried reformat, different drivers (chipset drivers, different catalysts including 5.6), and test the memory with memtest with no errors. Most of time it is under 45degrees so don't think it's overheating as well. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Thanks for any help guys!

Specs:
AMD Athlone Thunderbird 1.4ghz
ASUS ATA266 Motherboard
1GB Samsung DDRRAM
BBA 9600XT 128MB with fastwrite off
60GB Maxtor HDD

Tipstaff · Jun 20, 2005, 09:37 AM

3 things come to mind to try out:

1) Try disabling VPU recovery in the ATI Control Panel.

2) Some systems require Fast-Writes to be on when using an ATI 9600 card. In fact, some require it to be on no matter the card. Since having this problem, have you tried it with Fast-Writes On?

3) What sound card are you using? If you are using the onboard try updating those drivers. You can also try updating with the manufacturers latest drivers, and not the ones on the motherboard manufacturers website as those can be too old. If you are using a seperate card, such as an SB Live or Audigy card, be sure to update to more current drivers.

Additionally, you can try to uninstall SmartGART altogether using ATIs SmartGART Uninstaller tool from HERE. If you ever want it back just reinstall the drivers using the ATI installer (if you install them manually SmartGART doesn't get installed).

Give those a shot, and let us know what happens.

madster · Jun 20, 2005, 08:17 PM

Hey thanks for the reply!

I used to have fastwrite on before so I don't think it would be related. I will try your advices and see how it goes. Thanks a lot!

daedal · Jun 20, 2005, 08:20 PM

When you say it's under 45 degrees, are you reffering to your processor or case's ambient temp?

madster · Jun 21, 2005, 01:05 AM

Thanks for the reply daedal.

Turning off vpu recover and uninstall SmartGART don't seem to help. My sound card is not onboard so I think it's ok.

I just checked the temperature again from the bios and the motherboard temperature is around 40-45 degrees, and the cpu is around 70 degrees.

Thanks for all the help!

e v o · Jun 21, 2005, 01:36 AM

anyone one else wanna confirm that 70c is a bit high, even for a tbird

you might wanna try to clean and reseat your cpu heatsink/fan (reapplying thermal compound, etc), if you feel you're computer savvy enough

madster · Jun 21, 2005, 02:00 AM

Hey e_v_o thanks for the reply.

Actually I just replace my thermal compound before my third post, and the temperature seem to remain at 70 degrees. I checked the asus site here and tbird's max temp from here and seems 70 degree should be reasonable.

Could this be a motherboard's problem? Is there any way to check the stability of the just the motherboard alone? Thanks!

Robert McClelland · Jun 21, 2005, 03:25 AM

Whats your psu?

madster · Jun 21, 2005, 05:23 PM

It's a 350w psu.

Anyway the comp won't boot up at all today just blank screen, and can't even get into bios. Guess I need to get a new mobo and cpu then.

Thanks for all the help guys!

cswiger · Jun 21, 2005, 09:15 PM

Bummer, dude. You probably need to replace the CPU and double-check your cooling, sounds like your processor fried. Your MB might still be fine.

Of course, if you replace both, you might be able to update to a KT600/800 or nForce MB which can do 166/200MHz FSB (think Barton 3200+, or the Sempron 3000+ which is a Barton-lookalike and has 512K L2 cache).

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jun 22, 2005, 03:14 AM

Sure your CPU isn't messed? Might try making sure the thermal paste is done correctly...and try underclocking and lowering voltage

@cswiger: Semprons are mostly 256kb cache versions, not all of them are barton based. You're better off to get a pure barton

madster · Jun 22, 2005, 06:57 PM

Thanks guys, but I am planning to get a A64 3200+ with Asus K8N MB.

Is there anything I should note for this combo?

Thanks a lot.

cswiger · Jun 22, 2005, 06:59 PM

Almost all of the Semprons are 256K L2 cache, agreed, they are basicly rebranded Athlon XP's. But the Sempron 3000+ or so is a rebranded Barton core, see:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._11604,00.html

...it may even support the 200MHz FSB rather than the 166MHz speed.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jun 23, 2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madster

Thanks guys, but I am planning to get a A64 3200+ with Asus K8N MB.

Is there anything I should note for this combo?

Thanks a lot.

Yeah, get a Venice core and maybe go 3500+. Then get a good heatsink, some arctic silver 5, some nice ram, and overclock it like hell

Jun 20, 2005, 08:17 AM	#1
madster DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	Computer hangs when play games/video Hey I have experienced some problems with my computer (see specs below) lately and I hope I can get some advice from you guys. Thanks for all the help! Whenver I play games or video (whether be divx, xvid, or rmvb), the computer hangs occasionally after some period (around 30-40mins, but not always). This happens a lot with games like GTASA and CSS, and when it hangs, the sound freezes but everything in the game seems to go on in slow motion except I can't control it, which leave me with no choice but to reset the computer. I have tried reformat, different drivers (chipset drivers, different catalysts including 5.6), and test the memory with memtest with no errors. Most of time it is under 45degrees so don't think it's overheating as well. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Thanks for any help guys! Specs: AMD Athlone Thunderbird 1.4ghz ASUS ATA266 Motherboard 1GB Samsung DDRRAM BBA 9600XT 128MB with fastwrite off 60GB Maxtor HDD

Jun 20, 2005, 09:37 AM	#2
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	3 things come to mind to try out: 1) Try disabling VPU recovery in the ATI Control Panel. 2) Some systems require Fast-Writes to be on when using an ATI 9600 card. In fact, some require it to be on no matter the card. Since having this problem, have you tried it with Fast-Writes On? 3) What sound card are you using? If you are using the onboard try updating those drivers. You can also try updating with the manufacturers latest drivers, and not the ones on the motherboard manufacturers website as those can be too old. If you are using a seperate card, such as an SB Live or Audigy card, be sure to update to more current drivers. Additionally, you can try to uninstall SmartGART altogether using ATIs SmartGART Uninstaller tool from HERE. If you ever want it back just reinstall the drivers using the ATI installer (if you install them manually SmartGART doesn't get installed). Give those a shot, and let us know what happens. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Jun 20, 2005, 08:20 PM	#4
daedal Uber Coffee Drinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gatineau, Quebec Posts: 2,250 Rep Power: 0	When you say it's under 45 degrees, are you reffering to your processor or case's ambient temp? __________________

Jun 21, 2005, 01:36 AM	#6
e v o HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,037 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	anyone one else wanna confirm that 70c is a bit high, even for a tbird you might wanna try to clean and reseat your cpu heatsink/fan (reapplying thermal compound, etc), if you feel you're computer savvy enough __________________

Jun 21, 2005, 03:25 AM	#8
Robert McClelland PAX Tweaker, PAX Expert. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere in Wood County Ohio Same Town :) Posts: 10,673 Rep Power: 196 System Specs	Whats your psu? __________________ "XTREME AUDIO IS CRAP!" "There no support for it. It's crapist card on face of the earth it should be throw into the sun" http://www.speedtest.net/result/1949536385.png correct the correct one now

Jun 20, 2005, 08:17 PM	Thread Starter #3
madster DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	Hey thanks for the reply! I used to have fastwrite on before so I don't think it would be related. I will try your advices and see how it goes. Thanks a lot!

Jun 21, 2005, 01:05 AM	Thread Starter #5
madster DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the reply daedal. Turning off vpu recover and uninstall SmartGART don't seem to help. My sound card is not onboard so I think it's ok. I just checked the temperature again from the bios and the motherboard temperature is around 40-45 degrees, and the cpu is around 70 degrees. Thanks for all the help!

Jun 21, 2005, 02:00 AM	Thread Starter #7
madster DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	Hey e_v_o thanks for the reply. Actually I just replace my thermal compound before my third post, and the temperature seem to remain at 70 degrees. I checked the asus site here and tbird's max temp from here and seems 70 degree should be reasonable. Could this be a motherboard's problem? Is there any way to check the stability of the just the motherboard alone? Thanks!

Jun 21, 2005, 05:23 PM	Thread Starter #9
madster DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	It's a 350w psu. Anyway the comp won't boot up at all today just blank screen, and can't even get into bios. Guess I need to get a new mobo and cpu then. Thanks for all the help guys!

Jun 21, 2005, 09:15 PM	#10
cswiger DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 233 Rep Power: 0	Bummer, dude. You probably need to replace the CPU and double-check your cooling, sounds like your processor fried. Your MB might still be fine. Of course, if you replace both, you might be able to update to a KT600/800 or nForce MB which can do 166/200MHz FSB (think Barton 3200+, or the Sempron 3000+ which is a Barton-lookalike and has 512K L2 cache). __________________ Do you remember Shalebridge Cradle? Beware! The Cradle doesn't forget.... AMD Opteron 185 @ 2.6GHz/200HTT \| 2GB G.Skill DDR3200 @ 2-3-2-5/1T \| 512MB eVGA 8800GT @ 600/1800 \| SB Audigy 2ZS eX, Outlaw 1050 6.1ch amp, Paradigm speakers \| MSI K8N Diamond Plus mainboard \| black Lian-Li USB68 case + Foxconn FX600-GLN 600W PSU \| 2xWDC3200AAKS (RAID1) \| Sony GDM-F500R CRT, BENQ G2400W LCD

Jun 22, 2005, 03:14 AM	#11
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	Sure your CPU isn't messed? Might try making sure the thermal paste is done correctly...and try underclocking and lowering voltage @cswiger: Semprons are mostly 256kb cache versions, not all of them are barton based. You're better off to get a pure barton

Jun 22, 2005, 06:57 PM	Thread Starter #12
madster DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	Thanks guys, but I am planning to get a A64 3200+ with Asus K8N MB. Is there anything I should note for this combo? Thanks a lot.

Jun 22, 2005, 06:59 PM	#13
cswiger DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 233 Rep Power: 0	Almost all of the Semprons are 256K L2 cache, agreed, they are basicly rebranded Athlon XP's. But the Sempron 3000+ or so is a rebranded Barton core, see: http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._11604,00.html ...it may even support the 200MHz FSB rather than the 166MHz speed. __________________ Do you remember Shalebridge Cradle? Beware! The Cradle doesn't forget.... AMD Opteron 185 @ 2.6GHz/200HTT \| 2GB G.Skill DDR3200 @ 2-3-2-5/1T \| 512MB eVGA 8800GT @ 600/1800 \| SB Audigy 2ZS eX, Outlaw 1050 6.1ch amp, Paradigm speakers \| MSI K8N Diamond Plus mainboard \| black Lian-Li USB68 case + Foxconn FX600-GLN 600W PSU \| 2xWDC3200AAKS (RAID1) \| Sony GDM-F500R CRT, BENQ G2400W LCD