In-game graphics freeze

[Arend van Beek]

Please help.

I have an issue where a game freezes (but the PC does not). I am
unable to solve it. Can anyone please help?

THE ISSUE

I've installed Soldier of Fortune II: double helix. After a while, the
game freezes. The image stands still, the sounds repeat themselves.
There is no "fixed point" or specific action in the game where it
freezes. It seems to be random.

Pressing ctrl-alt-del will pop-up the Windows security dialog and I
can return to the desktop. Or... I can return to the game and play for
a minute or so until the game freezes again.

No other programs have this problem on my system. I could not find the
same issue on the web or usenet.

WHAT I'VE TRIED

- installed latest video, mobo (incl. sound) and mouse drivers
- patched the game to the latest version 1.03 gold
- underclocked the CPU
- yelled, screamed, you know, the works

SYSTEM SPECS

- AMD 2400+ CPU
- Asus A7N8X-X mobo with onboard Realtek AC97 sound
- Corsair 512MB XMS2700 memory
- Point Of View GeForce4 Ti 4200 128MB graphics card
- Windows XP SP1

HELP ANYONE?

Thanks in advance,
Arend

 

[Shep©]

Please help.

I have an issue where a game freezes (but the PC does not). I am
unable to solve it. Can anyone please help?

THE ISSUE

I've installed Soldier of Fortune II: double helix. After a while, the
game freezes. The image stands still, the sounds repeat themselves.
There is no "fixed point" or specific action in the game where it
freezes. It seems to be random.

Pressing ctrl-alt-del will pop-up the Windows security dialog and I
can return to the desktop. Or... I can return to the game and play for
a minute or so until the game freezes again.

No other programs have this problem on my system. I could not find the
same issue on the web or usenet.

WHAT I'VE TRIED

- installed latest video, mobo (incl. sound) and mouse drivers
- patched the game to the latest version 1.03 gold
- underclocked the CPU
- yelled, screamed, you know, the works

SYSTEM SPECS

- AMD 2400+ CPU
- Asus A7N8X-X mobo with onboard Realtek AC97 sound
- Corsair 512MB XMS2700 memory
- Point Of View GeForce4 Ti 4200 128MB graphics card
- Windows XP SP1

HELP ANYONE?

Thanks in advance,
Arend

Right click on the main executable file/properties and try running it
in Win98 compatibility mode?
and look for updates for the game,
http://uk.gamesdomain.yahoo.com/pc
HTH



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http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
remove obvious to reply
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[Arend van Beek]

Right click on the main executable file/properties and try running it
in Win98 compatibility mode?
and look for updates for the game,
http://uk.gamesdomain.yahoo.com/pc
HTH

You must be pulling my leg... why would anyone run a 2002 game in
Win98 compatibility mode???

Arend

 

[Chris Stolworthy]

You must be pulling my leg... why would anyone run a 2002 game in
Win98 compatibility mode???

Arend

ummm because it might fix the problem?

 

[Who]

Please help.

I have an issue where a game freezes (but the PC does not). I am
unable to solve it. Can anyone please help?

THE ISSUE

I've installed Soldier of Fortune II: double helix. After a while, the
game freezes. The image stands still, the sounds repeat themselves.
There is no "fixed point" or specific action in the game where it
freezes. It seems to be random.

Pressing ctrl-alt-del will pop-up the Windows security dialog and I
can return to the desktop. Or... I can return to the game and play for
a minute or so until the game freezes again.

No other programs have this problem on my system. I could not find the
same issue on the web or usenet.

WHAT I'VE TRIED

- installed latest video, mobo (incl. sound) and mouse drivers
- patched the game to the latest version 1.03 gold
- underclocked the CPU
- yelled, screamed, you know, the works

SYSTEM SPECS

- AMD 2400+ CPU
- Asus A7N8X-X mobo with onboard Realtek AC97 sound
- Corsair 512MB XMS2700 memory
- Point Of View GeForce4 Ti 4200 128MB graphics card
- Windows XP SP1

HELP ANYONE?

Thanks in advance,
Arend

What size power supply do you have?A 300 watt PS is the minimum suggested
for your Ti4200,a small supply can cause freeze ups with graphics intensive
games like SoF 2.Also,sometimes uninstalling the game then doing a fresh
install can solve the problem.

 

[Shep©]

You must be pulling my leg... why would anyone run a 2002 game in
Win98 compatibility mode???

Arend

The original SOF graphics engine was built before XP and I've played
SOF2 in win98 with no problems.



--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
remove obvious to reply
email (e-mail address removed)
Free songs to download and,"BURN" :O)
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/nomessiahsmusic.htm

 

[Arend van Beek]

The original SOF graphics engine was built before XP and I've played
SOF2 in win98 with no problems.

I've found a work-around by changing screen resolution and texture
quality.

But I *will* try the Win98 compatibility mode. Even if it were only to
satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks,
Arend

 

[Arend van Beek]

What size power supply do you have?A 300 watt PS is the minimum suggested
for your Ti4200,a small supply can cause freeze ups with graphics intensive
games like SoF 2.Also,sometimes uninstalling the game then doing a fresh
install can solve the problem.

Hi Tardis,

Yep, I do use a quality 300W PSU. I've found a workaround to the
problem by setting a different screen-resolution and different texture
quality.

Gtz,
Arend

 

[Arend van Beek]

Please help.

I have an issue where a game freezes (but the PC does not). I am
unable to solve it. Can anyone please help?

THE ISSUE

I've installed Soldier of Fortune II: double helix. After a while, the
game freezes. The image stands still, the sounds repeat themselves.
There is no "fixed point" or specific action in the game where it
freezes. It seems to be random.

Everyone, the source of the problem seems to have been located. Now
for the solution...

After playing for a while in different resolutions and game settings,
SOF2 still crashed. So I tried running the game in Win98 compatibility
mode. It still crashed.

Then it occured to me that it might be a heat-related issue (summer
finally broke through in these parts!). And indeed. I have played with
an open case for a while and I've had no crashes since.

For one reason or the other, the graphics-card only seems to suffer
when playing SOF2. I've also had 3DMark2001 in a continuous loop for
hours and hours (with a closed case) but no problems there.

The memory chips on the graphics-card don't have any cooling and get
very hot. So, my guess is that memory overheating is the cause for the
game crash.

I've checked my PC's interior on the airflow and it seems to be in
order. Also, the CPU, GPU and case-coolers are clean (free from dust).

Tha card is a "Point of View Geforce4 Ti 4200 128MB DDR". Their
website (www.pointofview-online.com) has no additional info on this
card anymore.

Is it heat? Or still something else?
Anyone any suggestions how to solve this?

Thanks,
Kind regards,

Arend

 

[kony]

After playing for a while in different resolutions and game settings,
SOF2 still crashed. So I tried running the game in Win98 compatibility
mode. It still crashed.

Then it occured to me that it might be a heat-related issue (summer
finally broke through in these parts!). And indeed. I have played with
an open case for a while and I've had no crashes since.

For one reason or the other, the graphics-card only seems to suffer
when playing SOF2. I've also had 3DMark2001 in a continuous loop for
hours and hours (with a closed case) but no problems there.

It might help to look at benchmarks of different CPU and video
cards on that game, trying to determine if it's more CPU or video
card bottlenecked. If it's the CPU then you might be seeing it
crash, not the video card. Open case result does tend to suggest
overheating.

The memory chips on the graphics-card don't have any cooling and get
very hot. So, my guess is that memory overheating is the cause for the
game crash.

You could affix some small heatsinks, but usually memory problems
will manifest themselves as visual anomolies on-screen first.
Typically a suddenly crash is the video GPU (or CPU) instead.

I've checked my PC's interior on the airflow and it seems to be in
order. Also, the CPU, GPU and case-coolers are clean (free from dust).

Tha card is a "Point of View Geforce4 Ti 4200 128MB DDR". Their
website (www.pointofview-online.com) has no additional info on this
card anymore.

Is it heat? Or still something else?
Anyone any suggestions how to solve this?

Since you saw the fan is free of dust I'll assume it's working
properly, turns freely instead of being seized up... that is a
very common problem with video card fans.

Having better result with open case does suggest a heat-related
problem. Do you have the PCI slot adjacent to AGP, empty? Try
leaving it empty and that PCI slot's rear case slot-cover off of
the case to allow more airflow past the video card (in or out,
depending on case pressurization, either way would help reduce
recirculated air and cool other regions of the card a bit more).

You might also see if heatsink can be removed and a fresh coat of
thermal compound applied. The Geforce4 GPU probably has a
recessed metal heat spreader in the middle so it may aid in
cooling to only put thermal compound on the middle... there would
still be some spreading outwards of it when you apply some
pressure after reinstalling 'sink.

You could also see if underclocking the video card improves
stability, just as a test. Google search "coolbits" for a
registry tweak to add that feature to the nVidia Display
Properties menu. That would allow reducing either GPU or video
memory speed alone to isolate each.

 

[Arend van Beek]

After playing for a while in different resolutions and game settings,
SOF2 still crashed. So I tried running the game in Win98 compatibility
mode. It still crashed.

[snip]

The memory chips on the graphics-card don't have any cooling and get
very hot. So, my guess is that memory overheating is the cause for the
game crash.

You could affix some small heatsinks, but usually memory problems
will manifest themselves as visual anomolies on-screen first.
Typically a suddenly crash is the video GPU (or CPU) instead.

This remark triggered me, since there were indeed no visual glitches.
So, I focused on the GPU - in spite of a dust-free fan.

You might also see if heatsink can be removed and a fresh coat of
thermal compound applied. The Geforce4 GPU probably has a
recessed metal heat spreader in the middle so it may aid in
cooling to only put thermal compound on the middle... there would
still be some spreading outwards of it when you apply some
pressure after reinstalling 'sink.

I removed the GPU's heatsink and fan and cleaned off the "original"
thermal compound. It was a bit grey-ish when it came off; perhaps dust
had somehow come between the GPU and the heatsink. I have applied
fresh thermal paste.

Another thing.

The board's temperature with a closed case was 38 C (100 F). So I
rearranged the interior: I moved the hard-drives from the lower bays
to the upper bays. This way, the heat from the drives cannot "flow"
towards or around CPU, chipset or graphics card, but remains in top of
the case and is exhausted through the back.

With these two measures, everthing appears to be stable again!

You could also see if underclocking the video card improves
stability, just as a test. Google search "coolbits" for a
registry tweak to add that feature to the nVidia Display
Properties menu. That would allow reducing either GPU or video
memory speed alone to isolate each.

I've downloaded "coolbits.reg". If SOF2 crashes again, I will do as
you've suggested.

Thanks for the advice!

Kind regards,
Arend