System Crashes w/ Video card

[netdragonx]

Hi all. I'm on a 700mhz AMD Athlon with 128RAM, and a P.O.S. video card: nVidia Riva TNT2/TNT2 Pro. Actually, the only reason I think my video card sucks is because everytime I attempt to run a game that utilizes my 3D hardware, it will totally freeze up. On the monitor, lines will cover the screen, sorta like: | | | | | | (but from top to bottom), after less then a minute of gameplay. Now i'm not one to give up easily when it comes to fixing computers, but i've been trying to fix this thing for well over a month. I don't know if it's hardware or software, but since i've gone through a lot of system software fixes, i'm pretty sure it's a hardware problem. If your wondering why i'm here asking you guys and not getting it replaced at the retail store, it's because i'm trying to find someone who has a similar computer with a similar problem and who can possibly tell me what I haven't done to fix it (because i don't want to go through the trouble of bringing it to tech at the store). Hmm...

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- Mr. Dragon

[This message has been edited by netdragonx (edited 05-14-2001).]

[diurnal]

Have you downloaded the most recent drivers for your video card. To find drivers for your video card go to driverguide.com and type in Nvidia. I think this is the name of TNT but if it isnt try finding the name of the company. Have you recently change your Operating system I.e windows 98 to ME for example. This would be a reason for your games not working right cause you have to download the correct drivers for the correct Operating System.

[Paleo Pete]

WinDrivers (http://www.windrivers.com) is a very good driver source. If you use the Advanced search you can go to an alphabetical listing for different companies, nVidia will be there.

Check the monitor refresh rate, and find out what the factory reconmmended setting is if possible. Many games work better if you switch to 256 color before playing.

Could also be related to DirectX, you might try installing DirectX8 too.

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[netdragonx]

Well, I just downloaded the Detonator 3 from nVidia, which I believe has all the most up-to-date drivers for my TNT2. Hm, and it still doesn't work. I already have DirectX8 installed. I just have the monitor refresh rate set at 'optimal'. I don't believe it is monitor related at all. I just downloaded the RivaTuner a few minutes ago because i'm just looking for every possible way to fix this thing. Hehe, I started playing around with it, but I don't really have any idea what I can do with it (if you don't have it, it is at the 3D Guru's website). Ok, everyone just give me any ideas you have that might fix this. If you need more info on my system, just say so. aight? thanks

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- Mr. Dragon

[netdragonx]

P.S. This may be relevant. I set the nVidia settings to show the logo whenever it is running a Direct3D thing, and it seems that only 3D games stall whenever I have the options set to using my 3D card. I can run them in software mode, though.

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- Mr. Dragon

[bassvax]

Just throwing some logs on the fire here...

Win ME or 98? If ME...sorry no suggestions. I usually kill all background functions when doing the 3D thing (128 MB RAM). Do you have the MS patch fo the AMD processors that deals with timing issues? Are you overclocking? If so, and by bus speed alteration that can screw with PCI timing/speed. Device Manager/Performance/File System try adjusting the CD ROM read/cache settings. Also, there you could go to the Graphics and reduce the acceleration a notch or two to see if that makes a diff (I would think that with that CPU, RAM & Vid card this would not be an issue though).
Is it a PCI or AGP card? There are several settings (tweaks) in the BIOS for these slots...try mucking around there (remembering one thing at a time and the original setting). Have you considered DX 8.0a? No conflicts in the DM? What games are doing this?

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savoire faire ist everywhere...

[Paleo Pete]

Check Device Manager in Safe Mode and see if you hve multiple video cards listed. If so, remove all of them, reboot and let Windows install it again.

Start\Settings\Control Panel\System icon\Device Manager tab
is where to find it, if you don't already know. Multiple instances of any devices will only show in Safe Mode, so make sure you boot into Safe Mode to check it. Check for any ! or X in Device Manager in normal operating mode too.

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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[netdragonx]

Hello again. I run Win '98 since you were wondering, and I don't overclock on my system. I will check the AGP/PCI in the BIOS (i'm not sure which type of GPU I have, because I didn't buy this comp, and I haven't opened it because that would screw the warranty). Since i'm not in too much of a hurry to screw up the system again, any tips on what I should be looking for -or- should be playing around with in the BIOS setup? I'm only 16 and don't have any professional background to working with computers (but I have fixed quite a few computers, so i'm not going to break anything - I hope, hehe). Well, thanks again for all your help.

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- Mr. Dragon

[netdragonx]

- Also

I wasn't aware of any MS patch for the AMD timing thing. Can I get more info on this? Thanks.

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- Mr. Dragon

[netdragonx]

Originally posted by bassvax:

Also, there you could go to the Graphics and reduce the acceleration a notch or two to see if that makes a diff

That's been something i've done quite frequently, but unless the hardware acceleration is turned completely off, it will still crash. The thing is, when I have it turned totally off, many 3D games will fail to load at all.

Have you considered DX 8.0a?

Yes. I meant to say in the previous post that I have downloaded the latest DirectX already (8.0a).

No conflicts in the DM?

No, I checked this when problems first started arising.

What games are doing this?

Currently the ones that i'm having problems with are:

Need For Speed 3 - Will only run if hardware acceleration set to max, but it is still playable due to the fact that the 3D setup allows for Software Rendering

Legends of Might and Magic - Just downloaded this demo a few days ago, and there are no options to allow me to disable hardware acceleration, so I can't play it.

...and basically all of my other 3D-based games that utilize hardware acceleration.

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Ok, just wanted to get all the questions answered. Thanks -

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- Mr. Dragon

[This message has been edited by netdragonx (edited 05-15-2001).]

[netdragonx]

Well, after a while of messing around with different options in the CMOS, still no luck. Any suggestions?

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- Mr. Dragon

[bassvax]

Sorry, no more suggestions at this point. The patch was actually dealing mainly with USB, but here is the link anyway http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q240/0/75.asp
With the problem you describe I can only see that what has already been suggested would be the likely scenario (refresh rate, drivers etc.)


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savoire faire ist everywhere...

[Ghost_Hacker]

Don't forget to check your AGP aperture setting in BIOS. It should be set at 64MB (max..This seems to give better performance). Make sure you have the right AGP mode setting. AGP4 for a card that only supports AGP2 will cause problems.


Good Luck http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Comment heard from a Klingon programmer.

"Our users will know fear and cower before our software! Ship it! Ship it and let them flee like the dogs they are!"

[netdragonx]

Aight, thanks for all your help guys. Heh, but since nothing's worked so far, i'm just going to take it down to the tech place where I got it from and get the video card replaced. Thanks -

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- Mr. Dragon