Which Motherboard Do You Prefer???

[micky_d01]

Hey all,

PLEASE HELP!!!

I bought a PC about 2.5yrs ago that came with the "ASUS P4S800-MX SE Socket 478 Motherboard". After working fine for a while (under an Intel 3.2GHz with HT technology processor) and supporting games like GTA:ViceCity (which I think is an awsome game :D), the computer randomly self destructed (not actually blew up but you get the idea). After visiting the PC tech guy and watching him replace the ASUS motherboard with the "ASRock P4i65GV Socket 478 DDR400" motherboard, the computer was up and running again. Ever since that day, when I try to play GTA:ViceCity - after about one minute of gaming (even at the lowest Audio/Visual settings), the screen goes blue with an error message saying its "beginning to dump all the memory" or somthing like that followed by "this may be due to newly installed hardware, etc. The PC will automatically restart in 30 sec... 29... 28... 27... etc". So now I can't play the games anymore :(. Does anyone know anything about these two motherboards? Is the ASrock no good? Or was it just installed incorrectly? What should I check / look for?
Other (older) games like GTA3 and even C&C:Generals work on the ASrock board, while games like GTA:ViceCity and GTA:SanAndreas always send the system into malfunction.

PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks.

[jlreich]

Did you, or the tech, reinstall windows? Or at least do a repair install?

Whenever you change motherboards you need to at least do a repair install, preferably before you even try to boot. Although it is recommended to do a wipe and clean install. FYI, both instances will require a reactivation of windows.

Windows is setup for your old board and has no drivers for your current board, so it doesn't know how to properly interact with the new board. Windows is :confused:.

[micky_d01]

Thanks for the detailed response!

Yeah the tech did a complete reinstall of windows. And since then the HDD has been changed to a brand new one (old one failed), and windows has been loaded again. I'll try to install and play the game again, see how it goes.

Any other suggestions of what it might be?

Could it be a dodgy motherboard?

[saphalline]

the screen goes blue with an error messageThe error code actually does mean something. What was the error code?

Were the drivers for the system installed ever? As in, the latest drivers from the manufacturers? How about DirectX? Has that been updated? Lastly, your new mobo has onboard video - you aren't using that for gaming, are you??

[micky_d01]

My computer's been offline for about a week now, I think I've recieved a virus, so I won't be able report back on any facts till i get that fixed. So I dont know the exact error code yet, I'll let you know asap. Well the HDD has been formatted and windows has been completely reinstalled, but as for online updates - no I havn't. Do I go to the motherboards site and look for updates to the drivers or something? DirectX, that's another no. I had no video card while playing it on the old motherboard and it worked fine. But since having the new motherboard it suddenly doesn't wanna play. I since bought a Radeon 128MB video card thinking that it would help solve the problem but it didnt change a thing except for higher resolution capabilities in games that do work. The error still comes up.

[saphalline]

Yeah, I'd say it's a driver issue then. Give us a full list of your system's specs. Then we can give you direct links to the drivers you need.

No M$ updates or new versions of DX? For shame! ;) These should be done as soon as your drivers are installed! Before any programs are installed.

[micky_d01]

System Specs -

Intel 3.0GHz Processor with HT Technology
ASRock P4i65GV Socket 478 DDR400 All in One Motherboard
1 x 512MB RAM
Radeon 128MB Video Card (do you want the exact model? I'll have to check)

HAHAHA "for shame"! Yeah I no! I no a fair bit about PC's - But relative to you guys I'm a complete NEWB! I guess I assumed the tech installed everything, he might have? I just no that i didnt.

What drivers do you suggest I install?

Thanks guys, especially you Saph!! You've been a life saver in all my posts!!

[rascard2007]

Well check if the cooling system is properly installed and if there is thermal paste between the CPU and the cooling system. Must of the time when U start to use a program that squeeze the CPU like some games, music and video ripping or converting u got into overheating problems and system stops working for selfprotection.

Try to get one of those free CPU, HDD and system temps measurers for windows and check what they say in ur computer, must of them even warn U if ur system temps are going to high.

If Ur CPU is a Prescott, needs a better cooling system because they use to work at upto 25 degrees more than the equivalente Northwood or Willamette

[micky_d01]

My cooling system is working fine and the heatsink is regularly cleared of dust and etc. I just bought Arctic Silver 5, so I will re-apply the thermal paste. With a fresh HDD and windows installation complete (just last night), I will install DirectX 9.0c, see how it handles San Andreas and report back. Thanks for the assistance.

[saphalline]

Start with the Intel INF driver #2 here (http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=1049&OSFullName=Windows*+XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go%21). That's your chipset driver page from Intel themselves.

If any of your devices need more driver updates, get them from here (http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=P4i65GV). That's the driver download page for your ASRock mobo. You'd only ever need the drivers for your audio and LAN, if anything, though - so don't go download crazy on there!

For your graphics driver, you'll have to go here (http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html) and enter the relevant information for your vid card. Without knowing the exact VPU/GPU you have, I can't pick out the exact driver you need.

After you settle your system drivers, you can move on to M$ updates and double-check your DX.