wadegiles
asked on
Screen freezes without BSD in graphics intensive applications with high pitched whine from speakers
After a few hours of running either Call of Duty or Battlefield Vietnam, my screen freezes without a blue screen of death and a high pitched but low volume whine emits from the speakers. My video card is an eVGA GeForce FX 5900SE and my sound card is an Audigy 2. I've paired the sound card with a PNY GeForce 4 Ti4400 without encountering this problem.
In troubleshooting, I've eliminated any IRQ sharing with the video card and have disabled AGP fast writes. Still, I have the same problem. I have not overclocked anything on my system. I have plenty of air circulation with 2 exhaust fans and 1 intake fan on the side panel blowing directly on the video card. Also, I have the latest official drivers from Creative and nVidia installed.
If I can remember correctly, when I set the graphic details to medium instead of high, the problem doesn't occur. Does this sound like some bad memory on the video card?
In troubleshooting, I've eliminated any IRQ sharing with the video card and have disabled AGP fast writes. Still, I have the same problem. I have not overclocked anything on my system. I have plenty of air circulation with 2 exhaust fans and 1 intake fan on the side panel blowing directly on the video card. Also, I have the latest official drivers from Creative and nVidia installed.
If I can remember correctly, when I set the graphic details to medium instead of high, the problem doesn't occur. Does this sound like some bad memory on the video card?
i would say either a memory or gpu issue on the card. while overclocking my video card i ran across a similar problem so i would downclock it and everything was groovy. also...
have you tried using a different sound card with the fx5900 to see if it's the cards that are conflicting?
have you tried using a different sound card with the fx5900 to see if it's the cards that are conflicting?
ASKER
I removed my Audigy 2 soundcard and uninstalled the software that came with it. After rebooting, I fired up Battlefield Vietnam. After 3 hours, the system froze again. I've proven to myself that the card is bad. Time to RMA.
Please read questions carefully before commenting. I stated explicitely that the system locked without a BSD.
Please read questions carefully before commenting. I stated explicitely that the system locked without a BSD.
i figured it would come down to that. that's one of the reasons i buy locally. if something goes wrong i can take it back the same day and get another one.
at least you have the geforce4 to hold you over
:)
at least you have the geforce4 to hold you over
:)
ASKER
Well, unfortunately I was premature in my diagnosis. I removed the video card from my system and switched it with a trouble free GeForce 4 Ti4400. To my dismay, my system locked up without a BSD once again. To my eyes, this looks like a symptom of too much overclocking. The sad part is that I haven't overclocked anything on this system ... ever.
Any ideas what else might be causing this?
System specs:
P4 3 GHz 800 MHz FSB
ASUS P4S800D-E Deluxe
2 * 512 MB Corsair TWINX1024-3200L
eVGA GeForce FX 5900SE w/ 128 MB RAM
Any ideas what else might be causing this?
System specs:
P4 3 GHz 800 MHz FSB
ASUS P4S800D-E Deluxe
2 * 512 MB Corsair TWINX1024-3200L
eVGA GeForce FX 5900SE w/ 128 MB RAM
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ASKER
Yes I can monitor the ambient and the processor temperatures. Neither read very high. The processor peaks at 54 degrees C whereas the ambient temp never gets higher than 40 degrees C. And I assembled this system myself...I couldn't find a hobo on a lamppost.
Last night, in desperation to find out where the problem lies, I ran Sysoft Sandra's processor benchmarks in a loop for a few hours. Again, peak temp is 54. Next I ran the RAM benchmarks in a loop while I slept. No lock ups and the system seems to be performing normally.
Other discoveries ... After finding that my old video card behaved the same way, I decided to bite the bullet and reinstall Windows XP Pro SP1. I then installed the minimum amount of drivers and software. I swapped the GeForce FX back into my system and ran Battlefield Vietnam. After about an hour and a half ... FREEZE!!! So my Windows reinstall didn't fix anything.
My current hypothesis is that the newest nVidia drivers are introducing an incompatibility with the SiS Northbridge chipset. More thoughts?
Last night, in desperation to find out where the problem lies, I ran Sysoft Sandra's processor benchmarks in a loop for a few hours. Again, peak temp is 54. Next I ran the RAM benchmarks in a loop while I slept. No lock ups and the system seems to be performing normally.
Other discoveries ... After finding that my old video card behaved the same way, I decided to bite the bullet and reinstall Windows XP Pro SP1. I then installed the minimum amount of drivers and software. I swapped the GeForce FX back into my system and ran Battlefield Vietnam. After about an hour and a half ... FREEZE!!! So my Windows reinstall didn't fix anything.
My current hypothesis is that the newest nVidia drivers are introducing an incompatibility with the SiS Northbridge chipset. More thoughts?
I think that you have went through enough steps to see that your FX card is either bad, or it gets really hot and freezes. This is considering it takes a while for it to freeze.
Can you try a friend FX card to see if it works.
BTW: Are you having any lag while playing BFV? Lag that would be associated with your computer rather than the server.
Can you try a friend FX card to see if it works.
BTW: Are you having any lag while playing BFV? Lag that would be associated with your computer rather than the server.
have you tried using Microsoft's drivers? no opengl support but most games use DX anyway.
ASKER
I don't think the card is bad though. Like I said, I switched video cards and still got the freeze.
Microsoft drivers for the video card? I am unfamiliar with those.
Microsoft drivers for the video card? I am unfamiliar with those.
ASKER
Oh and no lag in BFV. Everything looks terrific right up until the system freezes.
when you do a windows update, microsoft will suggest driver updates (the second group below critical updates).
btw... are you using the 56.64's?
apparently some people here have had issues with it:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=a38fa9d1b80f5c373f0fd4add41b0a35&t=26534
apparently some people here have had issues with it:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=a38fa9d1b80f5c373f0fd4add41b0a35&t=26534
ASKER
Yes, I'm familiar with Windows Update. This whole mess started in a fully up-to-date system. I have only up to SP1 installed and will eventually update fully.
I have used various driver versions including 56.64, 56.56, and some beta 56.82s all with the same freeze-ups. I even went back to the 53.03 drivers...same thing happens.
In the mean time, I have reinstalled my CPU and reseated the RAM. I'm running CPU Burn-In while I'm at work to see if the CPU is overheating. Any suggestions for a better CPU stress tester? This one doesn't seem to push my CPU utilization above 50%. (Hyper-threading maybe?)
I have used various driver versions including 56.64, 56.56, and some beta 56.82s all with the same freeze-ups. I even went back to the 53.03 drivers...same thing happens.
In the mean time, I have reinstalled my CPU and reseated the RAM. I'm running CPU Burn-In while I'm at work to see if the CPU is overheating. Any suggestions for a better CPU stress tester? This one doesn't seem to push my CPU utilization above 50%. (Hyper-threading maybe?)
ASKER
Increasing the points since this issue has become more complicated.
SOLUTION
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ASKER
Yes...I checked both the ASUS and SiS sites for the latest chipset drivers.
Ok, I've shipped the motherboard off for an RMA replacement. Since I want give these points away, I will split them between buckeyes33 and 3v1lj1m.
Ok, I've shipped the motherboard off for an RMA replacement. Since I want give these points away, I will split them between buckeyes33 and 3v1lj1m.
thanks wadegiles, i hope the board gets it. the main thing making me think it was video was when you stated that setting everything to medium details will keep it from freezing.
good luck
good luck
also list your whole system for me.