hellenica
asked on
Call of Duty 4 crashes on multiplayer on 2 / 18 computers
Specs:
E4500
VIA PM900 mobo
2GB ram
160GB SATA HDD
XFX 8600 GT 256 DDR3 Video card
Windows XP SP2 Pro
Problem:
As we are all playing CoD4 (18 computers on the LAN) two of the computers (at seperate occasions) have frozen up, and require a hard reboot to salvage. Computer #9 (on of the two computers) after about a week of doing this just stopped loading windows.
When I pressed C-A-D it showed services.exe consuming 500MB of memory (memory leak?) and the system was unstable with "Services and controller app has enccountered a problem and needs to close".
When it says this there are no timers that show up as in the sasser worm, and pretty much the computer slowed down to a crawl (nothing could get it to boot up).
After many attempts the HDD was formatted and XP re-installed. This did not help, as once the O/S was re-installed the problem re-emerged the next tims CoD4 was launched.
Shortly after the re-install #8 (the second computer) started to experience the same problem, but services.exe is not yet looking abnormal (spot checks on C-A-D show between 4MB and 6MB memory usage).
Both computers that are glitching come from the same vendor. Other computers from other vendors no problems yet. I have read about a glitch in PunkBuster that causes a memory leak, but I have also read that harware issues can cause the problem described, and was hoping to shed some light on this issue from either or and direction.
-Hellenica
E4500
VIA PM900 mobo
2GB ram
160GB SATA HDD
XFX 8600 GT 256 DDR3 Video card
Windows XP SP2 Pro
Problem:
As we are all playing CoD4 (18 computers on the LAN) two of the computers (at seperate occasions) have frozen up, and require a hard reboot to salvage. Computer #9 (on of the two computers) after about a week of doing this just stopped loading windows.
When I pressed C-A-D it showed services.exe consuming 500MB of memory (memory leak?) and the system was unstable with "Services and controller app has enccountered a problem and needs to close".
When it says this there are no timers that show up as in the sasser worm, and pretty much the computer slowed down to a crawl (nothing could get it to boot up).
After many attempts the HDD was formatted and XP re-installed. This did not help, as once the O/S was re-installed the problem re-emerged the next tims CoD4 was launched.
Shortly after the re-install #8 (the second computer) started to experience the same problem, but services.exe is not yet looking abnormal (spot checks on C-A-D show between 4MB and 6MB memory usage).
Both computers that are glitching come from the same vendor. Other computers from other vendors no problems yet. I have read about a glitch in PunkBuster that causes a memory leak, but I have also read that harware issues can cause the problem described, and was hoping to shed some light on this issue from either or and direction.
-Hellenica
Steve_Summ
put your hardware acceleration to about half way in your screen properties and tell me what it does.
ASKER
Before I do that, can you please tell me what you think might be causing the problem? I don't want to randomly be changing settings on my LAN computers. Can a system overheat cause a memory leak? Can a system crash cause a memory leak?
-Panos
-Panos
Your card sounds too powerful.
DDR3?
lol Please post the results.
DDR3?
lol Please post the results.
The moniker XXX Edition indicates that this video card is very highly factory overclocked. XFX has taken the GeForce 8600 GT GPU and equipped it with 256 MB of GDDR3, increased the GPU core speed from 540 MHz to 620 MHz, and increased the memory frequency from 1.4 GHz (700 MHz actual) to 1.6 GHz (800 MHz actual).
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3048552&sku=P450-8650&CMP=ILC-FPM10
Throw to about halfway on acceleration and tell me what it does.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3048552&sku=P450-8650&CMP=ILC-FPM10
Throw to about halfway on acceleration and tell me what it does.
The reason why it sounds like it needs to be put down on performance because those two systems are specifically coming from one vendor and both those systems either have bus architecture or power supplies that are not strong enough to handle it.
ASKER
Steve:
My computer inventory -
1. 12 computers from Supplier A (all 12 have XFX vid card DDR3 same settings)
2. 18 refurbished from Supplier B (all 18 have XFX vid card DDR3 same settings)
3. 18 Dell Vostro 200 Mini's from Supplier C (all 18 have XFX vid card DDR3 same settings).
The only two computers that have this problem are from Supplier A.
Re-format and re-installation of XP did not solve the problem.
All computers utilize the same vid card, and the same vid card drivers.
All game settings for CoD4 set at 1440 x 900 (the max settings per screen allowance
All computers utilize the same power supply 400W except Dells which use 350W.
-Hellenica
My computer inventory -
1. 12 computers from Supplier A (all 12 have XFX vid card DDR3 same settings)
2. 18 refurbished from Supplier B (all 18 have XFX vid card DDR3 same settings)
3. 18 Dell Vostro 200 Mini's from Supplier C (all 18 have XFX vid card DDR3 same settings).
The only two computers that have this problem are from Supplier A.
Re-format and re-installation of XP did not solve the problem.
All computers utilize the same vid card, and the same vid card drivers.
All game settings for CoD4 set at 1440 x 900 (the max settings per screen allowance
All computers utilize the same power supply 400W except Dells which use 350W.
-Hellenica
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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oh before you open the boxes please unplug the system and hold the power button a few secs to disharge any power.
Also touch something metal before you put hands in either system to discharge any ESD from your body.
Also touch something metal before you put hands in either system to discharge any ESD from your body.
ASKER
Done and done. No difference... the system still crashes upon load of CoD4. No sign of problems with services.exe as of yet... still normal.
-Hellenica
-Hellenica
Can you list the motherboard, cpu, and video card from each supplier? The 8600GT with 256MB seems adequate only for basic resolutions; as soon as you increase to 1280x1024 or add AA or AF, you will need a better card. I have run it with a Radeon X1950Pro and nVidia 8800GT, which are much more powerful: http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=725&model2=855&chart=275 The E4500 is okay and should handle it.
Everytime your system crashes, there is a strong possibility of a system file getting corrupted, so when it keeps happening, your system becomes unstable.
Everytime your system crashes, there is a strong possibility of a system file getting corrupted, so when it keeps happening, your system becomes unstable.
what chipset does the motherboard have on it?
ASKER
VIA M900 SE mobo chipset.
All mobos in LAN group with problem are VIA M900 SE
All CPU in LAN group with problem are E4500
All GPU in LAN group with problem are XFX GF 8600GT 540MHz 256MB DDR3 PCI-E
All other computers in LAN group working ok.
Question: could a faulty video card cause a memory leak over time in services.exe? I noticed that the first pc crashed 20-30 times before XP wouldn't load. The other pc has been taken offline after 2-3 crashes and loads XP ok.
Will extensively test tommorrow and get back to you.
-Hellenica
All mobos in LAN group with problem are VIA M900 SE
All CPU in LAN group with problem are E4500
All GPU in LAN group with problem are XFX GF 8600GT 540MHz 256MB DDR3 PCI-E
All other computers in LAN group working ok.
Question: could a faulty video card cause a memory leak over time in services.exe? I noticed that the first pc crashed 20-30 times before XP wouldn't load. The other pc has been taken offline after 2-3 crashes and loads XP ok.
Will extensively test tommorrow and get back to you.
-Hellenica
What are the video cards in the machines that don't have problems?
>Question: could a faulty video card cause a memory leak over time in services.exe? I noticed that the first pc crashed 20-30 times before XP wouldn't load. The other pc has been taken offline after 2-3 crashes and loads XP ok.
Faulty hardware should not cause memory leaks, but faulty drivers for hardware can. I already mentioned that multiple crashes can corrupt system files and render the OS unusable after a while.
Who is the manufacturer of this motherboard? If this M900 SE is manufactured by PC Chips or ECS, you should know that they have a very bad reputation among repair shops. The quality is among the lowest and is the source of many motherboard problems. Replacing them should be considered an option.
>Question: could a faulty video card cause a memory leak over time in services.exe? I noticed that the first pc crashed 20-30 times before XP wouldn't load. The other pc has been taken offline after 2-3 crashes and loads XP ok.
Faulty hardware should not cause memory leaks, but faulty drivers for hardware can. I already mentioned that multiple crashes can corrupt system files and render the OS unusable after a while.
Who is the manufacturer of this motherboard? If this M900 SE is manufactured by PC Chips or ECS, you should know that they have a very bad reputation among repair shops. The quality is among the lowest and is the source of many motherboard problems. Replacing them should be considered an option.
ASKER
Callandor:
All vid cards are the same make: XFX GF 8600GT 540MHz 256MB DDR3 PCI-E
the boards in this LAN that has the problem are all ECS... doh!
Could you point me to some information online please that speaks of this ECS + PC Chips issue? Something reputable would be preferred.
What is the best microATX board that is affordable... I have been looking into XFX and eVGA boards and they seem to have a good rep.
If this is the source of my problems I am in for a big adventure... I have 36 units with ECS VIA M900's in them, and only 18 FoxConn G31's...
Oy...
-Hellenica
All vid cards are the same make: XFX GF 8600GT 540MHz 256MB DDR3 PCI-E
the boards in this LAN that has the problem are all ECS... doh!
Could you point me to some information online please that speaks of this ECS + PC Chips issue? Something reputable would be preferred.
What is the best microATX board that is affordable... I have been looking into XFX and eVGA boards and they seem to have a good rep.
If this is the source of my problems I am in for a big adventure... I have 36 units with ECS VIA M900's in them, and only 18 FoxConn G31's...
Oy...
-Hellenica
http://www.viperlair.com/reviews/cpu_mobo/other/lga775/ecs915p/
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2521
eVGA and XFX are very good quality manufacturers that I would associate with performance products. I think Asus, Gigabyte, and DFI are also quality manufacturers.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2521
eVGA and XFX are very good quality manufacturers that I would associate with performance products. I think Asus, Gigabyte, and DFI are also quality manufacturers.
ASKER
Neither article speaks to the issue of: "PC Chips or ECS, you should know that they have a very bad reputation among repair shops. The quality is among the lowest and is the source of many motherboard problems."
Today is test day for the solution proposed. Will have more info later.
Its either: (a) Motherboard or (b) the Video card.
-Panos
Today is test day for the solution proposed. Will have more info later.
Its either: (a) Motherboard or (b) the Video card.
-Panos
SOLUTION
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ASKER
After over a day of testing, the culprit seems to be the XFX video card as previously assumed. In this case we are talking about two faulty video cards (from the same batch) that are causing visual artifacting. The two video cards are in a close proximity to each other, which leads me to believe that the video card damage may be being caused by an air circulation problem in their LAN cages (all our computers are in cages).
The type of visual artifcating present indicates a possible video card bus problem or memory failure, both of which can be caused by poor ventilation and / or heat swapping.
While I have come to understand Callandor's opinion that ECS mobo's are not exactly the cats meouw in their field, in this specific instance the motherboard is probably not at fault, because the new video card was put to the test all day yesturday without one single crash.
Thanks to all...
-Panos
The type of visual artifcating present indicates a possible video card bus problem or memory failure, both of which can be caused by poor ventilation and / or heat swapping.
While I have come to understand Callandor's opinion that ECS mobo's are not exactly the cats meouw in their field, in this specific instance the motherboard is probably not at fault, because the new video card was put to the test all day yesturday without one single crash.
Thanks to all...
-Panos
ASKER
Visual artifacting is inadequately covered in EE, and it is a common problem among gamers and AutoCAD users alike as it involves many different computer subsystems working together in harmony. It would be nice if someone on EE would focus on that...