Curse

Divinus · May 22, 2005, 07:49 AM // 07:49

After reading your system specs, I totally agree with the PSU problem. If your PSU is cheap (generic) then it's probably not even putting out 300W.

Here is my system :

Athlon 2400XP+M @ 2.5GHz
2x512MB Crucial PC 3200
2x60GB Maxtor SATA RAID0
9700 Pro
DVD-ROM LG
NEC3500A 2.17 firmware

I had a 350W Sparkle PSU - Sparkle, name brand, very good PSU and it would barely handle this setup. Albeit, I did have it overclocked but I noticed I was severly overloading a few of the rails. This would lead to weird errors that looked like memory was the culprit, or sometimes OS problems.

I now have a tagan 480W and haven't run into anything of the sort.

I'd say try unplugging the Disc Drives and playing it. I'm not even sure if Guild Wars needs the cd or not.

Couldn't hurt to try, eh?

reality · May 22, 2005, 02:12 PM // 14:12

I haven't run the new tests, but I did start getting these errors in Nero when trying to burn a CD:

Power Calibration error
Invalid Write state
could not perform endtrack
current program area empty
could not perform fixation

in that order.

The ONLY thing that was changed on my PC between playing the beta and the final was adding a wireless network card, which might be drawing way too much constant juice - and the problem burning CDs started after getting my new video card to try and get Guild Wars to work.

I am going to take out the wireless network card and see what that does, but I think you guys may be on to something (why Guild Wars tech support didn't think of this I have no idea, since I said before they stonewalled me the main things I thought it could be was the BIOS or wireless network card).

While I am testing this, anyone got a good site to order a decent power supply at? And would 400W be enough or should I go higher?

reality · May 22, 2005, 02:34 PM // 14:34

Wait a gosh darned minute now...

I am using onboard NIC card, and old video card now, and I still get this new error in Nero. What program that I have run to try and fix Guild Wars has screwed up nero?

Svenn · May 22, 2005, 03:00 PM // 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by reality

While I am testing this, anyone got a good site to order a decent power supply at? And would 400W be enough or should I go higher?

Newegg.com is an e-retailer that I highly recommend...good to great prices, very large number of positive customer reviews, great fulfillment process with mostly reasonable FedEx shipping and very good selection. My only (mild) complaint is that they use the styrofoam packing peanuts instead of the bags of air, lol.

I would go a little higher wattage, as the additional watts don't add a lot to the price, and you're insulating yourself against the future. My new video card requires its own freakin' rail for goodness' sake.

Personally, I like Antec and have been using them for years. Not too flashy but they get the job done well for a reasonable price. I just upgraded to the TruePower II 480W* (which I got on sale for $93) and like it. Good things: 1) meets the new ATX 12V standard, in case you get a new mobo that supports it, 2) unbelievably quiet, 3) has SATA connectors for upgrading to the faster, bigger hard drives, 4) has 18A on each 12V rail, and 5) has PCI-E connectors for the next-gen graphics cards.

The only issue I have with the PSU is that, with one rail committed to the graphics card, it's tight getting everything on the other rail (without Y cables) if you are running IDE drives. However, I'm about to replace my hard drive with a SATA version, which will free up the plug I need for my Audigy "drive" (so far, I'm running that on the graphics rail with no probs...doesn't draw much current during gaming).

*They also have a 430W version in this line that's only about $10 cheaper.
------------
Just saw your recent post: you can reinstall Nero if you think it's been corrupted. However, these new DVD drives suck an incredible amount of current when you are burning at high speeds, and I still suspect the PSU. In fact, it's starting to sound like it's "waving to Jesus", as SK would say.

reality · May 22, 2005, 04:03 PM // 16:03

Here is an update:

I can now play guild wars for a while on my old video card with my onboard NIC card, guess it hated the wireless.

For some reason Nero still wont work, however, so if anyone has an idea...

gabby2600 · May 22, 2005, 04:13 PM // 16:13

there is one other way to make sure you get a constant current to you PC. A UPS, I use one on my home server and the power enver fluxtuates from it. so I never get random crashes ore problems. And the server is running 6 40gig hard drives in a raid array.

A simple surge protector is no go and most of the time it will only stop dangerous surges. A UPS on the other hand will smooth out the power coming in to your PC and regulate it.

I reccomend a belkin UPS, also it's saved the server in powercuts a lot of the time.

I'm beggining to suspect my problems with GW are power related as I run a 2 CPU board 2 hard dives a CD rom and a number of cards. I think I'll dump the firewire and USB2 card and see what happens. Also I have a thermostate controlled fan which I think drains power so I might disable that for GW.

However a UPS can be a good buy even if you upgrade your PSU as it will offer a protection to your system and the belkin ones offer insurance shuold the UPS fail and damage your PC.

Vusak · May 22, 2005, 04:54 PM // 16:54

back in the day (maybe a couple of years ago even) i had a setup including soundblaster soundcard and via motherboard.

my computer would crash lots for unknown reasons, and the error feedback always mentioned my videocard.

it turned out to be something completely different, it was a timing issue with the communication between my via chipset motherboard and the soundcard. after installing the 'PCI Latency' fix i had much less trouble.

anyway, you might wanna try seeing if this applies to you, there is also instructions on the site for how to ID your motherboard.

http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/#PCI

good luck

mthegreatone · May 22, 2005, 10:40 PM // 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svenn

I do not believe the power consumption issue has been sufficiently tested. Taking 30W off the total load does not mean that one particular rail is not overloaded or that the psu is not unstable. Not all 300W power supplies are created equal, and you are running a lot of (potentially) high draw equipment in that machine for a 300W psu...

this was very much the case for me as well. i formerly used a GENERIC 350W PSU on my comp which was trying to power up: 1 vid card, 2 hdd, 1 dvd-rom drive, 1 cdr drive, sound card, etc. and my games would crash constantly. having upgraded to a 400W psu, games run fine even with the side of my case closed.

Rhine · May 22, 2005, 10:40 PM // 22:40

Maybe try sytem restoring to some distant time when you didnt have problems or at least before you installed SP2 cuz that maybe still eb cuasing problems im not gogin to install it cuz i dont want it to mess with any of my programs