Curse

SnipiousMax · Jan 26, 2007, 06:30 PM // 18:30

System Info:

HP a1640n
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300(1.86GHz)
2GB DDR2 533
250GB HD
Windows XP Media Center
PNY 7600 GS, 512 MB PCI-E
300 Watt Stock Powersupply

Problem:

As I said in the title, it doesn't happen very frequently (about once every 2 or three days). The computer runs fine, no noises, no chugs or shutters in gameplay... but in an instant the screen freezes (not blank, just a smeared version of what I was looking at last), and sound plays on a quick loop. After a 10 or so seconds the monitor turns off, and I have to reset the system. I'm worried it's the graphics card... but I'm not sure that the sound would play in a loop if it was the GPU. Could it be my P.Supply? The GPU only requires a 300 watt source. My other thought was that the computer was overheating... But I kept track of the GPU temps while playing for three hours straight, and it leveled off at about 71 degrees (well below the danger zone). Another thought I had, was that I'm using Windows Live One Care, which isn't a light security program... but surely with 2 gigs of ram, resources wouldn't be the problem.

What I've tried:

Updating my drivers, redownloading DirectX, turning settings down, changing the resolution, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

aeroclown · Jan 27, 2007, 12:46 AM // 00:46

It is hard to say really, stutters like you mention could be a range of things. One thing I can suggest is that even though you have One care you might consider grabbing something like spybot search and destroy as well to ensure that you are catching as much maleware/greyware as possible.

Also Open up your case while the system is running and take a look around, look for excess dust build ups and stuck or non-running fans. Also see if you can't find the label on the power supply that tells you what brand of unit it is, and what its outputs on each rail are supposed to be. Then do a little Google magic for reviews and see what users are saying about that brand and make, as well as its outputs.

RinLian · Jan 27, 2007, 01:06 AM // 01:06

I agree with aeroclown in regards to checking for dusts and checking out that PSU. Even though you have a pretty powerful machine, buying them at the shop pre-made like that is bound to have some reason or another why it's X price... via lacking in good PSU or having crappy memory... etc.

It might also be helpful to know if you have installed anything recently or if you noticed this happening after an update through either microsoft or GW itself.

MegaMouse · Jan 27, 2007, 03:09 PM // 15:09

I think that the other two posters have hit on most of the problems. But personaly I believe you should upgrade your power supply to one that is at least 400 watts and a good name brand (Antec, Enermax, or Coolermaster). At the moment it looks like you are pushing the current power supply beyond its limits, which could lead to major problems in the future. I went to Enermax's website and did a watt test and they say that you should be running at least one with 350 watts. Some of the components that you have are watt hungry and starving them can give a number of errors and problems. Also even though the Graphics card requires a power supply of 300 watts, that is only for the video card to work at bare minimum. And the video card manufacturers do not take into account the other components within your computer. Each component requires some small amount of wattage and evrything can add up to a rather large amount quickly.

Mega Mouse

SnipiousMax · Jan 27, 2007, 03:51 PM // 15:51

^ I looked up my PSU online.... and it hasn't gotten very flattering remarks. I'll be replacing it soon.

SnipiousMax · Jan 31, 2007, 08:09 PM // 20:09

<Update>

I purchased a new PSU, and it seems to have improved things greatly. I haven't crashed since I installed the new one.

Course it didn't fix what I thought was causing the problem, and have been pretty unsuccessful finding information on it. In my event viewer I keep getting this error message:

Quote:

The device \Device\Ide\iaStor0 did not respond within the timeout period.

It's causing an odd hang during boot up. There is a long 20-120 second pause between the windows splash screen and windows actually loading.

My subsequent searches on various sites have shown that lots of people with completely differen systems and circumstances have the same problem, but haven't been able to tie down a definate solution. Curious to see if anyone has run into this error before? It has something to do with the RAID driver, so I'm worried it's going to start corrupting data and suspect it had something to do with my GW.dat messing up (I got the jumping NPCS...).

pug_ster · Jan 31, 2007, 08:53 PM // 20:53

You could be putting a wrong ide driver in your computer. You say you have only 1 hard drive?

In any case, check out this site about your problem...

http://www.eventid.net/display.asp?e...Stor&p hase=1

And yes I know about power supply issues with computers. My computer is a overclocked p4 1.8 ghz to 2.4ghz, 2 hard drives, 2 dvd drives, 1gb of ram, ati 9800 radeon pro, 350w compussr power supply and I keep having display issues while playing gw. I got the same video card from my friend but it didn't fix the problem. I ended up getting a 500w free after rebate power supply from outpost.com and it fixed the problem.

SnipiousMax · Feb 22, 2007, 05:51 PM // 17:51

<UPDATE>

Okay, after checking everything, downloading drivers, rolling back drivers, playing with everything from the BIOS to the Registry, I had come to the conclusion that it was the results of a bad Video Card. I called the company, and got approved for an RMA. The very day I had planned to uninstall the Vid card, and pack it up to send to the company... my computer crashes momumentally. I couldn't even get it up in safe mod. Couldn't run the recovery program, and the stupid thing wouldn't even read the partition. So I finally gave in and took it to tech support. Turns out all my computer had a bad Hard drive.

Question now, should a new (obviously working and stable) hard drive solve the problems I've described? or could the Vid Card have caused the problems with the hard drive? I'm planning on calling and canceling my RMA, but want to make sure the hard drive is beyond all doubt the culprit rather than a symptom.

pug_ster · Feb 22, 2007, 08:33 PM // 20:33

I have had bad luck with the older maxtor hard drives (60gb, 80gb, and 120gb) where after a month or 2 playing gw, the hard drive would make a clicking noise and would freeze your computer alltogether. Apparantly it is not the issue with western digital and seagate. And you shouldn't have problems with newer maxtor hard drives because they are rebadged seagates.

What kind of power supply do you have and the wattage? When I had the problem with the power supply the display would become all pixellated while playing gw because it couldn't supply enough juice to the video card.

SnipiousMax · Feb 22, 2007, 10:16 PM // 22:16

No the Hard Drive was definately bad. The tech guys couldnt' even get anything off of it. What I'm really asking is, is it a symptom or a cause?

pug_ster · Feb 23, 2007, 08:28 PM // 20:28

When I had the problem with the computer freezing because of the bad hard drive. The computer would be working fine then would freeze and I would hear a clicking noise from the hard drive. So yes it could be the problem with the hard drive.