Graphics Stutters

[Thanes]

I recently assembled a new machine and I've been having some problems with 3D games. Here's the rig...

MSI Neo Platinum nForce 3
AC '97 on-board audio
512 of PC3200 OCZ EL memory
Chaintech's Geforce 6800 (AGP)
Windows XP with SP2

2 Seagate 120 gig 7200's running on IDE
Pioneer DVD/CD reader/writer

No other slots in the system used (had an Audigy X-Gamer, but removed it early in the troubleshooting).


First game I got on this machine was Doom 3. Ran fine on pretty good detail levels. I was very happy.

Then, half-life 2 - I had frequent (very frequent) pauses rendering it unplayable (Same with Vampire Bloodlines) As this seemed a common problem, I didn't worry too much.

Then, the same thing with Battle for Middle Earth. I'd have great frame-rates in general, and then the game would pause for 1-3 seconds with no sound, and then resume. In general, it tends to happen at busy moments in the game, but in between the pauses the framerate is great.

I tried diabling sound - no change. I went to low detail levels and resolution, stopped ALL background process and maybe it occurred slightly less frequently. All mobo, nvidia and AC'97 drivers are up to date. I do have some additional video codecs installed on the system (umm... for unrelated reasons...)

Twice, it has paused and then crashed at the locked screen - once it just locked and another time it rebooted - when it rebooted I got a brief glimpse at a blue screen with text - something about "driver in an infinate loop." Would this be in a log somewhere?

The same thing happens to a lesser extent with C&C Generals, Deus Ex Invisible War and the original Max Payne - things this machine should play flawlessly.

What's happening? How do I go about trying to fix it from here?

Thanks.

 

[PCNerdDude]

Did it stutter when you had the Audigy hooked up. It could be that the onboard sound is not up to the task. Onboard sound generally bottlenecks the computer. However if it stuttered with the Audigy installed, then it probably isn't that.
Therefore, my other conclusion is that you don't have enough RAM. 512 is about the min these days. You want at least 768 since you are running XP and playing games. Do you have more ram you can put in??

 

[erikistired]

i had something like that with my machine while playing the battlefield games. i swapped video cards out and it went away. rma'd my bfg 6800gt.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: fisher
i had something like that with my machine while playing the battlefield games. i swapped video cards out and it went away. rma'd my bfg 6800gt.

If you've eliminated background processes without doubt, it could be a bad video card....agreed. I have to disagree with the ram, 512MB is plenty for a modern system.

Also, did you shutdown any unneeded XP services? While it's doubtful it would give an effect like you're describing, it's a good thing to do.
Blackviper is a good place to help you with services.

 

[Thanes]

I have an old GeForce 3 that I could throw in there as a test.

What do you make of the "driver stuck in infinite loop" BSOD ???

 

[Thanes]

It just happened again while playing the original Max PAyne - a BSOD with text about the error that occurred and a reboot.

Where would the text of this error message be recorded. All Windows XP wants to tell me about when I search for crash logs is "Dr. Watson."

And yes, I had the same problems with the Audigy installed. (At least, I had the HL2 and VAmpires problems with that, and I think also the Generals problem).

Thanes

 

[erikistired]

did it again with the gf3 in there?

 

[Thanes]

No, I haven't tried the GF3 yet. That's for tonight.

John