Help a fellow Gamer!

[sarro]

Hi,
my system has been stuttering as of late while playing games (SoF2 and CS:S) and sometimes even crashing when I load them. I've asked a ton of friends about what it might be and most seems to suggest its overheating--although I believe there could be more to it.

My system specs:
(CPU 1) AMD Athlon? XP 2600+ (256KB L2 Cache, Socket A) @ 2088MHz (166MHz FSB)
(Motherboard) ASUSTeK Computer INC. A7N8X, version REV 1.xx
(Video controller 1) RADEON 9700 PRO (Processor: RADEON 9700 PRO AGP (0x4E44)), 128MB, 1280x1024x32, 90Hz, driver version: 6.14.10.6660 (Video controller 2) RADEON 9700 PRO - Secondary (Processor: RADEON 9700 PRO Secondary AGP (0x4E64)), 128MB, driver version: 6.14.10.6660
(Network adapters) 1394 Net Adapter, RAS Async Adapter, WAN Miniport (L2TP), WAN Miniport (PPTP), WAN Miniport (PPPOE), Direct Parallel, WAN Miniport (IP), Packet Scheduler Miniport, NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller, Packet Scheduler Miniport, Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter, Packet Scheduler Miniport
(Operating system) Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (SP2), version 5.1.2600 (44 processes running, 357.07MB free RAM, installed 1y 27w 2d 11h 1m 54s ago, 9h 1m 7s uptime, 5d 13h 10m 38s uptime record)
Memory = 1Gb (512x2) OCZ Plat.Rev2

So the most annoying thing is that my regular frames in CS:S will go from a constant 60-90 fps to about 5-15 at certain times (no matter if theres any explosions, fire fights etc) and the game will basically be unplayable.
Also, when my system crashes and restarts it will stall at boot saying theres a "keyboard error or no keyboard detected".

Aside from the possibility of overheating, could this be because of a buggy motherboard (rev.1 A7N8X's aren't too great), dying processor, bad power supply, or anything else?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to sort this all out before a CS:S match tomorrow night!

 

[happy medium]

Did you try to run cpu @ stock?
Why do you have 2- 9700pro's?
Any other game crash?

 

[sarro]

The cpu is being run at stock speed and there is only one 9700pro in my system--sorry for the confusion. It's crashing sometimes while loading SoF2 or CS:Source.

+I've tried a few different set of drivers to see if that would solve the problem as well--all with clean installs with no luck.

Also, here is a shot of temps from ASUS probe

http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aprobe1hy1.jpg][img=[url="http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8697/aprobe1hy1.th.jpg"]http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8697/aprobe1hy1.th.jpg[/url]][/url]

Thats a current shot, but it was also doing this when the reported CPU temp was around 48C/118F.

 

[happy medium]

Is there a way to moniitor your video card temp. I would guess since this crash only happends in 3d mode (right?) and with multiple games ,and you have tried multiple drivers thats it's your video card overheating or failing. I've heard that 9700 pro's have fan trouble make sure it's running while playing gaames.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: sarro
Hi,
my system has been stuttering as of late while playing games (SoF2 and CS:S) and sometimes even crashing when I load them. I've asked a ton of friends about what it might be and most seems to suggest its overheating--although I believe there could be more to it.

My system specs:
(CPU 1) AMD Athlon? XP 2600+ (256KB L2 Cache, Socket A) @ 2088MHz (166MHz FSB)
(Motherboard) ASUSTeK Computer INC. A7N8X, version REV 1.xx
(Video controller 1) RADEON 9700 PRO (Processor: RADEON 9700 PRO AGP (0x4E44)), 128MB, 1280x1024x32, 90Hz, driver version: 6.14.10.6660 (Video controller 2) RADEON 9700 PRO - Secondary (Processor: RADEON 9700 PRO Secondary AGP (0x4E64)), 128MB, driver version: 6.14.10.6660
(Network adapters) 1394 Net Adapter, RAS Async Adapter, WAN Miniport (L2TP), WAN Miniport (PPTP), WAN Miniport (PPPOE), Direct Parallel, WAN Miniport (IP), Packet Scheduler Miniport, NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller, Packet Scheduler Miniport, Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter, Packet Scheduler Miniport
(Operating system) Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (SP2), version 5.1.2600 (44 processes running, 357.07MB free RAM, installed 1y 27w 2d 11h 1m 54s ago, 9h 1m 7s uptime, 5d 13h 10m 38s uptime record)
Memory = 1Gb (512x2) OCZ Plat.Rev2

So the most annoying thing is that my regular frames in CS:S will go from a constant 60-90 fps to about 5-15 at certain times (no matter if theres any explosions, fire fights etc) and the game will basically be unplayable.
Also, when my system crashes and restarts it will stall at boot saying theres a "keyboard error or no keyboard detected".

Aside from the possibility of overheating, could this be because of a buggy motherboard (rev.1 A7N8X's aren't too great), dying processor, bad power supply, or anything else?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to sort this all out before a CS:S match tomorrow night!

When does it crash? Only during games? Do you have any spare parts around? AGP card?

 

[sarro]

Yeah, only during games. I don't have any spare parts :/

 

[happy medium]

Bump someone help this guy

 

[sarro]

Someone suggested that I try a USB to PS2 adapter for my keyboard and I'm also going to try to clean & take a look at my video card and cpu fans.

I'm hoping I don't stall out or crash tonight!

 

[Stumps]

first off, using the cat 6.14 on a 9700 is going to cause some stuttering in some games...I found that the 5.11's or 5.12's work a lot better, especially on older AXP platforms.

for some reason the ATI CCC really intefers with older 9x00 series cards and degrades performance considerable, so use the non CCC version of the ATI Cats.

if you are getting keyboard errors, it sounds like the PS/2 ports on your mobo might be dying....maybe saving a few bucks and getting a newer CPU and mobo might be worth while, but you could try an USB adapter...it should fix the problem (bandaid like).

having had AXP + NF2 Ultra + 9700pro Combo's in the past, there should be no reason why you have performance issues with those games...maybe try 1024x768, it was always a good resolution for the 9700pro.

check your HSF unit on the CPU, it may need some new thermal compound applied to it, make sure you HSF unit is seated properly.

What is your PSU? do you know the specs of it...although pretty much anything decent over 300w's should be plenty for that rig.

hmmm interesting problem...I hope this helps..

 

[sarro]

I'm using an Antec 430True PSU and I just reseated and applied Arctic Silver 7 to my cpu this past fall.

I found the ATI Catalyst 5.11 drivers at Guru3d, but all the download mirrors are down--anyone know where I can find them?

Also, the keyboard error is from my keyboard connected through USB--I get alot of weird usb errors though with this mobo--no PS/2 problems as of yet.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: sarro
Also, the keyboard error is from my keyboard connected through USB--I get alot of weird usb errors though with this mobo--no PS/2 problems as of yet.

Could be a sign of component failure in either power supply or motherboard. USB-related leans towards motherboard, unless you have significant power draw through the USB.

 

[sarro]

Okay, my computer just restarted while watching some streaming video and the error message taht came up upon restart said WIndows encountered a serious error...

Error Signature:

BCCode : 7f BCP1 : 00000000 BCP2 : 00000000 BCP3 : 00000000
BCP4 : 00000000 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 2_0 Product : 768_1

And then listed these files as being sent to Windows for the report:
C:\DOCUME~1\kyle!\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER873b.dir00\Mini021307-01.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\kyle!\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER873b.dir00\sysdata.xml

 

[happy medium]

sarro I googled that error and came up with this. Mabe it will help.



http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=BC...+BCP3+%3A+00000000+&btnG=Google+Search

 

[sarro]

I looked at a bunch of those Google hits and none really helped me out.

Even getting a 333 fps (capped) in quake3 my frames will suddenly go down to 30 at times, its ridiculous!

 

[Matt2]

Did you try the older drivers?

Use a temp monitor to find out what kind of temperature the video card is running at when you play. Also run memtest overnight to make sure the RAM isnt going bad. I've had a lot of weird stop errors from faulty RAM.

 

[Agent11]

try turning off write combining.

right click on desktop- advanced- troubleshooting- unclick

 

[sarro]

Sorry for the late response, but I'm still trying to figure out all the weird stuff that's been going on with my system.
I've discovered its not the memory and the "write combining" option made no difference. Also, all reported temps from BIOS and ASUSprobe seemed normal.

Currently my system can't even get past the Windows boot screen (system just restarts) though and this was after my harddrive failed and I had to use my storage drive to boot (after installing windows).

Is it possible my buggy Asus motherboard could have killed one of my harddrives?

 

[sarro]

Any help here?

I'm pretty sure its either the powersupply or motherboard.

What can I do to narrow it down?

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: sarro
Any help here?

I'm pretty sure its either the powersupply or motherboard.

What can I do to narrow it down?

The PSU may be failing. I would unplug everything that's not absolutely necessary and then see if you can boot into Windows. If so, you should start looking for a new PSU. You really don't want to have the PSU start sparking and taking out other components--that happened recently in another thread.

If you don't get a response here, you might try asking the mods to move this thread into the troubleshooting forum as it's more of a system problem than a video problem.