Help! Machine locks-up hard.

[RaNd0m]

Ok, here's my systems specs.
P3 550 (not overclocked)
196MEG of 133RAM
ABIT Bx6 R.2 M/B
Creative Annihilator 2 3D Blaster /GF2
SB Live Value
NEC MultiSync XE17 Monitor
Win 98 SE
generic case/power supply
USR Modem (ISA 33.6)
2 3COM NIC Cards for internet sharing.
Well, here's the problem.
My PC will locks up hard when playing games after a period of time, to where I have to reboot. Can't do anything, just power off and on. I had Voodoo 3k before the GF2, I thought that was the problem with the heat, but I guess not. The m/b has the latest bios. I defrag the drive, don't run any other apps while playing games, and had this problem since I could remember.
Any suggestions please...
thinking maybe a more powerful power supply?
a newer m/b?
I play games in 1024x768 16bit color mode normally.
Posted this on GotApex, no help, so I'll try here.
thanks in advance.

 

[bigjon]

Probably the GF2 drivers. I had the same problem with my Hercules GF1 DDR-DVI drivers. You might want to try some reference (from NVIDIA) drivers instead of the Creative drivers (I assume the GF2 still uses the Detonator drivers - if so, try 5.08, 3.77, and 3.68 - I believe the newest is 5.22). You will probably lose a little performance tho.

I haven't followed the GF2 too closely, so better wait for a few more posts before you start screwing around with the drivers Anyone else have any other ideas?

 

[RaNd0m]

bigjon, quick response, heh. thanks

I didn't even install the Creative Suite of drivers, I just installed the 5.22 Detonators from nVidia's site. The reason I don't think it's the Vid card is cause it happened with Voodoo 3k.

 

[Impact55]

Have you tried re-installing windows? I would say power supply, but if it happened with a voodoo3... I would save up for a new power supply while your at it though

 

[RaNd0m]

This is a new install.
Any other ideas?

 

[bigjon]

Oh whoops - thot it only started happening after you switched vid cards.

My first thought (well, first valid thought ) is that you've got a heat problem. But if you're not oc'ing you should be ok, unless you have zero airflow - if you're using the temperature header that comes with the bx6-2, run it to the video card and let us know how hot it's running.

That motherboard has voltage levels listed in the BIOS - check them to be sure they're correct.

Also, a long shot since you've got the same trouble with 2 video cards, but check the interrupts in device manager (double-click "Computer" icon at top of device list). Possibly the video card is sharing an interrupt?

 

[ricow]

I had a simular problem and it was a network conflict try to take one nic out if the system and play the games you want if it doesn't lockup try moving the nic's to another slot.

 

[RaNd0m]

ricow, Did the nic's share an IRQ?

Both of my nic's share IRQ 5.
Never even thought of that(nic's), the video card is on it's own IRQ(9), is response to the previous post.
My voltages are close to what they should be, i.e. +5 is like 5.8, they are all off by more than .5, how would I adjust them to even get them closer to there respective voltages?
I don't have the temperature header, actually I don't even know how to use that if I had it.

 

[bigjon]

It's ok that the voltages are off a little, especially if it's over the target voltage (if anything, especially IO voltage, is that far off in the negative direction, that could cause problems like yours).

The Abit BX6 series of motherboards come with a short (1 foot) black wire with a thermistor (thermometer) on one end and a plug on the other - it plugs into the motherboard and supplies an additional thermometer to the BIOS. If you can find it, check the motherboard manual to figure out where to plug it in (it's really easy). It comes in handy sometimes!

 

[ricow]

My Nic's did not share an IRQ but that can be a prob. are you using a router or routing software for sharing the internet if you are using wingate the nat function is not always working properly in some configs.

sorry for the typo's but i am only a poor dutch guy

 

[bigjon]

Hmm, I wouldn't think that 2 NICs sharing an IRQ could be a good thing even if it's not causing your problem. Try moving one of the NICs to another PCI slot and see if that helps. I can't remember which slots share IRQs on a BX6, but on the BF6 (BH6 replacement), PCI slots 2 and 5 share IRQ assignments, and slots 3 and 6 share IRQs. I'll bet both NICs are in either slots 2 and 5, or 3 and 6 (assuming of course that the BX6 shares slots the same as the BF6). Slot 1 is closest to the AGP slot, and 6 is closest to the ISA slots. The sharing info is in the manual, by the way.

LOL ricow, I had not noticed any typos

 

[RaNd0m]

hmm, still happening.

One thing to point out, my -5Volts is at -6.3Volts on average.
This was reported by Mother Board Monitor, not the BIOS.
How can I adjust this voltage?
My nic's are on there own IRQ now and I re-installed it with W2k, definately not software related.

 

[bigjon]

Hmm, I doubt that the -5v is a big problem - not sure if it's even used on a motherboard. Anyone else know?!

What kind of temperature are you getting on the CPU? Next time a game crashes, reboot into the BIOS and check the CPU temperature (same screen that has the voltages). I would venture to say it shouldn't be over 120 degrees F.

If you can get another P3 chip to pop in there and try out, do it. Games are pretty CPU intensive, so they tend to bring out CPU problems.

Another thing you could try is new memory. At least take out one of those chips at a time and see if that helps. Good luck, let us know how it goes

 

[sd]

I have the same vid card, I'm using ref driver 5.30 and I'm getting lock-ups in Q3 only, not UT. My V3 never did this, although I never had Q3 then......hmmmm.

How do you change IRQs? Do you just move stuff around?