MMORPG's Gameplay Problem's

[crockman]

I've played various MMO's for about 2 years and never had any Game-Play problems until about 2 weeks ago.

First problem i noticed was Video Corruption while playing Lord of the Rings Online. At times the Video will tear apart, but it doesn't do it all the time.

Then a few days later i started noticing a very annoying problem of Loss of Control of the Character for a few seconds. In the MMO's I play (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars Galaxies & World of Warcraft) the W Keyboard key is used for moving the Character forward.

Problem being is that when i let off the W key to get the Toon to stop it wont stop right away. The Toon will continue forward for about another 2-3 seconds before it stops. And at the time the Toon is moving forward on its own Ill also lose control of my PC's Mouse and the Cursor will disappear from the screen.

My PC seems to run fine when not playing the MMO's, although I don't have any Non-Internet Games installed to do a comparison.

PC is as Follows:

Window's XP Home SP2 fully up to date.
Trend Micro PCCillin Internet Security 2008

Hardware;

ASRock 939DualSata2, BIOS 1.90

AMD-64 3700+ San Diego 1Meg L2

A-Data 2x1GB Dual-Channel DDR400 w/heatspreader's

Audigy2-Value Sound Card

PowerColor X1950 Pro w/512MB Memory

Ultra X-Connect 500 Watt Modular Power Supply

2x Western Digital 36 Gig Raptor 10k Rpm 16MB Buffer in Raid-0

HP Photosmart All-in-one C4280 Printer


Also at this present moment World of Warcraft has become un-playable to me. I'm getting terribly High Latency to the WoW Servers.

So in essence I don't know if it's a Hardware or Software problem on my PC or even possibly it's an Internet Connection issue, I really don't know how to track down the Problem.

Any Suggestions ?

Thanks

 

[robisbell]

okay, if you could install and run PC Wizard, and post your CPU, GPU, and Motherboard temps it would be helppful. also, if you could when you try to play or start up a game, check the fans and verify they are spinning and free of dust,lint, etc

 

[oynaz]

"My PC seems to run fine when not playing the MMO's, although I don't have any Non-Internet Games installed to do a comparison. "

Just to clarify, can you play off-line games without problems?

 

[crockman]

Thanks for the Reply Robisbell.

Ill certainly do as you ask, Thx for the help.

1 thing while i do that; I was reading thru some other Posts here to see if I could figure out the Problem on my own.

This one comment caught my eye.
Post: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2121191&enterthread=y

Comment: By Corkyg

If memory is bad, you will usually get warning beeps.

Sometimes i try to force the toon to move when I dont have control of it, sometimes Ill let the toon stop before i retry to control it.

2 times so far when i tried to force the Toon to change Directions, at the time it being un-controllable, I heard some Beeps come from the Chassis Speaker. This latest time i heard the Beeps was only about 10 minutes ago while playing Lotro.

I heard 3 consecutive Beeps this time. The other time i heard Beeps was yesterday but i really don't remember how many Beeps that was.

Could it be a Memory Problem ?

Thanks

 

[crockman]

Thanks Oynaz.

I didn't install any of my Old Non-Internet Games when I Put his PC together about 2 months ago cause I wasn't playing them and didn't want to waste HD space. But I'll install "Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile" just to do the Test. That game was rather fun to play anyway.

 

[crockman]

I have other Monitor Software installed and here are the Temps. you asked for Robisbell.

I can install PC Wizard if you wish, or are these fine ?

SpeedFan 4.33

Temp1: 31C
Temp2: 30C
Temp3: 27C
HD0: 26C
Core: 29C

Catalyst 7.11

Current Temp. 36C. I have seen the 1950 go as high as 50C when playing Lotro.

All the Fans are In-deed working and the PC is Dust Free atm. I will however try to reseat the A-Data memory and see if that helps.

 

[robisbell]

Op stated "I don't have any Non-Internet Games installed to do a comparison.", so clearly he does not have any way to test the internet connection is causing this.

 

[robisbell]

I'd like you to run PC Wizard, it'll be able to tell me what is running at what temp. and it'll show you voltages as well. it even displays on screen when you minimize PC Wizard, not sure if it will show up when you play LoTRO, or WOW.

depending on the BIOS manufacturer the 3 beeps you heard could have been:

AMI Bios
3 short - Base 64K RAM failure
Award
Any other beep(s) - RAM problem.

 

[crockman]

PC Wizard 2008

Voltage CPU--------------------1.36 V
DIMM----------------------------1.38
+3.3-----------------------------3.33
+5-------------------------------5.16
+12-----------------------------12.46

Chassis Fan---------------------2280 rpm
Processor Fan------------------3375

Processor Temp.---------------30.5 C
Processor Temp. (Diode)------28
Mainboard Temp.---------------31

GPU Temp.----------------------36 C

Hard Disk Temp.---------------26 C



And yes I do believe they were 3-Short Beeps.

BIOS is American Megatrends Inc. Version P 1.90 Date 26 April 2006

 

[robisbell]

okay then it was a base 64k failure warning. which means that the first bank of memory probably has a bad memory chip in it somewhere. It is possible that there is a failure related to the motherboard or a system device as well. Basically you're either going to need new memory or a new motherboard. You could try taking out each stick of RAM (one by one) and rebooting to see which is the offending bank, if that does not work, then the board needs to be replaced.

 

[crockman]

Thanks Robisbell

So the Base 64K is actually part of the RAM not the CPU ?

Thanks for the BIOS Heads-up & Btw where did you read about that 3-Beep warning ?, a Website ?

Ill try using 1 RAM stick at a time like you suggest.


1 Question though would this Memory trouble also cause the Video Corruption ?, or do i have multiple things wrong with the PC ?

Thanks

 

[robisbell]

it's usually the memory that cause the bae 64k issue, sometimes it's a defective motherboard, and very rarely is it the cpu.
it's something a old school tech knows, or at least remembers to check out before posting an answer.
it may be one stick of ram has a bad chip on it, and is causing the errors, it maybe the motherboard itself is failing and is incorrectly reading or writing the memory. if it's the board, it could be causing problems with the video card as well. I'd usually stick the ram on a tester unit and let it run it for 6 hours to see if it would error out under load at all. it's too soon to say, but I rather you know the whole deal than just one facet.

 

[crockman]

Thanks Robisbell

I tried using 1 stick of RAM at a time & even tried using different RAM Slots on the Motherboard. No Luck, problem persists no Matter which RAM Stick it is.

I've started a New Thread: [*]http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=27&threadid=2125309

Making that New Thread a bit more specific than this one.

I'm starting to Wonder if maybe I had put my Asrock PC together improperly, so I've started that above mentioned Thread asking some Installation Questions.

Thanks

 

[robisbell]

in PC Wizard, could you run it's benchmark and post the results, if you can screencapture the graph and email it to me.

 

[crockman]

Thanks Robisbell

Sorry but i can't run a PC Wizard benchmark at this time cause the Asrock PC has been dismantled.

I'm going to put the Asrock PC back together tonight or tomorrow but need to find out some Installation Questions before i do.

Questions:

I use RAID-0 with 2 36 Gig Raptor's. During a Fresh-Windows Install, right at the beginning of it, I have to supply Sata Raid Drivers from a Floppy. Question: After Windows has been Installed do i need to install any other HardDrive Drivers ?

My ASROCK ( MB Link) Motherboard has Both a PCI-Express Slot and an 8X AGP Slot. The Video Card i use is a PCI-Express X1950 Pro. Question: Do i need to install an AGP Driver considering that I'll be using a PCI-e Video Card ?

Also, I did not see on the Asrock Motherboard Install CD any mention of a ULI Chipset Driver. Question: Does this Motherboard require a Chipset Driver ?

Another Question: Does the Motherboard Have to be installed into a Case that uses Bronze-Screw Stand-offs that go between the Motherboard & the Case ? My Case has Built in 'Bumps' that stand the Motherboard up a bit from the case. Those Bumps however are part of the Steel Case, don't that have to be Bronze ?, or are the Steel Bumps good enough ?

RAID-0 Question: What Strip-Size should i make the RAID-0 at ?, I think Default is a size 16 Strip size, but wouldn't a larger Strip Size be better ?

Thanks

 

[robisbell]

1. yes, you'll need to install chipset/motherboard drivers, and processor driver too.

2. if you disable the agp slot in bios (it should be an option to do that), no you will not need to install any agp drivers.

3. as long at they all meet up with the grounded screw holes yes, if any meet where there is no hole, then you can not use that case.

4. I would recommend raid 1 instead of raid 0.

 

[crockman]

Hi Robisbell,

I put the Asrock PC back together.

First, Yes I see the Benchmark Options in PC Wizard, but there are many Different Benchmarks i can run. Which Benchmark would you like me to run ?

In that regards, how do i get all the Program Icons to disappear from Desktop so I can take a screenie of the Benchmark results ?, Also, How then do i Upload the Screenie to the Anandtech Forums so you can see the results ?

Answers to 1

I'm still kinda at a Loss on which Driver is the Uli Chipset Driver. I see this Driver in Device Manager "ULI Sata/Raid (M1689/M1567), Driver ULI Electronics, Driver Date 12/23/2005, Driver Version 1.0.5.8", Is that the Chipset Driver ?

CPU Driver is "Advanced Micro Devices, Driver date 5/27/2006, Driver Version 1.3.2.0"

2

I didn't see in BIOS anywhere to specifically disable AGP Completely. I did see AGP Fastwrite and i disabled that. also I saw an entry to pick Default Video, I Chose PCI-Express, but only the AGP Fastwrite was I able to disable.

3

The Natural Bumps in the Case do in fact line up with all the screw holes on the Motherboard and do level the MB away from the case so as all the protrusions on underneath of MB don't touch the case. Guess is what I was wondering is, is it fine for those Bumps to be Steel thus Grounding MB to the Case ?. Or does MB need to be Isolated from the "Steel" of the Case by using Bronze Screws (IE is the Bronze needed for some sort of Electricity Isolation" ? )

4

I have to run RAID-"0" because my Raptor's are only the 36 Gig Models so i wouldn't have enough Drive Space using 1 of them as a Backup drive in Raid-1. Eventually I'll buy myself 1-150 Gig Raptor and Not bother with Raid at all, but not at this time.

I went to WoW last night after I put this Asrock back together and I'm still getting the Super High Latency Problems, but Why does the Old Soyo PC not have that Latency Problem at WoW specially considering Both PC's use the exact same Router and Exact Same Cable Modem ?

Also i did still notice some Video Corruption while playing Lotro, although the Video Corruption was not quite as Severe as it use to be. Also the Un-Controlled movement of the Lotro Toons is Not quite as severe as it use to be.

Thanks

 

[robisbell]

1. that's your raid/sata chipset that controls the sata/raid ports.

2.okay, you may have to install the agp, check device manager to see if it has any unknown hardware.

3. that should be fine, in the old days the PSU's were not truly grounded and so you had to insulated the board from contacting metal at the screw points.

4. okay.

as for the benchmark, just maximize PC Wizard that will take care of that issue. I'd need to see the global performance benchmark results, if you want you can email it and the temp and voltage screens.

as for the lag and video corruption. I'd need to see the results of a tracert from both the soyo and asrock system.

also, I'd update the bios to the last release of 2.30.

 

[crockman]

Hi Robisbell

I had forgot about an Old Photobucket account i use to use a few years ago when I hung-out around a Forum called PCChips Lottery.

Anyway here are the Images you asked for.

Global Benchmark

Volt, Temp & Fans

I'll run a Tracert from each PC, then make another Post with the results.

Also i guess I'm still at a loss on what Driver on my Asrock PC is the actual Chipset Driver.
Where in Device Manager would i look to see what Chipset Driver i have installed ?

Thanks

 

[robisbell]

okay. the temps and voltages look really good. the benchmark shows the processor and video card are performing above average.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/from....-SATA2&s=939&T=D&ID=24
http://www.asrock.com/mb/from....-SATA2&s=939&T=D&ID=26
http://www.asrock.com/mb/from....SATA2&s=939&T=D&ID=241
http://www.asrock.com/mb/from....-SATA2&s=939&T=D&ID=28
http://www.asrock.com/mb/from....SATA2&s=939&T=D&ID=245
http://www.asrock.com/mb/from....SATA2&s=939&T=D&ID=176

you can find the info on the drivers on the site you linked, and I would recommend the bios update.

I posted all the relevant Win XP drivers for your system.

 

[crockman]

Thanks for the Driver Links Robisbell.

Some of those Drivers you listed I already had installed, 1 or 2 of those I have a newer version installed already. The Jmicron driver i do Not have installed, but that 1 is a Sata "2" Driver, and being my Drives are Sata-"1", i did not Install the Jmicron Driver.

I still have not narrowed down the Problems yet.

About an Hour ago, maybe 2 hours ago, when i was playing Lotro I had a very Strange Error Beep Code. Those Beep codes happen unannounced as you well know, so remembering the exact Type and amount of beeps is very difficult.

But this Very Odd beep Code sounded kinda like:

3 Quick Beeps, quick pause, then 1 Quick Beep, then weirdly 3 or 4 Long Beeps. And by long it more sounded like a Beep pause, Beep pause, Beep pause. During those 3 or 4 'Beep Pause''s (I'm presuming those type Beeps as being considered "Long" beeps) My Lotro Toon continued to move forward uncontrollably about 15 to 20 Feet.

Very Weird. lol.

I mean it was almost as if my Computer actually took control of my Lotro Toon Long enough so that it could have enough time to make sure I heard the exact amount of Beeps. And believe me those 3 or 4 Long Beeps took quite a long time. Heck I need to Teach My Computer how to Cook LOL.

Anyway, I'm still at a Loss on whats wrong, and I didn't see anything Online about AMI BIOS having such an Extravagant Beep Code like I just Heard, so now I'm Basically Lost on whats wrong.

Your Idea of a BIOS Update sounds like a good plan, however I've never before done a BIOS Flash and do know that can be risky.

Btw for some reason my PC is running at only 1600 Hypertransport & only DDR333.

Northbridge/Memory Link

Don't know if those speeds matter or not, but figured I'd say something.

Also in the "Configuration" tab of PC Wizard, it says that my PC has only about 29% Free Resources. Now thats something I do know, is that 29% Free is a Very Low amount and that could be causing problems, but do not know whats eating up the resources cause that 29% Reading is at Idle.

Thanks again for the assistance.

 

[robisbell]

well, if you got the beeps I think you received, then you're looking at a motherboard issue.

3 short Base 64K RAM failure
1 short DRAM refresh failure

since this is happening while the system is running, means either the bios itself is bad or the motherboard is failing it at some point.

 

[crockman]

Hi,

Going on that it is some kind of Memory Failure, i tried another test.

I had a 1x1gig Stick of DDR400 Infineon Memory installed in an Older PC of mine. I then took out Both A-Data Sticks from the Asrock PC and installed the 1 Infineon Stick into the Asrock.

No Luck, same game Play problems as well the Warning Beeps were heard again.

Something a bit strange though, I was thumbing thru PC Wizard to see if i could see something out of the ordinary and did notice something strange.

This Volt Readings is the Readings from a few days ago as seen earlier in this thread, but check out these New Volt. Readings i just took about 5 minutes ago New Readings

Notice the Definite Change in Volt. Readings of the Cpu & DIMM. Why the Major Change in Volts ?, I did Not change anything in BIOS.

Is that a Problem ?

Also going from the first set of Volt Readings the Memory is listed as 1.3+ Volts, Isn't 1.3 Volts rather Low for RAM ?

Thanks

 

[robisbell]

I think it's the motherboard to quite honest.

 

[crockman]

Hi Robisbell

Sorry for the real slow reply. I've been kind of stalling on what to do about the Asrock.

I don't want to upgrade to AM2 as of yet, cause that would mean having to buy a New CPU, New RAM & Probably a New PSU.

So i went looking for an inexpensive Socket 939 MB. Ouch Those 939 MB's are Very Hard to find.

I did find these 3.

ECS KN1-Lite
ECS RX480
Foxconn

I'd like to just replace this Asrock with something Cheap & Stable. I don't do any OC'ing so 'Out-of-the-Box' Reliable is what I'm looking for. Then Upgrade to AM2 or Intel Equivalent sometime next spring.

Of those 3 MB's, I'm leaning towards that ECS KN1-Lite. That KN1 'On-Paper' seems to be a Heck of a Buy at 30$, but I sure hope that ChipSet Fan doesn't sound like a Jet on Take-off lol

Any opinions on those 3 MB's ?

Or do you have any Suggestions for an AM2 MB/ AM2 CPU & DDR2 RAM ?

Thanks Again Robisbell