I've actually had time to really experiment with a problem with various FPS games locking up. For a long time I attributed the problem to the VIA chipset. But I've found it's in fact overheating of the video card. Let me explain. System is AMD 1.33ghz NOT O/C, DDR, Coolmaster fan recommend by Newegg. Using WinXP, 21.83 drivers. Note: had same lockups when I was using Windows 2000 w/ Geforce2.
Geforce2 Pro - The time until lockup would vary from game to game. Anarchy Online or Gore Test would rarely lockup. Tribes 2 more frequently., RTC Wolfenstein demo, nearly immediately!
Solution 1: My network card was just below the video card. I moved it and other cards all the way down, maximizing the air space around the video card. Also, let case open. Result- Lock ups stopped except for RTCW, BUT the length of time to lockup generally increased to around 5-10 minutes to play. Tried this many times.
Solution 2: Blowing large fan right on the motherboard. Result: RTCW would rarely lockup.
So, I got a Geforce3 Ti 200 (by MSI)- I figured my lockup problems would no happen with a new card. It has a huge heat sink plus a fan.
Guess what: RTCW STILL locks up with about the same frequency. I must have a large fan blowing on the motherboard!
I'm finding these results really bizarre. Are both these video cards really overheating/locking up when stressed by 3d games- especially Quake engine? What are your experiences? Maybe it's the CPU? I don't think it's the cpu because the computer still seems to be "working" underneath the lockup.
Anyone have similar experience and results? If you're locking up too, trying blowing a fan on the motherboard and see if you can play without lockups.
Geforce2 Pro - The time until lockup would vary from game to game. Anarchy Online or Gore Test would rarely lockup. Tribes 2 more frequently., RTC Wolfenstein demo, nearly immediately!
Solution 1: My network card was just below the video card. I moved it and other cards all the way down, maximizing the air space around the video card. Also, let case open. Result- Lock ups stopped except for RTCW, BUT the length of time to lockup generally increased to around 5-10 minutes to play. Tried this many times.
Solution 2: Blowing large fan right on the motherboard. Result: RTCW would rarely lockup.
So, I got a Geforce3 Ti 200 (by MSI)- I figured my lockup problems would no happen with a new card. It has a huge heat sink plus a fan.
Guess what: RTCW STILL locks up with about the same frequency. I must have a large fan blowing on the motherboard!
I'm finding these results really bizarre. Are both these video cards really overheating/locking up when stressed by 3d games- especially Quake engine? What are your experiences? Maybe it's the CPU? I don't think it's the cpu because the computer still seems to be "working" underneath the lockup.
Anyone have similar experience and results? If you're locking up too, trying blowing a fan on the motherboard and see if you can play without lockups.
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