Hello all, I am frantic for some help. It suck to get a new computer and not be able to use it for what it was intended.
I have a new computer (3 days old), and I am having big time problems trying to run a game--N2003, (the only game I've tried, and the only one I'm really interested in at the moment).
I would appreciate any suggestions you may have as to why this problem is occurring, and what I might try to do to fix, and or trouble shoot the problem.
Here is the problem and some things I've tried. Sorry for this being so long. There is probably more here than you want or need to know, but I am desperate for a solution, and want to let you know what I got, and what I've tried so far.
After about 10 minutes of driving, the computer locks up. Most of the time the screen just goes black, then the computer reboots. Less frequently, the screen will first freeze-up and then computer will have to be rebooted manually. Occasionally, when the latter happens, there is 5 to 10 seconds of normal sound after the lockup and before it reboots.
The number of cars on the track does not seem to matter. Also, it does not seem to matter if the computer is on or off line, or if there are any programs running in the background (such as Norton AV or Zone Alarm). I've tried shutting down all background programs with "End It All" as well as manually, and have also tried disconnecting the computer from the modem, but the results is always the same.... lockup and reboot. I tried a system restore to the factory fresh condition, with only N2003 installed (without the patch), but I still get the lockup.
I can run N2003 for hours, with 40 cars on the track, with no problems as long as my car remains on pit road. However, as soon as I get on the track, or if I toggle (key-v) into the cockpit of another car, which is on the track, the lockup occurs with in 5 or 10 minutes.
I don't run a screensaver, and I have all the power options in device manager set to never, and I have hibernate turned off.
I have monitored the CPU and MB temps, and the Voltage reading, and all is well within the normal range. Actually the temps are low (30-ish centigrade).
The 3Dmark 2100 score is 18,595 (don't know if that is good or bad-I was just told to check it). I ran 3Dmark sever times with never a lockup.
One other thing, whenever the computer reboots, the clock is always off by 3 or 4 hours. It reverts to an earlier time (go figure that one).
My game setting are Direct D3D, 1280x960x16. Graphics and sounds (8-max sound) set to default.
Here are some of the computer specs (factory built, all hardware and software except for N2003 factory installed)
OS................Windows XP, Home Version, Service Pack 2
MB...............Asus A8V Deluxe (rev.2)
Power Supply...Vantec 520 W
CPU...............Athlon 64, XP3200+ (939 pin)
Memory...........1 GB (2x512mb PC3200-DDR400)
Video Card........ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB)
Video Driver......6462
Hard Drive.......Seagate SATA 160gb
Sound.............Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA
Wheel.............MOMO Force Feedback
This motherboard has onboard audio. I am wondering if this might be the problem. I had a sound related lockup problem with N2003 on my last computer, an AMD Athlon 1200, on an ABIT KT7 MB. The problem there was the Sound Blaster card, which was resolved when I swapped it out for a Turtle Beach card. I am not sure if the onboard sound on this MB can be disabled-or how to do it.
Well there you have it. Hope there is someone one out there who has a similar setup as I do, and knows of a solution.
Many thanks
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