SOLVED Dual-core problem with games BAD MEMORY

[Powersupply]

EDIT: Problem solved!, This was not caused by my dual-core CPU but by the combination of my DFI SLI-DR Expert and my TwinMOS PC3500 BH-5:s. I'm having a very hard time figuring out stable timings.

Hello!
Does anyone know how to solve the dual-core problem with some games? I have tried everything now but games like Quake4 (1.05 beta with r_useSMP both 0 and 1) and Counter-Stike:Source still crash randomly. (CSS seem to crash more instantly)

What I've done:
1. I have installed the dual-core driver/patch from AMD.
2. I have installed the dual-core patch from Microsoft for WinXP.
3. I've done the registry-tweaks (PerfEnablePackageIdle DWORD...)
4. Set affinity to just one core for the game.
5. I have even tried to start up WinXP with "/onecpu" but games still crash in the same way though windows seem to detect only one core (only one CPU-graph in task manager).

My system:
Opteron 165 (no overclock during testing)
DFI nF4 SLI-DR Expert (latest BIOS, think it was a December release)
MSI 7800GTX
2x512Mb of TwinMOS BH-5
Antec HE550 (550W)

Software:
nVidia 6.70 nForce platform driver (latest)
nVidia Froceware 81.98 driver (latest)
WinXP SP2 with DirectX 9.0c and all Windows updates.


I'm really running out of options now and would be very happy if someone could help me. I've heard a rumor that nVidia got problems with their 8x.xx drivers + dual-core CPUs. Is this correct or do I have any chance of solving this?

Thanks for your help!
/ PowerSupplt

 

[evilharp]

3 suggestions:

1) Try rolling back the video driver to an earlier release (see Guru3D.com for a nice archive of Forceware/Detonator drivers)

2) Test your RAM. BH5 likes volts, and can be unstable if it isn't fed enough. Your crashes could be memory errors.

3) Skip the affinity steps. The XP-SP2 dual-core hotfix was designed to correctly load balance applications on dual-core systems.

Have you tried the dfi-street forums? Your problems could be board related (i.e. bios settings, etc...)

 

[Powersupply]

1) I'll try to roll back to an earlier driver version and report back here.

2) I know my system is stable...it was stable before I installed my Opty 165 with the same setup.

3) ok.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Powersupply
1) I'll try to roll back to an earlier driver version and report back here.

2) I know my system is stable...it was stable before I installed my Opty 165 with the same setup.

3) ok.

The memory controller is on the CPU. If you change CPU's your system may not be quite as stable as it was before. Run a test.

 

[Powersupply]

Ok, I'm back and I'm even further from the solution now.

I've tested my memory with memtest86 and it's 100% stable.
I've also testet to use ForceWare 77.77 instead of my 81.98 driver but it doesn't seem to make any difference.


Can anyone help me out here?

 

[BFG10K]

Disable nVidia's dual-core driver optimizations.

For a permanent fix you could try installing a uniprocesser HAL with Windows.

 

[Powersupply]

how?

 

[Dacalo]

I had similar problems, CS Source would freeze frequently. After setting affinity to only one CPU (CPU 0), I haven't experienced a lockup yet. For some reason, setting the affinity to CPU 1 would freeze the game.

 

[Powersupply]

Ok, I'm back with more info on this...

I tried to disable nVidias dual-core optimizations both by reverting back to 77.77 (which got no optimization) and by registry tweaks but that didn't help.

Switching HAL actually did change things a bit. For some reason I couldn't choose uniprocessor HAL when i tried to switch HAL but i tried the "Standard PC" HAL and it acually allowed me o play CS:Source for like 15-30 min. Before the HAL switch the game would always crash within a minute.

I think I will try to reinstall Windows on another partition with an uniprocessor HAL and see what happens.

It's a shame though that my dual-core Opty will go to waste since I did a switched from a single core one that clocked higher.

 

[BFG10K]

It's a shame though that my dual-core Opty will go to waste since I did a switched from a single core one that clocked higher.

This is why I never recommend dual-core for gaming. Get a single core faster CPU as there are too many issues with dual-core at the moment.

 

[Powersupply]

For some reason I couldn't install Windows with an uniprocessor HAL. I tried to install 'MPS uniprocessor' but then the setup couldn't find my harddrives. Then I tried to select 'ACPI uniprocessor' but then the setup crashed during device install/detection. When I tried to install again the setup was successful but when I checked the device manager a 'ACPI multiprocessor' HAL had been installed. Problems persist as before.

Further more...I can't seem to pick a uniprocessor HAL from within Windows (by going into device manager and try to update the driver from there) since I don't get it as an option. Is there any way to manually pick HAL-driver or am I stuck in a situation where I've tried every possible solution with no success?

 

[Mem]

This is why I never recommend dual-core for gaming. Get a single core faster CPU as there are too many issues with dual-core at the moment.

I can confirm dual core with Quake 4 works great,I have had 0 problems with any of my games,the future for dual and even quad core for gaming looks very promising.

2. I have installed the dual-core patch from Microsoft for WinXP.
3. I've done the corrext registry-tweaks (PerfEnablePackageIdle DWORD...)

Those are not needed in general,I just use the AMD dual core patch,the other fixes can make things worst in some situations.

 

[Powersupply]

Mem: Now how exactly did your reply help me?

I can confirm that Quake 4 does not work great, I have problems with at least 2 of my games, the future for dual-core gamin does not look promising for me since nobody seems to be able to help me solve the problem.

And yes...I've tried the AMD patch only since I tested the games after every patch I installed...

Now please try to help me out here.

Question:
Is there anyone else out there with a DFI SLI-DR Expert and a dual-core Opteron who got a working system and is willing to help me?

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

I'm with mem. I've not experienced any problems either.

I'm only running the AMD and the Microsoft dual-core pathes though.

Not necessarily related, but did you install the NV firewall (ActiveArmor) or the SW IDE driver?

 

[evilharp]

Originally posted by: Powersupply
For some reason I couldn't install Windows with an uniprocessor HAL. I tried to install 'MPS uniprocessor' but then the setup couldn't find my harddrives. Then I tried to select 'ACPI uniprocessor' but then the setup crashed during device install/detection. When I tried to install again the setup was successful but when I checked the device manager a 'ACPI multiprocessor' HAL had been installed. Problems persist as before.

Further more...I can't seem to pick a uniprocessor HAL from within Windows (by going into device manager and try to update the driver from there) since I don't get it as an option. Is there any way to manually pick HAL-driver or am I stuck in a situation where I've tried every possible solution with no success?

Hey Powersupply, yes it is frustrating, but most of us are here to help.

ACPI multiprocessor is the correct "driver" for X2 and dual-opterons. Early upgraders were unable to get this driver to load correctly when the X2's first came out. The AMD driver helped with this by forcing the system (OS) to load the correct drivers.

Really try www.dfi-street.com . Every user on that site is a DFI user, and it is the best resource for DFI owners. Sadly, it seems to be down today :roll: so I couldn't search it for you. Alternately, you could try xtremesystems . A good number of users there own DFI and Opterons as well.

Good luck.

 

[Powersupply]

JustAnAverageGuy: "Not necessarily related, but did you install the NV firewall (ActiveArmor) or the SW IDE driver? "

I have also heard the rumors about those drivers making the system unstabel. I actually tried with and without the SW IDE driver but that didn't help me. And I do not use NV firewall.

evilharp: Maybe I was a bit rude but I simply dont like ppl who hijack topics/threads by talking about how good it works for them. That's totally not the point (it's not really news that it works ok for some ppl).

DFI-Street was also down last time I checked a few days ago...that's why I am here but i didn't even begin to understand how hard this problem was to solve at the time of posting.

Thanks for your help anyway!

Please feel free to correct my english...
/ PowerSupply

 

[BFG10K]

For some reason I couldn't install Windows with an uniprocessor HAL.

Try the standard PC option and see if that helps. Before reinstalling Windows you should've kept testing this because it appeared to improve things for you.

I can confirm dual core with Quake 4 works great,I have had 0 problems with any of my games,the future for dual and even quad core for gaming looks very promising.

You may not have any problems but there are plenty of glitches all over the place in a wide range of games experienced by other people. The only solution to these problems is to effectively downgrade the rig to single core.

 

[xtknight]

Maybe you can use imagecfg: http://www.robpol86.com/Pages/imagecfg.php

Mark the PE file uniprocessor only in addition to setting affinity to 0x1.

This might have problems with cheat-preventing systems though if you play online. They will think you are hacking if they see a changed EXE file.

 

[Mem]

You may not have any problems but there are plenty of glitches all over the place in a wide range of games experienced by other people. The only solution to these problems is to effectively downgrade the rig to single core.

Glitches are in drivers too,does not mean those games he listed (CS and Q4)do not work with dual core CPUs,if I can get mine to work fine just by installing the game he should be able to play those games too, setting one cpu core process to affinity should fix it if all other options fail.

Personally I would do a clean install of OS,leave BIOS on default settings,disable Cool and Quiet and only install the AMD dual core driver.



I have played a lot of games with dual core cpu and only one I have had any problems with was Serious Sam 2,solution for that was setting one core to affinity,took 10 seconds.

 

[BFG10K]

if I can get mine to work fine just by installing the game he should be able to play those games too, setting one cpu core process to affinity should fix it if all other options fail.

You are missing the point. The point is setting a processor affinity to zero effectively means it does not work on dual-core, so you need to get the system to behave like single core.

 

[Bulldog13]

Originally posted by: Powersupply
Hello!
Does anyone know how to solve the dual-core problem with some games? I have tried everything now but games like Quake4 (1.05 beta with r_useSMP both 0 and 1) and Counter-Stike:Source still crash randomly. (CSS seem to crash more instantly)

What I've done:
1. I have installed the dual-core driver/patch from AMD.
2. I have installed the dual-core patch from Microsoft for WinXP.
3. I've done the registry-tweaks (PerfEnablePackageIdle DWORD...)
4. Set affinity to just one core for the game.
5. I have even tried to start up WinXP with "/onecpu" but games still crash in the same way though windows seem to detect only one core (only one CPU-graph in task manager).

/ PowerSupplt

I am having issues with both cs:s and dod:s. Link me to what you listed. Hopefully it'll help me out.

Good luck, btw.

 

[Powersupply]

By Mem:

setting one cpu core process to affinity should fix it if all other options fail.

It doesn't

Mem:
Did you even bother to read my posts? If you did you shold know that I have tried every option and done reinstalls of WinXP like four times now (and counting). I got CnQ disabled and the AMD patch installed. Read ffs!

And again: You are missing the point. Just because it works for you doesn't mean it works for me (or do you think I am lying?)

Bulldog13: Google.com (it is really easy to find)

xtknight: I don't want to make VAC angry. There must be some other solution.

BFG10K: I reinstalled once again with ACPI Multiprocessor and for some reason it seems to work longer now...just like with Standard PC. Still crashes within half an hour though.


Think I should add that my computer is stable in both 2xPrime95 and memtest86 and 3Dmark06 so I do not think I got faulty hardware.

 

[xtknight]

If you're getting desparate:

Use XP x64?
Revert to a uniprocessor BIOS?

It's possible (and likely) it doesn't have anything to do with dual-core at all too so consider that. If other people have gotten said games to operate on a dual-core processor then I can't see how it is a dual-core problem.

 

[Powersupply]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Use XP x64?
Revert to a uniprocessor BIOS?

It's possible (and likely) it doesn't have anything to do with dual-core at all too so consider that. If other people have gotten said games to operate on a dual-core processor then I can't see how it is a dual-core problem.

How do you revert to a uniprocessor BIOS? Idid you mean HAL? I tried to do that but couldn't. I don't think there is a BIOS for DFI SLI-DR Expert that does not support dual-core CPUs.

Since I've tried every suggested solutions to date and the game still crash I am open for the idea that this is not a dual-core relatet issue. But I no longer got a single-core CPU to revert back to and I can not see what other problem might be causing this.

 

[Mem]

Powersupply:No need to be rude dude,try bumping cpu voltage a bit,also relax memory timings for memory,again could try bumping ram voltage up a bit,reason why I say that is quite a few years back I had new system and it would crash in gaming but stable otherwise(fix it by relaxing memory timings),true it was not dual core but you might as well try all options.

There is NO REASON why Quake 4 will run not fine with a dual core cpu ,this game supports it.My money is on the problem elsewhere.

Any IRQ conflicts?

You are missing the point. The point is setting a processor affinity to zero effectively means it does not work on dual-core, so you need to get the system to behave like single core.

You are missing the point, dual core cpu should work great with Quake 4,if it does not then he has serious problem elsewhere,there is no need to set this game to single core mode since Quake 4 supports dual core gaming,besides he stated it crashes even in single core mode,that suggest to me problems is probably elsewhere,I would also suggest he tries another dual core cpu if possible to rule out a faulty CPU.