stability problems =/

[tapir]

okay.. i have the following rig set up:
GA-7VTXE(Gigabyte KT266a board), 1700+ proc, 7ns Kingmax PC2700, R8500 64mb retail, Audigy Gamer, 100G hard drive. I've had the rig up for at least a month or two now. At first, it was amazingly stable - I only had one blue screen and it was a windows thing (pretty sure). Lately, in just about every 3D game, I can play for awhile, then.. I lock up. This doesn't happen anywhere else, though when installing the Audigy I crashed a few times. I originally thought it was some kind of sound-related issue (i forget how I arrived at that conclusion exactly but i was reasonably sure) while using AC97 so I went out and bought the Audigy.. now everything is smoother, but the same type of lock-ups are occurring: after a bit of gaming (in games like Unreal Tournament, Battle Realms, Citizen Kabuto) I just lock up and the sound keeps repeating like a broken record.
My questions are: does it sound like a driver bug? My Radeon could be at fault I guess for using the new beta drivers - unfortunately they're the only ones that allow for dual monitor setups. Could it be a software issue? I have virus scan and other programs on in the background usually..

I really do not want to have to reformat just to be able to play games. Anyone have ideas? I know this rig is very powerful, at first it gave about ~8200 3Dmarks (2001, non SE) and it was absolutely solid with SETI on for quite a while.

 

[Scootin159]

<< but the same type of lock-ups are occurring: after a bit of gaming (in games like Unreal Tournament, Battle Realms, Citizen Kabuto) I just lock up and the sound keeps repeating like a broken record. >>



I have this same issue with my setup:

Iwill KK266-R (KT133a board)
512MB KingMax PC160
Geforce 2 GTS
SB Live!

(even without OCing it still happens - no apparent relationship).

 

[Ludacris]

I'd say video driver issue. Can't believe you haven't tried another driver just to see.

 

[Scootin159]

<< I'd say video driver issue. Can't believe you haven't tried another driver just to see. >>



I've tried 'em all (or at least enough to eliminate that possibility).

 

[Crusty]

Check your IRQ's and make sure there aren't any major conflicts, and what psupply you using? It could be power related.

 

[Scootin159]

<< Check your IRQ's and make sure there aren't any major conflicts, and what psupply you using? It could be power related. >>



WinXP, so everything is on one IRQ anyways.

Actually now that I think about it I bet it is the PSU issue. Mine did it more before I installed the extra fan on the PSU (thinking that could be overheating...it was getting REAL hot), and I just noticed I haven't had any lockups since then:Q.

 

[FishTankX]

Monitor your temps. Definatley sounds like a thermal issue.

 

[FishTankX]

BTW, you might try a higher powered powersupply or unplugging unused stuff because the power might be the issue. Also, all versions of Radeon8500 drivers are compatible with dual monitor! I should know, i'm running the betas and 2 15 inch monitors with no problems. (Don't ask me why they're 15 inch monitors.. I can't even afford a used 14 inch monitor at this point so getting a new monitor is out of t he question. This monitor was unused in my dads offices after upgrades to I used it to replace my old 14 inch..)

 

[BFG10K]

The first thing you should do is not overclock, get the latest BIOS and chipset drivers for your system and make sure you power supply is strong enough to handle the load you've put on it.

I only had one blue screen and it was a windows thing (pretty sure).

Uh, no. It wasn't a "Windows thing" because Windows doesn't crash unless something else causes it, especially in the case of Windows XP.

 

[socketman]

I dont think its the power supply. I had a gigabyte GA7dx. It did the same thing as yours. Random lockups in 3d games, where the sound would keep looping. Happened often enough I went out an got a FIC AD11 with the AMD reference north bridge. Only locked up twice in one year.
I , like you, searched high and low for the answer. Used on-board sound, then an SBLive. Tried multiple drivers, tried switching video cards, tried updated chipset drivers, tried some patches for the mobo, disabled direct-draw, tried playing in D3d instead of OpenGl. That did the trick. It wouldnt lock up in Direct 3d, but the games looked like ass.
So i switched back to an "official" release of the detonator drivers, no help in OpenGL. So I bought the FIC mobo. Same power supply, not a single problem with lock-ups. Im sorry I couldnt be more help....

 

[tapir]

My PSU is an Enhance Electronics 350W, 220W combined power, should be more than enough to do the trick. I've tried all kinds of drivers. I just installed the new F6 bios for the board as well as some 4-in-1's. The video drivers I have also changed, just sticking with these now because they're the only thing I was able to get to do dual-monitors. I know they're all supposed to do that, but it wouldn't work without my current (9012 i believe) drivers. I may get some more recent leaked ones if anyone here thinks it would help but i've tried pretty much everything.

I am going to see if the 4-in-1's and new BIOS helped, then I will see if eliminating background software like SETI helps. I kind of doubt it will .. man is this frustrating. also my temps are good, always way below 50 degrees C and that's with Gigabyte's new thermistor that actually TOUCHES the CPU chip..

Any more ideas?

BTW i am using 98SE, not XP. the lockup was due to Kazaa being totally retarded and that was just while sitting in windows. I had been playing 3D games for hours on end, something else has definately changed.

 

[tapir]

bump for the night..

 

[tapir]

tried an install of the latest WHQL r8500 drivers, even killed the old ones in regedit and deleted their .inf files. nothing has changed anymore ideas before i reinstall windows?