Ti4600 Problems

[mjdart]

OK, the Ti4600 has been acting up. Running one of the newer games like Doom 3 will lock it up after 5 minutes. However running an older game like medal of honor doesn't. I put a clean HD in loaded Win XP with SP2, added the newest drivers from Nvidia 66.93. I loaded Unreal 2, maxed the visuals and played for 10 minutes before it locked up. I downloaded 3DMARK2001 SE and ran it I made it half way through the Gothic Dragon (high detail) befor it locked up.

I pulled the Ti4600 took the Thermalake heatsing/fan off, cleaned the processor, lapped the heatsink, installed a light coat of thermal compound, re-installed the Thernalake, installed the Ti4600 and booted the pc back up. I ran once 3DMARK2001 SE once again, this time I made it most of the way through the Matrix Lobby scene (low detail before it locked.

Any ideas.........I'm getting a new PC this month and I want to hand this one over to my son and you know crashes while in the middle of a good game really suck. I figure I could stick in one of the new AGP versions of the 6600 GT. For ~ $200 it will run circles around the Ti4600 but $200 bucks is $200.

 

[nitro28]

I had the same thing happen with my PNY 4600ti with /halflife 2. Drove me crazy. I finally gave up, sold my 4600 on ebay and upgraded my system. I just don't think that card can handle the newest games, It was fine on Far cry but not on HL2 or Doom 3. I got $85 for it on ebay which is a lot less than the $400 I paid for it 3 years ago, but it served me well and $85 was a good start toward my new card.

 

[mjdart]

I kinda think that may be my answer, I too paid $400 in 3/02. My new rig is going to have the 6800 Ultra to pump pixels.

 

[nitro28]

the 6800 ultra is a very good choice, I went with 2 6800GT's in sli, I'm sure I'll sell them some day for $80 each also, oh well.

 

[ROEHUNTER]

Actually it should handle the newest games . I am running a Ti 4200 and played Doom 3 on it and am playing HL2 . I would guess there is something wrong with the card.

 

[mjdart]

Hey, I've made great progress. Pulled the heat sink off and cleaned. Lapped the processor slightly on the raised ceramic area above the metallic chip. Cleaned added new thermal goop, reseated the Thermaltake and booted into XP. Lowered clock settings slightly below stock 293 core / 695 mem.

Guess what: I made it all the way through 3DMark2001 - no crashes

Scored a 10726 - pretty good for older tech

I'll slightly raise clocking and test again.........

 

[ROEHUNTER]

Woo Hoo!!!

 

[Machine350]

It sounds like it may be time to break down and upgrade. The 6800 Ultras are good, but in my opinion, the GT's are the sweet spot. They are just slightly underclocked Ultras, but cost hundreds less.

 

[dguy6789]

Perhaps purchase an aftermarket cooler. Many times I have had old computers crash on me and all I had to do was purchase a new fan for the gpu or cpu, because the old one was not spinning fast enough anymore. Try putting a big fan next to your ti4600 with the case open, and if it runs well at that point, then it means the problem is cooling related, and the solution is a new cooler for it.