SOS! Fustration mounting! - Page 4

DvlHownd · 05-14-14, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

Did you check your overclock settings?

They may have been adjusted in post production.

With the consistent time lag in crashing this sounds like a fried graphics card to me. It does not lock until you have put a load on it. I suggest trying a different card if you have one or buy a new one and see if this corrects your issue. If it does not you can return the new one.

Cards are finicky. Make doubly sure the card or new one is listed as workable from the MSI web site.

Static electricty might be all just fine and then one day you handle the card and a bit of dust you can not even see causes a spark that fries or at least burns a pathway. Many times you can not see damage with the naked eye. (can I say naked in this PG forum?)

I have seen weirder things happens but interchanging the card and trying the game will at least rule out or in the card itself.

I have had an Nvidia card in my current PC for 6 years now. The mother board and power supplies both have burned up and been replaced but the card has lasted.

By the way ... what is that serial port on the back of your main board supposed to be for?

It's been a good card, but it still might be a good excuse for a new one.

DvlHownd · 05-14-14, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relfin

I still feel like it maybe a hardware issue. I am still leaning towards an overheating problem. Maybe the video card is overheating. You mentioned that you can start a mission and play for about 4 minutes and then have a shutdown. I think if it where a graphic settings problem (like antialaising) then the problem would show immediately after the game started. An overheating builds for several minutes and then causes a shutdown. Good point. Although it gets through CFS2 and CoD okay.

Did you blow out your video card fan and heatsink? I would still suggest downloading a temperature monitoring program and watch it while you play the game. It might reveal a problem.

I like to troubleshoot by exhausting as many free avenues as possible. I would hate for you to have to spend money on swapping parts if you didn't really need them.

I agree, I try and tend to be on the shall we say "frugal" side.

CapnScurvy · 05-15-14, 08:21 AM

At first glance, it seems you have the right CPU with the MSI 970A-G46 motherboard.

I do see where MSI has newer Bios for that board, version 2.6, as of 10/30/2013. Have you "Flashed" the Bios to update yet? I see they have something called a "Live Update 5" system to help in updating the Bios.

In the FAQ for that board, there is a question regarding not getting 1600Mhz memory to run at its proper speed unless you go into the Bios and change a parameter. Just this kind of thing that MAY make a difference.

Have you used their "Control Center" utility to check the inner workings of the computer?

bumper678 · 05-15-14, 03:39 PM

The symptoms you are describing are exactly what I experienced a couple years ago after replacing my mobo/CPU. I kept getting slow downs in frame rates followed by blackscreen and reboot, when ever I ran games that had a lot of calculations for the gfx card to churn out (ie lots of vectors for aircraft/ships).

It turns out that the new mobo/cpu i dropped in was hogging the amps on my power supply rails, so the gfx card wasn't getting enough juice. I went from a 500w supply to 1000w supply, and problem was solved.

Hope this helps.

merc4ulfate · 05-15-14, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumper678

The symptoms you are describing are exactly what I experienced a couple years ago after replacing my mobo/CPU. I kept getting slow downs in frame rates followed by blackscreen and reboot, when ever I ran games that had a lot of calculations for the gfx card to churn out (ie lots of vectors for aircraft/ships).

It turns out that the new mobo/cpu i dropped in was hogging the amps on my power supply rails, so the gfx card wasn't getting enough juice. I went from a 500w supply to 1000w supply, and problem was solved.

Hope this helps.

Wow I had not noticed his power supply. 500 is a bit weak these days when it comes to running a pc. That certainly could be it. When my mainboard and power supply went out I upgraded my power supply with them both to make sure I would not have that issue because when they went out I switched to a better board and ram as well.

Sinkmore · 05-15-14, 08:13 PM

IMHO, seems like 500 watts should be (barely?) enough for your system. Most name brand computers ship with much less. But, power supplies get old, and supply less power over time. So that really might be it.

Any chance of powering down enough peripheral devices to test that? Or testing the power supply directly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

Wow I had not noticed his power supply. 500 is a bit weak these days when it comes to running a pc. That certainly could be it. When my mainboard and power supply went out I upgraded my power supply with them both to make sure I would not have that issue because when they went out I switched to a better board and ram as well.

Phrozin · 05-15-14, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEBERBSTER

You should not install in the 'Program x86 Folder.'

it would be better to install simply in C:\SH4 and let the installation do the rest as it will also install a 'SH4 Folder' in your 'Documents Folder.'

Definitely Don't install games in Win 7 to the default folder unless that game was made for win 7. I have multiple drives, but I install all my games (both new and old) to C:\games\*

when you updated your graphics card drivers did you forcibly remove the residual drivers?? This has been a pain in the all to often numb rearend of mine with windows 7. If you have not, uninstall all your Nvidia software & drivers then boot into windows safe mode and remove residuals with something like DDU. I made a post about doing just that here. Then reinstall them with the game in the root of C: somewhere as described by THEBERBSTER or myself. **Edit: Also when you reinstall the game, uninstall then reboot. once rebooted use a registry cleaner, derangement program to find any "lost keys" and remove them. then reinstall, and reboot.

I did a quick and not thorough power calculation
and it's showing 242W usage. This however is based on a new power supply that is giving 100% not an older one giving 60%. Also I didn't know any other options you have (like blu-ray drive) so I just guessed. Anytime I replace a motherboard or CPU I always replace the PSU as well. All that being said, it sounds like a hardware issue to me as well, as you are playing along and then black with a screech. That could be PSU not giving enough juice, video card not seated correctly, CPU not seated correctly, dust retaining heat, fans not pushing enough air, air flow to turbulent for cooling, corrupted windows, corrupted drivers, ram in dual channel but at different speeds, PSU clogged with dust.... the list goes on.

Let us know how you get on if you decide to reinstall drivers, I hate hearing about someone not being able to play a game.

DvlHownd · 05-16-14, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozin

Definitely Don't install games in Win 7 to the default folder unless that game was made for win 7. I have multiple drives, but I install all my games (both new and old) to C:\games\* Yep, c:\Silent Hunter - nothing else.

when you updated your graphics card drivers did you forcibly remove the residual drivers?? This has been a pain in the all to often numb rearend of mine with windows 7. If you have not, uninstall all your Nvidia software & drivers then boot into windows safe mode and remove residuals with something like DDU. I made a post about doing just that here. Then reinstall them with the game in the root of C: somewhere as described by THEBERBSTER or myself. **Edit: Also when you reinstall the game, uninstall then reboot. once rebooted use a registry cleaner, derangement program to find any "lost keys" and remove them. then reinstall, and reboot. Yep, did searches in c:\ drive and in registry, then rebooted and ran a reg cleaner.

I did a quick and not thorough power calculation
and it's showing 242W usage. This however is based on a new power supply that is giving 100% not an older one giving 60%. Also I didn't know any other options you have (like blu-ray drive) so I just guessed. Anytime I replace a motherboard or CPU I always replace the PSU as well. All that being said, it sounds like a hardware issue to me as well, as you are playing along and then black with a screech. That could be PSU not giving enough juice, video card not seated correctly, CPU not seated correctly, dust retaining heat, fans not pushing enough air, air flow to turbulent for cooling, corrupted windows, corrupted drivers, ram in dual channel but at different speeds, PSU clogged with dust.... the list goes on. I do have a new 600W available so I may plug that in after a bit.

Let us know how you get on if you decide to reinstall drivers, I hate hearing about someone not being able to play a game.

I do fear it is the video card failing. Mouse is beginning to pause when attempting to move it. System is running a 41 degrees C and did the BIOS flash and other drivers but tonight I uninstalled/reinstalled and tried to run it very vanilla with all graphics options off and got maybe two minutes before it crashed. So "screw it" I says, I'll take a break and enjoy the vestiges of distilled corn while I watch a streaming video from Netflix (No, it wasn't Das Boot

). Well I got about 18 minutes into that movie when *POOF* Black screen - audible "brrrrrrrrrrrrrr" - shut down. Gawd I hope Kentucky has enough corn.

Sooooo. tomorrow it's off to Best Buy to get another video card and see what trials and tribulations that may bring.

And, just for grins, I looked at the Windows error report and this is what I found after yesterday's shutdowns:

Faulting application name: sh4.exe, version: 1.4.0.0, time stamp: 0x4743033b
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.18247, time stamp: 0x521ea8e7
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0002e41b
Faulting process id: 0xf5c
Faulting application start time: 0x01cf6ff5085c2263
Faulting application path: C:\Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific\sh4.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
Report Id: a3939759-dbe8-11e3-80c8-448a5b2f9f82

****************************************

Problem signature:
P1: sh4.exe
P2: 1.4.0.0
P3: 4743033b
P4: ntdll.dll
P5: 6.1.7601.18247
P6: 521ea8e7
P7: c0000005
P8: 0002e41b
P9:
P10:

Attached files:
C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\WER4A88.tmp.WERIn ternalMetadata.xml

These files may be available here:
C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ ReportArchive\AppCrash_sh4.exe_5d9fdc36c161e45654c f68330d02d811cb9c4b7_0d73705f

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: a3939759-dbe8-11e3-80c8-448a5b2f9f82
Report Status: 0

Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: PCA2
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: sh4.exe
P2: 1.4.0.0
P3: Silent Hunter IV
P4: Silent Hunter IV
P5: Ubisoft
P6: 200
P7: -1
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:
C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\{36767df8-3739-481d-ab8c-ae2855028155}\appcompat.txt
C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\TabBFB8.tmp

These files may be available here:

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: b5dfae4a-dbe8-11e3-80c8-448a5b2f9f82
Report Status: 0

Maybe somebody can make some sense of this but I sure can't

relfin · 05-16-14, 11:36 AM

Well your narrowing down your problem. If you can swap out the graphics card and power supply then I think you have a good shot at alleviating the problem.

Good Luck

DvlHownd · 05-17-14, 06:42 PM

I'mmmm Baaaaaack!

I said the heck with it and went and got a new GeForce 630 video card. (not a bad deal for $58.00) Left the game installation in the C:\Silent Hunter folder and deleted the profile in c:\Users\*Me*\My documents\SH4 folder, set the video options, restarted and ran for hours uninterrupted! The only things that popped up was a failure notice when I shut down the game that it did not close properly. Reset the icon to run in Win XP (SP3 Mode) and it works fine now. Double checked it by running CFS2 and no issues there either. Seems like the old video card gave up the ghost after being transplanted to the new motherboard. Geeze I am glad that's all behind me now. I want to thank everybody that pitched in to help me narrow it down to the root issue. Hey, I even learned a few things along the way.

relfin · 05-17-14, 06:49 PM

Glad to hear that you have it fixed.

Enjoy the hunting!

Sinkmore · 05-17-14, 07:09 PM

Yeehaw!

But, there goes my "it's seldom hardware" theory.

DvlHownd · 05-17-14, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinkmore

Yeehaw!

But, there goes my "it's seldom hardware" theory.

HertogJan · 05-18-14, 05:12 PM

Just jumping in here... Sorry haven't read the whole thread.

Quote: