Going to have to quit..

[minsc_tdp]

I agree, the video card may be overheating, try running ATITool to monitor temps. It works with NV cards. Over 100C is bad. Even if it's not that high, another part on the card could be overheating or unstable and it's not showing itself as an issue with the main temperature. For example, I had similar issues when I forgot to plug in the additional power supply connector to one video card I used to use.

[capt_frank]

[quote=sober]

Originally Posted by maerean_m

He is not using DirectX 10. SH4 uses DirectX 9 and Vista users should let the Setup install DirectX 9, side by side with the existing DirectX 10 in the operating system.[/quote] Is this for all users .

Good question since it appears that the DX 9c that comes on the disc is dated. If I install it from the disc, I run the dxsetup from the MS site to get the current files before firing up. Or visa-versa.

[DeepIron]

[EDIT] Removed my DX9c download link in favor of newer version posted below.

If it isn't an OC or overheating problem, I suggest you get the newest version of DX9c (see Capt Franks link below...) Older DX versions are notorius for creating display problems... Besides, it can't hurt to know *exactly* which DX version you have installed if you continue troubleshooting...

[capt_frank]

[quote=capt_frank]

Originally Posted by sober

Good question since it appears that the DX 9c that comes on the disc is dated. If I install it from the disc, I run the dxsetup from the MS site to get the current files before firing up. Or visa-versa.

Look here for the DX 9c update also:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

[banjo]

I have a 5 yr old Dell 2.8 gig w/2 gig ram and a GF7600GS and the game runs fine. You have a way better rig. Have you tried really low graphic options? And have you tried shutting down all background programs?

Very strange. Almost sounds as if your video card is failing.

[clayp]

Originally Posted by capt_frank

Another important question is do you play any other games and if so, do you have the same sort of problems with them?

If so, I'd say video card. If not, you've got a conflict somewhere in SHIV.

I've got crackles bad enough to make me spit, BUT ONLY in SHIV. I'm going to give Leo's advice (above) a go and see what happens.

Good Luck!

I play il2FB,COD2 and COD4 and have no problems..


Deepiron...
Still running your system OC'd...? :hmm:

Yes
__________________



Steamwake
It is very bizzare and perplexing how some folks have no problems at all while others pull their hair out.

Very sorry ClayP your a good member of the community and sorry for your frustration.

Before you go have you tried disabling your virus protection, firewall, and installing in a unique directory ?

Of course you have.

I have everything turned off,no firewall..Whats a "unique directory"?


Deepiron....
Can you monitor any of your CPU or GPU temps? Usually video degradation like your describing is an overheating issue...

What video resolution are you playing SH4 at?


Yes and 1280x960x32


LeoV...Everyone thought it was the viedo card or driver's for it something like that.

But let me ask you this. When you FIRST installed SHIV did you then do a reboot?

Now I personaly had problems with my game when I added the FULL 1.3 patch that had all the others rolled into it.

So what I did was uninstall the game again. Rebooted then installed it and rebooted.

I downloaded each of the patches individualy.

Aplied patch #1 then rebooted.

Aplied patch #2 then rebooted.

Aplied patch #3 then rebooted.

Then aplied all the mod's I wanted and fired up the game and have never had a single problem since then. The game has run like a charm ever since I did this. And I did this after patch 1.3 came out and never ever had a single problem with the game since then.

Just make sure before you uninstall the game you save your mod folder or you will lose all of them and have to start from scratch in locating and downloading them again.
__________________

I was told that I only had to install the 1.3 patch and I did re-boot

[DeepIron]

Just a few basic suggestions based on your previous responses:

1. Cut back the resolution to say, 1024 x 768. Lower screen resolution = less GPU effort.
2. When the game start to get unstable, try and monitor or look at your CPU/GPU temperatures. I'm pretty convinced the issue is one or the other heating up... If you can verify an overtemp problem, you're halfway home.
3. Start from scratch. Uninstall ALL SH4 resources, including the data in your personal directory. If you have a Registry Cleaner like Registry First Aid use it.

BTW, I highy recommend this product, I've been using it for years and it works extremely well at keeping your registry in tip-top shape: http://www.rosecitysoftware.com/reg1aid/

Ok, why mess with the registry? Because every program that gets loaded on a XP computer makes a change in the registry file. Even after removing programs, registry entries can still be left behind, conflicting with newer entries in some cases. Cleaning the registry should be a weekly event for anyone using Windows... And after fixing windows problems for many years as an IT professional, I can tell ya, a "fouled" registry causes LOTS of strange problems...

As your box is OC'd, I wouldn't rule out, and would actually suspect this aspect. Again, experience has taught me that some applications just don't respond well to OC operations. You may have to drop out of "Super Mega Turbo CPU overclocking" to play SH4...

I would think OCing is selectable from either a software program or the BIOS?

Good luck.

[Elder-Pirate]

@clayp,
I did not see and answer from you regarding this statement from one of maerean_m's post in this thread. Have you done this or are you trying to use DirectX 10 as I think is defaulted from your 8800 Ultra.

"users should let the Setup install DirectX 9"

[Torps]

I would not give up just yet. You might be having a number of problems. Having built systems and dealing with this myself, though my situation was a little different heres a few ideas.

Invest in Diskeeper 2008- has killer technology behind it and its been proven to increase Hard Drive performance substantially,(faster then when you bought it)

Registry Mechanic- by PC Tools, cleans up the mess and keeps important settings untouched.

***OPTIONAL BUT COULD HELP ALOT, just make sure you are confident before you do this!***
*Before doing this make sure you can not get your videocard replaced through warranty *

If you have the confidence, go ahead Remove your video card, seperate the fan/heat pipe assembly from the videocard and using rubbing alcohol removing the thermal compound from the bottom of the Fan assembly and from the chip. Make sure you do this carefully not to get anything on the nearby circuitry, once the two surfaces have had the compound remove, and are dry add Arctic Silver 5. Make sure you do not use to much. Artic Silver 5 will lower your video cards temperature 3-12 degrees. I use this stuff on Processors aswell so you can give that a try aswell while your at it.


Uninstall SH4, download patch 1.3 only.

I never installed DX 9drivers from SH4, Microsoft's website has a downloader program that will get you up to date on all DX 9 and DX10, just make sure you watch the download progress and you see both being downloaded and installed.

Download the latest Drivers for Nvidia,DX9 and DX10 however do not install. Uninstall all Nvidia drivers and unplug your internet (will not look for drivers on web).

Reboot install Nvidia drivers, reboot, plug in your internet, install latest dx9, reboot, install latest dx 10 ,reboot.

Uninstall SH4, Reboot,Run Scan Disk, Run Defrag, Reboot,
Install SH4, Reboot, Install patch 1.3, reboot.

Run Defrag

Run SH4 as stock see what happens.

[-Pv-]

ASUS mainboards are real sensitive to memory. You should only use the memory brand and model listed in the ASUS "Tested Memory" list on the ASUS web site for your MB model. I have solved several "mystery" problems on machines this way.
-Pv-

[Fearless]

Ah but could it be that you have too much RAM for the XP operating system? I know that the max recommended RAM for Vista is only 3.5 Gb. Not sure about XP.

[leovampire]

Originally Posted by maerean_m

He is not using DirectX 10. SH4 uses DirectX 9 and Vista users should let the Setup install DirectX 9, side by side with the existing DirectX 10 in the operating system.

When I got advanced war fighter I could not make it work for the life of me until UBISOFT got back to me on the problem and said there are things on the install I did not allow to happen because there was stuff in the Direct X install that where important for the game to work and or run.

As soon as I let everything install the game was fixed and working properly.

Do not tell any part of the install no because sometimes there are hidden things in there that are nessasary for the game to work.

[Elder-Pirate]

Originally Posted by -Pv-

ASUS mainboards are real sensitive to memory. You should only use the memory brand and model listed in the ASUS "Tested Memory" list on the ASUS web site for your MB model. I have solved several "mystery" problems on machines this way.
-Pv-

AMEN to that for I have an "ASUS" mama board and if not the right memory she will raise hell.

[CaptainHaplo]

Some good advice here - and I will throw in another 2 cents on troubleshooting this. First off - its safe to rule out Mainboard/cpu/memory issues - because his description says the screen goes green but he can "hear" the game in the background - meaning the game procees is still actively running and responding. If it was a overclocking/cpu overheat issue - the video wouldn't be the only thing affected. Most OC'ers see the rig lock solid OR just go unstable and bsod or bounce. None of this is occuring.

Next thing to rule out is drivers. Since the game loads, and runs without any graphical glitch for a period of time - then craps out - I have to go against it being a driver issue here. If it died to start - or threw an error up - sure I would look at the drivers - but I can't see it here. In addition - this is something no one else is seeing - and if it were drivers - others would experience this.

This leaves hardware - and the description of the symptoms fit here. Everything runs fine - then POOF - it goes to heck in a handbasket. Definitely looks like an overheating issue.

Clayp - sometimes "monitoring" the card heat isnt something you can do - so here is the "old school" way of testing if you have a vidcard issue with heat. Run the game and let it hose on you. Now - without powering down - hit the reset button on the pc and let it reboot - when it does - reopen the game and play again - if the game "dies" within a few minutes (3-5 depending on how long it takes for the box to reboot and reload sh4) - and provided its much quicker than "normal" - you have an overheated card. Also - to insure its NOT only SH4 the application - when it screws up try Alt-tab'ing out - if its the vid card overheated I would expect the game "sounds" to stop but the desktop to NOT display. This is another little confirmation that your issue is vid card related.

One frustrating thing about heat and video card troubleshooting is to remember that as soon as the chip stops drawing - it starts cooling off - whether the machine is running or not - so the reset of the pc also resets the chip - which WILL make the chip start working - and of course the POST screen thru windows load to desktop - and then a game loading to a point where the card has to put forth some "effort" again - is all time the chip is cooling. This is why you cant expect the card to "lock" as soon as the reboot happens.

My money is on a card issue - and while it started at 2 cents - I have thrown out about 2 bucks worth on this one. So - best of luck Clayp - and dont hesitate to give feedback about what you try and what you find.

[DeepIron]

First off - its safe to rule out Mainboard/cpu/memory issues - because his description says the screen goes green but he can "hear" the game in the background - meaning the game procees is still actively running and responding.

Sorry, I disagree with this assumption. Modern sound cards can continue to function independently of the CPU. A sound byte loaded into a sound card output buffer can loop indefinately until the machine is powered down. This doesn't mean with any certainty that the game is still stable and running...

The only way to know if game processes are still active is to open the Task Manager (probably not readable if the display is borked...) or a second party process monitor to trap the error or interruption for analysis after the event.

Clay, do you have DX9 and DX10 both installed?

One frustrating thing about heat and video card troubleshooting is to remember that as soon as the chip stops drawing - it starts cooling off -

Unless it gets into a "thermal runaway" mode and continues to draw power...