Weird problem with Vista 64bit and some games

NeonSamurai · 05-17-09, 05:43 PM

I've got an odd problem with some games and Vista 64 Home Premium.

Ok so this is what is happening, for a couple of games the graphics lurch around while playing (slow down then suddenly lurch forward and catch up) every 3-5 seconds. One game that is doing this is ArmA (which is suppost to work fine with Vista 64 and the beta patch). Thing is most games work fine, but I've had the symptoms so far with ArmA, GTA 4, and a couple of other games. This problem also doesn't exist in XP.

Other thing is this is not normal video lag (FPS rate doesn't nose dive), everything else happens as if nothing happened (audio plays normal, no other game anomolies). Most of my other games work fine. One game I was able to fix after I noticed that it ran better unplugged (laptop here), and traced it to having the processor limited to 50%.

Changing them over to XP is also not an option, GTA 4 for some unknown reason crashes after 5-10 minutes of play, and with ArmA I need the built in mic (which only works in vista).

Any ideas as I can't find an answer or a solution so far.

AVGWarhawk · 05-17-09, 06:28 PM

Did you check the game forums for a possible answer? Your memory has been tested? I would go their first as it seems the issue is messing with several of your games. In short, I'm thinking a hardware issue.

NeonSamurai · 05-17-09, 07:18 PM

Yes checked all over the internet. Pretty certain it is not the memory, most games actually work perfectly that I have tested.

I have tried...
Changing power settings, disabling vista aero and other stuff, various compatibility modes, restricting the available ram to 3gb, in game graphics settings (absolute minimum settings), updated all the drivers I could think of, tried different graphic drivers (I'm near positive its not the graphic drivers fault), killed off everything but what is needed for vista to run software wise.

This problem does not exist in any way shape or form in XP.

Its really odd too as its no kind of lag I have ever encountered. My current theory is that it is a problem with cpu throttling. It also tends to get more pronounced over time, like with Deathtrack, it will barely be noticable for the first bit, then get more and more noticable untill the game is near unplayable and lurches around like a drunk sailor on land.

Peto · 05-17-09, 07:27 PM

Hmm... Not sure how much help I can be since my experience with Vista 64bit is minimal but--could you list your computer specs? I wouldn't be surprised if you're right about it being CPU based. I've been known to squeeze out a fix from time-to-time if I have enough info to work with.

NeonSamurai · 05-17-09, 08:05 PM

Dell Studio XPS 16 Laptop
Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 2.80GHz, 1066FSB
6GB DDR3 ram, 1066MHz
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670, 512mb DDR3
500 GB 7200rpm SATA hard drive

Anyhow doesn't seem to be a throttling problem after all, tried disabling all of it (CPU and GPU) by bios and software. It may be a vista glitch or something.. I'll have to try it with a clean backup and see if that changes anything. That or these games just don't like my blend of hardware and vista 64bit

Peto · 05-17-09, 11:34 PM

How about setting your CPU's affinity for the program to only work on one core? (Task Manager>right click process>set affinity). May as well kill some background processes too, as long as you're in there...

I'll think about this one. Problems like this drive me crazy

.

EDIT: What speed is your memory set to? Might it be set too fast for the program to handle? I've run into stranger things...

05-17-09, 05:43 PM	#1
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Weird problem with Vista 64bit and some games I've got an odd problem with some games and Vista 64 Home Premium. Ok so this is what is happening, for a couple of games the graphics lurch around while playing (slow down then suddenly lurch forward and catch up) every 3-5 seconds. One game that is doing this is ArmA (which is suppost to work fine with Vista 64 and the beta patch). Thing is most games work fine, but I've had the symptoms so far with ArmA, GTA 4, and a couple of other games. This problem also doesn't exist in XP. Other thing is this is not normal video lag (FPS rate doesn't nose dive), everything else happens as if nothing happened (audio plays normal, no other game anomolies). Most of my other games work fine. One game I was able to fix after I noticed that it ran better unplugged (laptop here), and traced it to having the processor limited to 50%. Changing them over to XP is also not an option, GTA 4 for some unknown reason crashes after 5-10 minutes of play, and with ArmA I need the built in mic (which only works in vista). Any ideas as I can't find an answer or a solution so far. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

05-17-09, 06:28 PM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 27,343 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Did you check the game forums for a possible answer? Your memory has been tested? I would go their first as it seems the issue is messing with several of your games. In short, I'm thinking a hardware issue. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

05-17-09, 07:18 PM	#3
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Yes checked all over the internet. Pretty certain it is not the memory, most games actually work perfectly that I have tested. I have tried... Changing power settings, disabling vista aero and other stuff, various compatibility modes, restricting the available ram to 3gb, in game graphics settings (absolute minimum settings), updated all the drivers I could think of, tried different graphic drivers (I'm near positive its not the graphic drivers fault), killed off everything but what is needed for vista to run software wise. This problem does not exist in any way shape or form in XP. Its really odd too as its no kind of lag I have ever encountered. My current theory is that it is a problem with cpu throttling. It also tends to get more pronounced over time, like with Deathtrack, it will barely be noticable for the first bit, then get more and more noticable untill the game is near unplayable and lurches around like a drunk sailor on land. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

05-17-09, 07:27 PM	#4
Peto Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The details of my life are quite inconsequential Posts: 1,049 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Hmm... Not sure how much help I can be since my experience with Vista 64bit is minimal but--could you list your computer specs? I wouldn't be surprised if you're right about it being CPU based. I've been known to squeeze out a fix from time-to-time if I have enough info to work with. __________________ If your target has a 30 degree AOB, the range from his base course line equals the current range divided by 2.

05-17-09, 08:05 PM	#5
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Dell Studio XPS 16 Laptop Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 2.80GHz, 1066FSB 6GB DDR3 ram, 1066MHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670, 512mb DDR3 500 GB 7200rpm SATA hard drive Anyhow doesn't seem to be a throttling problem after all, tried disabling all of it (CPU and GPU) by bios and software. It may be a vista glitch or something.. I'll have to try it with a clean backup and see if that changes anything. That or these games just don't like my blend of hardware and vista 64bit __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

05-17-09, 11:34 PM	#6
Peto Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The details of my life are quite inconsequential Posts: 1,049 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	How about setting your CPU's affinity for the program to only work on one core? (Task Manager>right click process>set affinity). May as well kill some background processes too, as long as you're in there... I'll think about this one. Problems like this drive me crazy . EDIT: What speed is your memory set to? Might it be set too fast for the program to handle? I've run into stranger things... __________________ If your target has a 30 degree AOB, the range from his base course line equals the current range divided by 2.