Finally got to play SH4 but...

viper771 · 04-19-07, 05:22 AM

After installed the newest patch, the game ran much smoother (I have to have everything on the lowest setting) but its good enough until I get a better computer later on. There are 2 major probs I am having

1. Before when I had the first patch, I would click on sub school.. then my computer would reboot. Now with the second patch, I can get into the sub school screen, but when I want to start the mission.. computer reboots. Any ideas?

2. After some gameplay time, or if things start getting intense.. the screen goes to a blue screen that says a ton of stuff really fast, then reboots my computer. Any ideas?

I have an alienware laptop 51m.. 1 gig ram, 3.20 gig processor (dual core), ATI mobility rad. 9600/9700 series vid card

I'm not too concerned about visual settings. I just want to play the game for more than 30 mins

Even with the new patch its kind of buggy, but it can be fun to play. I have sunk a total of 2 ships so far, so hopefully I can get some info to fix whats going on.. I'd like to be able to play a bit longer hehe. Thanks in advance!

Tobus · 04-19-07, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper771

I have an alienware laptop 51m.. 1 gig ram, 3.20 gig processor (dual core), ATI mobility rad. 9600/9700 series vid card

Laptops were not designed to play games on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This could well be your problem.

GnarPow · 04-19-07, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobus

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper771

I have an alienware laptop 51m.. 1 gig ram, 3.20 gig processor (dual core), ATI mobility rad. 9600/9700 series vid card

Laptops were not designed to play games on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This could well be your problem.

I beg to differ... the newer laptops can play games better than most peoples desktops. I run most new games at medium to high settings on my laptop without issue. More than anything it is the Mobile version of the video card that causes problems for people. Try updating your video drivers viper, maybe even look around for some unsupported ones. Like for us Nvidia people there is www.laptopvideo2go.com where you can upgrade to unsupported drivers for a # of reasons. I dont know if there is a similiar ATI website like that but Im sure some searching would help.

viper771 · 04-19-07, 08:01 AM

Thanks for the info guys. There are a lot of reasons why I will never buy another gaming laptop.. you can't really upgrade them, they use lots of power so if you had no plug in, it dies fast, they make a LOT of heat, etc etc.

I have had prob with both my alienware laptop and desktop (the desktop is a bit older than my laptop, id use it if I could for this game).

The mobility graphics card has ALWAYS given me probs

I just installed the newest driver, but still, after awhile... i get a blue screen + reboot.

Well I guess in this case I can't really get tired of playing the game since I only get to play for about 30 mins at a time hehe

thanks again!

mookiemookie · 04-19-07, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper771

2. After some gameplay time, or if things start getting intense.. the screen goes to a blue screen that says a ton of stuff really fast, then reboots my computer. Any ideas?

Could be your video card overheating.

SteamWake · 04-19-07, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GnarPow

I beg to differ... the newer laptops can play games better than most peoples desktops.

If you say so

That being said most likley culprit is either out of date or incompatible video / audio drivers.

DimDoms · 04-19-07, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper771

2. After some gameplay time, or if things start getting intense.. the screen goes to a blue screen that says a ton of stuff really fast, then reboots my computer. Any ideas?

Hi, I'd look into firstly checking that you are producing a minidump file and/or switch off the automatic restart - do this by right-clicking "My Computer", Properties, and select tab "Advanced", then click the settings button under startup & recovery, and then untick "Automatically restart". Check the location of the "Small dump directory" just below for previous memory dumps. These can give an indication of the problem, but it does sound like overheating - used to get this on BF Vietnam a lot. You could download Everest from Lavalys if your MB is supported or Motherboard Monitor as this will track temperatures....

With more information you'll be able to diagnose more accurately.

Good luck,

D.

Chock · 04-19-07, 08:44 AM

Sounds like the video card is being overtaxed to me. I have a friend who also uses a rather expensive Alienware laptop for gaming, and it is currently on its fourth replacement video card. Fortunately for him, he took Alienware up on their warranty policy which means they have to spring for the cost of each new card, but I suspect the real problem is that the specified card for that laptop was not a good original design choice, and I daresay he'll be on number five graphics card soon...

Personally, my own laptop (Hewlett Packard Pavillion) won't run SH4, because it doesn't have graphics that support pixel 2.0 (despite it being brand new, and running Vista), but it runs SH3 just fine with everything on full throttle thanks to 2 gigs of RAM. Ironically enough though, it does run FSX with all the autogen scenery cranked up, which is another game (sorry simulator) that has some seriously high computing demands.

viper771 · 04-19-07, 01:46 PM

Well I got to play it a little longer this time around.. it crashes when I am getting attacked by a bunch of planes while trying to switch to different screens, or if there are a lot of ships around.. and im moving around with the external cam.

I tried to find the stuff you were talking about in " my computer's" advanced tab.. but I don't see any of the options you were talking about

I have xp with SP2.. I am prob just looking in the wrong spot.

I had the crash with IL2 1946 (another ubi title), and it stopped when I turned the graphics down a bit.

I am pretty sure it is the graphics card.. i have had tons of trouble with it. The drivers never really seemed to work right (even when the computer was new), it over heats (which is why i elevated my computer to get air flow under it), and it has 128 megs of ram.

Within 3 mths of me having this computer, the mother board died on me!! With the desktop I had, with in a month, the main hd died in it. I don't think i'll buy an alienware again ehhe.

thanks for all the help fellas! I really appreciate it!!

Hartmann · 04-19-07, 06:07 PM

I suspect about graphic card or configuration of drivers . Pehaps is overheating
how many Fps do you have with sh4?

Also you can try close all background utilities and defrag your Hd

tomkrist · 04-19-07, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobus

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper771

I have an alienware laptop 51m.. 1 gig ram, 3.20 gig processor (dual core), ATI mobility rad. 9600/9700 series vid card

Laptops were not designed to play games on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This could well be your problem.

Maybe for 10 years ago.Now i play all of the games, Oblivion, SH4,sh3, Flight Simulator X and many other games perfectly on my Laptop

Sh4 i can have all details full with no problem

submariner · 04-19-07, 10:21 PM

It's your vid card overheating .... I had the exact problem with SH3.

I kept CTD at random points but usually with a lot of 3D activity going on. I spent hours and hours doing driver changes, minidump, etc. and all was a waste of time.

I finally read about overheating and so I downloaded a stand alone temp monitor utility (displays on screen or task bar).

I was shocked to find I was running at some awful temp around 70 C or something, even BEFORE SH3 was running.

I opened the case to fing tons of dust and lint packed on the fan and heatsinks !!!!

So I cleaned the fan, added a new fan, cleaned off the heat sinks, and presto .... no more CTD and a nice temp of around 40-50 C.

gonzlor · 04-20-07, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobus

Laptops were not designed to play games on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This could well be your problem.

Far from accurate!

viper771 · 04-20-07, 11:51 AM

Well I think it can be a lot of things.. but I think the main prob is the vid card..

my computer has been crashing a lot now lately.. I may have to reformat. My external HD won't even show up now, and its really pissing me off

This comp has been nothing but trouble since I bought it.

I could always upgrade my other comp, but I don't think it would be worth it. It had 512 Megs of RDRAM (yep good ol rambus), 2.03 gig pent 4, ATI all in wonder pro vid card of some type, its basially old now.

Well if I end up doing a reformat, maybe it will fix all the probs I am having with the comp. thanks for all the help everyone!!

04-19-07, 05:22 AM	#1
viper771 Watch Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 22 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Finally got to play SH4 but... After installed the newest patch, the game ran much smoother (I have to have everything on the lowest setting) but its good enough until I get a better computer later on. There are 2 major probs I am having 1. Before when I had the first patch, I would click on sub school.. then my computer would reboot. Now with the second patch, I can get into the sub school screen, but when I want to start the mission.. computer reboots. Any ideas? 2. After some gameplay time, or if things start getting intense.. the screen goes to a blue screen that says a ton of stuff really fast, then reboots my computer. Any ideas? I have an alienware laptop 51m.. 1 gig ram, 3.20 gig processor (dual core), ATI mobility rad. 9600/9700 series vid card I'm not too concerned about visual settings. I just want to play the game for more than 30 mins Even with the new patch its kind of buggy, but it can be fun to play. I have sunk a total of 2 ships so far, so hopefully I can get some info to fix whats going on.. I'd like to be able to play a bit longer hehe. Thanks in advance!

04-19-07, 08:01 AM	#4
viper771 Watch Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 22 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	thanks!! Thanks for the info guys. There are a lot of reasons why I will never buy another gaming laptop.. you can't really upgrade them, they use lots of power so if you had no plug in, it dies fast, they make a LOT of heat, etc etc. I have had prob with both my alienware laptop and desktop (the desktop is a bit older than my laptop, id use it if I could for this game). The mobility graphics card has ALWAYS given me probs I just installed the newest driver, but still, after awhile... i get a blue screen + reboot. Well I guess in this case I can't really get tired of playing the game since I only get to play for about 30 mins at a time hehe thanks again!

04-19-07, 01:46 PM	#9
viper771 Watch Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 22 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ah Well I got to play it a little longer this time around.. it crashes when I am getting attacked by a bunch of planes while trying to switch to different screens, or if there are a lot of ships around.. and im moving around with the external cam. I tried to find the stuff you were talking about in " my computer's" advanced tab.. but I don't see any of the options you were talking about I have xp with SP2.. I am prob just looking in the wrong spot. I had the crash with IL2 1946 (another ubi title), and it stopped when I turned the graphics down a bit. I am pretty sure it is the graphics card.. i have had tons of trouble with it. The drivers never really seemed to work right (even when the computer was new), it over heats (which is why i elevated my computer to get air flow under it), and it has 128 megs of ram. Within 3 mths of me having this computer, the mother board died on me!! With the desktop I had, with in a month, the main hd died in it. I don't think i'll buy an alienware again ehhe. thanks for all the help fellas! I really appreciate it!!

04-19-07, 06:07 PM	#10
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	I suspect about graphic card or configuration of drivers . Pehaps is overheating how many Fps do you have with sh4? Also you can try close all background utilities and defrag your Hd __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor

04-19-07, 10:21 PM	#12
submariner Swabbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 13 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Vid Card Overheating .... It's your vid card overheating .... I had the exact problem with SH3. I kept CTD at random points but usually with a lot of 3D activity going on. I spent hours and hours doing driver changes, minidump, etc. and all was a waste of time. I finally read about overheating and so I downloaded a stand alone temp monitor utility (displays on screen or task bar). I was shocked to find I was running at some awful temp around 70 C or something, even BEFORE SH3 was running. I opened the case to fing tons of dust and lint packed on the fan and heatsinks !!!! So I cleaned the fan, added a new fan, cleaned off the heat sinks, and presto .... no more CTD and a nice temp of around 40-50 C.

04-19-07, 08:44 AM	#8
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sounds like the video card is being overtaxed to me. I have a friend who also uses a rather expensive Alienware laptop for gaming, and it is currently on its fourth replacement video card. Fortunately for him, he took Alienware up on their warranty policy which means they have to spring for the cost of each new card, but I suspect the real problem is that the specified card for that laptop was not a good original design choice, and I daresay he'll be on number five graphics card soon... Personally, my own laptop (Hewlett Packard Pavillion) won't run SH4, because it doesn't have graphics that support pixel 2.0 (despite it being brand new, and running Vista), but it runs SH3 just fine with everything on full throttle thanks to 2 gigs of RAM. Ironically enough though, it does run FSX with all the autogen scenery cranked up, which is another game (sorry simulator) that has some seriously high computing demands.

04-20-07, 11:51 AM	#14
viper771 Watch Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 22 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	hummm Well I think it can be a lot of things.. but I think the main prob is the vid card.. my computer has been crashing a lot now lately.. I may have to reformat. My external HD won't even show up now, and its really pissing me off This comp has been nothing but trouble since I bought it. I could always upgrade my other comp, but I don't think it would be worth it. It had 512 Megs of RDRAM (yep good ol rambus), 2.03 gig pent 4, ATI all in wonder pro vid card of some type, its basially old now. Well if I end up doing a reformat, maybe it will fix all the probs I am having with the comp. thanks for all the help everyone!!