Tech question

[Malison]

Anyone running a Windows XP/GeForce4 install?

I just got my new system the other day, and got my card last night.  Camelot seemed to run fine, it was very..pretty. Though it was hell breaking in the new keyboard and configing the settings again.  

anyways, left my computer on last night, woke up to find it locked up on the screen saver. Frozen image, no response at all.  Anyone else encountered this problem?  I've had it happen to me before in Win XP, so I'm almost afraid to use it to game lest I lock up during a fight.  

If all else fails, i can just put win98 back on, but i really don't want to deal with that.  What are your thoughts?

Malison Re S'rin
39.85 cabalist

[Axecleaver]

It's the screensaver, just don't run one. Use the powersave or don't use one at all.

[zaius]

Only problem would be if the frozen screensaver is an indication of another problem. I'd run a few diagnostics to make sure it's no other problems:

http://www.memtest86.com/
  - make sure it's not a memory issue

http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/sandra
  - cpu, memory, etc

http://www.madonion.com/
  - 3DMark graphics tests

run a few of these, and you should be able to find out sooner, rather than later, if there is a problem. I just fixed some memory timing issues with my main system, I was getting occasional, random lockups, and trust me, it's annoying as hell.

[Masta]

I think i have that computer, its the one with the small tower right?I leave my comp on for days and its fine..I dont use a screen saver and i keep the monitor off when im sleeping..Never had a problem

[Malison]

Yeah masta, I leave my other computers on for days at a time and never have any problems.  this one is differetnt.

I reinstalled Win98 over XP to see if it was just an XP/graphics issue.  It wasn't.   I was in Camelot for under 2 minutes before everything just froze.

Couple of things I've noticed:

It only happens in 3d applications, ie OpenGL screensaver, Camelot, etc.  It runs fine in windows.

Its running what seem to me, a bit hot, about 135 F on the cpu when its just froze up, with case being about 90 F.  I think my heatsink/fan maybe underpowered for my processor (AMD XP1800) however, looking at my older, working, system, i see that cpu temp is on average 140 F or so, and I never have any problems with it (Thuderbird 900Mhz)

Memory tests ran without errors, was unable to get the Sandra software working and didn't try 3dMark

I'm not sure what steps to take to fix it, I might got buy a better heatsink/fan and see if that works, probably need to lower the case temp some as well.  If that doesn't fix it though, i'll be stumped.

Malison Re S'rin
still struggling, but 40 now!

[Asherah]

My OS is WIN XP, and my card is the GeForce4 MX 440-never noticed a problem. I keep mine running all the time, but with no screen saver. I did notice that when I installed the GeForce4 Ti 4400 on Dillon's box, he had similiar problems <he also has WIN XP>. Dillon's card is more powerful than mine, and his box was getting overheated I think, even though it has an intergrated heatsink/fan. Our solution, popped the case, installed another fan by the board, and we keep a very small desk fan on it-seems to be working better.

[Reinn]

Try a bigger hammer!

[Malison]

This weekend was hell for electronics.  I moved into my new apartment.  Struggled with my non-working computer for a few hours.  Got those working, then the internet connection at the apartment kept dropping when we tried to share it, and finally the cable guy decided he didnt know how to install our cable (still not working)

I finally determined the problems in my new computer to be related to the video card.  I ran with on-board video for a night and there were no lock-ups.  So I took the GeForce2 GTS out of my old system and put it in the new one, and the thing is working perfectly.  This leaves me with a $150 video card sitting in an older computer.  But at least they can both play games now.  I'm almost positive its a Motherboard incompatibly issue, the old system only has 250W power, so i know its not because of a lack of power. friggin Amptron MBs suck.  

anyways, glad that nightmare is (somewhat) over.  Now to get to 41.

malison re'srin
missing his game like the crack it is

[Caohmin]

Make sure you have the latest drivers from Nvidia.com. That would be the first thing I'd check.