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I have been playing around, trying to get my graphics running like it used to.
My whole system is only a year old (I know that's no excuse to eliminate it, anyway.....) and I have been running games on there no problems.
Games like CMR2, Return to Castle Wolfenstein & Rally Championship, all ran 100% perfect.
The problem is, one day it started running like a pig, jumping frames, some graphics (explosions etc.)were even breaking down into code on screen!
I've been through everything I can think of, I formatted & reinstalled, flashed the Bios in the graphics card & the mobo, "Drip Fed" the PCI cards (modem etc.) and I thought I had it licked when I found that after adding the sound card, the problem came back, so I changed it, and it was better, but still not the same as before.
While playing Rally Championship, which is a relatively old game, it can slow down quite noticably, CMR2 still jumps frames and I have resorted to running Wolfenstein at a lower quality. At first I put it down to that I'd never noticed it before, but I would have noticed it, it is quite bad.
I have also noticed that as sound activity increases, it draws from the graphics, as if my system isn't coping with the task at hand, or resources are not being allocated correctly.
The only thing I can think of that changed about the same time this started happening is that I installed a new CAD software (30 Trial version). Could this have changed any settings not covered by reinstall & Bios flashing?
Or is there some hardware breaking down?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
Dig.
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However, I did overwrite the MBR last night (FDISK /MBR), it had no effect, as you predicted.
But I also overwrote some system files (Command.com, IO.sys & Msdos.sys, I believe) by typing "sys C:" (without quotes) - information I found here [URL=http://www.cyberwalker.net/columns/sep01/060901.html]fdisk /mbr[/URL -- at the A:\ prompt after booting from floppy, it had an effect on it, the said games are running perfectly after 2 boots, perhaps the faulty sound card drivers affected HIMEM, but only time will tell, I'll post back after another few boots, with the results.
Didn't know that Elsa provided the drivers. So many vid card mfgrs provide nVidia drivers, I just expected that they all did.
Here's another SWAG, my Geforce card came with a heatsink/fan. If yours did, have you checked that the fan is running and that the heatsink is not clogged with dust?
I took out the graphics card, no dust on the heatsink, a little dust on the back of the card, cleaned it up, put it back in.
I tried the same game again, out of curiosity, and it worked fine for about 15 mins, then gradually started to repeat the problem, perhaps my system is running too hot? or maybe just the graphics card?
I checked "Hardware monitor" in the BIOS, and my system is running at 41°C, and the CPU is running at 46°C, is this too hot?
Would fitting an extra fan inside the case cool my system much? Could overheating the Graphics card, or CPU cause this graphics problem?
Cheers
Dig
P.S. There was a time (about 4 months ago) when my CPU was running at about 63°C, because there was no heatsink compund on the CPU cooler, could this have damaged my chip?
What you describe sure sounds like a heat problem. You could remove the cover from the side of the case and if you have a small fan around the house direct it to blow into the computer. If your problem fails to develope under these conditions then heat is the problem.
Geez yes ..... 63C can cause some problems. Hope you didn't run it long at these temps. Believe 50C is at the high end of the operational range but your chip can withstand much higher for short periods of time. Spend a couple of bucks and add a couple of case fans if necessary - this will help both your CPU and your graphics card. Also, don't skimp on your CPU fan/heatsink and use good, no use the best thermal compound you can buy. Tough to beat Artic Ice. We're not talking much money here.
I have a couple of fans coming today for the job, I'll let you know how I get on.
As for running the pc at 63°C, erm ......guilty as charged I'm afraid.
This is the first system I have built, and I was advised by a friend who is the IT guy at a fairly large company.
He "supervised" me while I built it, and one of the first things I checked was the CPU temperature, he told me that 60°C was about normal, so I believed him, he also told me that I didn't need any heatsink compound. Strange he should give me bad advice!!??
I run my system like that for about 2-3 months (6 hours a day constant) before I was told that all this cooling matters. It may be too late now.
How can I tell if my chip has been damaged? My pc is fairly stable.
I have searched for arctic ice, no results, but I am finding artic silver 3.
I can obtain some through "Overclockers.co.uk" but the postage to the UK is more than the product, in total it's about £11 (about $16.50), can anyone recommend an equivalent heat transfer compound readily available in the uk?
Artic Silver is top line stuff. Try www.theoverclockerzstore.com You will get redirected as they have been bought out, however, I believe the new website will have this. Also, you may want to try www.newegg.com - very good site for CPU coolers, fans and thermal compound.
As to Artic Ice - brain cramp. Artic Ice is an older proprietary brand, not even sure if its still on the market. Artic Silver is what you want - best there is (also some generic versions of it available, but this is the best). Do not overdo application - thin layer only. Smooth with the edge of a credit card. Clean chip and heatsink with alcohol first. Do not use petroleum distillates to remove old compound or bubble gum colored pad from the heatsink or CPU.
