Graphics still not right-help please

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.

 

I recently learned of the existance of something called the "Master Boot Record ". Which (apparently) does not get deleted with a format.

Is there anything in there that will affect the way a pc will run?

 

Hi Digitalis,

Go to control panel, system, device manager, display adapter, properties, driver. It should show an nVidia driver.

No, the MBR has nothing to do with this problem.

Tin

 

there is no mention of nVidia in the driver list:

-C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ELSAGMXD.DRV
-C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ELSAGMXD.VXD
-C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\vmm32.vxd (vdd.vxd)

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 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.

If anyone has more information, please post it.

Cheers.
Dig.fdisk /mbr

 

oops, sorry, don't know what happened there.

 

HMMMMM, after 4th boot, problem is back, as bad as ever, could I be looking at faulty hardware?

(By the way, those drivers came off the disc that came with the graphics card, I have tried drivers off the Elsa website, still the same)

Dig.

 

Hi Dig,

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?

Tin

 

Thanks for sticking with me on this one Tinknocker.

It hasn't got a fan, but I'll check the heatsink in a mo.

 

Seems we have another avenue to explore;

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.

Tin

 

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.

Rockster2U aka RocksterOnRoad

 

Thanx people.

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?

Cheers.
Dig.

 

Found some Arctic Silver 3 in the uk, for £7.28 (with freepost!!)

The Cooling Shop

 

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.

Rockster2U aka RocksterOnRoad

 

What I neglected to mention on the last post was that I have already ordered it (Arctic Silver 3), should be here within 3 working days.

Cleaning with alcohol -- should I use a particular sort of cloth, or does kitchen paper do it just as well?

Also, if I may, what sort of spec system fan should I fit? (it's going inside the front of my case) I have already drilled extra ventilation holes in the front cover, ready for when I get the fan. There is a mounting area on the chassis, but the holes in the front of the case were quite small.

Cheers.
Dig.

 

Not sure I'm the best one to advise on this re: specs. I've used several different types. Most recently tried a couple of ThermalTakes with heat sensors and variable speed motors as exhaust fans, but they were so **** noisy when mounted close to the CPU, that I moved them up front as intakes and put a couple of cheap exhaust fans in the boxes I did this to. I've also had some success using dual fan card coolers mounted over the CPU fan/HS (couple of inches away). The key here is air flow and some experimentation may be necessary. You may also want to consider noise - and then I think you get into another issue. You should be able to run sub 35-36C without any problem with that chip. CPU cooler/HS is another issue, but with your processor, a decent 5400rpm fan on a decent hS should be more than adequate.

As to cleaning or wiping .... use whatever you want but on the last go around, use lens paper which leaves no fiber or lint.

Rockster2U aka RocksterOnRoad

 

Ok, I've been playing around, and here's what I've come up with:

First of all, the system fan or Arctic Silver hasn't turned up yet.

I took the cover off the case, and I took the front off (to drill some holes for the said system fan), while the computer is sitting bare in just the chassis, it seems to run ok. The CPU temperature doesn't go over 40°C, the system temperature stays at about 29-32°, even when gaming.

I got my hands on a slot 1 CPU coller/heatsink, so I tool the fan off it and attached it to the heatsink on my graphics card (only with a heatsink as standard), and plugged the fan into the "System Fan" plug on the mobo, then put the case back together.

After 15 minutes of gaming, the problem came back, as bad as ever. So I checked the temperature again, and now the CPU reads 44°, system 36° (CPU fan 5250 rpm, system fan-which is attached to the graphics card-7250 rpm).

I am beginning to think that my chip has been damaged by overheating when I run it without h/s compound, and now I am paying for it.

Should I be having problems with my chip at 44°?
Does it sound like it is the chip that is faulty? (One fact to bear in mind here is that all the defects that happen during gaming - frame jumping etc - happen again in the replay, exactly how it happened in the game).

The only other component left that I can think of is the power supply.

Suggestions - please

Cheers.
Dig.

 

Arctic silver 3 turned up, cleaned the chip, put it on, not much difference in the temp really, 2°C cooler, now runs at 42°C with the cover on after playing CMR2.

BUT, while I was doing the job, I discovered that the chip has tarnished to a bluey colour (too hot?) where the excess h/s compound had "oozed" out of the side, and on to the chip itself (put way too much on ) does this mean that my chip is damaged?

Cheers.
Dig.

 

No, this is normal for aluminum core.