freezes during gameplay

pbian · TweakNOOB Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 39

every once in a while playing a game my pc will freeze for about 5 sec, and the higher I turn on the settings (AA, ANI) the faster it freezes. I overclocked my cpu from 3.0ghz to 3.3ghz with the AI overclock from asus p4c800, I also overclocked my 5900 ultra to 515/935. I have the evga e geforce 5900 ultra, I've read a review on the topic, I think it was tomshardware, maybe not... it stated the same symptom on their asus p4c800 (it was tested because the evga version comes overclocked at 500/900)... should I turn down the clocks? is that the reason?

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CooLJoE · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 8:31 pm Post subject:

If you look at the forums on eVGA's site or other news sites, you'll see that eVGA recalled ALL the FX5900U's that were overclocked like that. They now are sold running the default clock (I got one after the recall and its at 450/850, which is the reference speed from nVidia).

If yours is one from before the recall, send it back for a new one. Or you might be able to just download a new bios to fix it. I know someone who had a recalled one and he sent it back instead.

Either way, if your running into problems like that, try backing down the overclocking and see what happens. Generally if its unstable, you start going taking the clock speed down until it is stable again.

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Nice Work CooLJoe! Some great information for the eVGA owners out there.
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pbian · TweakNOOB Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 39

I was gonna ask for where I can get the recall, but then I got to thinking... I overclocked it... more than default even if it is 500/900, I'm really not sure anymore... maybe it wasn't 450/850, I'm not sure how to find out cause I did activate coolbits, but when I restored clock to default it was 450/850, I bought it 6/27... what do you guys think I should do? I'm gonna turn my clock waaaaay down...

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Also, you may be overheating the card due to poor air flow in your case.

What is your case temperature?
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CooLJoE · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:45 am Post subject:

pbian - I would guess yours is one that was recalled. I got mine about 1 week ago and I remember that the members of the eVGA forums figured it out like the 20th of June. And the eVGA staff offered RMAs of the video card and sent new ones with the reference BIOS on June 23rd.

Try shooting an email to the eVGA people and see what they say. Heck, if anything you'll get a brand new card out of it that you know will be set at the right clock speed.

For now though, try leaving it at 450/850 and see how it runs.

*EDIT*

A quick test is to run 3DMark03 and see if it hangs or pauses during CPU Test 1.

pbian · TweakNOOB Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 39

I think the heat is a problem, eventhough I have 7 total case fans, clocked up above 500/900 it can easily reach 60 c. the fans are running at 2500rpm, 2 side fans and 2 rear fans, 2 side fans pump air in, rear pumps it out... 2 front fan pumps in, ceiling fan pumps out, should I change the configuration, like have the 2 side fans be both in a out? or change rear fan config?

I don't know about my pc's performance, it seems to be quite slow, but maybe I'm demanding too much from my pc, a 3.0ghz p4 clocked just up to 3.3ghz, cpu is no problem, here's why, I get 28c idling clocked up with my cpu, the mobo is 26c I use the spark 7 from thermaltake. even while playing a game for hours it still runs around 35c... I also have a gig of corsair xms twinx pc3200.. and my evga 5900 ultra, which idles 37... if left at 450/850, and when I test my pc using 3dmark03 at 1280x1024 res with 4x AA and 8xANI I get around 2400, if I clock it up to around 515/935, I get 2700 (build 320) I don't even wanta talk about build 330, even when clocked I hover around 2250. is that any good? am I right to doubt my pc's performance? does anyone have suggestions to increase the performance.

CooLJoE · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 5:32 pm Post subject:

First off, your problem was with other games. Do they lock up or have problems when you downclock the eVGA? If they don't lock up, then that is your problem right there. If so, it could be that you have the old version of the card and need a replacement or a flash of the BIOS.

Also, if you wish to get a comparison or any help with 3DMark03, you're going to have to run it with default settings. Thats about the only way we can help when we compare it to other people's setups. I get about 5200 score on default settings. Right now my setup is 2200XP (not OC'd), 512mb PC2700, eVGA 5900U. You should be getting something around 6000 on default settings (when eVGA isn't OC'd).

DMW · SirTweaksabit Joined: 16 May 2002 Posts: 457

why not simply turn off the 4XAA???
also in the adapter settings
disable vert. sync and use block transfer for the OpenGL buffer flipping.

pbian · TweakNOOB Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 39

I know it's the clock speed that is the problem, I think it's fine now, clock is still over 900, lets hope it's stable.. anyways 3dmark03 is MESSED UP!!! I can no longer compare with that program, a few reasons. build 320 vs build 330, BIG difference, and also, I don't know what the heck, but there's a new driver out only for evga higher than 4.4.0.3, I installed it and all of a second, my score bounced waaayy up... it went from 2400 unclocked, to 2700 clocked to 2250 build 330 to 3100 with the new evga drivers, exact same settings... THAT IS WHACK. No more 3dmark03 for me

btw those settings for opengl you told me to do, does that improve performance?

CooLJoE · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 4:18 am Post subject:

Your suppose to use 330. 320 has no detection for driver cheats so it lets the nVidia drivers run their cheats.

330 has anti-cheat detection and won't let those drivers work properly on purpose. And yes, eVGA recommends the 44.67 drivers on their site. Its what I use. I test with 3DMark03 build 330 with default settings and the 44.67 drivers.

pbian · TweakNOOB Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 39

here's my dilemma, if I dl the new drivers, I get better 3dmark scores, but I won't be able to play doom 3 alpha, the screen is gray and flickers, can someone help me fix this?

on default settings newest driver, I get a score of 6300, but I have quality setting on.

Also, almost all other games including raven shield and splinter cell (I've tested those) their performance is decreased by evga's new patch... I think I'll stick with the old one

CooLJoE · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 10:24 pm Post subject:

I have noticed this issue with Doom3 Alpha as well. Although I heard there are instabilities in the old drivers (44.03 I believe).

So you say Doom3 works on the olds ones though? I'm gonna give that a shot right now. I've wanted to see how it would run since I got the card, but haven't since the gray/flicker issue.

CooLJoE · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 10:33 pm Post subject:

BTW, 6300 is actually pretty good. I get like 5200 on my setup (set for quality in the drivers). Here's my setup:

AMD 2200XP
512mb PC2700
eVGA FX5900 Ultra

And yes, my setup is lower than yours in CPU speed, but 3DMark03 is pretty intensive and since we're using the same card, it takes a bit more to seperate the scores.

Personally I say keep the 44.67's. I'm testing the 44.03's just to see Doom3 and some other stuff, but will revert back to 44.67 when I'm done.