Games keep locking up! Help me please! Error AVI enclosed

Commandant Veenershnitzle

Every so often, my games (MOHAA, Mafia, GTA3, etc) lock up, freezing the machine up to where I have to reset. It only happens during games. The rest of the time, it is super stable.

Here is a link to download the video I took of the error: http://members.cox.net/eagletalonawd/game_error.avi

My system is homebuilt by me:

ECS socket A K7S5A mainboard
Athlon XP 2100 processor (1800mhz)
256mb PC-133
Gainward GeForce3 Ti-200
Soundblaster 16
2 case fans
400 watt PS

I have a sneaking hunch that it is the POS soundblaster 16 Soundcard that is causing the problem.. ? It does it with the case on or off. I don't have the video card overclocked THAT much. I have it set to 215 Core clock/472 Memory Clock using the overclocker that came with it.

(BTW.. please don't make fun of me if I sound like a dummy.. oOo: )

Commandant Veenershnitzle · 02-23-2003, 07:21 AM

No one has any suggestions? cry:

subwaysjared · 02-23-2003, 07:54 AM

What operating system you running? If it's xp, then you are in serious need of more ram. And you really don't need to overclock that vid card, it worked great in my old rig with medium settings, and I had a much slower processor. Actually I had it running on an ECS board myself, the k7vta. Worked like a charm.

$ilent-$paghetti · 02-23-2003, 07:57 AM

maybe the games are to powerful for your PC.....

-=[BAD]=-Thorshammer · 02-23-2003, 08:44 AM

When i had this i just updated my video drivers. That cured it.

Commandant Veenershnitzle · 02-23-2003, 09:49 AM

Thanks Guys! biggrin: I didn't even think about updating the video drivers! I will order 512mb of DDR.. that should help too. fire2:

odog · 02-23-2003, 12:00 PM

Does your motherboard have a Via chipset? If so get a new soundcard.
Creative sound cards and Via chipsets do not get along. Had the same
problem, went out and bought a Philips sound card no problem since
If you want to know more go here:

http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/

Look under PCI Latency

Hope this helps.

Odog

Bazooka_Joe

[quote="Commandant Veenershnitzle":1b2c7]I don't have the video card overclocked THAT much. I have it set to 215 Core clock/472 Memory Clock using the overclocker that came with it.[/quote:1b2c7]

That's your problem right there. The default chip settings of the GF3 Ti200 GPU/RAM clock is 175/400, and you have it set to 215/472. hake: This IS overclocking alot. Anything over 20 on the processor and 50 on the RAM will cause the card chips to start to overheat, and cause it to shut down the overheating components. It will either crash the PC, crash the program, or freeze. Lower your clock settings back to normal, I gurantee that this will fix the issue.

Commandant Veenershnitzle · 02-24-2003, 01:22 AM

Thanks guys! I downloaded the newest drivers, increased most of the settings to maximum on MOH and it is a new game now! swordfight: It hasn't locked up yet. (I played for an hour today)

I am still going to upgrade to some DDR ram. (My motherboard has slots for both SDRAM and DDR)

I also might check into getting a new soundcard. I just got this one locally because it was on sale and I needed one at the time.

Later

Commandant Veenershnitzle · 02-24-2003, 03:17 AM

Wow.. I just ordered a stick of 512 and a stick of 256 from newegg.com. 512 was $73.99 and the 256 was $37.99, both had free fedex shipping. Rock on! I love newegg! evil: