From Occassional Crash To Every Time Crash ???

[tambor198]

Well, I've gone from an occassional crash when trying to enter the Caribbean to crashing every time when I try to start a patrol. I'm using the US retail version of SHIII along with the 1.4b DVD patch. Also using GW 1.1a with SH3 Commander 2.6 added on. I'm using two HIS x1900 Series video cards in a Crossfire setup along with a X2 4800+ AMD processor. I'm using two gigs of ram. I positivily have no idea what is happening with this game. Does anyone have any suggestions I could try. I love the game, but it's hard to play when it will only run on your computer for more than a couple of minutes.



tambor198 http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/compsmash.gif

[AO1_AW_SW_USN]

Have you downloaded the latest CPU Drivers from AMD?

I've discovered that I had timing problems with all my games after I upgraded my computer to an AMD Athlon +4400 because of the stock/off the shelf drivers. You can find the latest AMD drivers here:

AMD Utilites and Driver Support (http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_13118,00.html)

If you are running Windows XP, you want to scroll down to the second to last download option where it says "AMD Athlonâ"ž¢ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16"

The option at the top of the list may help as well. I have both the latest AMD driver and the AMD CPU optimizer installed and it cured all my gaming issues.

[tambor198]

Thanks, A01 for taking the time to try and help me out. I already have a earlier version of the AMD CPU driver installed on my computer. The one on AMD's website seems to be a new version. I already have the AMD dual-core optimizer installed. Is it necessary to uninstall the older driver version first before installing the new one? One other question, I've uninstalled and reinstalled SH3 quite a few times this week trying different things to get SH3 to work consistently on my computer. Would that have any effect on the game crashing everytime now?



tambor198 http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/compsmash.gif

[AO1_AW_SW_USN]

Unlike video or sound card drivers, the CPU driver does not require you to uninstall the old and install the new.

Before you install your drivers, I highly recommend that you perform a System Restore checkpoint before you proceed (just in case you need to roll back the driver for any reason).

If it makes you feel more comfortable, uninstall the CPU optimizer software by using the Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs. Install your driver... and then re-install your CPU optimizer. But, it really doesn't matter which is installed first because they are independent features that works alone.

It should solve you issue with SH3 freezing/CTD/locking up. If not, there's other avenues we can proceed with to clear up the issue. Good Luck

Bryan
aka AO1(AW/SW) US Navy... well, I used to be one

[tambor198]

Hi A01. I've installed the new CPU driver and the optimizer on my computer, tried playing SH3 last night again with pretty much the same results. At least the game no longer crashes every time I try to play, but it still crashes. Also the unstable TC is still present. Thanks for trying to help me out by the way. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/11.gif



tambor198 http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/compsmash.gif

[AO1_AW_SW_USN]

Do me a favor and run a dxdiag. Copy and post the log to a private message and I'll take a look at what's going on (don't want to air your intimate system specs over a general forum).

If you don't know how to run a dxdiag report, reply back and I'll walk you through it.

[tambor198]

Originally posted by AO1_AW_SW_USN:
Do me a favor and run a dxdiag. Copy and post the log to a private message and I'll take a look at what's going on (don't want to air your intimate system specs over a general forum).

If you don't know how to run a dxdiag report, reply back and I'll walk you through it.


I'm not sure how to do a dxdiag report. Guess I'll need some help.


tambor198

[AO1_AW_SW_USN]

Sorry that it took so long. I can only reply from Thursday mornings through Sunday.

Here's what you do... step for step.

1. Click on "Start"
2. Click on "Run"
3. In the box, type "dxdiag"
4. Click "Ok"
5. When the screen comes up, click "Save Information". Save the file where you can find it later (your desktop is a great temporary place for now).
6. Go back into the SH3 Forums and open a Private message to me.
7. Open your dxdiag file that you saved, copy all the text, then paste it all into the private message.

I'll take a look at your setup to see where the conflct could be comming from. It's not the most sucessfull way, but it's a start.

[tambor198]

Originally posted by AO1_AW_SW_USN:
Sorry that it took so long. I can only reply from Thursday mornings through Sunday.

Here's what you do... step for step.

1. Click on "Start"
2. Click on "Run"
3. In the box, type "dxdiag"
4. Click "Ok"
5. When the screen comes up, click "Save Information". Save the file where you can find it later (your desktop is a great temporary place for now).
6. Go back into the SH3 Forums and open a Private message to me.
7. Open your dxdiag file that you saved, copy all the text, then paste it all into the private message.

I'll take a look at your setup to see where the conflct could be comming from. It's not the most sucessfull way, but it's a start.

No problem about getting back to me, dude. I managed to get SH3 working again. It had been awhile since I had reformatted my HD and reinstalled windows, so a few days ago I did so and downloaded an online copy of SH3 from a website. I now have SH3 working again. I'm hardly a computer tech, but I'm thinking that I installed and uninstalled SH3 so many times in the last week that the Starforce copy right protection that comes on the retail dvd disk was causing problems. Anyway, after reinstalling windows I loaded the D/ded version of SH3 and it works fine.


However, if you wouldn't mind helping me out alittle further, I like to make a try at doing something about the unstable time compression. That is still a problem, not quite as bad before, but still present. I was informed over at the SubSim forums that the unstable time compression came from using onboard sound, and that I need to buy some kind of sound card that wasn't onboard. Do you have any opinions on this?


tambor198 http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[AO1_AW_SW_USN]

I use my onboard sound audio (for now). I don't have a time compression issue. The TC works just fine if I'm away from port and out in open sea. This game does stall/sputter when under time compession and while near heavy traffic though.

Some folks has reported that Quad Channel RAM has solved the issue of a chugging computer while under TC and near convoys in the game, but it's not really confirmed.

Tell me, what's happening in the game that gives you the "unstable time compression" issue? Are you having TC issues around ports that have a "Harbor Traffic" mod? Does it happen in the middle of the ocean? Or is this a 24 hour/7-day a week problem?

[tambor198]

Originally posted by AO1_AW_SW_USN:
I use my onboard sound audio (for now). I don't have a time compression issue. The TC works just fine if I'm away from port and out in open sea. This game does stall/sputter when under time compession and while near heavy traffic though.

Some folks has reported that Quad Channel RAM has solved the issue of a chugging computer while under TC and near convoys in the game, but it's not really confirmed.

Tell me, what's happening in the game that gives you the "unstable time compression" issue? Are you having TC issues around ports that have a "Harbor Traffic" mod? Does it happen in the middle of the ocean? Or is this a 24 hour/7-day a week problem?


My TC problem happens at anytime, while on the SH3 map following the progress of my patrol both the mouse, the icon for my sub and the time clock in the lower right hand corner will just freeze for a second or two. At other times I have little or no control over the mouse pointer while running TC, this can be at any level from 128x on up.

I've got SH3 installed with the 1.4b patch over the stock game. I've then got the GW mod (1.1a)installed, then the SH3 Commander 2.5. That's what I'm playing with. The specs for my computer I listed in my first post. If there should be some other info you might require, please let me know.


tambor198 http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/compsmash.gif http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/59.gif

[bunkerratt]

http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/10.gif..have you tried using using omega drivers?..they are highbred drivers for ati /nvidia ...they work very well and have a noticable frame rate boost ..imho things just run smoother and look better.. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif

[tambor198]

Originally posted by bunkerratt:
http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/10.gif..have you tried using using omega drivers?..they are highbred drivers for ati /nvidia ...they work very well and have a noticable frame rate boost ..imho things just run smoother and look better.. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif


Thanks for the suggestion, bunkerratt. Are the Omega drivers compatible with a Crossfire setup?



tambor198 http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[bunkerratt]

i really am not shure...they are hybred catalast drivers for ati and nvidia...so it might be worth a look for you ...they really make a differance... http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/typing.gif