new computer - stuttering play | Forums

[ziggy95]

Hi All,

Need some help pls.

Purchased a new Maxx computer about a month ago spec is:

Athlon64 3200+
MSI K8T800 mobo
512mb PC3200 Dual channel DDR (2x256 hynix)
XFX 5950 ultra
sb 5.1 sound
Seagate 120gb 7200 HDD (not SATA)
DVD RW NEC 1300a
10/100 lan
XP Home SP1
Direct x 9b

The graphics card was upgraded from the standard Radeon 9600 128mb model included via an online configurator option at purchase (I have a loyalty to NVIDIA :-) )

Included in the set up was a generic 300w psu.

On purchase I loaded up Far cry and everything was automatically set to high settings, played the game and all was dandy. I got as far as the camp which IIRC was just after the hang glider bit (sorry it's been a while since I played it) Then the computer turned itself off and upon re-booting I had blocks all across the screen. Couldn't do anything at this stage so tried an old card and voila all was well as far as getting the screen looking normal again, didn't try FC as this is an old card.

Spoke to the retailer and they gave me a new 5950. Checking out various forums it seemed the PSU might not be man enough for the card so leaving aside whether the computer should have been sold with the PSU supplied and that particular graphics card I upgraded to a new true power 550w PSU

Now when I load up the screen is fine at load up but when I try to load a saved game it just stutters/freezes and I mean really slowly as to make it unplayable.

The only other thing worth mentioning is the MOBO came with a piece of software called Core Center and this is showing my 3.3v as 2.91 and flashing warning me about it. I don't know how accurate this software is and don't have any other way of checking the true voltage coming out of this rail.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[ziggy95]

Hi All,

Need some help pls.

Purchased a new Maxx computer about a month ago spec is:

Athlon64 3200+
MSI K8T800 mobo
512mb PC3200 Dual channel DDR (2x256 hynix)
XFX 5950 ultra
sb 5.1 sound
Seagate 120gb 7200 HDD (not SATA)
DVD RW NEC 1300a
10/100 lan
XP Home SP1
Direct x 9b

The graphics card was upgraded from the standard Radeon 9600 128mb model included via an online configurator option at purchase (I have a loyalty to NVIDIA :-) )

Included in the set up was a generic 300w psu.

On purchase I loaded up Far cry and everything was automatically set to high settings, played the game and all was dandy. I got as far as the camp which IIRC was just after the hang glider bit (sorry it's been a while since I played it) Then the computer turned itself off and upon re-booting I had blocks all across the screen. Couldn't do anything at this stage so tried an old card and voila all was well as far as getting the screen looking normal again, didn't try FC as this is an old card.

Spoke to the retailer and they gave me a new 5950. Checking out various forums it seemed the PSU might not be man enough for the card so leaving aside whether the computer should have been sold with the PSU supplied and that particular graphics card I upgraded to a new true power 550w PSU

Now when I load up the screen is fine at load up but when I try to load a saved game it just stutters/freezes and I mean really slowly as to make it unplayable.

The only other thing worth mentioning is the MOBO came with a piece of software called Core Center and this is showing my 3.3v as 2.91 and flashing warning me about it. I don't know how accurate this software is and don't have any other way of checking the true voltage coming out of this rail.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Hornet3]

Have you checked your BIOS?
What options are there regarding your GFX?

[ziggy95]

Hi Hornet,

I'll have a look in a mo.

ps drivers are 56.72
3D MARK03 score is 4955

Cheers

Zig

[Hornet3]

There must be a problem with those Graphics Card Settings. Standard 5950 scores would be between 5500 and 6000.

Check your settings and see if anything looks like it is wrong.

[ziggy95]

Right this is what I can find

LDT to AGP lokar upstream = 16bit
Same downstream
frequency is 800mhz
AGP aperture size = 128mb
fast write is enabled
AGP mode is auto (can't change this)
AGP set as primary graphics adapter
AGP voltage is auto

The BIOS is AMI-BIOS 1.60 which the MSI software tells me is the latest version, I flashed to this after the crash to see if it would help play and I did have some probs at first because it wouldn't load the BIOS but searched about and resolved this by changing a setting in it (can't remember what it was now)

The PC just seems slow full stop even at opening folders etc. Something is wrong somewhere :-(

[IceTea16]

Turn off AGP Fast Writes, with this enabled it usually causes system instability, you only gain a tiny bit of extra performance with this enabled and it's not worth the crashes and automatic re-boots.

System Specs:
1.5 ghz AMD Athlon XP
256 SD RAM 133mhz
ATI Radeon 9600 XT 256 DDR Core: 500mhz Memory:300mhz DDR=600mhz
MSI MS-6382
3DMark03 Score = 3366

[Hornet3]

When you run 3DMark 03, what does the processor get as a score? I've got the AMD 64 3000+ with a 9800 Pro, and I get 5700 (GFX) and 600 (CPU). If your CPU isn't getting 600, then there is a problem with the CPU and the GFX.

Just out of interest, right-click on "My Computer" and see the information about the computer. Make sure it detects all the RAM, the proper CPU speed etc.

[Hornet3]

By the way, IceTea16, I've always had Fast Write Enabled and my system is as stable as they get. I don't think that is the problem in this case.

[ziggy95]

OK ran it again (fast writes still enabled atm)

Results

This time score = 5200
GT1 = 171 fps
GT2 = 37.8
GT3 = 30.5
GT4 = 28.9

CPU score = 796
Test 1 = 93.4
Test 2 = 13.4

Fill rate single texture = 1448.8
Multi = 3315.5
Vertex shader = 18.1
Pixel = 51.8
Ragtroll = 11.7

No sound = 50.3
24 sounds = 40.5
60 sounds = n/a

Any more suggestions gratefully received :-)