13 replies to this topic

[hrbngr]

I am experiencing a game crash or freeze when I re-load a saved game w/in a mission. This has happened in both "A Vintage Year" and "Curtains Down". When the reload starts, it stops at 1/3 of the redline--at that point the whole computer freezes--I cannot break w/alt-tab or other keystrokes. Video driver is X-Treme G 81.89, I could upgrade to 92.91 by DHzer0point, but not sure what the most current-STABLE vid driver for an Nvidia 6800GT AGP/Win XP/1GB setup is. I run FEAR, FarCry, etc just fine, BTW. Vid settings are 1024x768, 2xAA, 4xAS, LevDet=Med, DropShadow=hard per the forum faq recommendations--willing to change any and all settings if they are an issue.

New install via DVD, w/1.2 patch. Defragged. DxDiag below, if the rest of info is needed, plz let me know.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/21/2007, 13:44:26
Machine name: JBA-TEST01
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.050301-1526)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon XP-M, ~2.3GHz
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 295MB used, 2165MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 6800 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0045&SUBSYS_2996107D&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (85Hz)
Monitor: HITACHI CM828
Monitor Max Res: 2048,1536
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8189 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/28/2005 16:06:00, 3924096 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/28/2005 16:06:00, 3532000 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4305-11CF-306C-9C0900C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0045
SubSys ID: 0x2996107D
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: NVIDIA® nForce™ Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: NFORCE_VAD
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: nvapu.sys
Driver Version: 6.14.0442.0030 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 5/25/2004 14:58:04, 396032 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX™ 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2™ Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura™ ZoomFX™: No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: NVIDIA® nForce™ Audio
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: nvapu.sys
Driver Version: 6.14.0442.0030 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 5/25/2004 14:58:04, 396032 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x0
Format Flags: 0x0

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: Enabled
Ports: NVIDIA® Kernel Synthesizer, Hardware (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
NVIDIA® nForce™ Audio, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
NVIDIA® DLS Synthesizer [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
Device Name: Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Keyboard
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
Registry: OK

[Murder Inc.]

Welcome to the forum :cheers:


Both your video and sound chip drivers are YEARS old, dude.

Go to nvidia and download that latest driver (93.71). Everyone seems to be using it issue free, inc. me (7600GS) :hmm:

Curtains Down needs the sound acceleration reduced or turned off (in the sound tab inside dxdiag) for some people.

[MortifiedAlbino]

-The drop shadow-setting was bugged in the demo/early versions of the game. If you have patch 1.2 installed, the Soft-setting will work properly.

-As for drivers being stable. There is no driver that is more stable than the latest, official driver from nvidia.com. The more bugs found (time is needed for this), the more bugs gets fixed. Sticking with older drivers is just wrong - the latest ones always have something in store for older cards even though it isnt mentioned in the release notes (e.g. the Xx00 and X1x00 series got a 100% performance boost in company of hereos without it being mentioned at all in the release notes).

Again, always use the latest drivers.

-Make sure you also have the latest motherboard drivers installed.

[hrbngr]

I will definitely upgrade my video drivers, I just wanted to verify a version that appears to work for most ppl.

also, I am not sure if there are newer on-board sound drivers for my mobo as it as been discontinued for some time. Last time I check Asus's site, they were fine. I will doublecheck the mobo drivers too--but they tend to just stop changing those after awhile too.

btw, when the game does work, I notice that when I reload, the screen goes completely dark except for some of the light sources. Sometimes I need to reload from a saved mission 4 or five times to fix this. This seems to happen the longer I have the computer on, so might any of this be heat related?

[Murder Inc.]

Can't say it sounds like heat, but buggy/corrupted video drivers. Update!


For heat:

Take the side panel off, and find a fan to blow fresh air onto your video card area.

You can also bring up the temperature page of your nvidia driver (right click desktop > properties > etc...), leave it running, play Blood Money, and alt-tab back to desktop ever now and then to see what temps it's sitting at.

Over 80-90 is a worry, over 100 is an issue, over 115 and the PC will auto-reboot (from my best recollection).

[MortifiedAlbino]

Note however that newer high-end cards (X1800+, 7800+,8800+) tend to run at 85-100C and this is considered pretty normal. This, of course, depends on what cooling (both on GPU itself and chassi) is used.

[hrbngr]

RE: video card temps, is there a website that states the reliable temps for specific cards? also, could either of you all recommend an app like mobo monitor or similar that will log temps of video card to a text file? So even if the game crashes the whole PC, I can open up the txt file to determine if heat is an issue.

Also, are there specific graphic settings that really affect the performance of the game when running ver 1.2? Obviously, AA is big, and it looks like the soft shadows is ok? But, just like the next person, I want to run as much eye-candy as possible while still being able to get decent frame rates and, of course, no crashes!

[MortifiedAlbino]

Basicly AA (2xAA would be the best performance/graphics settings) and Postfilters (low, if performs that much better, would be the best setting to use as the diffrence is not huge) do the most diffrence to performance. Also make sure Vsync is off (another ~20-50% fps increase, depending on the situation).

For monitoring temps, try using 'Riva Tuner'.

[Keyser Soze]

Graphics settings really comes down to trial and error to find what works on YOUR machine. Two identically built computers can have different things (like background processes) that will effect performance outside of hardware.

Everest is a really good PC benchmarking/monitoring software, though I don't know if it does logging. I think you're concentrating too much on heat here. It really doesn't sound like that's your issue.

[Murder Inc.]

Mort those are some toasty cards indeed :hmm:

If you want temps for specific cards, google the model + temperature: "GeForce 6800 GT Temperature". I'm not aware of any specific database...

[hrbngr]

Dloading the current Nvidia driver now. Also, rigged a Pabst 120mm fan to blow directly on my video card...

When updating drivers, is Driver Cleaner Pro ver 1.5 the last free version? that has been the only one I can find. figuring I do the remove drivers, safemode, remove again, reload, install, right?

[MortifiedAlbino]

Also, rigged a Pabst 120mm fan to blow directly on my video card..
Excellent!

is Driver Cleaner Pro ver 1.5 the last free version?
Correct, ver 1.5 is the last free version (and works perfectly).

figuring I do the remove drivers, safemode, remove again, reload, install, right?
Correct again.

You win a hug from the cute Albino!

@Murder Inc.: Tell me about it. My card loves spending times in the ~90C levels.

[hrbngr]

MortifiedAlbino,

is RivaTuner Nvidia specific? or does it also work w/ATI?

[MortifiedAlbino]

Works with ati aswell (at least all its hardware functions - what you need).

Nvidia users can use it for changing hidden driver settings aswell.