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WTF - Simple Little Game Brings New P4 to its Knees?!?!



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 20th 03, 02:27 PM
LiveWire
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default WTF - Simple Little Game Brings New P4 to its Knees?!?!

Just built a new P4 system approximately a month ago w/the following specs:

P4 - 2.6CGhz / 800FSB
Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000 (865PE)
2x256MB Corsair XMS PC3200 DDR
Chaintech GF4 TI4200 8X 64MB
WD Raptor SATA HD
Win XP Home

Everything has been working primo with this computer since day one. The
only strange thing I have encountered so far happened when I installed and
tried to use one of those low end "freeware" games that I downloaded from
someplace like TUCOWS or ZDNet a year or two ago (I tried looking for it to
provide a link, but can't seem to locate the same version I have
anymore......hmm).

The game (try not to laugh) is a version of the old classic "Asteroids".
The file is a whopping 1.5MB download. I have installed this same game from
the very same downloaded file on about 20-30 computers of various
configurations (440BX, 815, 845, 845PE, KT266A, KT400, nforce2, etc.) and
versions of Windows (98SE/2K/XP) and have NEVER had a problem with it until
now. It also plays fine on the A7N8X-D/Win2K machine sitting right next to
it.

The problem is that after playing this game for about 5-10 minutes things
start to get funky. Game action slows down to an unplayable speed and the
sound (RealTek onboard audio) starts to stutter and/or get caught in a loop.

I have tried everything from running Memtest86 on the Corsair to installing
a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 card, but the problem persists. It should also be
noted that games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and the latest Rainbow Six game
(demo) play smooth and without incident on this computer.

After building approximately 25 computers over the past couple years (all
still running well AFAIK), I like to think I have a pretty good idea of what
I'm doing by now. However, I certainly don't claim to be an expert, so maybe
I'm overlooking something. Since it's the *ONLY* weird thing that has
happened with this computer thus far, I REALLY, REALLY want to dismiss this
issue as flaky software, but considering it's worked fine on many other Win
2K/XP machines of various configurations, I have a hard time doing that.

Anybody have any thoughts on this one?

TIA

--
LiveWire


  #2  
Old July 20th 03, 02:36 PM
philo
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"LiveWire" wrote in message
news:KMwSa.91887$OZ2.18731@rwcrnsc54...
Just built a new P4 system approximately a month ago w/the following

specs:

P4 - 2.6CGhz / 800FSB
Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000 (865PE)
2x256MB Corsair XMS PC3200 DDR
Chaintech GF4 TI4200 8X 64MB
WD Raptor SATA HD
Win XP Home

Everything has been working primo with this computer since day one. The
only strange thing I have encountered so far happened when I installed and
tried to use one of those low end "freeware" games that I downloaded from
someplace like TUCOWS or ZDNet a year or two ago (I tried looking for it

to
provide a link, but can't seem to locate the same version I have
anymore......hmm).

The game (try not to laugh) is a version of the old classic "Asteroids".
The file is a whopping 1.5MB download. I have installed this same game

from
the very same downloaded file on about 20-30 computers of various
configurations (440BX, 815, 845, 845PE, KT266A, KT400, nforce2, etc.) and
versions of Windows (98SE/2K/XP) and have NEVER had a problem with it

until
now. It also plays fine on the A7N8X-D/Win2K machine sitting right next

to
it.

The problem is that after playing this game for about 5-10 minutes things
start to get funky. Game action slows down to an unplayable speed and the
sound (RealTek onboard audio) starts to stutter and/or get caught in a

loop.

I have tried everything from running Memtest86 on the Corsair to

installing
a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 card, but the problem persists. It should also be
noted that games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and the latest Rainbow Six

game
(demo) play smooth and without incident on this computer.

After building approximately 25 computers over the past couple years (all
still running well AFAIK), I like to think I have a pretty good idea of

what
I'm doing by now. However, I certainly don't claim to be an expert, so

maybe
I'm overlooking something. Since it's the *ONLY* weird thing that has
happened with this computer thus far, I REALLY, REALLY want to dismiss

this
issue as flaky software, but considering it's worked fine on many other

Win
2K/XP machines of various configurations, I have a hard time doing that.

Anybody have any thoughts on this one?


your new machine probably has a faster cpu than your other ones

many old apps will not work on extremely fast cpu's


  #3  
Old July 20th 03, 03:29 PM
Alceryes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Anybody have any thoughts on this one?


your new machine probably has a faster cpu than your other ones

many old apps will not work on extremely fast cpu's


WHAT!?! That's a new one on me... I've heard of older games running too fast
on older games but none that just refuse to work because the CPU is too fast
(mostly they don't work because of software incompatibilities).
LiveWire, check to see if you have any scheduled tasks going on in the
background. Also disable any power mgmt. features and/or screen savers and
turn off any Anti-virus software.
Also try R-clicking on the executable for the game and running it in DOS or
Win95 compatibility mode.
Hope this helps!!!
--


"I don't cheat to survive. I cheat to LIVE!!"
- Alceryes

(check out my modded/OC'd system at http://mywebpages.comcast.net/alceryes)



"philo" wrote in message
...

"LiveWire" wrote in message
news:KMwSa.91887$OZ2.18731@rwcrnsc54...
Just built a new P4 system approximately a month ago w/the following

specs:

P4 - 2.6CGhz / 800FSB
Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000 (865PE)
2x256MB Corsair XMS PC3200 DDR
Chaintech GF4 TI4200 8X 64MB
WD Raptor SATA HD
Win XP Home

Everything has been working primo with this computer since day one. The
only strange thing I have encountered so far happened when I installed

and
tried to use one of those low end "freeware" games that I downloaded

from
someplace like TUCOWS or ZDNet a year or two ago (I tried looking for it

to
provide a link, but can't seem to locate the same version I have
anymore......hmm).

The game (try not to laugh) is a version of the old classic "Asteroids".
The file is a whopping 1.5MB download. I have installed this same game

from
the very same downloaded file on about 20-30 computers of various
configurations (440BX, 815, 845, 845PE, KT266A, KT400, nforce2, etc.)

and
versions of Windows (98SE/2K/XP) and have NEVER had a problem with it

until
now. It also plays fine on the A7N8X-D/Win2K machine sitting right next

to
it.

The problem is that after playing this game for about 5-10 minutes

things
start to get funky. Game action slows down to an unplayable speed and

the
sound (RealTek onboard audio) starts to stutter and/or get caught in a

loop.

I have tried everything from running Memtest86 on the Corsair to

installing
a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 card, but the problem persists. It should also

be
noted that games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and the latest Rainbow Six

game
(demo) play smooth and without incident on this computer.

After building approximately 25 computers over the past couple years

(all
still running well AFAIK), I like to think I have a pretty good idea of

what
I'm doing by now. However, I certainly don't claim to be an expert, so

maybe
I'm overlooking something. Since it's the *ONLY* weird thing that has
happened with this computer thus far, I REALLY, REALLY want to dismiss

this
issue as flaky software, but considering it's worked fine on many other

Win
2K/XP machines of various configurations, I have a hard time doing that.

Anybody have any thoughts on this one?


your new machine probably has a faster cpu than your other ones

many old apps will not work on extremely fast cpu's




  #5  
Old July 20th 03, 06:54 PM
Stacey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Alceryes wrote:

Anybody have any thoughts on this one?


your new machine probably has a faster cpu than your other ones

many old apps will not work on extremely fast cpu's


WHAT!?! That's a new one on me...


I've heard of issue from this before

LiveWire, check to see if you have any scheduled tasks going on in the
background. Also disable any power mgmt. features and/or screen savers and
turn off any Anti-virus software.


I'd think if there were "background tasks" causing this that the newer games
would be the ones that would suffer performance losses.
--

Stacey
  #6  
Old July 20th 03, 07:38 PM
JAD
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

DOS type games and VB games (if you dont have the correct runtime file) will
run funky in the XP/NT enviroment


"LiveWire" wrote in message
news:KMwSa.91887$OZ2.18731@rwcrnsc54...
Just built a new P4 system approximately a month ago w/the following

specs:

P4 - 2.6CGhz / 800FSB
Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000 (865PE)
2x256MB Corsair XMS PC3200 DDR
Chaintech GF4 TI4200 8X 64MB
WD Raptor SATA HD
Win XP Home

Everything has been working primo with this computer since day one. The
only strange thing I have encountered so far happened when I installed and
tried to use one of those low end "freeware" games that I downloaded from
someplace like TUCOWS or ZDNet a year or two ago (I tried looking for it

to
provide a link, but can't seem to locate the same version I have
anymore......hmm).

The game (try not to laugh) is a version of the old classic "Asteroids".
The file is a whopping 1.5MB download. I have installed this same game

from
the very same downloaded file on about 20-30 computers of various
configurations (440BX, 815, 845, 845PE, KT266A, KT400, nforce2, etc.) and
versions of Windows (98SE/2K/XP) and have NEVER had a problem with it

until
now. It also plays fine on the A7N8X-D/Win2K machine sitting right next

to
it.

The problem is that after playing this game for about 5-10 minutes things
start to get funky. Game action slows down to an unplayable speed and the
sound (RealTek onboard audio) starts to stutter and/or get caught in a

loop.

I have tried everything from running Memtest86 on the Corsair to

installing
a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 card, but the problem persists. It should also be
noted that games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and the latest Rainbow Six

game
(demo) play smooth and without incident on this computer.

After building approximately 25 computers over the past couple years (all
still running well AFAIK), I like to think I have a pretty good idea of

what
I'm doing by now. However, I certainly don't claim to be an expert, so

maybe
I'm overlooking something. Since it's the *ONLY* weird thing that has
happened with this computer thus far, I REALLY, REALLY want to dismiss

this
issue as flaky software, but considering it's worked fine on many other

Win
2K/XP machines of various configurations, I have a hard time doing that.

Anybody have any thoughts on this one?

TIA

--
LiveWire





  #7  
Old July 20th 03, 09:38 PM
xonics
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

If it is a processor speed thing you could try disabling your L2 cache in
your BIOS (or L1 I forget which), although it'll run real slow (apparently -
that's what my BIOS says, haven't tried running my machine with it off yet)


  #8  
Old July 21st 03, 05:07 AM
Alceryes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I'd think if there were "background tasks" causing this that the newer
games
would be the ones that would suffer performance losses.


Just the opposite. These newer games know how to properly disable or (in the
case of an AV software) work around these 'background tasks'.
--


"I don't cheat to survive. I cheat to LIVE!!"
- Alceryes

(check out my modded/OC'd system at http://mywebpages.comcast.net/alceryes)




"Stacey" wrote in message
...
Alceryes wrote:

Anybody have any thoughts on this one?


your new machine probably has a faster cpu than your other ones

many old apps will not work on extremely fast cpu's


WHAT!?! That's a new one on me...


I've heard of issue from this before

LiveWire, check to see if you have any scheduled tasks going on in the
background. Also disable any power mgmt. features and/or screen savers

and
turn off any Anti-virus software.


I'd think if there were "background tasks" causing this that the newer

games
would be the ones that would suffer performance losses.
--

Stacey



  #9  
Old July 22nd 03, 06:38 AM
Stacey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Alceryes wrote:

I'd think if there were "background tasks" causing this that the newer

games
would be the ones that would suffer performance losses.


Just the opposite. These newer games know how to properly disable or (in
the case of an AV software) work around these 'background tasks'.



So you think a 1.5meg game would stop a machine with 512 megs of ram without
disabling any background tasks or AV software? If this was the case you
damn sure couldn't open a single instance of MS word or IE 5 on this
machine either.
--

Stacey
  #10  
Old August 10th 03, 11:37 PM
JAD
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

still having the problem? give the low down againnn OP is gone from my
server
"LiveWire" wrote in message
news:%czZa.115595$o%2.50912@sccrnsc02...
Check your CPU temperature. Pentium 4s will throttle down to keep
from frying themselves if they get too hot. (They also have a complete
shutoff mechanism in case of extreme overheating, but the throttling

mechanism
is usually able to limit the temperature before it gets to this point.)

The
throttling mechanism basically works by skipping clock cycles until some

heat
can dissipate. Tom's Hardware Guide did a demonstration in which they

had
Quake or something like that playing on a Pentium 4 that they removed

the
heat
sink from -- it got REALLY SLOW, but it didn't crash or freeze. Sounds

like
your CPU might have insufficient cooling, and 5 to 10 minutes is how

long
it
takes to heat up enough for throttling to start.


Thanks anyway, but heat is definitely not the problem. Using a retail

HS/F
and the temps (on average) are in the mid to high 30's. I can play much
more graphic and CPU intensive games such as Unreal Tournament 2003 for
hours with no problems at all.

--
LiveWire





 




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