Dual Core Gaming Fix Guide

X2 3800 @ stock on XP-90c 92mm fan
DFI LanParty Ultra-D w/ Latest Bios from DFI
OCZ 2GB(2x1GB) PC 3200 Platinum 2-3-2-5
Powercolor x850 XT 256mb
OCZ Powerstream 520
Windows Media Center XP 2005 SP2 (update rollup2 NOT installed)

Whenever i try to play any 3D graphics program, it will run for a random amount of time before freezing up with the moniter going black and losing the signal. i don't hear sound looping, and i can't do a blind shutdown with just the keyboard, so im pretty sure the machine freezes.
The amount of time varies alot depending on the drivers i have installed. i've used the latest 6.3 all the way back to 5.6, with the 6.2 showing the best stability. Also I originally had a plain Powercolor x850, that i had RMA'd to a X850 XT (BOOYA! :^D).

I've mainly tried to get Counterstrike:Source to work. i usually get the freeze at the server selection screen but also occasionally after i've just entered the game on any server. One night i actually played for about an hour, with one wierd exception. Moments of lag seemed hail the impending freeze, but i could sidestep it if i hit the windows key minimizing CS. when i came back, the game would play alright for about 3-10 minutes. if i didn't minimize, the screen would freeze and my cousin sitting next to me playing on the same server would see me standing there without movement, even though i am frantically moving the mouse and slamming keys.

i've tried all of the recomended fixes provided in this guide in almost every imaginable combination. Fresh format without any fixes. Set affinity, no set affinity. With hotfix (registry hacked), no hotfix. With manually added /pmtimer,or amd driver auto added /pmtimer. And the result is always the same.

on a side note, i haven't really played much with the media center function, but i can watch previously recorded tv for hours on end and surf the net without a problem.

Since CS is such a CPU sensitive game, am i beating my head against the wall until another fix is released? Should i RMA the Proc or Motherboard?
Or should i just ebay the X2 and start shoppin for a single core replacement?

Any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.
Sincerly,
the frustrated guy
 
Iam Frustrated said:
Any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.
Sincerly,
the frustrated guy
Click to expand...

My comment is: wipe the HD and start over. If that doesn't work, RMA the DFI; they've been known to have a few bugs. Sounds like it's not the proc.

HTH. YMMV. etc.
 
What happens if you set the affinity manually by alt-tabbing out?
 
kirbyrj said:
What happens if you set the affinity manually by alt-tabbing out?
Click to expand...

Depends on the program. Some programs don't like that but most will operate just fine. I set most of my stuff manually. Few programs I've run need me to set the affinity at all.
 
kirbyrj said:
What happens if you set the affinity manually by alt-tabbing out?
Click to expand...

i've noticed that if i set affinity with Steam first, the affinity will automatically be set with Source when i load it up. But even still, i've tried to manually set affinity for Source after it is up and running, and in both cases i get the same results.

Something i thought i should mention after reading Aztec61's response: i can boot in dual channel with only 2 sticks, but i can't get my system to recognize 3 to 4 sticks of identical memory. if i put in either a 3rd or 4th stick, the machine will turn on but nothing ever shows up on the screen and the video card fan doesn't stop blowing at full speed. All 4 sticks are exactly the same, and i've tried putting them in every color slot in every imaginable combination.

so with that said, i think i'm gonna go over to the DFI website and check out thier RMA procedures.

Again, Any comments or suggestions welcome.
the frustrated but now mostly disappointed guy
_______________________
X2 3800 @ stock on XP-90c 92mm fan
DFI LanParty Ultra-D w/ Latest Bios from DFI
OCZ 2GB(2x1GB) PC 3200 Platinum 2-3-2-5 (stock settings)
Powercolor x850 XT 256mb
OCZ Powerstream 520
Windows Media Center XP 2005 SP2 (update rollup2 NOT installed)
 
In that case, I'd say it def is the mobo. It should be detecting RAM in all slots.
 
I did this fix but now CSS crashes my connection and I have to restart my router and modem
 
The new drivers from nVidia(84.25) seem to have fixed my lock ups in CS:S. But some maps still seem weird if I don't set the affinity. I don't know what it is but it feels like its missing frames. Only in some maps though.
 
I know this is gonna sound crazy.
I have a X2 4800, and experienced all the problems you all know very well. Stuttering, Freezing, lock ups...I tried all the fixes, and eventually managed to solve most issues...but i hated having to manually set affinity....having to find work arounds for pretty much every game out there. So i tried a different approach: Windows x64. After installin x64 i haven't had 1 problem with ANY game. L2, WoW, DAoC, CS:S, BF2, NFS MW, you name it, i tried it. In addition i have a few friends that did the same as i did, and it worked for them as well. My advice is, give x64 a shot, or make a second partition.
 
I don't get it.

We install the MS hotfix and hack the registry? What does the hotfix do that the registry hack doesn't because I am getting really bad crackling sound in games with the hotfix installed now. Is there any way to uninstall it? I set the throttle option to 0 and the sound is still crackling. I am pretty sure the hotfix is the cause because it began to happen right after I installed it.
 
Setting throttling option to 0 turns off the fix. You dont need the registry hack unless you want to play with turning it on and off. 1 is on 0 is off.

DJB
 
ItaliaNewb said:
I know this is gonna sound crazy.
I have a X2 4800, and experienced all the problems you all know very well. Stuttering, Freezing, lock ups...I tried all the fixes, and eventually managed to solve most issues...but i hated having to manually set affinity....having to find work arounds for pretty much every game out there. So i tried a different approach: Windows x64. After installin x64 i haven't had 1 problem with ANY game. L2, WoW, DAoC, CS:S, BF2, NFS MW, you name it, i tried it. In addition i have a few friends that did the same as i did, and it worked for them as well. My advice is, give x64 a shot, or make a second partition.
Click to expand...

good idea, my guess is Windows XP-64 is based on Windows 2003 server so its more stable on dual cpus
 
I notice that with the newest nvidia beta drivers (84.25) my cs:s is alright for the first maybe 30 mins I play. Then I start getting fps problems. If I close CS:S and boot it up again it goes away for another 30 mins. Should I try the AMD Driver?
 
fenderltd said:
no sticky?


Click to expand...

It was stickied for a while...oh well.

JustinSane said:
I notice that with the newest nvidia beta drivers (84.25) my cs:s is alright for the first maybe 30 mins I play. Then I start getting fps problems. If I close CS:S and boot it up again it goes away for another 30 mins. Should I try the AMD Driver?
Click to expand...

What about the official 84.21's? same problem?
 
bump because someone asked about it today :). I don't even have a dual core CPU anymore to update and make changes to the OP :D.
 
ItaliaNewb said:
So i tried a different approach: Windows x64...
Click to expand...

How much is Wx64 going for nowadays? I gotta start pricing it anyway... :rolleyes: :(

Shite, I just bought a copy of SP2 Home about a month ago, but that can be used for my older comps.
 
aztec61 said:
How much is Wx64 going for nowadays? I gotta start pricing it anyway... :rolleyes: :(

Shite, I just bought a copy of SP2 Home about a month ago, but that can be used for my older comps.
Click to expand...

Should cost about 30-50 bucks more than home edition... If you are looking at the OEM-versions.
 
im using Windows MCE..

i still just follow all the steps there right ? seeing as how MCE is based on the Pro kernel..
 
I have tried to read most of this thread but attempting to guess/predict the outcome of my new system (when it arrives next week) is a bit too optimistic.

My new system will be:

Win XP Pro (SP1 or SP2)
3800 x2
Asus A8N-E nForce4
BFG 7900GT OC
2 gigs OCZ plat

I have a sick feeling I need to drop the dual core, but I hope not.

Edit: I decided to say the heck with it, after reading this entire thread during my lunch break I don't feel too confident in some of the fixes (especially with the variety of games I play). I changed my order to a 4000+ 1mb cache. I am pretty sure I will still enjoy the performance gain over my 3.0 P4 without missing too much of the multitasking power of the DC. Once all this mess is fixed in new games I will possibly snag a DC next year (or Conroe).
 
I wonder if Conroe will have gaming problems too. :confused:

That might mean I might keep my setup with s754 3700+ and build a new machine after Windows Vista comes out. Well, it`s an expensive solution but...
 
This is why you wait for SP1. Remember XP Vanilla? A ton of people had problems with explorer.exe crashing for no reason. XP SP1? That problem was gone, along with a ton of others.

Just imagine if Microsoft released an SP1 worthy release as a VANILLA release. That'd be something.
 
Maybe I moved too quick on this but it is too late now, my order has been changed to a single core 4000+ and it will ship shortly. I will venture into the dual core market for gaming next year.
 
Well I dunno....peeps can b!tch about the difficulties with DC's in-game all they want, but there was NF way I was going to miss out on the pricing deals for the Opty's from Monarch. (y)

BWAAAA-HA-ha!!!!

OK, we're supposed to be "computer enthusiasts" round heah, :confused: and as such should be able to deal with fixes or work-arounds. So I say: eef ye canna deal with the tricky stoof, git the hell ootta town, laddy!!!


:eek: :eek: :D
 
Yeah, as the years pass I am less interested in dealing with issues. Who knows, this might be my last PC I have built and I will get a MAC next time, the shame! :eek:
 
I hear ya. Winboxen do get to be a PITA sometimes. (well, most of the time actually!)

I still miss my old G4/933 Quicksilver, which the ex-wife got in the divorce... :mad: My afterthought was that I wished I'd have mounted the CPU heatsink on that one a bit cockeyed, before I gave it up to her. LMAO!
 
monster.under.thebed said:
is this just for amd dual cores? or can some of it be used for intel too? (if so, which steps?)
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right? :rolleyes: Go back and read it!
 
monster.under.thebed said:
is this just for amd dual cores? or can some of it be used for intel too? (if so, which steps?)
Click to expand...

I've heard that intel dual cores don't have the problem. I've never used one so I don't know, but that's just what I've heard. Might have been an isolated incident though :).
 
If I am using an Opty 170, do I need:

AMD Opteron™ Processor PowerNow! Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (exe) 1.2.2.

OR

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (exe) 1.2.2

I already have the "Athlon 64 Processor Driver" showing up in add/remove programs (I guess windows installed it?) and the version in device manager is 1.2.2.0. However, I never installed it, so I don't know if I should remove that and install the X2 driver or Opteron Driver. The /usepmtimer switch is also already included in the boot.ini file. The only thing I don't have is the hotfix, and I have not tried any games yet as I am still getting my machine setup. Should I upgrade to one of the drivers above and apply the hotfix or no?
 
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