CIV IV Burning my machine

[Mollyoko]

I have a fairly new machine, specs:

ASUS A8N-SLI DELUXE w/550W DUAL RAIL PSU
2X AMD® ATHLON® 64BIT 4800 1MB L2 Cache
2048 MB DDR400 PC3200
2X 256MB GEFORCE 7800 GTX PCI Xpress DVI/TV-OUT
SoundBlaster Audigy 4 7.1 Pro
MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® XP PRO SP2

and civ 4 completely shuts my machine down after about 20mins of play. Its completely overheated and starts to smell of burning (not good). No other game I have does this, eg. Half Life 2, Doom 3 etc...

I have updated my chipset drivers, nvidia drivers and even my Bios to the latest. Also updated Civ 4 with 1.09 patch.

Playing Civ 4 in window at default graphics settings in 1024x768 res.

DXDiag file attached...

http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107393&stc=1&d=1134497110

Can anyone help me please or this beautiful game is going in the bin ???

Molly

 

[Lahdoz]

I like to pop out one of the covers on an empty CD bay to let heat vent out the top of the case. Are any of your PCI cards right next to the video card? If so, move them a space or 2 away to give the video card some room to breathe.

 

[Mollyoko]

my case is open - civ 4 still dont work mate

 

[Zydor]

There is a Major memory issue in Civ IV, the nature of which is not yet fully realised by many. The end result is very bad memory management, including Video memory. Try the Harkonnen Patch, it has been very successful, and with a spec like yours - great machine - you should not have any hassles. The memory fix does make the use of memory far more efficient, meaning less work to do, therefore less strain on the card / heat. Whether it will work in your case, there's no guarantees- it was aimed at the main memory issues - but quite a few have reported cooler cards after applying the patch.

Its worth a try, it does not touch game code,is benign, easily installed / deinstalled.

Regards
Zy

 

[gunnergoz]

Just a word of advice...PC's without cases actually run hotter than those in a case with working case fan(s). The reason is that there is no directed airflow over the components when the case is off. With the case on and the fans blowing, an airstream is created in the case that draws in cool air and expels the hot. I never run my PC with the case open and components exposed.

 

[Mollyoko]

thanks, putting case back on and looking for harkonnen patch -will report results

 

[Mollyoko]

I've since looked inside my machine and noticed that my 650w PSU fan isn't spinning !! Perhaps this is why it was completely overheating ??

The manufacturers are sending me a new one tomorrow....so once installed will boot up civ 4 and see then....

 

[Zydor]

Yep that was a subtle clue - good job you picked it up - could have been a bit nasty .....

Regards
Zy

 

[Natronomonas]

I think a dead PSU fan could be a problem.... On the bright side, you get to see how your computer might perform with a passive power supply... which doesn't seem to be too well in this case. At least is sounds like the PSU is still under warranty...

 

[auldian]

Just a word of advice...PC's without cases actually run hotter than those in a case with working case fan(s). The reason is that there is no directed airflow over the components when the case is off. With the case on and the fans blowing, an airstream is created in the case that draws in cool air and expels the hot. I never run my PC with the case open and components exposed.

This is gospel *nods*
Of course, if you have a 20" box fan duct-taped to the side of your open computer ... post pics!