My solution to the freeze with scrambled graphic pattern

[Sentinelum]

Hi,

Symptom:

As reported by manzy in this forum, my computer also used to freeze after some time in the game, showing a random scrambeled repeating color pattern and then the monitor going to sleep mode. To restart the computer a full power cycle was necessary.

Impact:

For me Civilization 4 is not the only game impacted, but for sure is not the one with the most 3D power required.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, did the same, as well as Battlefield 2 in 1280x1024 resolution (one other I don't remember). Other ganes, like The Movies, World of Warcraft, GTA San Andreas run with no problem.

Solutions tested so far:

So far I have tried with no success:

• Reverting to 71.89 drivers (or others)
• Disabling fast write & reducing AGB to 4
• Reducing Core speed and graphic memory clock somewhat

The theory

After all these tests I came up with the theory that the problem was due on the card due to memory access, possibly also due to multihead requiring even more memory access. However, reducing the resolution and disabling the multihead did not solve the problem.

The solution

The I came up checking the temperature whcih was quite high even ideling at Windows desktop above 70°C. When in the crashing games, the temperature was going up around 100°C where the crash occured.

I then tried first to open the computer case in order to allow better air flow, with limied success as this did only grant me some extra time befor e the freeze occured.

The final solution was to use a pressurized air bin and blow through the blower channel on my card. There was a whole lot of dusts comming out the other side.

As a resulkt my ideing temperature of the card diod drop immediatally around 55°C. And during the game the temperature does no longer rase more then around 75°C which prevents the freeze for me. Hope it does for you as well

 

[phalzyr]

yes you should use compressed air to clean out the inside of your computer at least once a year the more often the better for prolonging your hardware's life. I've had too many tech calls where there hardware (power supply mostly) gave out on them because the inside was never cleaned since buying it. And none of these were avid gamers...just casual users.

If you are in a high dust environment, keep your computer on the floor, or have several cats I'd suggest cleaning it once a month just to be on the safe side, beside it only takes a minute...

 

[rpriha]

I had the colourful pixel pattern problem too. However, the solution for me was to update motherboard chipset (VIA K8T800) drivers to the latest, which was VIA 4-in-1 version 4.56v at least in my case. Never encountered the problem since. So, I guess there are several alternative causes of problems that lead to the same-looking crash.

 

[Clown2TheLeft]

Glad you found the problem before going and tossing serious money at it!

Electrical components that have reference voltage dislike heat building up. This is true in trucks, tractors, space shuttles, and computers. Best thing you can do --besides keeping it clean, which you've already discovered-- is to make sure you have adequate airflow throughout the case. Case fans are cheap. Could be the best $2.99 you ever spent...

Later!

--The Clown to the Left