Radeon X300 problems, please help

[DaddyBird]

Hi guys, new to this forum, not new to the Civ games!~Been fan for years and years and now I play the 4th part in the cyclus I encounter my first hardware/software problems.

I have a:
P4 3.6ghz
Radeon X300 400mhz
512mbram
300gb hd

Regulary crashes total reboot or a desktop crash......
Tries almost all the Radeon fixes on this forum, including this one.....no luck. There have been less crashes lately, but now it seems to come back fully.

Loading times are very long too for such a processor....

I regret it. I don't like paying that much for a pretty good PC and 50 bucks for a game that works 20%.

Does anyone have had more luck with the X200/300/400 cards?

Thanx alot!

Cheers,
Barry

 

[Azazell]

install ati catalyst 4.12

 

[WHLNH]

I have the same video card and am not having any problems to speak of. Once in a great while, after playing for hours, I may get a crash to desktop, but I simply start that game back up. That problem has been encountered by others with different hardware, as I understand these postings.

In short, if you are still having a problem it probably is NOT the video card, or we'd both be having it. Look elsewhere.

Bill

 

[Azazell]

WHLNH ---> what are your drivers for X300 ?

 

[DaddyBird]

I have installed 4.12.....maybe it is a soundcardproblem? Or overheating? I dunno where to start, it also sometimes crashes when just internetting or playing movies....

Thanx.

 

[Thomas Davie]

I have installed 4.12.....maybe it is a soundcardproblem? Or overheating? I dunno where to start, it also sometimes crashes when just internetting or playing movies....

Thanx.

If you're getting random crashes just watching movies on your PC or surfing, it's either overheating, virus, spyware or some combination.

In no particular order, download and run Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy. Make sure your system is clean. If you have a good virus scanner, make sure the definitions are up to date and do a complete scan. Try downloading a system util (I used regged Sisoft Sandra) which allows you to monitor cpu and motherboard temp.

good luck.

Tom

 

[zsc]

Even if people have the same "video card", it could've been manufactured by different, well, manufacturer. When people refer to "video card" they refer to the chipset, ie. GeForce FX5200, Radeon 9800, etc. Unless you have exactly the same brand/model/memory video card, it could still be the cause of the problem(s). But before you go out and buy a new one, wait until a patch comes out. Another member has posted the response he'd received from Firaxis about a patch release this upcoming week. No details are available, so just be patient and keep looking through the 22 pages of this forum. Grab a chair and make yourself comfortable.

 

[Azazell]

I have A 64 3000, 1gb ram Dual, X 600 pro and I don`t any problems with games)) .. Beatifull Games .. !!

using Ati Catalyst 5.1 ( for January 2005?) and playing of the windows mode

 

[DaddyBird]

Thanx for the replies guys!

I have Kapersky ant-virus up to date and no virusses found. I will try the spy-ware thing you mentioned....I just played CivIV for about an hour without problems, closed it cause a friend was coming, later started it again and crashed to desktop after about 10mins playing time.

Hope the patch will give me more luck.

 

[zsc]

Do you notice a big difference between windowed and full screen mode? I tried both and fullscreen seems to be smoother for me, judging from the cloud movements in the main menu screen. My desktop is 1280x1024, when in windowed mode, the game runs at 1024x768. In fullscreen mode, the game runs at 1024x768.

 

[DaddyBird]

PS. I have a big SVGA monitor....could it be that it consumes too much energie?

 

[zsc]

shouldnt affect gameplay, i've never heard of monitor doing so. I'm running mine on a 17" LCD. if someone could confirm that their monitor is affecting gameplay, please post. also, DaddyBird, post your monitor brand/model just in case.

 

[Azazell]

zsc --> you have change resolution for _config.lnk

 

[zsc]

do you mean making the window to fit the desktop? i tried that but do not remember the result. what does changing the resolution in config do? can't test at school, will do when i get home...i have midterms so it might not be until tomorrow.

 

[DaddyBird]

I have a 19" Highscreen 19P. Great screen for gaming, less for desktop use tho.

I had a problem with SimCity 4 too, crashing to desktop, but fixed it ingame with putting the graphics from hardware to software....

Battlefield 2 works perfect......untill it crashes after 30mins.

 

[Old Dood]

Have you tried running your game box with the cover off and a fan blowing on it for any heat related problems? Also I have found for me (since I smoke) that I have to clean my system out once a month. Dust and dirt collects very fast. Dust will mess with your video card fans and then creating overheating. I run Ad Aware & Spy Bot religiously all the time. What Ad Aware misses...Spy bot will get...and visa-versa.

 

[DaddyBird]

My PC is very new and if I take the cover off my waranty will be broken...PS. How do I get Spy aware and spy Bot?

Thanx.

 

[Old Dood]

My PC is very new and if I take the cover off my waranty will be broken...PS. How do I get Spy aware and spy Bot?

Thanx.

Huh?!? What brand is your computer? I open my Dell all the time. When you buy upgrades for it, Dell expects me to open it to install the upgrades....why would that void your warranty?

Try a Google Search for "Ad Aware" & "Spy Bot Search & Destroy". You will find the FREE downloads that way.

 

[DaddyBird]

I've got an Acer, and there's a waranty seal.....If I open it my waranty will be gone I think.

 

[Old Dood]

I've got an Acer, and there's a waranty seal.....If I open it my waranty will be gone I think.

Sorry to say that is just plain stoopid in this day and age. How are you suppose to clean it out? Then if it is still under waranty then take it back. Where did you get it? Best Buy? Circuit City? Internet?

The first think I ever do with a new box is open it to see how it was built. To see what size ram chips are installed. To make sure there are no cards unseated and the like.