Constant video card crashing but only with CoH.

I made the change Hyperstrike suggested. We'll see what happens. If it is just because CoH runs on OpenGL, is there anything I can do about it? Or am I just SoL?

Thought I'd share this with everyone. I did a bit more google searching on the error I was given and apparently this is a somewhat common problem. I did what was suggested on this website: http://gylsheaven.wordpress.com/2010...windows-7-tdr/

I'll keep you guys updated on whether or not I have anymore crashes.

Update:

I changed my TdrDelay to 5 seconds, video card crashed with the same error. Changed it to 8 seconds, crashed again with the same error. At least, I think I changed it... the instructions I kept finding were for XP, not Vista, and I'm not 100% sure I did it right. I downloaded a program to check the temps of my computer. The video card is sitting at a chill 111 degrees. So basically, I've gotten no closer to finding an answer. :/ I submitted a question to NVIDIA customer support, we'll see what they have to say.

That was an interesting read.

Mamameg: Anything more you can tell us about your laptop? Make and model can help out. I'm sure there is probably another coh player that has the same model of laptop as you have. It might be helpful for coming up with a diagnosis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerraShock There seems to be no one set solution for the error. Some have reported turing off windows eye candy helps, (aero), some rolling back drivers, disabling nvidia hdmi audio, to jumping up and down on one leg while whistling..... I've had a similiar error but not in COX, just World of Tanks, and at times browsing with Firefox. I was able to set "max performance" in nvidia control panel, and downclock my memory which helped with World of Tanks, and disabling hardware acceleration in firefox and flash, to fix my brower issue. Do the crashes occur in safemode? Also use a program to check your card temps while gaming, and see if it's running hot. Cards have had issues with solder joints being weak, and as they get warm connections are lost. HWMonitor and GPUZ are a couple I use for checking temps. Some 100 pages of discussion on the issue here, http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?s...ic=187401&st=0

Hmm... I thought I posted that already but perhaps not.

Manufacturer: Gateway
Model: P-79
Processor: Intel (R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8700 @ 2.53GHz 2.53GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 4.00 GB
System type: 64-bit Operating System

It runs Windows 7 Home Premium SP1. It's a pretty sexy "gaming laptop", if those truly exist.

http://support.gateway.com/s/noteboo...79/p79nv.shtml

While scrolling through the Gameplay/Technical Issues & Bugs section, I came across another thread of a person who has the exact same issue as me.
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=274745
Advice was given there that I followed. I'll update again if my video card crashes.

That was a fairly popular "gaming" laptop.

If those settings work, please let us know. I'm sure there are other P79 users out there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaMeg Hmm... I thought I posted that already but perhaps not. Manufacturer: Gateway Model: P-79 Processor: Intel (R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8700 @ 2.53GHz 2.53GHz Installed memory (RAM): 4.00 GB System type: 64-bit Operating System It runs Windows 7 Home Premium SP1. It's a pretty sexy "gaming laptop", if those truly exist. http://support.gateway.com/s/noteboo...79/p79nv.shtml While scrolling through the Gameplay/Technical Issues & Bugs section, I came across another thread of a person who has the exact same issue as me. http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=274745 Advice was given there that I followed. I'll update again if my video card crashes.

I hate to speak too soon but I think those settings worked. I had one mission in First Ward that I had attempted no less than 6 times and was never able to complete because the video card crashed EVERY SINGLE time, before I could get even halfway through the mission. After changing my settings, I was able to complete that mission plus a couple of the followups without a single issue. This may be a solution! I'll post again if I crash.

CRAP! I've been playing all day and I thought I was fine, but the video card just crashed again. :c I feel defeated.

C'mon we gotta get you working!

My brain is slowly dissolving.. so I'll keep this short.

1)
I noticed you had both Trend Micro Internet Security and McAfee Site Advisor installed.
There could be a software conflict between McAfee and Trend Micro.

2)
I'd like to also request clarification on that temperature of "111". If it's 111F that's healthy.. if it's 111C then the laptop probably needs cleaning (internally)* or it could be dead within a week.

* I do not recommend opening the laptop's case yourself unless you are a qualified professional.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McNum Between the Loyalists and Resistance, I'd be tempted to support Praetorian Hamidon. One side uses mind police and will "disappear" you and the other uses poison gas and bombs on civilians. Hamidon? He'll just have a tree eat you. Much simpler. If we're all going to be oppressed and/or killed by someone, it might as well be the walking trees. At least they don't speak in annoying code or doublespeak. They just devour you.

I've uninstalled McAfee Site Advisor. My gut is telling me that this isn't the issue, but I don't need it on here anyway. The temperature is Fahrenheit. Here's a screenshot of the hardware monitor currently. The computer has been on for maybe 10 minutes. The 111 degree temperature I reported last time was after it had been on for several hours.

Ok, here is a possible problem. You have to check the temperature while the game is running. Opengl graphics put a huge stress on the video chip. Idle temperatures have absolutely zero connection with stress temperatures. I've had video cards in the past that were failing and although they would be at normal operational temperatures when just surfing the net or whatever, they would spike and shut down once I opened CoH.

Not that I think it's necessarily a temperature problem. I also did a search and saw that some nvidia systems seem to be having the exact same problem with any game that uses opengl. And the only solution I've seen is lowering the resolution, and even that doesn't work for everybody. I'm sure a real solution will show up in a future driver release but until then we can only test programs or circumstances that might be adding to the problem.

I just ran the hardware monitor again while in Pocket D awaiting a full group for BAF. 113F. Thanks for your input Mandu. I guess I have to wait for a driver update or something to make this better. I just hope it happens sooner rather than later!

Just updating the for the sake of anyone who cares or who might also be having the issue I am.

NVIDIA support requested I downloaded a beta version of a new driver to see if that fixed the issue. They said that if it doesn't, I might have to revert back to an old driver. I'm downloading the new driver now. I'll update this thread again if I crash. Le sigh.

I think, the 270ish drivers, for desktop nvidia cards, have been better for others with similiar issues. Here is a great site/forum for drivers and gpus. It may help you. http://forums.guru3d.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21

gl

Crashed again with the new beta driver. I've contacted NVIDIA, odds are they are going to have me revert back to an older driver which is fine by me. Hopefully that works!

Well I officially give up. I downloaded the 270 series driver and I went over 24 hours without crashing so I thought I was in the clear. Now I've crashed twice in the past 18 hours. Le sigh!

One more suggestion, you might try adjusting the nvidia control panel, "global settings" and select "prefer maximum performance".

This is suppose to keep the video card from "down clocking" avoiding the delay (TDR) the card experiences from going from 2D to 3D content. That has helped some people. GL

Ya know, I had done that with my previous driver but when I rolled back I forget to change that again. Thanks for the reminder, we'll see if it helps.

Meh. It's crashed on me twice since I changed that setting. :P I give up.

This isn't just you, a lot of people have similar issues, with much more powerful systems.

I have dual HD 6770's (1gb) in crossfire, a AMD Phenom x4 3.4 ghz processer and 32 gigs of ram, and I can watch as (In coh, and ONLY in coh) the gpu's both spike to 99% when I FIRST start the game, and after about 20 min the game gets very sluggish, textures fail to render, and eventualy, I get GPU error and the game closes.

No other game causes this, I can play crysis 2, bioshock 2, etc, with absolute max settings and both gpus MAYBE hit 60-70%. And compared to those 2 games above, CoH looks like utter complete crap. I can play 15 min TOPS with settings set to max in coh, up to 45 min before the crash if I lower all settings to 'butt fraking ugly' mode.(Maybe, still lags like a **** if i turn too fast outside)

This is NOT 'our' fault and its starting to make me sick that the only responses that are meant as 'help' are the replies of 'Oh i don't have an issue, so it can't be the game, get a new computer'

Honestly, this IS an issue they have to address, since I am betting a huge number of people who experience it, don't even have 'forum access' or don't bother to come here(And yes, them peoples heads off to new games. DUH. what a glorious way to keep your customers :P)

Tickets get ignored, and if/when U DO get 'help' its usually quite the opposite(God I wish i had recorded the last phone convo i had with nc soft support staff)

Edit, yes drivers are all up to date, even tried previous 2(Could not find any older) and same issue. Windows is updated. And cuz I'm sure some batty techie is gonna try to ask, no my firewall is not blocking it :P -Yes, techie wannabe's like to ask this even if its purely a gpx issue )

I just built the system about a month ago, and its been running clean, IE i scan daily for both viruses and malware, and everything is up to date. But just as a side note, my old system, a p4 with hd5570 and 4 gigs of ram also had no issues with the 'old' coh build, could even max out settings with a little slowdown, but no real issues, and THAT system can handle coh for at most 5-10 min before it crashes, and the card gets EXTREMELY hot.

This is a very obvious memory problem with the gpx. I am betting when they did the last update, they forgot to test something they changed/added.

So, if it's a heat issue, I propose another test/solution --

Get a copy of "Precision" from EVGA - http://www.evga.com/precision/

Run it before you start city of heroes and change the fan speed from auto to 100%. It will probably sound loud, but depending on how loud your speakers are (or headphones), that won't be an issue.


Edit: I've used precision while running CoX on an old dell with an 8800GT SSC and it seems to reliably address the crashing issue that seemingly afflicts the cryptic engine/open gl based games.