630i/7100 freezing in game

[mrjrclark]

I sure hope someone can help me. I got a 630i/7100 in a BB kit from tigerdirect.com and it seems that no matter what I do, all my games freeze in a matter of seconds to a few short minutes. I replace my PSU, thinking the one that came with it wasnt powerful enough, and it still freezed up. So, I updated all the drivers to the latest on XFX's site, still freezed on me. So, I did a bios update, praying that that would fix it, still freezing on me. I have run memtest86+, no errors, then did a CPU test with Prime, no problems. Ran PCmark, runs fine, then did a 3Dmark, and it freezes on like the 2nd or 3rd test every time. I dont know where to turn from here, aside just send the board back and try a new one, but I dont want to wait that long. Any help would be awesome.


SYS Config:

OS: Windows XP Media Center (sp3)
CPU: Intell Pentium D 3.20GHz @ 3200MHZ
MEM: 3gig Cruical (512 shaired with video)
Direct X v.9.0c (4.09.00.0904)

[foxmobouser]

If you are using the onboard graphics from them mobo then I'd have to say those are not too good for gaming and you will need to get a graphics card. If you already have a graphics card than what is it and that is what is causing the problems.

[mrjrclark]

Well, yeah, I know that the onboard is not good enough for games like FEAR and COD4, but I cant even play my less graphics intensive party games like You Dont Know Jack, or even games like Sim City 2000 or Civ or even QuakeIII.

"you will need to get a graphics card. If you already have a graphics card than what is it and that is what is causing the problems."

I did, and sorry I forgot to mention that I did take out my ATI Radeon X1550 512mb DDR2 HD PCI graphics card out of one of my other PCs to run the games, but even that guy freezes up. Though I can run games like Spore, Total Overdose, GTA 3, and Quake 4 on that card, on a slower computer with 1gig of ddr1 ram, a P2 running at 2.1ghz. So, considering that those games will run on that card, on a much older PC, and MUCH slower, hypotheticaly, you think they would run on my new PC with the XFX 630i/7100 with so much more ram and a hetter CPU.

So, what now? Still at a loss.

[foxmobouser]

hmm

1. Check your graphics drivers, try different versions if possible

2. ATI cards dont really go well with nvidia boards, that may not be the issue but it can be a part of it

[mrjrclark]

"1. Check your graphics drivers, try different versions if possible"

I have tried the previous 3 drivers or so for my ATI card. Still freezing on me.

"2. ATI cards dont really go well with nvidia boards, that may not be the issue but it can be a part of it"

I may be ordering a newer gForce card for my comp, but that will be in 2 1/2 paychecks, got some other things I need to take care of first. But, by that time, when I finally get the new video card, and realize that its not the video card's faults at all, it will be to late to RMA my mobo with TigerDirect.com, therfore, I will have to wait longer with XFX to RMA the mobo. I dont want to do that

Is there any kind of diag. program that I can run on my mobo, like I did my ram and CPU to just verify that the mobo is f'ed? I just dont understand that even YDKJ and Sim City and Starcraft, all the games that only require like a 16mb video card, and 128mb ram are freezing on a computer that has 1000x's more than the sugested requirements, with the on board, or with my ATI card. Its only games, I just dont get it! Its so frustrating, you buy somthing that is new, and you expect it to work.

And just so you know, I have tried reinstalling windows mulitiple times now, probably about 7 times. What a bear it is to format my 500gig, takes some time. :(

[Goliath182]

There is something wrong with your mobo, or OS install. If you can reinsall the OS, otherwise RMA it, because thats not normal.

[mrjrclark]

Thats what I am thinking. But is there any way I can test the mobo just to make sure?

[foxmobouser]

Haven't come across any software for mobo testing, I think its all pretty much troubleshooting.

I'd take out the ATI card and its drivers first then only run tests on the onboard graphics with nvidia drivers for it using low game settings and lower 3dmark settings. If your running your memory at stock you might want to consider bumping up the volts a bit to make sure its getting enough power when under stress and you can even loosen the memory timings to eliminate the posibility of some memory conflict.

If you cant solve the problem then RMA it and get a different board if you can.

I have a EVGA 610i paired with 8800gt and it runs Unreal Tournament demo without a flinch.

[mrjrclark]

"I'd take out the ATI card and its drivers first then only run tests on the onboard graphics with nvidia drivers for it using low game settings and lower 3dmark settings."

I ran all my games first without the ATI card, and thats when I noticed the problem. After having so many problems w/o a separate graphics card, I then decided to put in the ATI card I got for my other comp, the one I use as a tevo, in. But before I did all that, I did, however, run tests on my mobo (with the staibility test that comes with the drivers disk) and ran into problems then. It was only after the intial problems I then decided to pop in the ATI card, which still had, and has, all the same problems as before.

I am leaning more and more towards my mobo being faulty, but TigerDirect does not have that mobo for RMA anymore, I will have to try and convince XFX that its their mobo's fault, or so to say. I just hope they didnt decide to cut the mobo out of prodution and I will have to pay for an upgrade.

[foxmobouser]

I think, or at least from what ive read here xfx pretty much upgrades you hardware, weather its a card or mobo to a newer model if your falulty one isnt in production still. You should prolly start a ticket with them if you plan on going that way.

[mrjrclark]

Great, now the mobo isnt working with the 2 gig RAM and only the 1 gig, but its only telling me that I have 892mb on the 1gig. Ug! This is really starting to make me upset. Does anyone know how long it takes for XFX to do an RMA board?

[mrjrclark]

Now Prime95 is locking up on me and so are simple tasks such as checking out You Tube videos. I have left a ticket with XFX, for about a week now, and I have yet to get a response back from them. I have a suspicion that my northgate bridge is going out on me, and quickly. Is there any way that I can test the northgate? And does anyone know how long it takes for XFX to answer a support ticket?

[mrjrclark]

Ok, so now I can run Prime95 on Small FFTs and it went for almost 22 hours befor I stopped it, no errors. Then ran Memtest86+ for about 8 hours before I stopped it, on the only 1gig stick my mobo will read, no errors. So, now I think I have gotten it down to the northgate on my mobo. I am still looking, is there anyway that I can test the NG to see how healthy it auctally is?

[rapboy]

:frown:the main problem is the games when i play any game specially high graphics game after awhile from playing the game the computer is hooked (freeze) and ahook (freeze) sound from my subwoofer
and no response but it doesn't restart automatically and i have to restart manually
and i tried to use the build in vga instead of the buile out vga and the problem is still the same at both vgas :redface:

[mrjrclark]

Ok, for real. The service department at XFX sucks! Its been about a month now with no real answer to my questions about my board not working correctly, and 2 months since my first question was even asked. It is now too late to send it back to Tiger Direct, and from what I understand, the only way you can return a board to XFX is if you get an RMA through the service ticket deal on XFX's web site, which they NEVER answer. After this whole mess, I dont think I will ever purchase a mobo from XFX again.