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agilen
n00b
Joined: 14 Aug 2002
Posts: 39
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 Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 1:43 am Post subject: Gaming woes with Nforce2 :-( |
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I am having all sorts of problems with games. The general way it goes is the games start up fine, play for a while, then segfault at seemingly random places (its almost never the same place). This happened in America's Army, Tuxracer, and even if glxgears runs for long enough.
The system is a Shuttle XPC, the SN41G2, which has an Nforce2 IGP (GeForce4) which I am using. I have tried gentoo-sources and gaming-sources (2.4.20, the current release of each), and have played with the AGP settings, using Option "NvAgp"...it segfaults with "0" (no AGP) and "2" (agpgart), and seems to hard lock the system with "1" (nvagp). Everything except 3d seems to work fine for me.
Has anyone else had problems like this? Is it a hardware thing? (I hope not.) BIOS setting? Or are the drivers just bad for this particular setup?
I'd appreciate any insight, as it'd be nice to play some games under Gentoo. |
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Fmangeant
n00b
Joined: 13 Apr 2002
Posts: 30
Location: France
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agilen
n00b
Joined: 14 Aug 2002
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, but I _think_ I've already tried that...is it the same thing as the AGPGART Nforce2 driver in the gaming-sources kernel?
Anyway, I seemed to have solved the problem....apparently the RAM I have, while claiming to run at 333mHz, is only stable at 266. So, I'll be having a word with the people who sold it to me.
What brand of memory will be stable at 333mHz? |
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necrosus
n00b
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 15
Location: Belfast, UK
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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I had a similar problem with an nforce 2 system i built crashing all the time at random points
It was also the RAM, at 333(166) running the Memtest-86 program generated 135000 errors!, at 266(133) everything worked fine. I think the problem is a mixture between cheap RAM and the Nforce 2 motherboards being extremely picky. Actually it also cost me 10fps  .
Havent bought any RAM to replace my cheap RAM so i am not sure what is the best brand. |
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kosamae
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Posts: 133
Location: (__)(__)
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually, I think that RAM thing goes waaaay back with Athlon chipsets. I'm surprised there's still some problems with current boards. I've got 3 Athlons going from 800mHz to XP1800+, and I've always had to be really picky with my RAM. You probably almost make up the difference in price between AMD and comparable Intel chips with the price difference between the cheapo RAM Intel chips don't seem to have a problem with, and the stuff that AMD suggests you use. |
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TheAgent
n00b
Joined: 23 May 2003
Posts: 29
Location: Waukesha, WI
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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I have the same system, and I have not had any problems with games (although I haven't played a game for a very long period of time).
I'd say check to make sure that heat isn't the problem - i.e. take the case off while you game and see if that helps.
Then download the memtest86 iso and burn it to a CD and boot from there. Let it run all the way through the test and see if it comes up with any errors.
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TheAgent
Total Linux N00b
Shuttle SN41G2:
Athlon XP 2100+
512 MB Corsair PC2700
40GB Maxtor
NForce2 Soundstorm, VGA, Network |
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agilen
n00b
Joined: 14 Aug 2002
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Hmmm, memtest86 reports no errors. But from what I can gather from other boards around the net, the Crucial memory that I've got doesn't run too well with the sn41g2 using the on-board graphics. So, I can either get a new graphics card, or get different RAM. |
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TheAgent
n00b
Joined: 23 May 2003
Posts: 29
Location: Waukesha, WI
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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If you go the new RAM route, which would definitely be cheaper, you can nab a 512 stick of Corsair PC2700 from newegg for ~$50, IIRC. My sn41g2 loves this stick of Corsair.
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TheAgent
Total Linux N00b
Shuttle SN41G2:
Athlon XP 2100+
512 MB Corsair PC2700
40GB Maxtor
NForce2 Soundstorm, VGA, Network |
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Glorandar
n00b
Joined: 15 Jun 2003
Posts: 64
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 1:37 pm Post subject: Carefully choose your nforce2 motherboard's memory |
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| Quote: | | the problem is a mixture between cheap RAM and the Nforce 2 motherboards being extremely picky |
I had a long odyssey of dealing with an unstable nforce2 system. It would corrupt the operating system install (under windows XP), it would also crash during games. I couldn't get linux to install. It was just generally unstable.
It turned out my problem was memory. An experienced computer technician listened to my woes for about 30 seconds and then said: "nforce2 boards are very picky about their memory, buy the best, I use corsair's twin-x and it works great..."
My advice? Do what I finally did. Find a reputable memory maker (I chose Corsair) and then determine their recommendation for your motherboard. Buy their recommended memory and then use it. If it costs a few extra dollars... oh well, the stability is worth it, isn't it?
I am not saying you must use Corsair, I am just saying use some good reputation memory manufacturer's recommended memory with your nforce2 motherboard.
My current system (which is very stable):
ASUS A7N8X-deluxe
Athlon XP 2100+
Corsair TWINX1024-3200LL PC3200
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----- Glorandar |
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SQLBoy
Guru
Joined: 17 Aug 2002
Posts: 381
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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Most Nforce2 motherboard manufacturers have a list of RAM they have tested on the board that works. I suggest simply picking from that list. Normally thought, you can't go wrong with Corsair or OCZ.
Also, many Nforce2 boards are suffering that problem, even with good RAM. Look for a bios update as well. |
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