VPU Recovery in UT2004

23-07-2005, 17:26

OK, so I get the new fan for my 9800XT, and now the temperature is 66-68C underload (no artifacts and benchmarking many times with 3DMark03 doesn't cause any problems) so now it's being cooled correctly.

All my games except Unreal 2, UT2003 and UT2004 run absolutely fine in high details (especially CoD, everything on full doesn't cause my frame to drop).

By the looks of it this problem I'm having is a software problem, as now Unreal 2, UT2003 and UT2004 keep giving me a VPU recovery message randomly while ingame. The ATI drivers are successful at reseting the GPU, and then it can be 10+ minutes before another VPU recovery message will appear.

I've done a total unistall (and clear of drivers) of the ATI drivers and installed 5.7 totally fresh, which hasn't had an affect.

At the moment I'm thinking of formatting and re-installing 2000 Pro.

Any one know what the hell is going on? I am totally stumped for ideas now, and ATI don't seem to be helping me much

TheBlueRaja · 23-07-2005, 17:49

Something is wrong with your GFX card - it IS getting too hot and causing UT2004 to blow out.

Have you checked that the new fan is on correctly and have you put thermal paste (a very small amount) on the die between the GPU and the fan?

This will be the GFX card dont bother with the format. If you want to test it - underclock your GFX card memory and GPU to see if it allows you to play longer.

23-07-2005, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Something is wrong with your GFX card - it IS getting too hot and causing UT2004 to blow out.

Have you checked that the new fan is on correctly and have you put thermal paste (a very small amount) on the die between the GPU and the fan?

This will be the GFX card dont bother with the format. If you want to test it - underclock your GFX card memory and GPU to see if it allows you to play longer.

I'll re-check the heatsink and see if the temperature gets any better. I'll try underclocking it if the temperature stays the same.

Paul · 23-07-2005, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Something is wrong with your GFX card - it IS getting too hot and causing UT2004 to blow out.

Have you checked that the new fan is on correctly and have you put thermal paste (a very small amount) on the die between the GPU and the fan?

This will be the GFX card dont bother with the format. If you want to test it - underclock your GFX card memory and GPU to see if it allows you to play longer.

I'll re-check the heatsink and see if the temperature gets any better. I'll try underclocking it if the temperature stays the same.

Is it running it's standard speed at the moment or is it overclocked?

TheBlueRaja · 23-07-2005, 17:56

Try this tool for testing your GFX card...

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

Its got a really good artifact tester on it - i would recommend though that you run it for at least half an hour with no artifacts before being confident its ok.

23-07-2005, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Is it running it's standard speed at the moment or is it overclocked?

It's running at stock levels, I don't like to overclock my hardware.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Try this tool for testing your GFX card...

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

Its got a really good artifact tester on it - i would recommend though that you run it for at least half an hour with no artifacts before being confident its ok.

I ran that for about 10 minutes this morning, got to 69C and didn't show any artifacts. Will try 30 minutes now.

Paul · 23-07-2005, 17:58

I'd recommend trying older drivers for the card, I've read reports that the 5.4 or 5.5 drivers were more stable. It would help to check if it's driver caused or heat.

23-07-2005, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

I'd recommend trying older drivers for the card, I've read reports that the 5.4 or 5.5 drivers were more stable. It would help to check if it's driver caused or heat.

Luckily I have version 4.1 on CD, so if this tests passes (which it is 12 minutes in, 70-71C max, no errors found) I'll give them an install (I'll use ATI's software remove tool, and clear any temp install files for the driver).

TheBlueRaja · 23-07-2005, 18:17

Have you tried drivercleaner?

http://www.drivercleaner.net/dc.htm

23-07-2005, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Have you tried drivercleaner?

http://www.drivercleaner.net/dc.htm

I'll be honist, I've never heard of it

Will use it if this test passes (22 minutes in, 70-71C, no errors).

**David F** · 23-07-2005, 19:49

I think you need to invest in some heavier cooling for the card

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...of_Zalman.html

I run the second one down

also as paul says try some older drivers

TheBlueRaja · 23-07-2005, 19:52

I actually doubt this is the drivers, simply because that if it were people would have reported problem over on Rage3D.

I would first do the following - go into your BIOS and change your AGP volutage to 1.7 volts to give your card a little bit more juice as it may be that your mobo is undervolting and ATi cards work better at 1.7 volts in my experience anyway, secondly and probably less effective this one - change you AGP aperture size to 64meg - this is what Ati recommend you set for your card.

Then try UT again.

23-07-2005, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

I actually doubt this is the drivers, simply because that if it were people would have reported problem over on Rage3D.

I would first do the following - go into your BIOS and change your AGP volutage to 1.7 volts to give your card a little bit more juice as it may be that your mobo is undervolting and ATi cards work better at 1.7 volts in my experience anyway, secondly and probably less effective this one - change you AGP aperture size to 64meg - this is what Ati recommend you set for your card.

Then try UT again.

Don't think it is possible to change the voltage on my motherboard (Asus A7V600-X).

I did a little test of my own, I tried UT2004 in OpenGL. Guess what, no GPU crashes, but with a frame of 5-10 with everything set to low it's impossible to play, so it must be a bug/problem in D3D and DirectX somewhere

Richard M · 23-07-2005, 20:01

Like I said on MSN - reinstall the game before you do anything else.
Not reinstalling games between my 9800 Pro and the X850 caused me a whole load of trouble (CoD wouldn't even run).

TheBlueRaja · 23-07-2005, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

Don't think it is possible to change the voltage on my motherboard (Asus A7V600-X).

I did a little test of my own, I tried UT2004 in OpenGL. Guess what, no GPU crashes, but with a frame of 5-10 with everything set to low it's impossible to play, so it must be a bug/problem in D3D and DirectX somewhere

Okay - i cant find anywhere either for that board that will let you change the AGP voltage.

I also hear what your saying with the OpenGl test but its not really testing the Direct-X features of the card either though - have you tried underclocking yet to see what happens?