Vid Card Problem

[Ð88]

Ok actually i don't know if it is the video card thats doing it but its the logical problem. Whenever I run a game, it will randomly just shut down the monitor. The computer continues to run just the monitor goes off. I have no idea what would be causing this.

Here's my computer specs:
AMD 3500+
ASUS AN8-SLI Deluxe mobo
XFX 6600GT GPU
Corsair TwinX DIMMs 1GB
Western Digital 160GB HD

If anyone knows what the problem could be please help me out! I just built this computer(which is actually my first) so I suppose there's bound to be certain problems, i just don't know how to fix this one.

[Mental Liberator]

If the monitor goes into save power mode or whatever, try to take the VGA/DVI chord out and switch it around and put it in nice and tight between the two. Also make sure there isn't any PCI device that's blocking the air ventalation for the GPU. Hope this helps.

[Ð88]

I checked all that and it appears to be fine. Nothing is blocking the fan for the GPU and the temperature seems normal.

[Mental Liberator]

Did you switch around the VGA/DVI chord like I said? Like littery unplugging both sides and than switching them around, also try to install the latest drivers.

[rdcmmnst]

Does it shut off like all the power go out? Or does it just go into stand by? Have you checked your power cord and the settings on the monitor itself?

[lurkswithin]

control panel>power options and make sure the power scheme is set to "always on" and that standby is set to "never" then on the hibernation tab make sure it is unchecked to disengage hibernating
let us know if that helps.
If not post back with the game that you are playing

[Ð88]

Originally Posted by BanChan

Did you switch around the VGA/DVI chord like I said? Like littery unplugging both sides and than switching them around, also try to install the latest drivers.

Yes I tried that and it doesn't seem to change anything. I installed all the latest drivers and still have problems.

Originally Posted by rdcmmnst

Does it shut off like all the power go out? Or does it just go into stand by? Have you checked your power cord and the settings on the monitor itself?

It would be the same if a person had unplugged the VGA cord but left the monitor power cord plugged in. It only seems to do it though when I play this game.

Originally Posted by lurkswithin

If not post back with the game that you are playing

The game I am playing is called Global Operations, its like some old game that my windows 98 computer would run fine. I don't have any of the newer games out so I just installed this one to see if the vid card was at least working. The game worked the first time I tried it without the monitor shutting off but now it seems to do it right away as soon as gameplay actually starts.

I don't know why now, but another problem has come up. I'm on another computer right now because when I just turned on the one that I'm have the graphics card problems I can't do anything because I get this message "Invalid access to memory location" on absolutely every application I try to open. This is getting frustrating because things were working just fine up until now.

EDIT - Ok I'm back on my new computer and its not doing the memory thing now.

[Ð88]

Originally Posted by lurkswithin

control panel>power options and make sure the power scheme is set to "always on" and that standby is set to "never" then on the hibernation tab make sure it is unchecked to disengage hibernating
let us know if that helps.

I went into the power settings and found that it wasn't set to "always on" and the setting for turn off monitor was on "after 20 min". Now this could have been the problem but it didn't make sense that the screen wouldnt shut off at any other time either than while playing a game. Anyways, on a higher note, the problem seems to be fixed now. I just ran the game and played for about 15 min and the monitor didn't turn off. Hopefully the problem has been fixed permanently.

BTW, just to ask, what is the cause for getting the other problem I mentioned where it says "invalid access to memory location"?

[rdcmmnst]

yay. I think that was problem probably has to do something with the ram. It could have been something that was temporary like it was idling to long the system went into hibernation and the ram didn't start back up. So just reboot and it should be fine.

[Ð88]

AHHH! I guess I spoke too soon, the problem started up again. I have no clue why the game will work at times and then have major issues at other times. The monitor just shuts down again. I've read that there can be heat issues and/or frequency issues that can cause these problems as well. I've also read that the problem is definitely not monitor related at all and that it's the GPU. Any ideas?

[lurkswithin]

checking some old issues about it now...It is apparant that it tries to call up a certain DLL file and the call up is redirected to a different DLL for some ungodly reason. and then the error message. And the debugger shows a DCOM error...interesting...be back in a bit

[lurkswithin]

are you using a computer with centrino processor in it and do you have SP2 installed?

[lurkswithin]

Ok , Ran down the issue....
because of the centrino proccessor and the installation of SP2 a "data Execution Prevention" (DEP) is initiated because of the security issues of SP2 and normally would be ignored but because of the centrino processor it is preventing the registering of an OCX (active X)file when called. Basically what happens is that when activated, DEP
imposes limitations on certain programs and stops them from operating....in your case the order to stop the active x file as called from the game to not work or to limit it....your monitor shuts down and prevents it from installing(registering)... There is not a surefire fix to this as it supposedly only happens with the centrino proceesors and SP2. The DEP is ignored with other processors so has not become an issue.
The only work around is to turn off the DEP:
Turn off the DEP feature in Windows XP SP2

If you need the functionality of the incompatible driver, you can turn off the DEP feature. To do this, follow these steps: 1.Restart your computer.2.During the restart process, press F8.

Note On a computer that is configured to start multiple operating systems, press F8 when the Startup menu appears.3.Use the arrow keys to select a Safe Mode option, and then press ENTER.4.Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.5.At the command prompt, type the following, and then press ENTER: bootcfg /raw “/noexecute=alwaysoff /fastdetect” /id 1
Note If you have multiple start entries or start options, you may have to manually modify the Boot.ini file for your computer. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.b. On the Advanced tab, under Startup and Recovery, click Settings.c. In the Startup and Recovery dialog box, click Edit.d. Change the /noexecute option to the following: /noexecute=alwaysoff
e. On the File menu, click Save, and then click Exit.f. Click OK two times.6.Restart your computer.



Hope this fixes it for you. Keep me posted!

[Ð88]

But if im not mistaken, isn't a centrino processor something that intel makes? I run an AMD Athlon 3500+ winchester. And yes SP2 is installed.

[Kage]

Yeah, it won't be that then
Good job though lurkswithin

This could be something to do with the resoloution games are running at, which might be too high for your monitor and would cause the monitor to go into standby since it can't understand what it is being asked to do

Go into the driver settings for the video card (right click desktop, go to Properties, Settings tab, and then the Advanced button at the bottom)

and check if there are any settings for running 3D games on an automatic setting within the video card settings (not sure if there is though worth a shot), and if so, lower the res down to 1024x768 and try running a game again

If this isn't there though (because im not sure about Nvidia drivers), then go into the Monitor settings within Advanced and simply lower down the maxiumum resoloution capable to display on the monitor (1024x768 is a good standard) which will mean that if a game is set to run at a higher res than your monitor can handle, it will be forced to run at the max stated by this setting, which will hopefully cause games to work again

I hope this helps

[Ð88]

Ok I can try that. And yeah props to lurkswithin man great job on trying to find a source to the problem. You're definitely helping me out the most out of anyone.

[Kage]

Yeah, hopefully that'll work for you At least the monitor setting (the second suggestion)