Hello all!

I am getting CTDs during single player missions... The time it happens most is when I'm in the cockpit in the middle of an intense dogfight and looking around a lot. I'm running the sim with no post effects, low terrain detail, medium textures with shadows on at 1024x768 resolution with no FSAA or anisotropy filtering. Everything else on low and V-sync is on.

System specs:

Windows XP Pro SP3 w/latest DX 9 build
Ultra X-Connect 500W PSU
Gigabyte GA-K8NS-939 motherboard
AMD Dual Core 4200+
2GB Kingston PC3200 DDR400 memory (2x1GB sticks)
256mb AGP BFG NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS OC @ 466Mhz core and 1,300Mhz memory
Seagate 250GB SATA hard drive @ 7200 RPM
Western Digital 320GB ATA100 hard drive @ 7200 RPM
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card
Logitech Logitech's Z-5300e 5.1 speaker system
Buslink DVD-ROM drive
Buslink DVD+-RW/+-R and CD-RW/-R drive
All-in-one Floppy drive/Compact Flash/Microdrive/SD/MMMC/Sony Memstick and Memstick Pro/Smart Media card reader
Samsung SyncMaster 997DF 19in. monitor
Belkin USB 2.0 7-port hub
Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar stock joystick
Thrustmaster Elite rudder pedals
Saitek AV8R USB joystick
Creative WebCam NX Ultra
Razer Copperhead USB mouse
Logitech G15 Gaming USB keyboard
TrackIR 3 Pro w/Vector expansion

That's a lot of kit to be hanging off a 500W power supply

Ming

Not really. The USB hub I have is self powered (Which is where most of my USB devices reside), as is the speaker system. Nothing else I play regularly CTDs like RoF (BF2, BF1942, IL-2: 1946, HL2, MoHAA, SDOE, Doom 3, GTL and so on are all running fine after extended play). This system is 3+ years old now, 500W PSUs were above the norm then.

Jason, I get the same type of crashes with similar settings.

Here is my basic system configuration running Windows Vista Home Premium (32 bit) SP2.

System Type: Dell Inspiron Desktop 530

Quantity Parts # Part Description
1 DU685 Processor, E6550, 2.33, 4MB Core Duo Kentsfield
1 WN585 INSTRUCTION..., DEVIATE L6 TO L5+, Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.0GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB...
1 CK630 Display, Flat Panel, 20, E207WFP, Black, Dell Americas Operations
1 Y9457 Card, Controller, 1394A, PC Interface, Full Height, Adaptec Lead Free
4 WM552 Dual In-Line Memory Module, 1G 800M, 128X64, 8, 240, 2RX8
1 CR582 Assembly, Compact Disk Read Write/Digital Video Disk DriveCombo
1 WX094 Card, Graphics, 258, NVidia 8600 GT MRMGA+3B
1 CW026 Hard Drive, 320G, S2, 7.2K, 16M Lead Free, Samsung
1 PK003 Assembly, DVD+/-RW..., Half Height BARE, Phillip Ben Q Data Storage
1 CN481 ASSEMBLY..., CHASSIS..., MNTW, Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.0GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB..., NON PFC..., PWA INTEGRATED...

Do you have onboard sound or a dedicated sound card?

Heat of course could be, take the case covers off and go again

Ming

It is a Realtek ALC888 HD Audio sound card.

Could this be a culprit?

I am running the lowest setting for the audio in the game.

I was thinking that it might be my processor and video card since it is below the minimum specs.

Processor, E6550, 2.33, 4MB Core Duo Kentsfield
nVidia GeForce8600 GT (256MB PCI-Express x16 Dual DVI )

Thanks,

Mike

I'm using Realtek ALC889A audio with no problem. I know it isn't the same, but chances are it isn't the audio. Realtek is pretty good in regards to compatibility. My last 3 systems all had Realtek onboard audio and never a problem with any of them.

I think Ming might be right. It is probably heat related. When was the last time you cleaned the heatsink and reapplied thermal paste?

Well, I have cleaned the heat sink using canned air but never messed with removing the processor or card. Will try that this weekend and see if it makes a difference. I'll admit my system is long in the tooth (Purchased Dec 2007) but trying to run everything at minimum settings seems to help. I will check my driver version and make sure it is the latest as well.

Thanks to all for the help.

-Mike

I blow out my PC all the time, new thermal paste and cleaned the heat sink bottom and CPU top off five months ago.