Voodoo 3 2000: I keep freezing/locking-up/rebooting in games. Please Help!

[CrashNFreeze]

Please help. Here goes:

MY PROBLEM: when ever i try and play a game, i go into it and after about 30 seconds to 3 minutes in the game, i either get:
a) a reboot
b) a freeze where NOTHING responds at all, so i have to hit the tower's power button.
c) a freeze where NOTHING RESPONDS, not even the tower's button, so i have to switch my PC off from the mains power socket in the wall.
d) a freeze where a siren noise comes out of the tower (or through the speakers - i'm not sure which) and again, i have to switch it off from the mains.

The order in which these events happen appears to be pretty random.
It never used to happen when the comp was new.. but then for some bizarre reason started to happen when i had Half-Life installed (?). I've since reformatted my HArd Drive and it still happens - even though the old info has been swiped (?).

Clues: I've noticed by playing one game, Operation Flashpoint, that it uses the GLIDE option, and i can play for about 40min/1.5 hours without a problem. However if i set the game to Direct3d settings, i get almost an instant crash about 30 seconds play at most. So i figure that if there's a mode of "stabilty" ie Glide, and a mode of "instabilty", ie direct3d, then maybe i could find a setting somewhere which allows normal gameplay without crashes? it also happens in Glide as well, especially in cut-scenes in the game. Or sometimes in the in-game menus(?).
In opengl (for Half life or Quake 3) it also crashes.
So far, the longest it goes is either in software mode (for HL), or glide (for op flashpoint) - BUT it still reboots after a while in any cut-scene or CGI scene.


MY SYSTEM: VOODOO 3 2000 AGP card (with latest drivers)
directx8.0a
Advent 8712, 450MHZ pent 3
DVD/CD ROM player
15Gig HD
128 MB RAM
Soundblaster card

STEPS I'VE TAKEN: I've installed the latest drivers for my voodoo 3, NOTHING works. I tried the standard drivers on the voodoo 3 disc and the latest drivers off the net. I've tried many directX versions.
I've reformatted my hard drive. NO result.
I've used scan disc thorough to repair errors.
I've defragmented the drive.
I've opened up the tower case and reinserted the graphics card.
I've opened the tower case and cleaned the cooling fan. The fan still works.
I've done everything and my comp still reboots in a GAME. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif
IT DOES NOT REBOOT OR CRASH WHILE WORKING NORMALLY OR WATCHING A DVD, ONLY IN A GAME, ANY GAME.

Please could anyone help me? Granted i know nothing about PCs, even though i've had mine for about 3 years now, i'm not that technical with it. From what i gather running dxdiag (no crashes while running the tests), it says everything's ok. The system devices don't register any conflicts.

SOLUTIONS? someone once suggested i need cooling in there somewhere (whatever that meant). Or that it could be a power supply problem, but how do i correct it? Would it be a good idea to buy a new 3d card? I'm looking for any advice that anyone could give me about anything!!

Thanks for reading. It would be nice to play games comfortably again, like i once used to.

PS: I've got this thread open in the tech support forum: http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/016614.html
but I thought that this Video Card forum may be more appropriate, and lead to more answers or perhaps a miracle solution. *Fingers crossed*



[This message has been edited by CrashNFreeze (edited 07-23-2001).]

[booya]

did you overclocked the card
and do not use the bios from 3dfx.com
i had problem with those drivers and dirext x 8.0 try some of these http://www.voodoofiles.com/s/3dfx

[booya]

ho and for the cooling well its good since the voodoo3 is a real toaster(when you oc it and before buying a new vid card like a geforce i would ge a much faster cpu like a 800 minimum http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[CrashNFreeze]

overclocking means tweaking the card to get faster graphic speeds? If that's the case, then no, i haven't done anything like that. I've just installed the drivers and nothing works.
I get a clock speed of 143 by the way.. i'm aware that by overclokcing you can get upto 180-200, but i'm not near this, so i can't have overclocked the card.
As for getting a faster CPU, my budget just won't allow this option, otherwise i'd have bought a new one.

I'm investigating the Sound Blaster drivers at the momment because i didn't install any driver updates since i got my comp 3 years ago, so maybe it can be sorted with new sound drivers.. it's the only option that i haven't tried.

[prexaspes]

Ho and get the new goods...
I'm to ugly to do that http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[CrashNFreeze]

it's not a sound driver issue. New drivers don't solve this problem! the problem persists!.. someone help me please! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[Ricardo]

Well Crash, seems to me that you have a heat problem. Even not overclocked the Voodoo 3 is one card that need to be cooled more efficently than a simple heatsink. Mine, one Voodoo 3-3000 is running at 190Mhz with the factory heatsink but a 60 mm fan over it. So, I think that the first step to find if your problem is really related with the hot problems is to put one fan over the heatsink(it´s easy to attach, you can use screws or glue or rubber tires)and another good thing is to remove the heatsink and put some thermal paste between the gpu and the heatsink(I did this, and believe me, it works). Keep us informed about!

Good luck http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[CrashNFreeze]

i'm new to the FAN/COOLER issues, so it's a little hard for me to grasp as i'm awful with hardware problems. Is there an online guide to installing fans? or somewhere with pictures to help me identify parts inside the tower?

Here's a pic of one of the fans i've noticed in my tower: http://www.kanection.co.uk/images/pc/fan_p3.jpg
There's also one directly above it, pointing down on it (at the floor), inside the top of the tower. It's much larger.

[This message has been edited by CrashNFreeze (edited 07-24-2001).]

[booya]

try installing new voodoo3 drivers i had problem with the 3dfx.com drivers and direct x 8

[Ricardo]

Hi Crash ! Sorry about the delay in answer you. Well my friend, I´m affraid that my poor english isn´t good enough to tell you what to do(I´m a brasilian guy), but I´ll try.
First of all, you only have rpm if you have a fan installed on the mainboard. Normally you have three conectors in the mainboard to attach fans, one for cpu, one for power supply and one for the mainboard. It´s normal to have only one fan attached, the cpu fan, the others are almost unused for the factories. For example: A good idea is to have an 80 mm fan blowing fresh air from outside the case to inside, in tower cases is normal to put this fan in the internal panel, behind the plastic cover, probably you will see some hole or a lot of small holes, making a circle, in this internal panel with the diameter of approx. 80 mm, this is the place to put the mainboard fan. This fan will help the circulation of the air inside the case, as the power supply fan blow out the hot air from the case.
But in your case, my suggestion is to put a small fan, 40 or 60 mm fan directly over the aluminum heatsink of your Voodoo card(the big silver metal piece attached in). I will try to find a site where you can see photos showing something like I´m trying to explain to you.
One important thing is: More fresh the air inside the case more easy and stable the components will work.
By the way, this is an inexpensive task, the fans are really cheaper.
Keep us informed !

Hugs and good luck http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Ricardo]

Hi, I´m back and this is the link to solve your problem: http://www.co30.com/V3OCcooling.html
In this page you´ll find the explanation as how to keep your voodoo card cool.

Good luck and keep us informed http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[CrashNFreeze]

Thanks for the replies Ricardo. you're English is great, by the way!! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Hmmm.. i kind of understand what to do, it's just i've never done this type of thing before and the last thing i want is to ruin my graphics card. I checked out the link and it seems involved. I don't have any cutting tools/screws... but i'll look into it further..

[CrashNFreeze]

Seeing as i don't have a fan, i improvised with a hair dryer set to "cool" mode.
I took the cover off and blew cold air at the graphics card... and played Quake 3 for 40 minutes without a glitch!! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif hair dryer made a hell of a lot of noise though. Before I started i noted the temp was 32*C, after 40 minutes it was 40*c.

Not bad considering that without the hair dryer (my improv fan).. the PC's usually at 47*C and so when i go into a game i lock-up almost immediately. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

Somehow i doubt that any mainboard/panel fan i get would ever be as good as the hair-dryer, and that means that buying a PC fan wouldn't keep me away from the dreaded 47*C mark, a lot quicker..

I also noticed that the fan above the power supply doesn't work!!! arghh, after tinkering around with it, i haven't managed to get it working.. i haven't noticed any plug for these fans either (?) - where would they be?

[Ricardo]

Good to know that your problem is related only with the temperature, it's more easy to solve than drivers and other things.
Well, try to use your computer with the case open and use some ventilator(as you use in the summer)blowing air to inside the case. It´s better than hair dryers and doesn't do much noise.
About the power supply fan, the connection for this fan is inside the power supply case, so you must go to a technician to open your PSU and fix this problem. You cannot run your PSU for a long time without cooling, this could be one of your problems. I don't know if it's not more easy to change your PSU by a new one than fix the old, in case of difficult to find someone to fix for you.
Anyway, try to do the instructions as the cooling page of Voodoo said it's more easy than you think, just be calm and do step by step, you'll have success in this task, I'm sure!
By the way, thanks for your cumpliments about my english, I've learned alone, by myself, and still have some problems with verbs and other things, but I'm trying to do my best.
Keep me informed and any other issue, please, e-mail me at once: rothfeld@terra.com.br

Many hugs and good luck http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Ricardo]

I'm back! After read again your last reply I realize that you said that a Fan "above" your PSU doesn't work. With the word above I presume that fan is outside the PSU case and is attached directly to the computer case. Am I right ? If positive, well the story is a little different than I told before. First, you must find the wires connected to this fan, follow it and try to find where they are connected, if connected. Normally those fans have a connector that can be attached to the cables of the power supply or one small connector with three pins to attach directly to the mainboard(exactly the same as your cpu fan have). Take a look on this and tell me what you found.

Best regards http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[CrashNFreeze]

Looks like you where right Ricardo..
I know what the problem is now (i think)!
I had a look at BIOS setting on start up and enabled some of the alarms.

CHIPSET FEATURES SETUP-->
1a)FAN FAIL ALARM: POWER = alarm sounds!!.
b) CURRENT FAN SPEED = 0 RPM.

2a)FAN FAIL ALARM: PANEL = alarm sounds!!.
2b) CURRENT FAN SPPED = 0 RPM.

So 2/3 of my fans don't work! So it was overheating all this time!!
My CPU fan works (that must have been the one i could see moving - see pic link above) at 5600 RPM.

Okay, so what now.. where do i get a POWER fan and a PANEL fan from? and how do i install them? Hopefully it's not gonna cost an arm and a leg to get replaced..

[CrashNFreeze]

Actually when I said a "fan above".. I meant the Power Supply fan.

Solutions!!!: Ok, the power fan didn't work, so i hunted round my PC stores and went a hell of a long way to find a new power supply, because the advise was that "if the power supply fan don't work, the your power supply is f***ed" (said one guy in the store).
I picked one up and didn't stop there..
I also went for an Exhaust fan, a panel/case/ fan, and a hard drive fan.

I installed all of them. So know i have:
1: New power supply with working fan of course!
2: Case fan that sit in a little box at the bottom front of the tower and blows air from front to back.
3: An Exhaust fan which removes air out the back of the tower and slots in where cards go. I first put this inbetween two cards; just underneath the graphics card and above the sound card, but it was an extremely tight fit, and touched the underneath sound card a fraction, so i thought it was best to remove it and place it lower down, underneath all the cards.
4: A Hard drive 3 fan piece which instead i put just underneath my CD/DVD ROM drive as there was no room to put it in front of the HD. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif One of the screws on the HD was just too **** tight to take out so i could move the HD to sit higher up, infront of the HD fans. But as it stands it blows air in from the front of the tower and through into the back.

I do not have a metal heat sink on my graphics card, or extra fan mounted on my graphics card.

But hopefully this is enough ventilation to keep the PC cool. i've noticed i'm getting a temp range of 38*c to 42*C.. which is still a little high for my liking. BUT the good news is: I can play all my games without the dreaded lock up/freeze! At least.. so far there hasn't been one!!! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

From now on, if i hear someone is frezzing and boooting up during there games, the first thing i'll say to them is: "Check that the Power supply unit isn't broken, and get some cooling in there!!!"

Now i've got a whole new lease of life on my games because now, i can actually play them comfortably without interuption (tested for about 30/40 minutes so far), and i don't have to play in software mode, but i can use some great graphics acceleration!

Anyway guys, thanks for all the posts, your help was much appriciated.
And ricardo, thanks for your info particualry, your English is awesome... if you learnt all that by your self it's great achievment! keep it up http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Ricardo]

Tnx Crash, is good to know that your problem is solved, but some advice: If your Voodoo card doesn´t have the heatsink over the gpu, please, attach one at once. It is extremely dangerous to run this V3 without one heatsink, even if your case is well refrigerated, because the gpu generate a lot of heat and just blowing fresh air inside the case isn´t enough to keep it cool.
I´m happy that you start to like the Hardware PC stuff, is always a challenge and sometimes a big headache, but the human history is made with the efforts of all of us and, who knows, maybe you discover a new thing or a new technology, everything is possible.

Good luck and tnx again for your cumpliments http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[CrashNFreeze]

oops..Sorry, i've realized that it does have a heat-sink on the card.. a black plastic one (like the one shown on the left in this picture: http://www.hardocp.com/reviews/vidcards/3dfx/v4agp/01s ).
I thought it had to be metal and shaped like the one in the voodoo overclocking link you posted.
My heat sink is on the underneath side of the card.

And another thing: i've noticed that when ever i shut down my comp now (start menu), after 30 minutes, when i come back to switch on the tower, the ON button has no effect (?). I've mesed with the face panel of the tower previous so might have lossened a wire.. But my old power unit had an on/off button, which my new one doesn't have. The only way i turn on my computer now is to flick the mains switch off and on, then press the ON button (the front of the tower) immediately afterwards.. funny..
After I shut down my comp (start menu), if i switch off the MAINS POWER, when turning back on the main, and pressing the ON button, i don't get a problem though.


[This message has been edited by CrashNFreeze (edited 07-26-2001).]

[Ricardo]

Hi Crash ! Are you sure that the heatsink in your voodoo is made of plastic??? Maybe Black anodized Aluminum! Check it!
About the strange issue with your power button, can you tell me what the type of your mainboard? ATX or AT. If you know the brand and model, please, tell me.
With the information about your mainboard maybe we could enlight your actual problem and find a solution.

Good luck http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

P.S.: By the way, I just realize now that you have one Voodoo 3/2000 and the heatsink described on the page that I gave the address to you is for the Voodoo 3/3000, identical to mine!