strange problem

AHarvey · 7 Jul 2008 at 01:16

hi all,

Recently started playing COD4 SP as well as MP but yesterday I noticed that I was getting slow downs every few seconds.

I uninstalled a load of stuff on my games drive, defraggled it, reinstalled COD4, defraggled again, and I am still suffering the same problem. However it crashed out so I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and had a scan through task manager. It appears that my CPU usage is bouncing up and down every few seconds. Usually ideals at around 1-3%, it is currently jumping up and down from 7% to 30% and I have no idea why.

Had a look through processes and there is nothing there that may be causing this. Currently checking both of my hard drives for viruses with Avira.

Anyone any suggestions on what else to try? Or any programs that could monitor the CPU and tell me what is using it?

System: AMD 64 X2 4400+, 7800GTX, 2Gig RAM and XP. No overclocking.

I had slow downs playing crysis, but I knew that was because my PC was struggling. COD4 MP was playing perfect until yesterday, I have even lowered all settings. TF2 and other FPS games are running fine!

ns400r · 7 Jul 2008 at 01:26

Run temperature monitoriing software in the background while your playing. Check its logs/history when you exit the game.

AHarvey · 7 Jul 2008 at 01:47

Downloading Core Temp.

time for bad now, got an interview tomorrow so will rty it after then.

AHarvey · 7 Jul 2008 at 14:17

Right, I think I have a definite problem....

I have been running Core temp since 11:39 today, either browsing the web, sending emails or just letting it sit. Then at 14:09, the monitor went black, the monitor light flashed on and off several times before resting in stand by mode. I had to reset the PC and it booted fine: Here are some readings from core temp:

Code:

Session start:	11:39:48, July 7, 2008
CPUID:		0x20F32
Processor:	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (Toledo)
Revision:	JH-E6
Time & Date	CPU	Temperature	Low temp.	High temp.	Core load	CPU Speed
11:39:49 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	42	42	43	2	2211.34
11:39:49 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	49	49	52	4	2211.34
11:39:50 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	41	41	43	2	2211.34
11:39:50 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	51	49	52	2	2211.34
11:39:51 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	42	41	43	38	2211.34
11:39:51 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	49	52	16	2211.34
11:39:52 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	41	41	43	0	2211.34
11:39:52 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	49	52	6	2211.34
11:39:53 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	41	41	43	36	2211.34

Code:

12:47:21 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	40	0	52	2	2211.34
12:47:21 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	0	79	2	2211.34
12:47:22 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	39	0	52	45	2211.34
12:47:22 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	0	79	2	2211.34
12:47:23 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	41	0	52	6	2211.34
12:47:23 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	0	79	2	2211.34
12:47:24 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	40	0	52	39	2211.34
12:47:24 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	0	79	8	2211.34
12:47:25 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	79	0	79	64	2211.34
12:47:25 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	52	0	79	6	2211.34
12:47:26 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	40	0	79	47	2211.34
12:47:26 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	0	79	14	2211.34

Than just before it went black:

Code:

14:09:07 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	50	0	96	5	2211.34
14:09:08 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	41	0	79	2	2211.34
14:09:08 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	49	0	96	19	2211.34

Going to go and strip it down I think at see what is going on!!

And temps are back dow to 37-47 for each core.

ns400r · 7 Jul 2008 at 16:58

Well something certainly heats it up and your current cooling can't keep it cool enough and the system crashes. Refitting the heatsink may cure it.

AHarvey · 7 Jul 2008 at 19:21

well, I have spent the last 4 hours removing everything, cleaning it and putting it all back together! time for a test but even at standing the temps are a good 10'c lower. Fingers crossed!

AHarvey · 7 Jul 2008 at 19:54

Code:

Session start:	19:13:15, July 7, 2008
CPUID:		0x20F32
Processor:	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (Toledo)
Revision:	JH-E6
Time & Date	CPU	Temperature	Low temp.	High temp.	Core load	CPU Speed
19:13:16 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	26	26	28	0	2211.33
19:13:16 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	39	39	39	0	2211.33

Code:

19:46:50 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	35	0	52	2	2211.33
19:46:50 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	46	39	58	44	2211.33
19:46:51 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#0):	35	0	52	0	2211.33
19:46:51 07/07/08	CPU#0 (Core#1):	45	39	58	5	2211.33

@ 19:46:51 I had another black screen.

Could it be the gfx card packing up? any way of checking that?

on a side note, cod 4 is back to normal now!