General issue w/EQ1

[EventHorizon]

Record? Do people still know what those are?

I started having issues with EQ not too long ago when boxing - I started getting nv4_disp BSOD under WinXP Pro (32bit), and when switching between sessions and/or other windows that were open (ie. Firefox, etc) I would get a 3-4 second lag between switching.

I thought it might have been due to how long my windows system has been running, so I wiped it clean, reinstalled with new drivers, etc.

I'm still having the switching issue (no nv4_disp BSOD's though, thank goodness) - I loaded up a process monitor, and even with EQPlayNice running, when I switch to an EQ session my CPU pegs up to 100%. Running two of them is an exercise in frustration (4 seconds between window switching = unusable boxing).

I'm trying to figure out what it is - as EQ seems to be the only game affected (WoW isn't) I'm unsure if it's something SOE did, or if my rig is just going belly up.

eVga 7600GT 256MB PCI-E
Gigabyte K8NPro SLI
2GB RAM (2x1GB Kingston)
AMD Athlon 3500+ (single core)

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Lax]

I've heard of some people having this issue, but I don't think we've ever seen a conclusive answer. Post a sysinfo.txt for me -- right click on the game window's title bar and select "Get system info" for it to be generated on the spot and opened in notepad. It's probably due to some other running software, and could potentially show up in those diagnostics. Some antivirus/antispyware (not to mention viruses and spyware themselves) or internet security products for example can cause various slowdowns not too different from what you're seeing.

[EventHorizon]

WinEQ 2 System Information
System:
-----------------------------------
Windows Version: Microsoft Windows XP/Service Pack 2/2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254
System Physical RAM: 746/2047MB
Page File: 2771/3941MB
Virtual Memory: 967/2047MB (Extended: 0MB)
CPU 1: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+ @ 2264MHz
CPU Affinity Mask: 1
Video 1: \\.\DISPLAY1/NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT (Omega 2.169.21)
Video 2: \\.\DISPLAYV1/NetMeeting driver
Video 3: \\.\DISPLAYV2/RDPDD Chained DD
Monitor 1: \\.\DISPLAY1 (0,0,1680,1050) (1680x1050) PRIMARY
Sound: ?
DirectX: 4.09.00.0904
Internet Explorer: 7.0.5730.13
WinEQ: 2.15

Loaded Modules:
-----------------------------------
Module 0: c:\games\everquest\eqgame.exe
Module 1: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntdll.dll
Module 2: C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll
Module 3: c:\games\everquest\mss32.dll
Module 4: C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll
Module 5: C:\WINDOWS\system32\GDI32.dll
Module 6: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINMM.dll
Module 7: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
Module 8: C:\WINDOWS\system32\RPCRT4.dll
Module 9: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Secur32.dll
Module 10: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WSOCK32.dll
Module 11: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2_32.dll
Module 12: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll
Module 13: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2HELP.dll
Module 14: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DINPUT8.dll
Module 15: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3dx9_30.dll
Module 16: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WININET.dll
Module 17: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
Module 18: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Normaliz.dll
Module 19: C:\WINDOWS\system32\iertutil.dll
Module 20: c:\games\everquest\xul.dll
Module 21: c:\games\everquest\js3250.dll
Module 22: c:\games\everquest\nspr4.dll
Module 23: c:\games\everquest\MSVCR71.dll
Module 24: c:\games\everquest\plc4.dll
Module 25: c:\games\everquest\plds4.dll
Module 26: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
Module 27: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll
Module 28: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VERSION.dll
Module 29: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINSPOOL.DRV
Module 30: C:\WINDOWS\system32\comdlg32.dll
Module 31: C:\WINDOWS\system32\COMCTL32.dll
Module 32: C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMM32.dll
Module 33: C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2982_x-ww_ac3f9c03\comctl32.dll
Module 34: C:\WINDOWS\system32\uxtheme.dll
Module 35: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\EQPlayNice.dll
Module 36: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\Lavish.dll
Module 37: C:\WINDOWS\system32\iphlpapi.dll
Module 38: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSCTF.dll
Module 39: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2.dll
Module 40: C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSAPI.DLL
Module 41: C:\WINDOWS\system32\mswsock.dll
Module 42: C:\WINDOWS\system32\hnetcfg.dll
Module 43: C:\WINDOWS\System32\wshtcpip.dll
Module 44: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DNSAPI.dll
Module 45: C:\WINDOWS\System32\winrnr.dll
Module 46: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLDAP32.dll
Module 47: C:\WINDOWS\system32\rasadhlp.dll
Module 48: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-EQ.dll
Module 49: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSIMG32.dll
Module 50: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D9.dll
Module 51: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D8.dll
Module 52: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-DI8.dll
Module 53: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msctfime.ime
Module 54: C:\WINDOWS\system32\NTMARTA.DLL
Module 55: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SAMLIB.dll
Module 56: c:\games\everquest\EQGraphicsDX9.DLL
Module 57: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
Module 58: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d8thk.dll
Module 59: c:\games\everquest\dpvs.dll
Module 60: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctagent.dll
Module 61: C:\WINDOWS\system32\HID.DLL
Module 62: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SETUPAPI.DLL
Module 63: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINTRUST.dll
Module 64: C:\WINDOWS\system32\CRYPT32.dll
Module 65: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSASN1.dll
Module 66: C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMAGEHLP.dll
Module 67: c:\games\everquest\mssmp3.asi
Module 68: c:\games\everquest\mssvoice.asi
Module 69: c:\games\everquest\mssa3d.m3d
Module 70: c:\games\everquest\mssds3d.m3d
Module 71: c:\games\everquest\mssdx7.m3d
Module 72: c:\games\everquest\msseax.m3d
Module 73: c:\games\everquest\mssrsx.m3d
Module 74: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSACM32.dll
Module 75: c:\games\everquest\msssoft.m3d
Module 76: c:\games\everquest\mssdsp.flt
Module 77: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wdmaud.drv
Module 78: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msacm32.drv
Module 79: C:\WINDOWS\system32\midimap.dll
Module 80: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DSOUND.DLL
Module 81: C:\WINDOWS\system32\KsUser.dll

Direct3D9:
-----------------------------------
Driver: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT (Omega 2.169.21)/nv4_disp.dll/6/14/11/6921
Adapter Display Mode: 1680x1050 D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8
Game Display Mode: 1680x1050 D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8 (Full Screen)
Current Adapter: 0
Available Texture Memory: 568MB
Direct3D8:
-----------------------------------
Adapter Display Mode: 0x0 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN
Game Display Mode: 0x0 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN
Current Adapter: 0
Available Texture Memory: (not currently available)
DirectInput8:
-----------------------------------

EverQuest:
-----------------------------------
Profile 1: Primary
EQ Path: c:\games\everquest
EQClient.ini: .\eqclient.ini
Patch: ON Server Type: Normal Locale: us
Video Adapter: Application Controlled
Luclin models: 29 (+145 min RAM)
Sound: ON (+22 min RAM)
Dynamic Lighting: ON (+4 min RAM)
Texture Quality: 1. HIGH (+32 min RAM)
Calculated minimum RAM: 486MB (BASE+203MB)
Level of Detail: 0
MaxFPS: 100
Additional setting: VertexShaders=1
Additional setting: 20PixelShaders=1
Additional setting: 1xPixelShaders=TRUE

EQPlayNice:
-----------------------------------
EQPlayNice version: 1.22
EQ Version: eqgame.exe Feb 5 2008 18:39:41
Foreground
Mode: FPS Limiter
Max FPS: 40
Rendering: 1/1
Background
Mode: CPU Limiter
Max FPS: 30
Rendering: 1/30

I'm using the Omega 169.21 drivers now, Lax, not for any real reason except I wanted to see if they worked better than the Nvidia WHQL release.

Strangely enough the alt-tab lag is now gone with the last patch, although I'm getting freezes in more graphic intensive areas. A case fan near my video card DID go belly up, so I'm more inclined now to think the problem is heat related, although leaving hte side off the case doesn't improve anything (was running through Cobalt Scar yesterday, had a 8 second freeze, and came back to tons of graphic artifacts and missing my UI, essentially, with a bunch of miscolored garbage everywhere). I'm thinking i may just pull out my video card, blow out its fan, and maybe throw some Arctic Silver under the heatsink once I get it off - it's going to about 72C under load in EQ, so maybe it's just heat that's causing my problems.

I'll let you know what happens. Let me know if you need me to change anything in my settings if you want me to test something.

[Lax]

From what you're saying I think you might be on the right track. Just be aware that with possible heat damage, there's a chance that you'll keep having artifacts, freezes, blue screens, etc until you eventually replace the card -- the heat could potentially have physically damaged the card. I've been unfortunate enough to lose a few like that over the years. But, you may be more fortunate, it may not be damaged.

[EventHorizon]

Well, not to keep anyone up on this (like I was anyways)...

Went to get a 8600GT 512MB today, but the store was out of stock. Got home and threw in a new 120mm fan, but decided to pull the video card out to take a peek at it.

Found four completely blown capacitors (completely cracked open on the top, with one actually trailing some fuzzy goo that stands about an inch off the cap).

An RMA is going to eVGA now, I think it's under lifetime warranty, but I'm not sure. /sigh

No EQ for me for a bit!

Thanks, Lax.

[EventHorizon]

Blown caps are bad, kids!

http://members.shaw.ca/Karthanon.Dragonsbar/7600gt1.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/Karthanon.Dragonsbar/7600gt2.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/Karthanon.Dragonsbar/7600gt3.jpg

[fearless]

Wow, that's ridiculous.

[EventHorizon]

EVGA sent me my replacement - I got a 256MB 7900GT! Not a bad upgrade from a 7600GT, really.

Hey, Lax - when WinEQ2 warns that you're running out of memory - is that video memory, or actual RAM (ie. system memory)?

Thanks, guys!

Here's to hoping the 7900GT works without fail.

[Lax]

Either. If it doesn't say when it's warning you, then it's probably system RAM. You can flip on the memory indicator (CTRL+ALT+M) to see for sure.