Gaming problems

Barndog · Oct 12, 2008, 11:19:11

Got a new pc several months ago, right from day 1 i havent been able to play games first time, they load ok but as soon as game play starts it freezes on me and the graphics are all distorted, once i re-boot and try it the second time its perfect and runs smooth with no probs at all, i just want to be able to pop a game in and play first time without all the hastle of re-booting, i have the latest nvidea drivers for my card which is an 8500 gt, any suggestions please....thanks

Rik · Oct 12, 2008, 11:23:40

Sorry, Barndog, but I'm not a gamer. If it runs after a re-boot, though, I wonder if it could be something to do with the software you've been running before the game?

Barndog · Oct 12, 2008, 12:52:37

Yeah Rik, its very strange that it runs after r-boot ok, i have tried installing different firewalls and antivirus, but still the same, the pc was advertised as a gaming pc, even when i bought it the games didnt run first time, and that was when no av or firewall was installed, im completly stummped on this one?

Rik · Oct 12, 2008, 12:54:57

Can you identify any pattern to what you have been doing before running the game?

Steve · Oct 12, 2008, 13:31:58

I think a few more details would help such as OS ,PC type , Ram etc. Games which crash? Directx diagnostic results.I suppose were talking of a software conflict/incompatiblity or hardware issues.

vitriol · Oct 12, 2008, 13:49:43

Also what games are you trying to play? Are they patched to the latest versions?

as steve mentions some more information please

Barndog · Oct 12, 2008, 14:15:03

Im running amd athlon64x2 duel core 5000 plus, 2 gb ram, 8500 gt card, im not doing anything before i play, even after just booting my pc in the morning say i still cant play first time round, i run a directx diagnostic check and it tells me no problems found, like i say it plays the games fine after re-booting, at the moment im playing cod4 and bioshock, which are all patched to latest versions

mrapoc · Oct 12, 2008, 14:27:44

Is it overclocked at all?

Check your running temperatures - could be throttling due to temperatures

Barndog · Oct 12, 2008, 15:43:02

How do i go about checking temperatures?...thanks

Rik · Oct 12, 2008, 15:48:27

Try Siw:

http://www.gtopala.com/

Steve · Oct 12, 2008, 17:37:02

What about PSU how many watts? Not sure that card has its own power lead but presumably the PCI-e slots will need extra power?

Audio drivers up to date?

Ted · Oct 12, 2008, 18:10:22

Could be a memory issue, Windows has always been notorious for not "handing back" memory to the system when closed programs no longer need it. Rebooting would put you back to "normal" and things are ok again. Maybe?

Barndog · Oct 12, 2008, 19:04:20

Thanks for the replys again guys, as far i remember the psu was 600w, and audio drivers are up to date, if it is windows memory loss causing like Ted thinks is there any way of fixing that?

mrapoc · Oct 12, 2008, 20:06:25

speedfan is my fav for checking temps

perhaps a windows reinstall may help?

Steve · Oct 12, 2008, 21:42:06

A quick google tells me your not the only one having issues getting these games to work? Are you using XP or vista

zappaDPJ · Oct 12, 2008, 21:48:03

Just to clarify, are you saying that you switch the PC on but games will only run after pressing the reset switch?

What happens if you switch the PC on, shut it down via Windows 'Shut Down' and then power it back on via the on switch? What I'm getting at here is, is it that the reset button must be used before games will run?

Sebby · Oct 12, 2008, 23:29:55

The first thing I'd try is to update the graphics drivers to the latest version.

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/winxp_178.13_whql_uk.html

Barndog · Oct 13, 2008, 08:56:03

Im using xp, the point im trying to make is my games wont run first time i try to play, i have to then re-boot and then pop the game on and it plays ok, i have to go to work now guys but when i come home tonight i will try the driver that Sebby suggested, will keep you informed, thanks again

Steve · Oct 13, 2008, 14:01:46

I am trying to recall whether nvidia drivers are completely removed on uninstall? I know a couple of years ago I used to use a program to clear the remnants prior to installing the latest update.

vitriol · Oct 13, 2008, 15:34:08

Drivercleaner was always great but now they charge for it

Steve · Oct 13, 2008, 16:19:25

Not sure whether its a good idea or not but here's another one http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?page=driversweeper

Sebby · Oct 14, 2008, 00:28:17

Afaik, it does uninstall fully.

Gary · Oct 14, 2008, 08:36:33

Quote from: Sebby on Oct 14, 2008, 00:28:17
Afaik, it does uninstall fully.

Drivercleaner actually could cause some issues it once wiped out my Creative drivers along with the Nvidia chipset ones which is all I wanted, I just updated to new Nvidia graphics drivers and have had no framerate issues its faster which is good, the new Nvidia drivers uninstall well

karser · Oct 17, 2008, 19:15:54

I do it the way nvidia recommend & its always worked fine for me, go into the control panel, add remove programs, uninstall the nvidia graphics driver from there ( you may have to be careful if you have an nforce motherboard as well, as the graphics driver uninstall is also inside the motherboard drivers sometimes) reboot, install new drivers, reboot again & your done.

somanyholes · Oct 18, 2008, 09:40:52

what happends when you run the game on the lowest graphics settings? Are you using anything like daemon tools?