Stable system for running RW's?

[60maniac]

My (quite high-end) system has the following specs:
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits
- Intel Core i7 2600 3.4 GHz
- nVidia GTX560
- 8 GB RAM 1600 MHz
- 2 TB HDD

With this I can set TS2012 to the highest settings (TSX on, of course), with MSAA 8x (resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels).
And I can't remember the last time I had a SBHH.

Martijn

That's strange I have an identical machine and can barely run FXAA..?

Make sure your NVIDIA card is set allow the application to control the settings (NVIDIA Control Panel) and perhaps try running with shadows set to very low or off.

Ah okay thanks for that!

[ttjph]

Well, that'll teach me - a few hours after I post on this thread, I get my first ever SBHH while driving.

Just for interest, it was after I'd increased the shader quality from Low to Medium - after the crash I set it back to Low and re-ran the scenario with no problem. I'll try some more runs on Medium later...

[bigphill2]

Howdy
It's not the system its them god'am zombies

[Darpor]

Not an amazing system by any stretch of the imagination, but that probably just serves to confuse the issue more.

Windows 7 (64 Bit)
AMD Phenom II Quad Core 945 3.00 Ghz
6gb Ram
Nvidia GeForce GT 220

As you can see, there is nothing really spectacular about that system, even the graphics card (though solid for me) possibly lets it down somewhat. However, this system has seen a lot of work reach fruition, with only a very small handful of SBHH, with probably 3000+ hours in the route editor at least.

Performance wise, no issues with WCML which is regarded as the benchmark for performance and all routes can run with most settings on high, with shadows set at medium at least.

The sooner someone works out why a seemingly anonymous system has worked without an issue, then we will all be better off.

[tads1970]

I have not experienced a SBHH since moving from XP to Windows 7 ultimate 64

AMD Phenom II X4 965 @4Ghz
EVGA Superclocked 560 GTX
Gigabyte 770T-D3L M/B
8 Gig Corsair Vengeance DDR3 (2x4GB)DC mode @1600Mhz
Asus Xonar DG

I only had SBHH when running WCML in XP


Daz

[smarty2]

So my assumption that intel cpu's are more stable seems unfounded! Hmmm any thoughts on the Llano then? Seems the AMD cpu mobo combo's work out more competitively priced over intel sets, I have seen some intel combo's going for over £500! Thanks again fellas, there is obviously a component that cause RW's gip, funy though as it runs Skyrim on high settings flawlessly.
Perhaps a simple upgrade to 8gb ddr2 1066 mhz ram may help? Seems more affordable at the moment?

[quickthorn]

I'm on AMD (see sig). I built the system in September last year.

I can't remember having a SBHH when driving (Touch wood), although one scenario on WCML gives a SBHH immediately after loading. I've had the odd SBHH in the world editor, normally when handling fence or road lofts, it seems.

I get reasonable frame rates with TSX, launcher settings high button clicked and most in-game settings high (but shadows off).

PS. Any chance your problem might be PSU related?

[Esefkay]

Hi there,

What power supply are you using, seems weird that your problems are intermittent. Also is anything running hot like your 8800?

edit: didn't spot the above post sorry. also is your memory all correctly paired/matched, if so, i would still check it for errors.

[gptech]

.....p.c is set for performance so no unnecessary spanglies, freeram xp pro to free up the ram hoovering of the sim and usually task manage processes that aren't needed.....

Possibly over-engineering a solution, with 6GB of RAM and a properly installed and configured 64bit OS such utilities shouldn't be needed--are you taking the programs suggestions of what isn't needed or have you definitive proof that any processes aren't of use?. I'd suggest a 'back to basics' approach and work from a good solid OS with processes managed by Windows itself. Nothing to stop you setting a process to start manually rather than automatically if you find good evidence thats the way to go of course.

[smarty2]

PSU is a 1000 watts modular design that cost me a wad! As for task manager I stop processes that I know are not used like adobe reader nvsync dwm etc. The ram is an odd combo 2 2 gig sticks and 2 1 gig sticks but all rated the same pc 6400 800mhz, made sure of that when I purchased the 2 1 gig sticks. I am looking at getting 8 gig of pc8500 1066 mhz from the same manufacturer since my mobo can take it according to crucial. Just got to find a store selling it at a reasonable price since it seems to me that ddr 2 is more expensive than ddr3? But my ultimate aim is to get rid off my old innards and update to something better particularly CPU GPU mobo.
Thanks again fella's for taking an interest.
@GPTech noticed on my 64 bit OS that if RW's uses more than 2 gig of ram it will generally crash whilst freeing ram up with my utility doesn't guarantee no event, but it certainly seems to work 8 times out of 10.

[markpullinger]

Hi Martin, sounds strange that it's cutting out after 2 Gig with 64 bit operating system! Are the ram sticks in matched banks - ie both 2gig sticks in the same colours slots & same for 1gig or have you got them next to each other? Also in BIOS there is a setting under advanced memory settings (right at bottom with scroll!) called bank swizzle mode - make sure this is enabled as it comes disabled with some BIOS setups and improves stability greatly when on. Also while you are in there check that the plug & play aware operating system box is checked

[gptech]

Yep, Martins system does all sorts of strange things..I'm sure he lives in a parallel universe where things are the reverse of here!
It's not unknown though for RAM modules that are rated at the same speed, but bought at different times, to have problems with each other, so I'd do a quick test with the smaller pair taken out.
If your aim is to replace the innards of the machine shortly I wouldn't bother buying more RAM, anything over 4GB can be considered a luxury.

As for task manager I stop processes that I know are not used like adobe reader nvsync dwm etc...

First question that springs to mind, how do you 'know' which processes aren't used?--particularly dwm as isn't this process also involved in high resolution rendering as well as the *pretty* Aero effects?
I know that when viewing tasks in Task Manager the sight of a big number such as 103,840 (just checked usage on this system) immediately makes one think that a process is using a lot of resources, but dont forget that that number is in KB. As you have 6GB of RAM (6,291,456 KB) dwm is using approx 2% of your RAM---is it worth worrying about?

[smarty2]

Yep, Martins system does all sorts of strange things..I'm sure he lives in a parallel universe where things are the reverse of here!
It's not unknown though for RAM modules that are rated at the same speed, but bought at different times, to have problems with each other, so I'd do a quick test with the smaller pair taken out.
If your aim is to replace the innards of the machine shortly I wouldn't bother buying more RAM, anything over 4GB can be considered a luxury.

As for task manager I stop processes that I know are not used like adobe reader nvsync dwm etc...

First question that springs to mind, how do you 'know' which processes aren't used?--particularly dwm as isn't this process also involved in high resolution rendering as well as the *pretty* Aero effects?
I know that when viewing tasks in Task Manager the sight of a big number such as 103,840 (just checked usage on this system) immediately makes one think that a process is using a lot of resources, but dont forget that that number is in KB. As you have 6GB of RAM (6,291,456 KB) dwm is using approx 2% of your RAM---is it worth worrying about?

Ha ha, I like your assessment! DWM shouldn't even be on if you have chosen performance settings as I have no need for the "pretty" effects, but as you say I wasn't aware about the hi res rendering! Doesn't seem to make any difference stopping it even though it takes 2 swipes to shut it down. I would "like" to swap the guts out but not shortly as it would take time to save up and knowing my car it will take me dosh off me anyways!

[gptech]

.....DWM shouldn't even be on if you have chosen performance settings as I have no need for the "pretty" effects, but as you say I wasn't aware about the hi res rendering!....

Don't take the hi-res thing as gospel, but I'm sure I read it somewhere!
DWM will run regardless of performance settings, it's a service that starts at boot and runs no matter what. Disabling it (not recommended) does free up the resources, but the recommended way to lower it's resource usage is to switch to 'Classic View'

[smarty2]

Well, ordered some kingston hyper x ram off amazon for £53.98 for a 4gb set! Cheapest on the net. Took out the 1 gig ram sticks and boy what a mess! Damn thing was bsod'ing every time I booted up windows! Found out that I had disturbed the 2 gig sticks.... doh! Sim still sbhh's though and I did run the windows mem test and it reported no problems, so I hope this new set will help things along a bit.