I'm doing what I do best on Independence War2, piracy, when the thing freezes. It's more complicated than just freezing: it's like it got stuck on 2 frames of the game and kept playing them back rapidly, so it was like a stutter. This happened for about 3 secs until the screen went black(with the sound still stuttering on those 2 frames) for 2secs and then the sound stopped and the screen went back to the game, only this time there was no sound and it wasn't stuttering, just sitting there. This went on for 1sec, then the PC restarted.

It's odd because it's not a graphics intensive game, so heat wasn't it, and I could definitely tell the fans were still working from the loud whirr. And if the power supply was bad, well, it'd probably do something different, like shutdown more abruply. Any ideas?

Chaintech 7NJL3 mobo
nForce2 +MCP 400 chipset
GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB
---
He had framed me for his murders

"It's odd because it's not a graphics intensive game, so heat wasn't it, and I could definitely tell the fans were still working from the loud whirr. And if the power supply was bad, well, it'd probably do something different, like shutdown more abruply. Any ideas?"

Just because something isn't gfx intensive doesn't mean you may not be having heat related issues. I doubt that's the problem, but that's shouldn't be ruled out yet. Prime 95 isn't gfx intensive either, but it can mess up if the box is overheating. ;-) Get some temp readings from your motherboard. If chaintech doesn't give you temp monitoring software, check out Motherboard Monitor 5.

You seem to be having issues like this with other apps, too (Jedi Knight). I'm thinking check for driver upgrades particularly for your sound card. Also, check for an updated BIOS for your motherboard while you're at it.

"...but in my defense, it was dark, I was drunk, and it was delicious!"

"Just because something isn't gfx intensive doesn't mean you may not be having heat related issues."
Yeah, like when the CPU or GPU is OCed or the fan(s) have failed, but none of those things have happend, and I did put my hand next to the fans and components themselves to see how hot they were, and they were fairly cool, I mean not hot enough to cause system errors.

"If chaintech doesn't give you temp monitoring software..."
Of course it doesn't, they like to cut corners, at least on my mobo. lol

"check out Motherboard Monitor 5"
Got it. Tried it. Didn't install it this time. It takes up system resources and just another thing to clog up the registry. Besides, I can monitor the heat myself, the PC is right next to me, the fans are loud(meaning I can tell when one has stopped), and I know the warning signs of overheating.

"I'm thinking check for driver upgrades particularly for your sound card. Also, check for an updated BIOS for your motherboard while you're at it."
I agree. Chaintech gave me a faulty driver CD, so some of the drivers wouldn't install, like for the PATA ports and USB. Therefore I'm running on ATA100 for the C drive, ATA33 for D (my backup HD) and ATA33 for the E DVDROM. I hate it because at those slow speeds for the DVD, it fumbles data sometimes, making the PC occassionally not even recognize that there's a CD even in there! And MaxPayne2 was hell to install. I had to manually copy the CDs' contents onto a folder on my HD and install the game from there. Pitiful. And I'm also runing on USB 1.1, which sucks.
But why the sound card? I beleive I have the latest drivers for it anyways. It's has given me some quirks before, but hey, it's a PC, it happens. But it doesn't make sense that it would be the culprit. Hmmm.
I'm going to call the Chaintech fools on the phone and demand a replacement CD. They most likely wouldn't respond to an email or letter. There's just some things you can't emote via text ;-) And BTW: their website's drivers don't have the drivers for the ATA devices and USB, not even the BIOS. Yes, I've tried it. Also I have EAX 2.0 integrated sound courtesy of the nForce2 chipset.

Thanks for responding.

Chaintech 7NJL3 mobo
nForce2 +MCP 400 chipset
GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB
---
For the first time in I don't know how long...I didn't wish to be dead

"Yeah, like when the CPU or GPU is OCed or the fan(s) have failed, but none of those things have happend, and I did put my hand next to the fans and components themselves to see how hot they were, and they were fairly cool, I mean not hot enough to cause system errors."

Dude, you can have system overheating without a dead fan or OCing. Also, a cool heatsink isn't a sign you're in good shape. It could mean the heatsink isn't making good contact with the component, and therefore isn't conducting heat from the part. Again, not saying this is overheating, but it can't be ruled out yet.

"Besides, I can monitor the heat myself, the PC is right next to me, the fans are loud(meaning I can tell when one has stopped), and I know the warning signs of overheating."

You mean like inexplicable system crashing and a cool heatsink, which *could* indicate it's not conducting heat? ;-)

"Chaintech gave me a faulty driver CD, so some of the drivers wouldn't install, like for the PATA ports and USB. Therefore I'm running on ATA100 for the C drive, ATA33 for D (my backup HD) and ATA33 for the E DVDROM. I hate it because at those slow speeds for the DVD, it fumbles data sometimes, making the PC occassionally not even recognize that there's a CD even in there!"

This hurts to bring this up again, but even the drivers built into XP work pretty well for the IDE controllers on the Nforce2 motherboards. I dunno about Win98 drivers, what's best to use, if there even are any good ones, etc.

"And I'm also runing on USB 1.1, which sucks."

Win98 doesn't support USB2.0 transfer speeds if I remember correctly, so get used to it. :-/

"I'm going to call the Chaintech fools on the phone and demand a replacement CD."

They have drivers available for download I'm sure. You may have to go bumbling around on their ftp server to find them. I'm sure they don't do a good job keeping their Win98 stuff updated on the webpage.

"People! Take to the streets and scream, 'BE REASONABLE!!!'"

"Dude, you can have system overheating without a dead fan or OCing."
Yeah, when the fan can't keep up with the component it's trying to cool, it's not seated right, or there's not enough TIM. But I've checked all of those. And I applied the TIM myself so there was excess goo that I left on there, just in case. Yes, the fan and sink are both stock, but they're designed to work perfectly for the CPU I have, as long as it isn't overclocked(which it isn't).
And about telling the temp by putting my hand near the heat sink and fan- it was effective this time because it really does get warm when I'm running a program that makes it really work, like an nVidia demo or rendering a big-time scene in Blender. I know it isn't very accurate, but it's just for quick comparision betweeen programs.

"You mean like inexplicable system crashing and a cool heatsink, which *could* indicate it's not conducting heat? ;-)"
Are you doubting my ability to install a CPU and heatsink? That's low.

"I dunno about Win98"
That's right you DON'T know.

"Win98 doesn't support USB2.0 transfer speeds if I remember correctly"
Yes, win98 doesn't, but second edition does.

"You may have to go bumbling around on their ftp server to find them."
Nah, that's too hard. Besides, I like lambasting salespeople over the phone. Wankers. The lot of 'em. lol

"People! Take to the streets and scream, 'BE REASONABLE!!!'"
Where'd you hear that?

Chaintech 7NJL3 mobo
nForce2 +MCP 400 chipset
GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB
---
John Mirra came to mock me in the bathroom mirror

"Yeah, when the fan can't keep up with the component it's trying to cool, it's not seated right, or there's not enough TIM."

Or the heatsink doesn't conduct heat well enough... Or there's too much TIM... Or the air in the entire case is too warm....

"And I applied the TIM myself so there was excess goo that I left on there, just in case."

Excess isn't good...

"Are you doubting my ability to install a CPU and heatsink? That's low."

#1. Read my above statement. You apparently didn't know everything...
#2. I look at the info presented to me, and I assume you're human, and are capable of making mistakes, just as we all have...except for me, I thought I made a mistake one time, but I was wrong about that. :-)

"That's right you DON'T know."

What is that supposed to mean? I know a heck of a lot more than you do. But since I don't know anything, I guess I shouldn't help, so good luck.

"Nah, that's too hard. Besides, I like lambasting salespeople over the phone. Wankers. The lot of 'em. lol"

That's the difference between you and me. I have better things to do, like fix the problem myself quicker than tech support can.

"Where'd you hear that?"

Daily Show.

"...but in my defense, it was dark, I was drunk, and it was delicious!"

"Or there's too much TIM..."
What, like so much it's spilling out onto the PCB and shorting out stuff? No, I don't have that much, I meant more than covering the chip itself. And I put the stuff on both the ship and the heat sink, like all over the bottom, yet not dripping, so I don't have too much TIM.

"Or the air in the entire case is too warm...."
Well, ok maybe in your PC's case, but I have fans all over, 7 to be exact, so there's pleanty of ventilation going on. If there was any warm air in there, it would be cooled down or flushed out fast.

"Excess isn't good..."
I know, but see my above statement.

"You apparently didn't know everything..."
I know, I never said that, but I do know the proper way to install the cooling package. You need to get off your high horse.

"What is that supposed to mean?"
You know a good amount about Xtra Poop, but not enough of Win98 to make suggestion like that. Besides, you were unsure of yourself lol.

"I know a heck of a lot more than you do."
You NEVER say that. Talk about a closed mind. You're full of it, you know that?

"I have better things to do, like fix the problem myself quicker than tech support can."
I most certainly would fix it myself also, but guess what? I don't have the drivers, the only way to get them is to ask for a replacement CD! And it's no real "problem", just old drivers. I'd NEVER call up tech support, you should know that by what I've said before! If anything I'd call them just to harass them lol. Gosh, you think I'm some baby don't you?

Chaintech 7NJL3 mobo
nForce2 +MCP 400 chipset
GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB
---
The pink flamingo was tied to my double

"No, I don't have that much, I meant more than covering the chip itself. And I put the stuff on both the ship and the heat sink, like all over the bottom, yet not dripping, so I don't have too much TIM."

So it's not dripping could still be too much, but hey, what do I know? You'd rather argue with me to save face than learn something.

"Well, ok maybe in your PC's case, but I have fans all over, 7 to be exact, so there's pleanty of ventilation going on. If there was any warm air in there, it would be cooled down or flushed out fast."

#1. How am I supposed to know what case and how many case fans you have? I don't have ESPN...
#2. You could have that many case fans and STILL be overheating. Basic thermodynamics, but hey, what do I and basic principles of physics know?
#3. I said this probably WASN'T an overheating issue, but it can't be ruled out yet.
#4. I'm trying to help you. You don't want the help if you're acting like this. That's fine by me. Notice no one else even attempted to help you.

"You know a good amount about Xtra Poop, but not enough of Win98 to make suggestion like that. Besides, you were unsure of yourself lol."

I know, how dare I recognize what I know and don't know. And how dare I make a suggestion to help you, which you can choose to use or not. Shame on me!

"You NEVER say that. Talk about a closed mind. You're full of it, you know that?"

Hey, you brought it up by attacking what I don't know in a very rude way. If the question is which one of us knows more about computers and can make a computer run right, it's quite clear what the answer is, and I don't care if it's DOS, Windows 3.11, 95, 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, bring it on. Not saying I'm a god or anything, but I certainly run rings around you. I don't call that being full of it; I call that having a firm grasp of reality and hitting someone with the sledgehammer when they act like a jerk. It's not like I came on to this thread chanting, "I KNOW MORE THAN YOU DO!" I posted trying to help you out, quite politely I might add. Then you took it personally when I attempted to ensure you didn't miss something, then proceeded to rudely question what I know instead of just pointing a fact out when I said myself I wasn't sure.

"I most certainly would fix it myself also, but guess what? I don't have the drivers, the only way to get them is to ask for a replacement CD!"

No, I told you the drivers are more than likely on their ftp server if you would bother to take a look. But you'd rather spend an hour or two on the phone lambasting them, only to wait a week or more for them to ship the CD to you. There are other ways to get the drivers online quickly, too, but I don't want to help you anymore. lol...

"Gosh, you think I'm some baby don't you?"

What I think of you would be inappropriate to say on this board. So good luck, and be sure not to let me know how it turns out.

"...but in my defense, it was dark, I was drunk, and it was delicious!"

"You'd rather argue with me to save face than learn something."
You chose to agrue, not me, I'm just defending myself and plainly explaining that my TIM is on there correctly. TRUST ME.
And I have taken reading on the heat sink and every other component, the numbers were nothing out of the ordinary.

"You could have that many case fans and STILL be overheating."
Sure, if you installed them.

"but hey, what do I know?"
You said it.

"I said this probably WASN'T an overheating issue, but it can't be ruled out yet."
This is going nowhere fast.

"Notice no one else even attempted to help you."
What are you saying? That they're afraid of me? More like I'm stumping them with unusual problems. Of course you think you can solve it just because you think you know more than me and have your nice little MS certificate. Remember what you said before and believe: there are no facts and no absolutes, so saying that you know more than me(as a fact) is ludicrous, hypocritical, and teaches hate.

"I know, how dare I recognize what I know and don't know. And how dare I make a suggestion to help you, which you can choose to use or not. Shame on me!"
Knock it off, you're being immature.

"they act like a jerk."
Ok, now you're talking about yourself.
Oh, and DEFINE "reality". If I said that word, you'd fight me all the way, you being a bullheaded agnostic after all.

"It's not like I came on to this thread chanting, 'I KNOW MORE THAN YOU DO!'"
Hah! You already have several times and just did! Way to go.

"Hey, you brought it up by attacking what I don't know in a very rude way."
Yes, I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry.

"Not saying I'm a god or anything"
But gods don't exist in your world, oh excuse me, your..."reality". lol

"I certainly run rings around you."
That sure you can. You know, if Bill is teaching people how to be a complete @$$, like you, I'm never getting an MSCE certificate.

"quite politely I might add."
ROFL! Bu||$h!t.

" then proceeded to rudely question what I know"
Yes, because you think you're better than everyone else and must here it once in a while.

"if you would bother to take a look."
Isn't that illegal? I don't know how to because I've never done it, and I've never done because I thought it's illegal.

"you'd rather spend an hour or two on the phone lambasting them"
But it's fun! They are one group of people who do need to hear what their customers really think of them.

"What I think of you would be inappropriate to say on this board."
Go ahead, maybe it'll get you kicked off the forum and save us all headaches.

Chaintech 7NJL3 mobo
nForce2 +MCP 400 chipset
GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB
---
Diagnosis: paranoid schizophrenic; You are insane, psychotic.

"TRUST ME."

I trust the facts, not your interpretation of them.

"Sure, if you installed them."

Yeah, that's why my system runs with more stability than yours, and it's overclocked like mad...with only TWO case fans! You forget I'm an overclocker, so when it comes to effectively cooling my system, I've been doing that for almost a decade now.

"What are you saying? That they're afraid of me? More like I'm stumping them with unusual problems. Of course you think you can solve it just because you think you know more than me and have your nice little MS certificate."

I'm saying no one else tried to help but me, and you're now attacking me for doing so. You think if anyone dares to try to help you, it's because they dare to think they know more than you. I never thought I could solve it; I only tried to help. And who cares if I thought I could solve it because I have my nice little Microsoft certificate? You got free advice that you could or could not choose to accept. Apparently, you think me trying to help you is a bad thing. Well, about that, we're now in agreement because you're not gonna listen to anything I have to say, and the way you're acting is only infuriating to me. So go attempt to fix your problem without my help, and we'll both be happier.

"Remember what you said before and believe: there are no facts and no absolutes, so saying that you know more than me(as a fact) is ludicrous, hypocritical, and teaches hate."

I never said that. I said you can't prove concrete facts concerning god. Drop the religious discussion because you can't discuss it maturely; you only want to personally attack me. Case in point...

"But gods don't exist in your world, oh excuse me, your..."reality". lol"

That's mature...

"Yes, I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry."

So couldn't you have just left it there instead of this big long rant attacking me including of all things my religious beliefs?

"You know, if Bill is teaching people how to be a complete @$$, like you, I'm never getting an MSCE certificate."

MCSE exams test knowledge of the product, nothing else. It says I'm competent in designing, maintaining, and admining a complete Windows 2000 network. I'm not ashamed I spent the time and energy learning this stuff very well.

And if I'm the one acting as you're suggesting, look at your foul language!

"Yes, because you think you're better than everyone else and must here it once in a while."

No, I like helping people. If I wanted to hear how great I was, I'd only help people who actually thank me for at least attempting to help them, instead of wasting time on people who have been as unappreciative as you've been time and time again in an attempt to help you fix something, despite past bad blood between us.

So, I won't help you resolve any problems anymore. The only interaction I'll have with you is should you post something in someone else's thread that I feel I should comment on, whether it's elaboration, support, or criticism. Nothing personal, but I'm sure you won't see it that way.

"Go ahead, maybe it'll get you kicked off the forum and save us all headaches."

No one seems to think I'm a headache but you.

"...but in my defense, it was dark, I was drunk, and it was delicious!"

"I trust the facts, not your interpretation of them."
That's completely reasonable in most cases, but you haven't checked out the heat situation physically yourself, so that's a statement not fit for whether or not heat is the culprit of the problem. I have tested it for heat and have concluded that it is NOT heat, so now we can rule it out, ok? I'm not the moron you think I am when it comes to heat problems. That's what that statement means.

"only TWO case fans"
They must be oc-capable fans, not stock unlike mine. So it is possible to have 2 fans out perform 7 depending on the quality of them, that's what I'm getting at: my fan the stock one that came with the CPU/mobo deal, so your's can probably kick mine's ass. The 7 fans I refered to before are actually 1 for the PS, 1 for the GeForce, 1 for the AthlonXP, a HD cooler which has 2 fans(believe me, it needs it), one on the side door fan(blowing out), and 1 in the back blowing in. And they're all opperational and have just recently been cleaned thoroughly. Even if my CPU is merely average and not able to keep up with heat produced my oc'ing(which I haven't), the other fans do a pretty good job of compensating.

"and you're now attacking me for doing so."
You think I'm attacking your ridiculous statements just because you answered me??? That's crazy! I'd be glad to discuss and try to solve problems in a civilized manner, but you have pushed me to extremes! I'm not illogical and unfair, at least I don't mean to be. Of course you may dissagree with me trying to be logical and fair because of your opions based upon past experiences, but that's understandable. It's also understandable that you will disagree on all basises anyway, because that's your hobby, and why would I want to make you unhappy by asking you to discontinue the one thing you love to do most in the world? So go ahead and disagree on everything, no matter how dumb and rediculous it is, it's what entertains you and what you're programmed to do, correct?

"You think if anyone dares to try to help you, it's because they dare to think they know more than you."
No, it's when someone assumes that I am completely ignorant and actually come out and say: "I KNOW MORE THAN YOU DO!" I do understand that you probably know more than I do when it comes to PCs, but it's nasty and repulsive to go about the situation assuming that other people who need help are nitwits! That, I must say, is one of your faults. I probably know more about aircraft or Star Wars than you, but if I were in a Star Wars forum(or aircraft for that matter) with you, I would not put a condescending tone on my conversations with you or the other people I give advice to; that's one way to start futile agruements like the one we're having. I do apologize if I have put a negative demenor on my defensive agruments, but I must say that yours have been much more offensive and condescending. I've been patronized all throughout my early childhood, making me very passionate and sensitive when someone harrasses me like you have, and yes, I take things more personal than most. It's not your fault, but I'm sorry. And I'll try to take things less personal, ok? Isn't that what you wanted before?

"Apparently, you think me trying to help you is a bad thing."
That's going a little far, don't you think? I do appriciate help when it's useful but not when someone attacks my knowledge and intelligence.

"you're not gonna listen to anything I have to say"
Sure I'll listen, if it's useful and not nasty and condescending like it has been.

"I never said that."
Sure you did, or something that meant that, but I'll drop it, so you can keep what dignity you have left.

"you only want to personally attack me."
You're taking my statements I'm using to defend myself as personal attacks. I don't mean or like to attack you.

"That's mature..."
Well, ok, but maybe I'm right and you're in denial?

"So couldn't you have just left it there"
I could have, but it would've made it look like I just gave up and like a house of cards, folded under the sheer weight of your offensive statements.

"this big long rant attacking me including of all things my religious beliefs?"
What "big long rant"? I had to give credible examples and such to strengthen my reasoning. And don't like rants, but you should know about that personally, being one to occassionally rant yourself. You have before, admit it :)

"MCSE exams test knowledge of the product, nothing else."
Yes, ms products, thus you must study specific stuff that Bill dreams up. I don't want to be brainwashed myself, thank you very much.

"look at your foul language!"
Sorry, one or two fbombs do slip out occassionally, but only when I'm extremely passionate about something or there's no other way to express my true feelings in a powerful way. I'll be less careless in the future. Also, one can still act nasty and have a clean mouth. Nasty as in a cold MS devotee way.

"as unappreciative as you've been time and time again "
What I don't appreciate is how you've been so offensive in how you try to help me. And time and time again you've been nasty about it. BTW: you're advice about heat being a problem wasn't very useful because heat isn't a problem. I have ruled it out. You could give helpful advice as to what you think could be the real culprit. However, I would not be offended if you admitted that you don't know what the problem is, if that is the case with you. It does take more of a man to admit that he doesn't have the solution than to lie and blame it on someone else. Just think about that. I'm not attacking you.

"No one seems to think I'm a headache but you."
Are you sure about that? Maybe I'm the first one with enough gaul to stand up against you?

Chaintech 7NJL3 mobo
nForce2 +MCP 400 chipset
GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB
---
The police were following my trail of the mutilated bodies of criminals and empty bullet casings...

You didn't seem to understand my prior post very well, nor the private message I sent to you to help reinforce this, but here it goes for the third time.

The only interaction I'll have with you is should you post something in someone else's thread that I feel I should comment on, whether it's elaboration, support, or criticism.

That means I'm not going to respond to anything you post unless it's in another person's thread, and you post something that's incorrect, or I feel I need to comment on. I will not comment on personal attacks, including what's above.

That is all.

"People! Take to the streets and scream, 'BE REASONABLE!!!'"

Whatever. But I pity those other sorry souls you try to help.

You're not...John Mirra, are you? The fallen angel?

Chaintech 7NJL3 mobo
nForce2 +MCP 400 chipset
GeForce FX 5700 LE 256MB
---
And they were watching me do it.