My apologies in advance if there is a thread with this......
Well, as the post states, it is apparent I cannot play STO anymore. I have been using dual Nvidia 8800gt in SLI mode for STO. It seems as though to me that I cannot get the darn game to work for me.
I had originally been playing STO with one card until the 2.0 update, then made some graphics changes to allow for better performance. The SLI and such worked fine for me until Wednesday of this week. STO suddenly locked up with no sound, keyboard or mouse control. I had to manually reboot the computer.
After I came back the desktop, I noticed that it stated my video driver had stopped working and recovered. I checked the temperature of the cards to find that idling on the desktop placed the temps for GPU1
@71C and GPU2 at 65C. A friend told me about Riva Tuner and had me install it. I was able to get back onto STO after that for all of 5 minutes, then it repeated the same behavior.
I thought perhaps the fan settings did not work for RT and went to the Nvidia Control Panel where I was unable to change the fan speed getting an error stating
"The changes made were invalid and will not be applied"
I have updated to the newest Nvidia drivers (197.45 I believe released in July), checked my BIOS is up to date, and still, I cannot run STO without it locking up my system.
This is a real pain because I can run other MMO's or 3d applications such as Guild Wars. I have only tested them by walking around in zones for 5 minutes or so, but I noticed no problems associated with my STO woes.
The only change I have made to the computer prior to this is allowing Windows to do their update on Tuesday with their 17 updates( rather large considering I keep it up to date). It seems to me that all was well until that happened.
Is there something I am missing here? Did windows update cause there to be some kind of weird NVIDIA card malfunction? Did the card burn out? Why if I use Riva Tuner can I not play STO because it crashes?
Is STO even remotely compatible with Nvidia SLI?
My computer is covered under warranty if the card has burned out, and in fact in talking with Dell (yes...I know..right?) They seem to believe it is a hardware issue to replace the graphics cards, the mobo, and system fan.
I would like to seek clarification from people that have had similar experiences with this issue. I LOVE to play STO when it is working (bugs and all....odd isn't it?), but since I cannot play STO because it locks up, I want to know what to do to remedy the situation.
Post your supportive ideas, keep it clean, and remember, I don't have the money to go buy a new gaming rig (besides this one just turned 2 this past month).

:mad:

:mad:
Comments
Thanks for the assurance that it is not only me....
Please keep the suggestions coming, please...Still no word from the devs or technical support...I submitted a ticket out of game...perhaps to just see if they could relay any possible fix or option to try...or consider...maybe I was hoping too much, or perhaps I have them baffled.
However, there's a topic on this board about beams losing their bloom. I know the problems aren't directly related, but after my first crash, that's what happened to me. Check it out, there is a user there who mentions a driver to roll back to that fixes the error, it may fix your crashing issue. Ya don't have much to use.
Also, to test if it is your graphics card, i would play something a bit more graphics heavy than GW if you can. Something that pushes your cards a bit more. I'm sorry that I could not help more.
Oh yes, I also read that SC2 has been frying / damaging cards due to a bug in game. There is a fix on their boards I believe.
I know that some of it may have to do with the hardware itself because I would play Empire Total War (before I started on STO), and the problem I would have there would be a CTD after intense fighting whereby the screen would stutter. Anyway, at least with that I had control after the crash, and it did not happen all of the time.
If the part that tipped it over to fail was the 2.0 content, or graphics changes, perhaps cryptic ought to look more carefully at borderline cards, systems and such before they roll something to tribble or the holodeck. That way they have somewhat of a fix or suggestions for people when problems are reported...
Their grand fix to my dilemma was to take the cards out of SLI....yea...I know....
I would not have this problem if Dell had not messed up my initial order...that way the card I wanted... would have been available. Instead...I had to use SLI....so far, I dunno about it's track record.
First we need info.
This thread has great info on what we need.
How to Get Help w/ Technical Issues
Do Not post in that thread!!!!!!!!!
Keep all info here in one place.
Need your dxdiag report. Follow the instruction posted on the above thread.
You can run Windows "System Restore" and restore to a date before you started having problems.
I've got an Nvidia GTX295 in my PC. It runs every 3D PC Game like a champ. But as soon as I got STO, I started having the same problems you described.
I knew almost right away that I was dealing with an overheating issue. I had a hunch it was the GPU, not the CPU, so I downloaded Nvidia's System Monitor and loaded it up.
I started playing STO, and periodically I would Alt-Tab to the Monitor to watch the temp on my two GPUs. Sure enough, I was up to 105c in about 10 minutes, and the PC halted. The on-board thermal cut off is 105c, so I started a long quest to fix this over-heating problem.
This included:
1. Updating the video drivers to the latest version.
2. Taking the case apart and dusting it out completely with compressed air.
3. Installing a new PCI slot fan right below the GPU.
4. Using a NvProfile to create and load a manually made profile that spins the fans at 100% all the time.
5. Opening up the card itself, and dusting it out.
6. Taking off the heat sinks on the GPU and applying new thermal grease.
7. Relocating the Tower to a more "open" area with better air circulation
8. Taking the case cover off and putting a 9" 4 amp circular fan to blow into the case.
All this resulted in a net drop of about 10 degrees Celsius on my normal operating temps (down to about 55-60c). But despite all this, the game continued to run up to 105c and cut out.
Finally, the last straw was to run the game in low graphics mode. This did it. I could play... but without any sort of AA, Bloom, or high rez textures. As soon as turn on graphics higher than Medium though, it fries. Medium runs at around 95-100c, so I usually leave it in Low mode.
The only thing left to do is replace the internal fans on the video card, or invest in liquid cooling. Unfortunately, I'm not a position to purchase either of these at the moment. And I'm not entirely convinced that part of the problem isn't an STO client issue, as other brand new 3d games run fine, (like TF:WFC) usually around 75c.
If you want to download the Nvidia monitor software, its included in the system tools download below:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia_system_tools_6.06.html
I have already installed, well the manufacturer unstalled Nvidia System monitor, so I can pull the temps off of it.
Next, to White Knight. I have read that thread, and it seems it covers a great many tings, but not a perplexing issue such as mine.
I used the post to find out all of my game settings, nothing much out of the extraordinary there. I then looked at many other things to see what was going on. As far as system resotr goes, yea...that did not work.
Suffice to say I am working on a laptop currently, and cannot run a dxdiag from the other machine but I do know I am running Windows Vista 32 bit, dual Nvidia 8800GT graphics cards with the 197.45 vrivers (prior to this incident had the April dirvers), an Intel Core 2 Duo processor at 3.12 GHZ. It is not as though I am running a sub-standard computer......However if I feel like trying to fry the computer yet again, I'll change more settings, try the game, and get a dxdiag posted for your viewing pleasure..(little as it will do to assist).All I wanted was feedback on what you might do to correct the issue.
As far as the resolved issue is concerned, NO it is NOT resolved. I have to wait for parts and such, and in the interim I am checking to see if there is anything else that can be done. I doubt from seeing what you posted will help me until hey look at their client adn see if something wonky is going on...
Anyway, thanks for the help there K...it seems I have done most of that troubleshooting already.
For anybody else, positive feedback is welcomed.
I thought it prudent to go ahead and post the dxdiag information. Since I do not have the ability to post the dxdiag in a link, you shall have to bear with me on this post. Oh yes, I do have System Monitor from Nvidia...and yes, this machine is vexxed trying to run it. Go figure...so it must be something hardware related?...Who knows, just look and let me know what is going on..
P.S.: the drivers reflect what was changed to after I began to have problems....anyway....
System Information
Time of this report: 8/16/2010, 18:43:32
Machine name: JON-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.100608-0458)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc
System Model: XPS 630i
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 2812MB RAM
Page File: 1116MB used, 4715MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode
DxDiag Notes
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Sound Tab 4: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
DirectX Debug Levels
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)
Display Devices
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8800 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_053C10DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 1650 MB
Dedicated Memory: 499 MB
Shared Memory: 1150 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Dell SP2208WFP(Digital)
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 8.17.0012.5896 (English)
DDI Version: 10
BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/9/2010 17:37:00, 9818728 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4551-11CF-6664-30251CC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0611
SubSys ID: 0x053C10DE
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C
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DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DXDIAG limited due to large size....
Re-enabling the two options that got turned off after patching to 2.0 and turning on the reduce usage option solved my NVidia problems.
I was having royal fits last night actually getting the system monitor to work since it is a 3D application. Today, it seems much better (knock on wood). I have a bit more checking to go before I actually launch STO.
Since you told me about the troubleshooting tab on the graphics card in STO, that will be my first stop. I do not know how to reduce the GPU/CPU option. What exactly does that do, and where do I find it?
Also, I just tried to modify the fan control in the Control Panel to no avail...probably another error (software?)...
My question is what driver from Nvidia works best with 2.0, and what do I need to do to make sure I am only rolling that particular driver.
Secondly, if I use those steps you used on the troubleshooting tab, and such, how many degrees does it shave off with the GPUs? (anotherwards...how much cooler would it be).
Lastly, to answer White Knight, I do not feel comfortable placing my service tag number here...I guard anything like that very carefully, thanks for understanding.
Place any posts to answer my questions...And, again, thanks for your assistance...it has been above and beyond anything I have received from Cryptic...
As for temp reduction I don't know. I never got to the point where my GPU overheated. I could literally hear the fans ramp up in my case as soon as I got to STO's character selection screen (computer sounded like a jet engine) so I immediately knew 2.0 did something "bad" and terminated the game ASAP. After terminating the game I did my research to figure out what was changed and bug reported it while 2.0 was still Tribble only.
Last, my nVidia card is a GeForce 9800 GT using driver version 6.14.0011.9745 dated 4/3/2010 though I believe the latest July 2010 driver release is good as well.
I know they put out alot of heat.... I suppose if I use Riva Tuner tomorrow (I needs a fleetie or someone to get me goin on that...not the best when it comes to this stuff the 1st time) I should be fine...If not, a PCI express card should be more than adequate....correct?