random crashes from strategic map

**prklts** · June 26, 2009, 11:40 PM

Hey guys. I'm running Vanilla M2TW: Kingdoms on Windows XP, and I can play fine for a few minutes. Unfortunately, eventually the game freezes, and eventually I get a black screen. Then the computer is completely frozen and requires me cutting the power to reboot it.

Has anyone else had this problem (and hopefully found a solution)?

Thanks in advance!

Tim

**irishron** · June 27, 2009, 03:41 AM

What are your computer specs? Mine does that when the video card overheats and this game can do it.

**prklts** · June 27, 2009, 10:03 AM

I am running Windows XP on a 3.0 ghz single processor with 2 GB of memory and the Radeon HD 3650 1 GB overclocked edition. My PSU is whatever standard thing Dell packed away in there, but it was supposed to be a high-end gaming system. (The PSU label indicated 350 watts.)

What can I do to keep the video card from overheating? I am not actually using any of the overclocking features that are supported by the software.

**irishron** · June 27, 2009, 11:03 AM

I know overclocking causes heat because I tried it on my x1950pro and immediately put its temperature in the red zone. Once having a Dell your options maybe somewhat limited.
www.newegg.com hsa aftermarket cooling fins for video cards, and cpus. They also sell liqiud cooling kits that you have to install yourself.
The only other option is don't overclock it.

**prklts** · June 27, 2009, 01:40 PM

Well, I don't disagree with you on the overclocking thing, but I am currently not using any of the overclocking features (i.e. it is not being overclocked).

I am starting now to wonder if my PSU is insufficient to operate everything. It says 350 watts, and the video card recommends 300 watts. However, there's a lot of other stuff in the case that's being run too. I wonder if the combination of high graphic card use plus high cpu use creates a power shortage which freezes the computer.

**irishron** · June 27, 2009, 03:42 PM

It could be your video card is dying.
You can download Speedfan from www.almico.com and see what temperatures everything is running. Also GPU-Z will tell you more about your video card.
Your computer can play this game very well stock. I don't know how old it is but a friend that is in another forum has a Dell they did overclock on him without telling him and it does overheat. It's headed back so they can do it right.

**prklts** · July 12, 2009, 08:41 PM

UPDATE: Great news! The problem is solved now. I no longer need any help, but I'd like to post this for the sake of those who may follow after me, searching for their own solutions.

I bought and installed a better PSU, I cracked open the case to improve ventilation, and I did a clean wipe of the hard drive followed by reinstallation of Windows XP and the M2TW programs and patches. Unfortunately despite all these measures I continued to experience the same sort of problems. I did more internet searching, and I found some good information on the following website:

http://www.playtool.com/pages/troubl...ing/intro.html

I absolutely -did- have the very latest available video drivers. However, that information indicated I should also have updated chipset (i.e. motherboard) and sound card drivers. I'd never heard of updating chipset drivers before. Maybe a lot of people have that problem. Anyway, after hunting and installing new chipset and sound card drivers, and after a few more reboots and stuff, everything is working great. Apparently something in the complicated sound routine or chipset commands was causing the crashes when playing the game.

Spread the word... updated drivers means more than just video card drivers. Also, thanks so much for the help, Irishron. You're a good man.