Just Upgraded - Now Bf2 'hangs'

[towerwarrior1]

Grateful for any suggestions to help me with the following problem:

SYSTEM:

I've just upgraded my PC to the following:

AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core 3800+
Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3500LL (2 x 1GB)
Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe Crossfire motherboard
ATI Radeon X1900 Crossfire Edition 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI PCI-Express
Connect3D ATI Radeon X1900 XT 512MB GDDR AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI PCI-Express
FSP Sparkle 700X PSU
Dell 30" widescreen monitor (runs only at 60-MHz)
Use motherboard sound

PROBLEM:

Regardless of the resolution setting, BF2 will play quite happily for 3-4 minutes, then hang for a few seconds, then play, then hang, etc. This happens both on and off line. This does not appear to be an overheating problem (CPU running at 45-47 degrees during gameplay) and always happens at the 3-4 minute point. No association with what's appearing on the screen either, ie whether it be a busy battle scene or against a blank wall. No problems with other games either, eg Oblivion at max everything (2560 x 1600 widescreen) runs like a dream. PC not reporting any problems with my hardware. 3D tests have run fine.

THINGS I HAVE TRIED TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS:

Disengaged Crossfire (therefore only using one card)
Reinstalled all drivers (windows XP Professional SP2)
Reinstalled BF2 and updates upto 1.3 (run 1.3 for a few weeks prior to upgrade with no problems)
Closed down one of the CPUs (via affinity tab)
Disengaged Virus and firewall protection
Reduced resolution and sound to minimum via BF2 set up
Updated my 550 Watt PSU to 700 (this apparently did stop Oblivion from closing my PC down immediately after the game intro).

I really am at a loss as to what can be causing this problem with BF2, and only BF2, especially as it will happily run, then just stall at the same point every time. Hoping to hear from you all soon!:)

[Silent_Bob_]

are u running SLI? I dont know for sure but dont u need exact the same GPU from same Vendor to smoothly do SLI?

[towerwarrior1]

SLI is NVidia's multi graphics card system. Crossfire is ATI's alternate. A crossfire system requires a crossfire motherboard, a crossfire master card that is crossfire enabled and a second ATO X1000 card - all of which I have.

Thanks anyway.:)

[Killuminati]

Have you upgraded to BIOS 0404 for your A8R32-MVP?

[Living Ghost]

Set the affinity when you start BF2 to 0 (by unchecking 1) in the Task Manage?Process screen.

Or dl fix which I can't find.

EDIT: Didn't see you tried affinity...Try reformatting? I don't know...

EDIT2: I think it is your PSU. I have never heard of them...It is probably crap.

Great PSU makers: Silverstone, Enermax, ugh...forgot the other few.

BAD BAD BAD: THERMALTAKE

EDIT3: Your PSU is ok, but probably not enough for the two x1900xt's...They are majorly power hungry...I'd go with a PC Power & Cooling 800w if you can afford it...

I honestly think the PSU is not giving them enough power.

Also, if you plan on overclocking ever, MSI is ok, and DFi is the best.

Here, I do not meant to advertise this site but they have a list of recommended PSU's, and you really have to go high end for ANY dual graphics card solution. (http://forums.overclockersclub.com/Recommended_Power_Supplies_List-t63579.html)

[Sir. bzb]

i have a similar set up to you, except the ati's, i have dual 7800gt's.

I can run BF2 at 2560*1600 but it aint a great framerate by a long way. I've noticed that after a while at that res with all high that it starts eating into swap file (inspite of 2gb ram) which makes it a bit jumpy, with the extra graphics memory you might be okay on that front. Once you get this problem sorted id be curious to know what sort of fps you get with the ati's at that res.
I play it happily at 1600*900 (i think).

Have you got a soundcard you could try instead of onboard sound? A long shot, but when i first started BF2 it diddnt default to using my sound card and that caused a painful performance hit.

[Living Ghost]

bzb is probably more right than me, but if he isn't, here is the PSU I would use:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=T85SSI

It really is expected that if you can afford something like dual x1900xt's and a 30" Widescreen monitor that you can afford a good PSU to go with it, but seeing as you skimped on the processor, I am weary...

[towerwarrior1]

The 700 watt PSU was recommended by the company I bought most of the upgrade kit from - overclockers.co.uk. It is the PSU they use in all of the high spec PCs, therefore, can't see that as the problem. Am now attempting a full uninstall and reinstall and will try playing prior to upgrading to 1.3. Have already tried setting the affinity to 0.

Tried vanilla BF2 - problem still there, therefore NOT 1.3 upgrade. Now trying suggestion of latest BIOS upgrade!:(

BIOS UPGRADE APPEARS TO HAVE WORKED. MANY THANKS, KILLUMINATI.

Now I would like to know why a BIOS upgrade has resolved this problem.

[Killuminati]

Because it was an issue with the motherboard.. go to Anandtech.com and read the review they have about the motherboard and 0404.

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2743

I have the same board, i knew about the stuttering although never experienced it since i upgraded right away, but i figured that was the problem.


oh and You're Welcome.