TGE 1.4 Keeps Crashing
by Brian C. · in Torque Game Engine · 10/26/2006 (7:04 am) · 13 replies
Hi all,
I've had an indie license for some time now, and have finally started using the engine for a few upcoming projects. But after installing the latest version of TGE, updating both DirectX (October release, SDK version) and my video adapter drivers, and successfully recompiling the entire solution in MS VC++ .NET 2003 (release not debug), the FPS demo continually crashes... and I want to start prototyping by using that demo. I have not made one single change yet to the demo, so it's not me! I haven't noticed the same problem with other TGE mods.
Problem is, the FPS works seemingly fine until about 2 minutes pass. Like clockwork, the entire OS (WinXP) suddenly freezes - not even the cursor or any mouse or key commands function. This problem happens every time I run it, always after about 2 minutes.
I was experiencing this problem before I updated my video drivers and DirextX - I had to do a hard reboot to get my computer back every time. After updating the drivers and DX, the same problem continues, but now my VPU (video processor; I have an ATI Radeon 9500 Pro) resets itself and the computer recovers after 3-5 seconds. I get an error message from my VPU recover utility that my VPU was reset because it stopped responding... followed by that WinXP error report request box, the one that asks you to send MS an error report.
I've been running the demo with D3D enabled. I recall the same exact problem occurring to me a year ago with TGE 1.3 but with OpenGL. Nobody back then could help me, other than to suggest switching to D3D, so I did and all seemed to work fine.
The only idea I have left at this point is to uninstall TGE and reinstall it, hoping for a miracle. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd appreciate them, thanks much! :)
I've had an indie license for some time now, and have finally started using the engine for a few upcoming projects. But after installing the latest version of TGE, updating both DirectX (October release, SDK version) and my video adapter drivers, and successfully recompiling the entire solution in MS VC++ .NET 2003 (release not debug), the FPS demo continually crashes... and I want to start prototyping by using that demo. I have not made one single change yet to the demo, so it's not me! I haven't noticed the same problem with other TGE mods.
Problem is, the FPS works seemingly fine until about 2 minutes pass. Like clockwork, the entire OS (WinXP) suddenly freezes - not even the cursor or any mouse or key commands function. This problem happens every time I run it, always after about 2 minutes.
I was experiencing this problem before I updated my video drivers and DirextX - I had to do a hard reboot to get my computer back every time. After updating the drivers and DX, the same problem continues, but now my VPU (video processor; I have an ATI Radeon 9500 Pro) resets itself and the computer recovers after 3-5 seconds. I get an error message from my VPU recover utility that my VPU was reset because it stopped responding... followed by that WinXP error report request box, the one that asks you to send MS an error report.
I've been running the demo with D3D enabled. I recall the same exact problem occurring to me a year ago with TGE 1.3 but with OpenGL. Nobody back then could help me, other than to suggest switching to D3D, so I did and all seemed to work fine.
The only idea I have left at this point is to uninstall TGE and reinstall it, hoping for a miracle. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd appreciate them, thanks much! :)
About the author
#2
10/26/2006 (10:48 am)
I agree it sounds like a problem with faulty memory or something related to your hardware (possibly overheating the GPU? I would run some benchmarks if I were you) or O/S setup. 
#3
Also, here is one thing I noticed a lot when I used to update my Catalysts as well. Run "dxdiag" from the start menu and check it AGP textures are enabled under the display tab. I used to have them be constantly disabled after a Catalyst driver update until I did some diver fiddling thing (can't remember at the moment).
10/26/2006 (11:19 am)
I would definitely try going back a driver revision and seeing if updating the Radeon has caused some instability for you. Catalyst drivers in the past used to give me headaches about every other version when I was using a Radeon.Also, here is one thing I noticed a lot when I used to update my Catalysts as well. Run "dxdiag" from the start menu and check it AGP textures are enabled under the display tab. I used to have them be constantly disabled after a Catalyst driver update until I did some diver fiddling thing (can't remember at the moment).
#4
10/26/2006 (1:05 pm)
I have to agree with Stefan...this sounds a *lot* like an overheating issue.
#5
Well I don't happen to have any benchmark software, but I ran dxdiag and it reported no problems. I also did the manual D3D and DD tests, and they were all successful. dxdiag also reported my AGP textures are in fact enabled. And the old video drivers failed to correct the problem as well.
I have 128 MB of video memory; is that not enough? My PC case has plenty of cooling fans (besides my VPU, CPU and south bridge fans, there are two big 120 mm's throwing air from front to back, one of which happens to be aimed right at the video adapter). Plus I have a system thermometer (33.3 deg C at the moment and never goes above 34, which is well within normal), and I do regular compresed air cleanings to prevent dust buildup. But all this doesn't really say anything definitive about the VPU's temperature... I'm going to contact ATI about this. In the past (with the previous instance I mentioned) they blamed the software (TGE), though. :/
Anyone know of a good (free) benchmark program?
10/26/2006 (2:21 pm)
Thanks for the feedback everyone.Well I don't happen to have any benchmark software, but I ran dxdiag and it reported no problems. I also did the manual D3D and DD tests, and they were all successful. dxdiag also reported my AGP textures are in fact enabled. And the old video drivers failed to correct the problem as well.
I have 128 MB of video memory; is that not enough? My PC case has plenty of cooling fans (besides my VPU, CPU and south bridge fans, there are two big 120 mm's throwing air from front to back, one of which happens to be aimed right at the video adapter). Plus I have a system thermometer (33.3 deg C at the moment and never goes above 34, which is well within normal), and I do regular compresed air cleanings to prevent dust buildup. But all this doesn't really say anything definitive about the VPU's temperature... I'm going to contact ATI about this. In the past (with the previous instance I mentioned) they blamed the software (TGE), though. :/
Anyone know of a good (free) benchmark program?
#6
On the subject of your computer setup, that doesn't really say much. You could be blowing hot air on the GPU for all we know :) The GPU could be damaged, or there's not enough power to run it (happened to me once, had to replace the Power Aggregate).
I would try some stress test application (Google) to see if I can get the system to hang or act strangely.
They will always blame the software, just like Creative blames Nvidia for giving bluescreens related to their own chipsets. :p It's the simplest (is there such a word?) way out.
128 video megabytes of memory should be just fine.
10/26/2006 (2:57 pm)
SiSoft Sandra should be free for 30 days, I think.On the subject of your computer setup, that doesn't really say much. You could be blowing hot air on the GPU for all we know :) The GPU could be damaged, or there's not enough power to run it (happened to me once, had to replace the Power Aggregate).
I would try some stress test application (Google) to see if I can get the system to hang or act strangely.
They will always blame the software, just like Creative blames Nvidia for giving bluescreens related to their own chipsets. :p It's the simplest (is there such a word?) way out.
128 video megabytes of memory should be just fine.
#7
3dmark is a big download but is a good way to stress the system.
Does it happen in both OpenGL and D3D?
Does it happen in both 1.4.2 and 1.5 (if you have both installed)
would it be beneficial I wonder to run the demo with journaling enabled and then check the journal afterwards?
Good luck and keep us posted.
10/26/2006 (3:43 pm)
Can you play a graphically stressing game such as DOOM3 for a while without any lockups? Try if you can to really stress the video card in another app to see if anything else causes the lockups.3dmark is a big download but is a good way to stress the system.
Does it happen in both OpenGL and D3D?
Does it happen in both 1.4.2 and 1.5 (if you have both installed)
would it be beneficial I wonder to run the demo with journaling enabled and then check the journal afterwards?
Good luck and keep us posted.
#9
I also tried the 10 round stress test for "processor arithmetic" and "processor multimedia" (I couldn't find anything closer to a pure video adapter test). It succeeded. It didn't say much about my video adapter in particular, though my CPU voltage and temperature is good. Anyway, very funny about blowing hot air. :) I don't think that's the case. More likely my GPU is damaged or not getting enough power, and probably damaged between the two. I'm speculating at this point, but now that I think about it, when I bought my video adapter 3 years ago, it arrived in the mail late and in the direct sun... I recall being angry with the delivery people for leaving electronics in the hot sun (this was July) for perhaps hours. But it worked fine once I finished building my PC, and I've never noticed a single problem until TGE.
It's late now, but I'll try another stress test when I have more alertness and time and will report back by Sunday (I'm pulling two extended days at work Friday and Saturday), thanks again.
Kenneth - You know, I thought of that but I haven't played very many games in years. Civ 3 is the last game I bought (from 2003). It's ironic that I develop games but play so rarely these days... I just don't have the time I did when I was a kid. :)
I'll try 3dmark and report back next chance I get, thanks. It does happen with OpenGL as well, yes. I don't have 1.5 - what happened, did GG meld TSE and TGE into one product? How do I setup journaling? Thanks!
Berserk - If you mean the DirectX October update, I am using that already, thanks. I would prefer OpenGL but switched to D3D when I started having this problem a year ago with OpenGL and TGE 1.3. I always wondered about the UI nuances, with missing lines and all, now I know why, thanks.
10/26/2006 (9:03 pm)
Stefan - I did the performance test with SiSoft's Sandra (their free Lite version). It succeeded, though performance is abyssmal compared to current PCs! What do you want for a 3 year old...I also tried the 10 round stress test for "processor arithmetic" and "processor multimedia" (I couldn't find anything closer to a pure video adapter test). It succeeded. It didn't say much about my video adapter in particular, though my CPU voltage and temperature is good. Anyway, very funny about blowing hot air. :) I don't think that's the case. More likely my GPU is damaged or not getting enough power, and probably damaged between the two. I'm speculating at this point, but now that I think about it, when I bought my video adapter 3 years ago, it arrived in the mail late and in the direct sun... I recall being angry with the delivery people for leaving electronics in the hot sun (this was July) for perhaps hours. But it worked fine once I finished building my PC, and I've never noticed a single problem until TGE.
It's late now, but I'll try another stress test when I have more alertness and time and will report back by Sunday (I'm pulling two extended days at work Friday and Saturday), thanks again.
Kenneth - You know, I thought of that but I haven't played very many games in years. Civ 3 is the last game I bought (from 2003). It's ironic that I develop games but play so rarely these days... I just don't have the time I did when I was a kid. :)
I'll try 3dmark and report back next chance I get, thanks. It does happen with OpenGL as well, yes. I don't have 1.5 - what happened, did GG meld TSE and TGE into one product? How do I setup journaling? Thanks!
Berserk - If you mean the DirectX October update, I am using that already, thanks. I would prefer OpenGL but switched to D3D when I started having this problem a year ago with OpenGL and TGE 1.3. I always wondered about the UI nuances, with missing lines and all, now I know why, thanks.
#11
Interestingly, I was able to run the FPS demo today for 12 minutes without a problem! I'm at 32 deg C in the PC, whereas it was 33-34 deg C the last few times... and it is a cooler day today... I guess it is a cooling problem after all. I don't think that these case temperatures are dangerous at all, but maybe my VPU is missing a few screws? (not literally) I guess I should start shopping for a bigger VPU fan/heatsink and break out the arctic silver... or save up for a newer video adapter...
Thanks again everyone, and if you think of anything else I'm all ears. :)
10/29/2006 (3:09 pm)
Okay, I tried 3dMark05 (free version) and ran the default tests. They ran without any problems (other than a very slow frame rate!) - no "VPU not responding" errors or any other indications of hardware problems.Interestingly, I was able to run the FPS demo today for 12 minutes without a problem! I'm at 32 deg C in the PC, whereas it was 33-34 deg C the last few times... and it is a cooler day today... I guess it is a cooling problem after all. I don't think that these case temperatures are dangerous at all, but maybe my VPU is missing a few screws? (not literally) I guess I should start shopping for a bigger VPU fan/heatsink and break out the arctic silver... or save up for a newer video adapter...
Thanks again everyone, and if you think of anything else I'm all ears. :)
#12
10/31/2006 (11:28 am)
Aha! I opened my case to inspect my video adapter and... my VPU fan was dead - problem solved! TGE works perfectly now with OpenGL and D3D with the new fan in place. Thanks again everyone.
#13
10/31/2006 (12:59 pm)
Haha, nice! Enjoy. 
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