Thread: Freezes all the time

Hi everybody,
when I load L4D I can see the the intro perfectly, but when it's over and I get the main page, it starts freezing every 1-2 seconds for about 10-15 seconds and sometimes more. Often it freezes completely.
I realize my CPU is lower than the minimum, but this can`t be the reason. Dead Space needs 2.8 Ghz (and a better Video Card tha mine) but it still runs perfectly on my machine.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Specs:

Windows XP

2 Gb RAM

Processor
Model : AMD Athlon(tm) Processor LE-1620
Speed : 42MHz
Model Number : 1642
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Low Power
Bus : HyperTransport
Package : Socket AM2/EBGA
Multiplier : 12/1x
Minimum/Maximum Multiplier : 5/1x - 12/1x
Generation : G8
Name : M5F-DH Athlon 64 M2 (K8 Brisbane) 65nm 2.2-3.0GHz ?V
Revision/Stepping : 5F / 3 (4C5)
Stepping Mask : DH-F3
Core Voltage Rating : 1.250V
Min/Max Core Voltage : 1.100V - 1.300V
Maximum Physical / Virtual Addressing : 40-bit / 48-bit
Native Page Size : 4kB


Sound card
Device Name : Realtek HD Audio Input
Manufacturer : Microsoft
Version : 5.10
Product ID : 101 / 1
Specific Wave Information
Maximum Standard Sampling Bits : 16-bit
Maximum Standard Sampling Rate : 96kHz
Channels : 65535


Video Adapter
Display : \\.\DISPLAY1
Model : ATI Radeon X1300/X1550 Series
VGA Compatible : No
Chipset
Chipset : RV515
Bus
Type : PCIe
Version : 1.00
Width : x16 / x16
Speed : 2.5Gbps / 2.5Gbps
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 3.91GB/s
Video BIOS
Date of Manufacture : lunes, 05 de febrero de 2007
Version : 3A16401.100
Direct3D Capabilities
Interface Version : 9.00
Model : ATI Radeon X1300/X1550 Series
Video Driver : ati2dvag.dll
Library Version : 6.14.10.6869
Has 3D Hardware Acceleration : Yes
Hardware Transform & Light : Yes
Heads : 1
Pixel Shaders Version : 3.00
Vertex Shaders Version : 3.00

I'm not sure if this is anything to do with it, but according to what you've posted there, your processor is running at 42mHz. That's more than a little odd. :-/

Originally Posted by Target Practice

I'm not sure if this is anything to do with it, but according to what you've posted there, your processor is running at 42mHz. That's more than a little odd. :-/

That is a bit odd but the LE are a power efficient series so that might have something to do with it.


I'd recommend the obvious and update your drivers, also I'd go to the vendors site and get an updated Sound Driver. what you have is a realtek sound card running on MS drivers I've had issues doing that.

Also don't forget to upgrade your Motherboard drivers as well, with the deals they had on newegg with that same processor I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say you built your system.

What do you mean by "with the deals they had on newegg with that same processor I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say you built your system."?, I don't understand. You're right anyway, I did build my own system.
I'll try updating my motherboard and my sound drivers, the rest is updated.

Originally Posted by Gaba_p

What do you mean by "with the deals they had on newegg with that same processor I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say you built your system."?, I don't understand. You're right anyway, I did build my own system.
I'll try updating my motherboard and my sound drivers, the rest is updated.

A few months back newegg.com had a great deals on that processor.

"A shot in the dark" is just a euphemism for a guess

So that means

"With the great deals on that processor, I'm going to guess that you built your own system"
--
Some other fixes to try...

Originally Posted by Target Practice

It's possibly lag, or it's possibly that crash that happens from time to time. If it happens again, open the console and enter "mat_queue_mode 0" (minus the quotes) - that should solve it.

Also for some they've fixed it by setting shader detail to medium.

I didn´t get the newegg part because I'm from Argentina and I didn't know that site; I did get the "shot in the dark" part
I've updated the Realtek sound drivers and CPU and VideoCard drivers using MSI Live Monitor, and still the same.
I added the "mat_queue_mod 0" thing to my config.cfg file so it loads at start-up, but it doesn't help (I also tried inside the console).
Guess I'll have to put L4D (and a few others) on hold for now...
Thanks anyway for the help.

Originally Posted by Mytheral

I'd take a peak in your Bios at the FSB (Front Side Bus) speed and the Multiplier settings and make sure that adds up to what you paid for.

Please explain a bit more. What would tell me I didn't get what I paid for? Thanx!

Originally Posted by Gaba_p

Please explain a bit more. What would tell me I didn't get what I paid for? Thanx!

Sorry, I shouldn't have used another euphemism. I'm not saying that you didn't get what you paid for, I'm just saying to make sure everything is set correctly in your BIOS.


I'd take a look through here again
http://left4deadforums.com/1873-lag-...p-crashes.html

if nothing is there, I'd go have a look in your bios. I looked up the tech sheet on your cpu and did some more reading, good news is it seems to be working as intended.

Also your comp is a bit exotic in the fact that it can clock itself back to x1 when it's not in use. This is speed stepping, in the past it has been an issue with games. You may want to see if your BIOS supports the option to disable speed stepping, and there is a decent chance this is the entire problem.

*Note: fall back plan for if something goes wrong in your bios. Your mother board has a solution for this it's called a clear switch/jumper and consult your motherboard manual for further info on that.

Originally Posted by Gaba_p

My BIOS has something similar to speed stepping, it's "Cool and Quiet". Unfortunately, it is disabled (and enabling it does nothing)

Weird, I'd try an application called cpu-z CPUID

and see what speeds it's giving you... your DirectX info says it was running at 42mhz... which would suggest that the speed stepping is still active.

Hre's the dump from CPU-Z: dump