geforce 8400 GS & Europa Universalis III

[George LeSauvage]

I've also posted this in the nzone BB.

I am addicted to the Paradox game EUIII. When I 1st got it, I was using a geforce 5200 card, which gave no actual problems, except that it ran very sluggishly. This was expected, as it was at the absolute minimum specs for the game.

I bought a new 8400 GS, & have had nothing but problems since then. The performance was much improved, but one problem surfaced: very frequently screen turns unreadable. The effect varies, from wholly black, to moderate, but still largely unreadable. Most of the time, I can use alt-F4 to exit, then reload, & sometimes it'll work ok for a short while. Alternatively, the game just locks up, & I usually have to cut the power to get out.

One odd thing is that the 1st day I used it, it never happened, but since then, it has given constant, & increasing trouble. 2 error messages often follow:

1. Thread stuck in device driver, &
2. Windows shut down to avoid damaging PC, device driver stuck in infinite loop.

The file nv4_disp is specified.

I am using XP, directx 9.0, & have tried loading the latest version of every driver (nvidia or other) I could find. I also tried uninstalling & reinstalling. Eventually, on the advice of PNY, I exchanged the card for a new one, on the theory it may have been defective. Nothing whatsoever has helped.

When I posted the problem with Paradox tech support, the consensus was that the card was likely to be overheating. Speedfan was suggested as a solution. But I have talked to PNY about 5x, 3x mentioning this, & it seems using this would void the warranty. I asked twice what other solutions to overheating I could use, & both times the rep simply rejected this as a possible problem.

Is this really true, that the card CANNOT be overheating (although several other users said they have had this problem.) If so, what else could be causing it? If not, how can I prevent overheating.

At this point, if I cannot get a solution, I suppose I'll just have to return the card & get another make, although nvidia has a very good rep with those I've spoken to.

From dxdiag:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/10/2008, 14:36:08
Machine name: ROBERT-36032CE3
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp.080413-2111)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: VIA
System Model: P4VT8
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.60GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 417MB used, 2248MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8400 GS
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_06E4&SUBSYS_05CE196E&REV_A1
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7516 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 5/3/2008 11:16:00, 6108160 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 5/3/2008 11:16:00, 6554496 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-45A4-11CF-8267-C52500C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x06E4
SubSys ID: 0x05CE196E
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

[Mr. Chris]

Firts off, there have been many articles that say that ALL g84 thru G86 nVidia cards have bad silicone in the GPU which is causing a massive failure rate.

With that being said, all my video cards are nVidia and I love them. Only one is an 8600 card, but it runs 24/7 so doesn't have the cold/ hot cycling issues that the other nVidia cards that are failing have.

If you want an application that will control fan speed and monitor card temps get N Tune from nVidia. It will not void your warranty. It does sound like your issues could be due to heat.

Second, I'm using the 177.41 drivers for my GXT 260, but probably the best driver for your card is the 174.19's. I had tried a Beta 177.83 PhysX driver, but Mass Effect kept crashing with a General Protection Fault, "Thread stuck in driver ......" Game would lock up and I had to do a hard reset to get control of the PC again. Give an older driver a try. That card doesn't need the "latest and greatest" Chris.

[George LeSauvage]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chris

Firts off, there have been many articles that say that ALL g84 thru G86 nVidia cards have bad silicone in the GPU which is causing a massive failure rate.

With that being said, all my video cards are nVidia and I love them. Only one is an 8600 card, but it runs 24/7 so doesn't have the cold/ hot cycling issues that the other nVidia cards that are failing have.

If you want an application that will control fan speed and monitor card temps get N Tune from nVidia. It will not void your warranty. It does sound like your issues could be due to heat.

Second, I'm using the 177.41 drivers for my GXT 260, but probably the best driver for your card is the 174.19's. I had tried a Beta 177.83 PhysX driver, but Mass Effect kept crashing with a General Protection Fault, "Thread stuck in driver ......" Game would lock up and I had to do a hard reset to get control of the PC again. Give an older driver a try. That card doesn't need the "latest and greatest" Chris.

Thank you very much. Tomorrow I'll get with the manus & some others, to try to work it out.