Freezing problem

[ruth29]

Windows 98 SE (build 4.10.2222) ECS M935U 1.0
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
1.70 gigahertz Intel Celeron
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: ECS M935U 1.0
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T 04/02/01
Drives Memory Modules c,d
41.07 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
34.78 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

CD-ROM CCD-52X6D
HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8320B [CD-ROM drive]
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5")

Generic IDE hard disk drive (41.07 GB) -- drive 0, No SMART Driver 224 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot '0' has 256 MB
Slot '1' is Empty
Slot '2' is Empty
Slot '3' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes

c: (on drive 0) 10.48 GB 6.99 GB free
d: (on drive 0) 10.48 GB 9.92 GB free
e: (on drive 0) 10.48 GB 8.23 GB free
f: (on drive 0) 9.64 GB 9.64 GB free

Network Drives


Users Printers
No details available EPSON Stylus C64 Series on EPUSB1:
HP DeskJet 930C Series on USB/DeskJet 930C/MY02811182JJ

Controllers Display
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
SiS 5513 Dual PCI IDE Controller SiS 650_651_M650_M652_740 [Display adapter]
OEC 15.7 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, November 1999)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller C-Media AC97 Audio Device
Gameport Joystick (no joystick connected)
MPU-401 Compatible
Communications Other Devices
Conexant SoftK56 PCI Modem(M)
Microsoft TV/Video Connection
Microsoft Virtual Private Networking Adapter
SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Network Card MAC Address: 00:0A:E6:74:26:9A
Network IP Address: 66.222.163.177 / 21 Conexant PCI Modem Enumerator
PC/AT Enhanced Keyboard (101/102-Key)
Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
I have downloaded all my updates for my hard ware as well as for my windows 98se.
I have this game it is kind of old it is Trophy Bass but my husband loves to play it and I have installed it on this computer and am using 3D as it is the only way I can get it to be the right brightness so you can see how to fish but when you play it for a little while it freezes. Am wondering if this is game problem computer problem or direct X problem. I have the latest direct X installed and think my video card only has 8 included with its drivers. Could you please advise me.
I wasn`t sure where to post this question so am trying it here. Thanks

[glc]

Ruth, please don't take offense, but that motherboard is bottom of the barrel. It's PC Chips, and uses a highly integrated SiS chipset with integrated video. Stability is a big questionmark. If you are trying to save money by using integrated boards, you can do a LOT better than this combination and still keep the cost down - here's a great little board for the money, it has a genuine Intel chipset and it's built by one of the premier boardmakers in the business:

http://www.vibecomputers.com/index.cfm?loc=iview&if=n&vID=192099

Do note that this requires DDR ram - I don't know what you have now, but standard PC100/PC133 SDRAM won't work.

I'm not trying to blow the issue off as junk hardware, but you don't exactly have a quality foundation there right now.

[ruth29]

I know I don`t have the best mother board in the world found that out after I already had it but most of the time serves the purpose. Just had a couple of games wanted to use but it probably is the video card and the sound card.
I just decided I wanted to use these games again and thre bright ness is very poor on them with my video card so maybe will just get a video card instead. Because the games worked fine with an old old computer the colour was perfect as well.
Most of the time computer just used for internet purposes. colour doesn`t matter.
I already have a sound card can use.
The memory I am using is DDR and it is 256.
Just thought it may be the direct X not working right ith win 98se
thanks anyway

[glc]

Before I bought a video card, I'd get that motherboard - the cost is gonna be comparable - and the Intel Extreme Graphics makes SiS look awful, the onboard Realtek 6 channel sound is better than the C-media AC97, and it also has an onboard Realtek 10/100 NIC.

[GaryRouth]

Hi all

Ruth, I'm a little confused by your mention of using 3D to improve brightness: can you explain?

glc's idea of a motherboard upgrade would indeed bring improvements in video, audio, network, overall performance, and stability. [Assuming the power supply powering your ECS board is OK!] . . .

If the Trophy Bass that you're talking about is the 1999 "Trophy Bass 3D" version, it has very light system requirements - "Win95/98, Pentium 166+ w/3D accelerator (supports 3Dfx, Glide, Direct 3D and Open GL accelerators), 32 MB RAM, Mouse, CD-ROM, Sound Card, Direct X, Modem" - so even your lowly SiS onboard should have a shot at handling that oldie. Try running the system with the case open to rule out heat (and check the fans) [in fact, enter the Bios Setup and look at the temperatures in the "Hardware Monitor" or "PC Health" menus]. If you have another power supply around, can't hurt to try it if it's rated better than what is running the motherboard now. The ECS "value" boards are somewhat famous for being sensitive to poor power supplies [the ASUS boards (like glc recommended) are often 6-layer boards and handle power fluctuations better - of course the ideal situation is a good motherboard And a good power supply]

There are some folks at the lab who love the Trophy Bass games - I haven't actually seen them in action, but it sounds pretty entertaining. . .
. . . Gary

[p.s. ---are you sure the brightness doesn't have anything to do with the monitor's settings?]

[ruth29]

I must apologize to you as I just found out the game which WAS THE TROPHY bASS 1999 edition that we were trying to play I found the brightness I needed to see the water was in the game I was able to get it to go brighter to see the water. Although my video card or motherboard doesn`t produce that great of colours I am now able to see what I wanted to see so wasn`t my computer at all that was causing the colour part.
The reason it was freezing was when I put it in 3D play apparently was using too much memory resources or what ever probably due to my computer but that I can live without I never use it myself as I am not into games etc.
I could upgrade to a better mother board but will not do so at present will keep all this in mind if I ever build a computer again.
By the way Gary the colour or brightness I was referring to was in the 3D that was listed in the game when you put it in 3D play there is a brightness part on the game that you can make brighter or darker but if it isn`t in the 3D play the brightness chart is not available.
Anyway thanks for help as well as new information into mother boards. Sorry I never new all this before.