ARMA freezing after 10-20 mins

[DHSSREDSTAR 0]

Hi all,

I've been scouring the posts here for a complete description of the ARMA freezing problem many seem to be having.

However, I have yet to see a definitive post on the issue or a complete understanding of what the problem is.  All I hear is to use the maxmem command line switch which only seems to increase the length of time before it freezes but the game still freezes for everyone.   Can anyone provide more substantial information on this topic?  I have used maxmem -2048 and I can get about 30 mins but then the game still freezes.  I just LOVE this game but after I upgraded to 1.08 this problem suddenly started.   I have the latest nvidia and soundblaster drivers, plus I've updated the bios etc.  I played on 1.05 without any issue.  Seems since the 1.08 upgrade this problem cropped up.  The use of the maxmem to fix the problem almost implies a memory leak of somekind but I have yet to see BI reply on the forum (perhaps I can't find it) to explain the problem, why maxmem works and whether or not it is a ARMA issue or a driver issue with XP.

I did read in one post that the x-fi extreme audio card is implicated in this issue, has anyone had a similar experience?

Intel Core2 Extreme Processor X6800 2.93GHz / Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe / 4GB TWINX RAM/ 2 X BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC2 768MB (SLI) / X-Fi Xtreme Audio

[Deathstruck 375]

What??

2x 8800 card and it crashs??

Your playing on very high graphics right?

[DHSSREDSTAR 0]

Hi,

laff, to my surprise... NO... I am not. I have dumbed down the settings to about "normal" on everything... however... it is SWEET when it works... I mean... I can put 200+ guys on the field with no degredation in gameplay... beautiful game... just the usual bugs to work out... like any other complicated code base.

[Dudester 0]

Hi all,

I've been scouring the posts here for a complete description of the ARMA freezing problem many seem to be having.

However, I have yet to see a definitive post on the issue or a complete understanding of what the problem is.  All I hear is to use the maxmem command line switch which only seems to increase the length of time before it freezes but the game still freezes for everyone.   Can anyone provide more substantial information on this topic?  I have used maxmem -2048 and I can get about 30 mins but then the game still freezes.  I just LOVE this game but after I upgraded to 1.08 this problem suddenly started.   I have the latest nvidia and soundblaster drivers, plus I've updated the bios etc.  I played on 1.05 without any issue.  Seems since the 1.08 upgrade this problem cropped up.  The use of the maxmem to fix the problem almost implies a memory leak of somekind but I have yet to see BI reply on the forum (perhaps I can't find it) to explain the problem, why maxmem works and whether or not it is a ARMA issue or a driver issue with XP.

I did read in one post that the x-fi extreme audio card is implicated in this issue, has anyone had a similar experience?

Intel Core2 Extreme Processor X6800 2.93GHz / Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe / 4GB TWINX RAM/ 2 X BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC2 768MB (SLI) / X-Fi Xtreme Audio

This will not help your problem but can i just add my findings here. I have played this game with no problems, that is untill last night when my game started to freeze every 15 or so minutes into a game.

I was a lucky since i take an image of my hard drive using Norton Ghost. Wich basically means any mess up and my drive can be put back to a date when all was well.This isn't like system restore btw.

Now the thing what i don't get is this seemed to happen when i updated my antivirus and Add-Aware programes. I'm not saying this is whats caused it for sure, but i'll look into it.

Since i used norton ghost, to ghost back the image of my drive all has been ok. wich leads me to belive that certain updates in other programs are effecting the game.

Can somone clarify that this may be possible.

[DHSSREDSTAR 0]

Hi,

Well, I gave this a try... (I also use ghosting software, Drive Image Pro). I turned off my Trendmicro anti-virus... gave it a whirl... I got about 35 minutes out of the game (I was ALMOST convinced I had it)... then it froze up.

So... am not sure? I had problems with Counterstrike freezing so I installed Microsofts patch to fix it. Fixed my counterstrike problems... not sure if it 'created' a problem here though.

What sound card do you run?

[Infam0us 10]

Hey man, I had the same trouble ... turnsd out since 1.08 ArmA does'nt like my CPU being overclocked. So I defaulted all the settings in the BIOS and it runs fine now. Also mine froze every 30 minutes aswell so might be a similar problem

[-Puma- 2]

frozen here too, but no pagefile makes it playble(maybe 1-2 second froze)

hell this game is wierd piece of software i must say.

(i dont like overcloked comps, says arma+anything else that's been good in other games)

[DHSSREDSTAR 0]

I'm not overclocked... also, my video cards aren't overclocked (I did run NTUNE but... I use baseline for ArmA).

I think it has to do with 1.08 as it ran without any problems on 1.05. I think I might re-image my computer back to 1.05 (sigh)...

weird... despite all the discussion on this forum about freezing, with some pretty intelligent people posting, and we have yet to hear from the support/dev team. Even though I see them replying to other more mundane/pedestrian stuff.

[SWAT_BigBear 0]

I have used maxmem -2048

can you copy/paste that exact target line to us?

I can only use -maxmem=512

anything higher gets me all sorts of errors.

[Fritz Mueller 0]

Re: Freezing after 10-20 mins

Glad to have joined this Forum.

I find it invaluable to issue regarding the game.

I recently just bought the game and have the 1.08 upgrade also.

I have also noticed that my screen locks or otherwise goes dark.This could be because I had my Nvidia Ntune not set right or in combination with Nvidia Tray.

Removed both

I recall a while back a program called Smartclose which closes down all your background processes.

www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/SmartClose.shtml

Just from what I have read in the past regarding certain games they all usually advise shutting down background applications to aid the game process.

I have had success before with this program.It temporarily closes applications and then reinstates them again when the game is closed.

It's free d/l.

Also read Jack's Hardwrae troubleshoot article here:

http://www.flashpoint1985.com/cgi-bin....t=56898

Fritz Mueller

[D007 0]

im using 2 8800's in sli myself. on xp..

i wouldnt get rid of the paging file.. i have mine at 4000 actually.. this game i think wants a paging file.. seems like it..

your freezing quick... have you tried the intel dual core hotfix? this game is threaded and optimised for single cores and that may help u as well.. it's in the tips and tricks section ( which I hope you have read over and applied anything you can use to your system )

theres a beta driver for the 8800s i recommend u get.. 162.18.. alot of game fixes.. just google 162.18

ntune does suk..lol.. but in some cases you cant open the nvidia control panle for the first time unless u have ntune as well. but once u open it u can remove ntune and it wont matter. open the control panel, then delete ntune.

you did enable (all) hardware accellerations in the 3-d settings? in the nvidia control panel and enable sli technology? if not i would do that..you have your sli bridge attached i assume..also you are running it as "single gpu" not forced split frame or something I hope..

then try things like in the "limit extension string" of the 3-d setting in the nvidia control panel. try turning it to yes to limit the strings.. then try enabling DEP protection for all programs.. it's a microsoft OS option.. just search for it in help..

go through the tips and tricks section and try everything in there that applies to you.

Make sure you get that beta driver also. just google 162.18 and it will come right up.

I had the same problems as you for a long long time..

I haven't had a serious crash in quite a while now.

you don't overclock, so no problem there..

try setting your paging file to a larger size..

also with paging files it is a good idea to make it non variable.. set it too 4000 minimmum and 4000 maximum.. i did anyway but i have 400gb hd's in raid 0.

you will see this game utilize tons of paging file when it gets out of hand. If you look at the processes at "used" paging file size while the game is running you can see it.

whatever you do, have the max and minumum amounts the same.. a paging file causes excess drain on your system while it adjust it's page file size if you let the system manage it.. locking it into a constant number will save you that system drain.

If you have norton, get a new antivirus.. trust me, norton messed with me so much it's not funny.

if you have an X-fi sound card, remove it and use motherboard sound.

FYI: Yes I did have that experience as I was using X-fi and it did indeed cause tons of conflicts.. it's not the x-fi and arma.. its the x-fi and the 8800.. the x-fi and the 8800 battle for resources leading to an inevitable crash.

seriously.. get rid of it.. that may be your ENTIRE problem..

If you have firewalls up, disable them. and make sure you don't miss the microsoft firewall.

if you have auto installs enbled for programs, disable them, just check for updates manually from time to time.

turn off all background applications you can.

don't use teamspeak yet.. it's a big drain and leads to alot of issues from the last i heard.. the 8800 card is a whole different animal and it doesn't play well with this game.. the beta driver may of fixed that.. teamspeak overlay is also a no no.

I had alot of crashes because of it. besides.. talking is overrated..lol.. end up listening to some 12 year olds screaming about a bunch of the stupidest things you could imagine, singing songs, acting like fools.. I'm so happy when I kick them off my server..lol..

I can't stand teamspeak anymore..

show me a mature teamspeak line and i might.. but good luck..lol..

fyi: Xp will not utilise your 4GB of ram.. it maxes out at like 2 or 3.. you need to do something to xp to make it even realize it has more ram than that. vista will use it.. but don't use vista.. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT USE VISTA!...lol..

[Infam0us 10]

My game runs fine without a paging file? No harm in testing it to see if it works. Also N-Tune might have overclocked it, albeit very smally ... so try running it on the default settings. Also what temps is your PC running at?

[D007 0]

You could try, but we have very similar set ups and I'm pretty sure I know the outcome.. you won't run well or like at all..

this game tends to hog up about 3k paging.. check it out in task manager.. disabling paging i think will just hurt.. it hurt me..

i think the 8800 has alot to do with it.

when i bumped it up to 4k "recommended was 3096" it helped me noticeably...

hey, but everythings worth a shot.. you just never know with things now a days..