mad_rabbit

Cheers Aussie Dave. All sorted now. The problem was hardware (PSU) related. I've edited my post.

My ArmA game keep freezing on me with the new beta patch. It happens when I play in game after about 3 -5 mins, and even when I start ArmA up and the intro/background scenes run for about the same amount of time. My details are: P4 2.3Ghz 1024 RAM (Dual Channel) Powercolour ATI x1950Pro 8xAGP 1440x900x60Hz Maxmem = 512 (Using Kegety's ArmA Launcher) Windows XP SP2 (latest updates) Direct X 9.0c (latest) ATI Catalyst Driver 7.10 (latest drivers) ATI Tray Tool 1.36 LogiGamer Any ideas why it would be doing this on my system? I had no problems with the 1.08 patch but as you can see from my details, I'm in desperate need of the extra frame-rate. I hope this doesn't carry over into the final 1.09 version either! -------------------- EDIT: Problem was hardware related and not software. My PSU is insufficient for the amount of things I got in my computer now-a-days and running ANY game. I've now unplugged an optical drive and have ArmA v1.09 beta running very nicely. Thanks to all for the help!

Thanks for the answers all! I think this confirms what I already thought in that in order to get a significant performance increase I need to upgrade the CPU. As the MB is old, only DDR and AGP, it would also mean it's not worthwhile to upgrade the CPU only without also upgrading the MB, which means the RAM, which also means a PCI-E GFX card = contridicts why I went from a Ti4200 to a x1950pro in the first place?! I'm so sick of the industry changing it's standards but I guess it means better technology in the long run... Oh well, thanks again all for the great responses!

thanks r2101 for the reply! Yeah...I had a feeling it was a CPU just didn't want to admit it. I already have everything at very low, have edited the OFP config file so the colours are 16bit and not 32bit, and have disabled everything that can be i.e. post-process, anti-aliasing, anisotropic etc. Using ATI tray tools to set everything to App controlled, No Vsync and Performance settings. My rural ArmA experience is far better and more enjoyable than urban but with ArmA urban combat improvement over OFP, Bezerk maps etc. now-a-days it's hard to not be a city-slicker. I'm loath to go below 2000 for the view distance... How much of an impact do you (or anyone else out there) thinks getting an extra 1GB of RAM will help? Or should I just wait and save for the CPU upgrade?

I get this as well. It's weird that when Windows loads the screen brightness will go from normal expected to too bright, which may suggest something to do with the GFX card and monitor compatibility e.g. ICM profile. In any event, I've set-up ATI tray tools to bring it back down to sane levels after to windows loads, so this might work for you. I suggest a gamma decrease from 1.0 to 0.7.

Hi all, If possible could someone please tell me where the most likely bottle-neck lies in terms of my computers performance and ArmA or if I'm expecting too much from my system? System Specs: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.53GHz ASUS P4P800-VM Motherboard 1GB DDR RAM (Dual-channel mode) Radeon X1950 Pro (8xAGP) ArmA-Mark v1.0 = 1215 ArmA Settings = low/off @ 1440x900 and view dist of 2500 I'm thinking it's more than likely my processor speed as I remember back that OFP was very processor heavy. But I'm wondering if an extra 1GB RAM would get me off the < 20fps range. AFAIK I should be in the range of recommended specs except for the CPU speed according to this website: http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest Or maybe it's a case of the whole system?! If someone could advise me if I should be able to get over 20fps regularly with my system or if I never will be able to unless I upgrade (only can only afford extra 1GB RAM at the moment) that would be a great help. Thanks!

@Spectre-63 1) Yeah I've learnt a lot over the last couple of months in regards to LCDs and what I know about refresh rates, std. resolutions, etc. Â And I definitely don't notice it at 60Hz. Â But again the only work around in order to allow me to use the new 7.5 drivers is to increase the refresh rate whilst at 1440x900 which is against the physical limitations of the monitor and alos practical i.e. can't change via windows if I can't SEE windows. 2) I had a brief scan through the article you posted on ATI driver development. Â The long and short of it for me is that I, like others, am the customer. Â What happens behind the scene is 'behind the scenes'. Â If BI and/or ATI want to shift the blame back and forth, which they haven't been to the best of my knowledge, this does not help me as a customer. So whilst I agree, or at least can spectulate, that disagreements between developers, technicians at both ends can be lead to problems during driver development, this should not be my problem as a customer. Â It becomes my problem when the concentration is on who to blame rather than just fixing the problem, regardless of the reasons or fro the customers prespective, excuses. That aside, I would not usually voice this opinion as many people have it and also the corresponding sympathy for the plight of many game or driver developers (yes I have this too believe it or not). Â What's #&@% me off is that the solution to one problem i.e. leaky handles, has created another problem, unable to use the leaky handle fix and/or 7.5 drivers on 1440x900 widscreen. Â Now the first problem with the leaky handles, fair enough, it's game (ArmA) specific = development conflict. Â The second, well...doesn't anyone have a widescreen monitor to test the drivers out at ATI? Â IT just appears to be a massive oversight, hence ATI should pull their finger out. ------ I'm trying to make this rant at least semi-constructive. I've attached links to Omega and DNA modified driver homepages below: Omega DNA Now as far as I know, the latest Omega drivers still use the Catalyst 7.4 as a base whilst the DNA drivers now have the 7.5 hotfix as a base. I'll try test them tonight to see if they fix the widescreen problem with 1440x900@60Hz but as far as I understand things, if ATI can't fix the problem yet then what hope to these mod teams have.

@Spectre-63 I fixed the link for the 1440x900 issue, thanks for the heads-up. @ALL I currently use ATI tray tools instead of powerstrip. Â In terms of having my refresh rate too high, I was under the impression from reading around the net that setting the refresh higher than 60Hz WAS the solution as opposed to the problem. Â My question is this: How do I set the refresh rate higher than 60Hz if I can't see the screen to do it? i.e. Install new drivers, restart windows, screen black therefore can't set refresh rate, go into VGA only mode to reset drivers?! Also I may be wrong but I think my monitors max refresh rate at 1440x900 is 60Hz ?! LG L194WT EDIT: Yep. Â My monitors max refresh @ 1440x900 is 60Hz digital. An although I could switch to analog for 1440x900@75Hz I shouldn't have to! ---------- On a final note, although we should be lucky that ATI have released a hotfix, should we also not be angry that as paying customer we have a 'faulty' product for want of a better term? Â Please no plight of the poor technicians speech because we all know it's not them, it's ATI as a company responsibility and therefore fault.

It seems I picked the worse combination possible for ArmA: i.e. Widescreen @ 1440x900 Max 60Hz + ATI x1950Pro 737-27932: Radeon series - Black Display with the Error Out of Range When Selecting 1440x900/60Hz Resolution in Catalyst Control Center Other reports: 1440x900 #1 1440x900 #2 1440x900 #3 Forum thread on my local server about this as well: OGN Forum - Handle Leaks GOD DAMN ATI PULL YOUR FINGER OUT!!! EDIT: ATI Link fixed