Help needed: "stuttering" in fullscreen mode

I'm having a problem with some games (the sims, civ 4, Elder scrolls
4) where about once a minute these will freeze up for about 5 seconds
and then recover. It happens less often with lower resolutions but
still occurs as low as 800x600 and it only happens when I run in
fullscreen mode. They run fine in windowed mode at high resolutions
(1280x1024). I used low detail settings and no FSAA. My system meets
all the minimum requirements and most recommended requirements.. am I
missing something? Please help!

Here's the system specs:
Athlon 64 3700+
1GB ram
GeForce 6800GT video
Dell 2405FPW
Creative X-FI sound

Some things I've tried that didn't fix the problem:
-Upgraded sound, video, & mainboard drivers
-Scanned for virus & spyware.
-Eliminated background programs, virus scanner, and unnecessary
startup items.
-Checked CPU temp (max is 55C)

Dan wrote:
> I'm having a problem with some games (the sims, civ 4, Elder scrolls
> 4) where about once a minute these will freeze up for about 5 seconds
> and then recover. It happens less often with lower resolutions but
> still occurs as low as 800x600 and it only happens when I run in
> fullscreen mode. They run fine in windowed mode at high resolutions
> (1280x1024). I used low detail settings and no FSAA. My system meets
> all the minimum requirements and most recommended requirements.. am I
> missing something? Please help!
>
> Here's the system specs:
> Athlon 64 3700+
> 1GB ram
> GeForce 6800GT video
> Dell 2405FPW
> Creative X-FI sound
>
> Some things I've tried that didn't fix the problem:
> -Upgraded sound, video, & mainboard drivers
> -Scanned for virus & spyware.
> -Eliminated background programs, virus scanner, and unnecessary
> startup items.
> -Checked CPU temp (max is 55C)
>

What is the motherboard ? Is the chipset NForce3 ?

Paul

"Dan" <Dan.Milliken@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172716518.423863.48430@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> I'm having a problem with some games (the sims, civ 4, Elder scrolls
> 4) where about once a minute these will freeze up for about 5 seconds
> and then recover. It happens less often with lower resolutions but
> still occurs as low as 800x600 and it only happens when I run in
> fullscreen mode. They run fine in windowed mode at high resolutions
> (1280x1024). I used low detail settings and no FSAA. My system meets
> all the minimum requirements and most recommended requirements.. am I
> missing something? Please help!
>
> Here's the system specs:
> Athlon 64 3700+
> 1GB ram
> GeForce 6800GT video
> Dell 2405FPW
> Creative X-FI sound
>
> Some things I've tried that didn't fix the problem:
> -Upgraded sound, video, & mainboard drivers
> -Scanned for virus & spyware.
> -Eliminated background programs, virus scanner, and unnecessary
> startup items.
> -Checked CPU temp (max is 55C)
>

1) I wouldnt use the 93.71s - very dodgy driver - the 91.47s are more
reliable.
2) You dont mention your PSU - you need a decent 400watt PSU *minimum* that
delivers a stable current on the 12volt rail.
3)Many problems in Oblivion seem to be related to sound ie disabling sound
makes a vast improvement not just to framerate (as you'd expect) but
eliminates stuttering too.

On 28 Feb 2007 18:35:18 -0800, "Dan"
<Dan.Milliken@gmail.com> wrote:

>I'm having a problem with some games (the sims, civ 4, Elder scrolls
>4) where about once a minute these will freeze up for about 5 seconds
>and then recover. It happens less often with lower resolutions but
>still occurs as low as 800x600 and it only happens when I run in
>fullscreen mode. They run fine in windowed mode at high resolutions
>(1280x1024). I used low detail settings and no FSAA. My system meets
>all the minimum requirements and most recommended requirements.. am I
>missing something? Please help!
>
>Here's the system specs:
>Athlon 64 3700+
>1GB ram
>GeForce 6800GT video
>Dell 2405FPW
>Creative X-FI sound
>
>Some things I've tried that didn't fix the problem:
>-Upgraded sound, video, & mainboard drivers
>-Scanned for virus & spyware.
>-Eliminated background programs, virus scanner, and unnecessary
>startup items.
>-Checked CPU temp (max is 55C)


Check the video card fan, video card dust buildup levels,
and leave the case side panel off and point a fan at it
temporarily to see if the problem persists.

Your power supply unit, which you didn't list, may be underpowered and
overstressed during periods where the graphics card is strained by visuals.

--
--------
DaveW
"Dan" <Dan.Milliken@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172716518.423863.48430@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> I'm having a problem with some games (the sims, civ 4, Elder scrolls
> 4) where about once a minute these will freeze up for about 5 seconds
> and then recover. It happens less often with lower resolutions but
> still occurs as low as 800x600 and it only happens when I run in
> fullscreen mode. They run fine in windowed mode at high resolutions
> (1280x1024). I used low detail settings and no FSAA. My system meets
> all the minimum requirements and most recommended requirements.. am I
> missing something? Please help!
>
> Here's the system specs:
> Athlon 64 3700+
> 1GB ram
> GeForce 6800GT video
> Dell 2405FPW
> Creative X-FI sound
>
> Some things I've tried that didn't fix the problem:
> -Upgraded sound, video, & mainboard drivers
> -Scanned for virus & spyware.
> -Eliminated background programs, virus scanner, and unnecessary
> startup items.
> -Checked CPU temp (max is 55C)
>

On Mar 1, 4:33 pm, kony <s...@spam.com> wrote:
> On 28 Feb 2007 18:35:18 -0800, "Dan"
>
>
>
> <Dan.Milli...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >I'm having a problem with some games (the sims, civ 4, Elder scrolls
> >4) where about once a minute these will freeze up for about 5 seconds
> >and then recover. It happens less often with lower resolutions but
> >still occurs as low as 800x600 and it only happens when I run in
> >fullscreen mode. They run fine in windowed mode at high resolutions
> >(1280x1024). I used low detail settings and no FSAA. My system meets
> >all the minimum requirements and most recommended requirements.. am I
> >missing something? Please help!
>
> >Here's the system specs:
> >Athlon 64 3700+
> >1GB ram
> >GeForce 6800GT video
> >Dell 2405FPW
> >Creative X-FI sound
>
> >Some things I've tried that didn't fix the problem:
> >-Upgraded sound, video, & mainboard drivers
> >-Scanned for virus & spyware.
> >-Eliminated background programs, virus scanner, and unnecessary
> >startup items.
> >-Checked CPU temp (max is 55C)
>
> Check the video card fan, video card dust buildup levels,
> and leave the case side panel off and point a fan at it
> temporarily to see if the problem persists.

The video card dust buildup was the culprit. After cleaning my temps
are ~50C. Thanks!