Okay, I randomly get graphical glitches after x amount of play time, if I dont restart the game, it leads to yellow textures, if I leave it long enough, it BSODs, mentioning the graphics driver on the blue screen nv4_disp w/e its called.

I can confirm it is neither the ram nor the graphics card, since it occurs with 3 different graphics cards and 2 other sets of ram ive tried, I dont understand though why it would constantly be flagging up nv4_disp if its not graphical hardware causing the problem.

What I can say is im using a very old hard drive, with windows xp 32bit, can this actually cause the problems? maybe somethings really screwed up in the registry and I need a new hard drive/operating system? To me this seems more likely than the PSU, its a 6oow coolermaster that is again, quite old, although it more than meets the requirements for my 460gtx.

The driver is definately up to date, I have also checked the .dll in the system32 files, it is the correct up to date version, and its happened across multiple driver versions.


A few more system specs although I dont think they are relevant, I think the above paras cover it better

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.111025-1629)
BIOS: BIOS Date: 11/29/10 16:27:49 Ver: 06.01
Processor: AMD Phenom? II X4 955 Processor, MMX, 3DNow (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 3326MB RAM
Page File: 1987MB used, 6165MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)


Thanks for any help, getting to the bottom of this would be very very helpful

What kind of Temps are you getting on the video card, MOBO sensor, CPU before the BSOD ?? Sounds like it could be the system getting too hot causing the system to shut down to avoid damaging itself (since that would lead to the type of artifacting and texture load errors just before it shuts itself down and restarting the system would give it the time to cool down enough to be restarted until stressed again when the temps again build up and lead to a thermal shut down. ( Also this time of year is when most of these type problems begin as ambient temps rise due to summer ) -- How long has it been since you did a thorough cleaning of the inside of the system ?? Dust build up can cause extra heat build up -- What type of airflow does the case have ?

Not sure why you'd want to use a 32bit OS, total waste of ram.
Anyway nv4_disp bsod can be tricky because it can be caused by numerous errors in both software and hardware, and the info you get when it finally happens is lacking very much indeed.

We know that it happens after a few hours of play, so you need to install some kind of temperature monitoring app and enable temp logging (so you don't lose that data when your system crash). http://www.google.dk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=msi%20afterburner&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fevent.msi.com%2Fvga%2Fafterburner%2Fdownload.htm&ei=MQp3T4DkDc7PsgaHtumlBA&usg=AFQjCNE6etnOx2WO_lKQEEovPvm02ntt4g&cad=rja which will work on all graphics cards (AMD & Nvidia). Install it, then click the settings button, click monitoring tab and then check log history to file and choose a place where you can easily find it again. If you pc crash again when playing Skyrim then you can easily check the temps your GPU had at the time.

Hi,
I would expect you'd notice a ton of swapping going on,
this would show itself as slow progress when going through a doorway, loading a new area etc.
Your vidcard is probably swapping textures through PCI-E too, and you have only one harddisk.
Which you say is old and slow...

You should be able to play okay, but probably not for ~6 hours.
I could see you having to shut down and reboot every ~2 hours or so.
This would head off the symptoms you're having, before things degenerate.

Installing vanilla/default, with default .ini and no high-def texture pack would be a given.
Use conservative settings (ie. High)
Sure install some mods if you desire - but nothing graphic/appearance related.
Tune up your rig, streamline/defrag/maximize your performance...
And then take it easy, don't expect too much.

Back in 2006 I had a faulty motherboard which would eventually cause BSODs which complained about the graphic card driver, and strangely enough it only happened whenever the computer was dealing with 3D graphics, the Windows desktop or 2D games never had any BSOD as far as I can recall. I thought for the longest time it was because the graphic card was overheating even though it was a lowrange card which didn't use that much energy (and thus didn't generate much heat), but even when I got a new graphic card it continued. It didn't vanish until I replaced the motherboard.

Not saying that your motherboard is faulty here too, but it might be. But it could be something else too.

Unless you really need it, I would try to install Win7 x64 and run Skyrim using it.

I started to play Skyrim within XP and experienced a lot of CTDs and various graphical issues, but since I started to play it in Win7 x64 no more issues whatsoever.

Do also a checkdisk to see if your hard drive has any damaged sector and to corrected it, if it has - it solves a lot of issues.

I'm inclined to agree with you that there's a problem with your PSU. I had a problem very similar to this where I would have my unit BSODing and required time to let it cool before it would play nice again, replacing the PSU fixed it immediately. I would defininitely leave it alone til you can get a PSU in there to test it, no sense in risking damaging your HD from crashing.

Incidentally, have you been playing with the "spawning thousands of watermelons etc" commands in Skyrim? A lot of people do this and are unaware that it can put your system under great stress, and after doing it for long enough you will break something (I speak from experience)

Thanks guys very helpful stuff, the temps are low and the case is clean, I make sure to that, card maxes around 55 full load (i always have the monitor thing on) cpu runs around 53 tops but more usually 40-45

not tracked mobo before, it is fairly new and good quality so I hope its not that bloody thing.

I am not using windows xp 32 bit out of choice btw i just dread the switch over and sorting all my files out lol.

Looks like ill be getting myself a new psu/hd/operating system tbh. Then no doubt it will be the motherboard all along

This is exactly my situation, it also happens when doing my Uni work on autocad/revit, a fairly intensive 3d programme.

It never crashes on less intense games like wow, in fact i can not name another game it does it on.

Is there a new bios available for your mobo? Even that can cause nv4_disp bsod.

Yes there is in fact, installing and playtesting, will post back depending on how long it takes to glitch or hopefully not at all!

Sweet, hopefully no more crashing then

Just reminded me I should check for a BIOS update for mine they said there was a small one inc soon.

Well, no yellow textures as of yet, had one 'random fires dissapear and water looks odd' glitch, but ive had those before and theyve never caused bsod. Compared to yesterday when I was getting yellow textures literally every 20 mins. Obiouvlsy need more playtesting which I will gladly do, sometimes I have been able to play long periods without a crash so who knows.

Annnnnnd they are back, getting to the point of unplayable now gonna have to upgrade

Hi Verus,

I believe the guy who created the ENB series mod originally ported it to Skyrim because he was getting missing textures, graphical anomalies and crashes with his configuration. I'm pretty sure he was (and probably still is) using Windows XP 32-bit, and a videocard similar to yours.

There was, a few months ago, a very heated debate in these forums between him and other members in regards to memory usage, OS, and crashes, glitches and anomalies in Skyrim. He swore that it was a design flaw with Skyrim, and came up with his "anti-freeze" ENB mod, which a LOT of people supported and confirmed as really helping them with similar problems.

Other people could play the game with similar systems without problems.

You may want to give that mod a try and see if it helps:
http://enbdev.com/download_patch_skyrim.htm

Thanks melquiad, I did used to use his patch long ago but it went out of date for a fairly long time so I kinda forgot about it, if the version posted actually works with current version Ill give it a test.

I am also testing ram voltage, I believe mine was set too low and this can cause bsods.