Random DCS A10C Crash

[kgillers3]

Just got DCS A10 and approximately 10-30 min into flight the computer completely crashes and reboots. Have not been able to find boot crash log, but I found alot of errors and thinking about unistalling and reinstalling the game this weekend and repatching it. However I also have ARMA II and it crashes too windows at about the same time. My CPU and GPU temps are normal and no frame rate drop, in Arma it stays at a solid 60 FPS regardless of whats going on with no lag on max settings, and on high settings A10 was running between 90-110 FPS. I'm unsure of what the issue is. I know DAY Z an ARMA add on has no issues so between the two games I don't know. I've updated all my drivers, uninstalled C+++ and re-installed and I'm going to do the same with Direct X, I also have no issues with Shogun Total war 2 on max settings and the blood patch and when zoomed in on battles my FPS still stays at 50-60 FPS. I'm really looking for any ideas. Maybe a more specific area to look in the dcs logs, or somewhere else. :helpsmilie:

 

 

Specs are :

 

I-5 3570k Overclocked to 4.2 GHZ

16 GB of Kingston DDR 3 Ram 1600 mhz

EVGA GTX 660 NVIDIA 2GB

2 TB Hard Drive

750 W PSU

Windows 7 64 :helpsmilie:

 

Controllers are :

 

X52 Pro

Saitek standard rudder pedals with toe brakes

IR Track v5

 

Any help or suggestions would be awesome. Thanks

[Wayc00lio]

Have you o/ced your RAM?

 

That caused my DCS to crash all the time. Also, check you o/c of your chip. You might have an unstable set up

[Sven2157]

What version of DCS A-10? Steam's v1.1.1.1? If so, see this thread: Steam/DCS World Or is this a DCS World Module? When you say you un/re-installed C++, did you install just the 64 bit version( x64 - NOT IA64! ), and which VC++ version? 2005? 2008? All 2005 - 2010? Did you get the Service Packs as well? When is crashes is this in Single Player( SP )? Or Multiplayer( MP )? Or Both?

 

 

Try the following:

1. Download the following files, and install/repair them in this order!( it takes longer to type this post, then to download and install/repair all of these! ):
   
   • ***NOTE: If the installer gives you the option, to ONLY Repair or Remove - choose REPAIR.
     
   • When installing/repairing 2010, you may receive a message about versions, and to uninstall the newer version, just click cancel and move on to the next installer in the list.
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x64)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x64)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package (x86)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package (x64)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x64)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x64)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
     
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x64)
     
   • DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
     

[*]Reboot/Restart your PC

[*]Update your Video Card Drivers( check either nVidia or ATI/AMD

[*]Reboot/Restart your PC

[*]Report Back on progress.

 

Good Luck, and the whole C++ thing is very quick, just make sure you do them in order! ;)

[Hamblue]

I would try backing the clock to 4.0 or even 3.8 to see if things clear up.

You should only be overclocking if you have a good cooling upgrade. Stock Heat sinks aren't meant for OC.

[kgillers3]

Ok, first of all thank you for all your replies. To Waycoolio and hamblue, I backed the overclock down to 3.8ghz, yes I understand that overclocking increases heat and the stock heatsink is not recommended or else you'll fry your CPU, I don't believe I'm having a CPU overheating issue, and I'm monitoring using RealTemp to monitor temperatures the best I can (when system reboots I try to enter bios to check temp, at time of reboot usually somewhere between 45c and 50c). No my ram is not overclocked, the specs are 1600mhz and my motherboard is reading 1333mhz unless I'm missing something. I am going to use the EVGA Precision X tool too back down my video card as well.

 

@ SVEN, I bought the game and it came on a disk, it is not currently linked with steam. It was originally 1.1.0.9, I updated it to 1.1.1.1 and today I plan on following all your advice and will post an update after that today sometime. I backed my NVIDIA drivers down from the latest version to the one previous version in hopes that it was more stable. I also checked my Direct X drivers and all other available drivers for the computer system. Last night I ran both ARMA II and DCS A10 and both issues still remain the same however when DCS Crashed (causes whole system to reboot) the BIOS reported supply surges detected during the previous power on ".Asus anti-surge was triggered to protect system from unstable power supply unit "power supply surges detected during the previous power on." I'm running a Kingwin 750w PSU, I don't think I have so much going on that I'm maxing out the power supply. On a forum for that they reported that the unit might be supplying too much power causing the board to believe it's unstable. I'm unsure, and even if it was then it doesn't reflect my ARMA II issues, even though last night when ARMA II crashed my Track IR Crashed before then I was unable to remaximize the screen. Sorry if I'm ranting, I'm trying to describe my problem as detailed as possible so that everyone has the best understanding of what's happening. Looking in my uninstall program right now I see Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - X64 9.0.30729.17 and another line with 9.0.30729.6161 Crashes are just in single player, if I run a quick mission approx 15-30min of flying. In training 5-15min.

 

Thanks again for every ones input.

[kgillers3]

Here's the update, same issue. All C++ installed, also hosted a multiplayer game and same issue approx 15 min into the game. FPS with gpu turned down is approximately 80-90 fps. Loads fast and runs smooth. Single player lasts a little longer I feel but same thing happened, computer completely crashed. Any Ideas? thanks.

[SkateZilla]

log temps and voltages.

 

either the GPU or CPU is vdrooping or overheating.

[Sven2157]

I have a friend having the same issue. This is BSOD, right, not CTD? We have narrowed it down to his Saitek x65F; either drivers or actual hardware. I have seen the x52 Pro reported to function this way as well.

[kgillers3]

@ Skate zilla, I'll run it again tonight and log temps and voltage and will post reply.

 

@SVEN There was another forum that said an issue with x52 pro, I might have to try what they want after I explore other possible routes. I'll get back too you.

 

Thanks again for the help and sorry I'm inexperienced.

 

Also if you mean BSOD as in blue screen of death then no, cpu completely crashes to boot screen as if you would have help the power button in for 3-4 sec or hit a reset button. I'm unsure what CTD means but that's what it does. Arma II just crashes to where it looks like the window is minimized and you can see windows, but hear ARMA II, you can move shoot just can't see or get it back maximized up. Sorry I forgot to answer you question.

Edited January 19, 2013 by kgillers3
Missing information

[kgillers3]

Ok to everyone that has contributed I am very appreciative of your time and efforts.

@Skate zilla, I downloaded a different program that would log voltage readings for my processor, gpu, and ram. However I don't know if it was not compatible with my board or not (more than likely not it was hmonitor) and I also downloaded hardware monitor which did read the voltage and temperature readouts but I could not find a way to have it make a log file. However I ran the game for, lets say 2-3 hours continuously, the only major difference was I was not using realtemp. The system did not crash. Now hmonitor would only run for 10 minutes at a time so I was able to record 10 min of game play and what I came out with was under stress my CPU was running about 60 c and the gpu was depending on what was going on between 50-73 (73 being max)c. FPS was between 55-70. Now I tried an assortment of things and I'm unsure of specifically what the issue was but I reinstalled all the drivers for C++ and nvidia and Direct X, probably checked 3 times for motherboard and other assortment of drivers, and unistalled every driver for the joysticks. I hope the problem is solved but I am unsure. I'm 90% sure that the issue I was having was software related, but I reinstalled my saitek controllers drivers so that I could use SVEN's profile for them, and now it's actually reading the profile and doing what I want them to do.

 

Thank you guys very much, also if you have any suggestions or any comments for me please let me know. Thank you.

 

yes arma 2 is still crashing but I think that's hardware related due to the outdatedness of the engine, because oa runs flawlessly.

[Sven2157]

Ok to everyone that has contributed I am very appreciative of your time and efforts.

@Skate zilla, I downloaded a different program that would log voltage readings for my processor, gpu, and ram. However I don't know if it was not compatible with my board or not (more than likely not it was hmonitor) and I also downloaded hardware monitor which did read the voltage and temperature readouts but I could not find a way to have it make a log file. However I ran the game for, lets say 2-3 hours continuously, the only major difference was I was not using realtemp. The system did not crash. Now hmonitor would only run for 10 minutes at a time so I was able to record 10 min of game play and what I came out with was under stress my CPU was running about 60 c and the gpu was depending on what was going on between 50-73 (73 being max)c. FPS was between 55-70. Now I tried an assortment of things and I'm unsure of specifically what the issue was but I reinstalled all the drivers for C++ and nvidia and Direct X, probably checked 3 times for motherboard and other assortment of drivers, and unistalled every driver for the joysticks. I hope the problem is solved but I am unsure. I'm 90% sure that the issue I was having was software related, but I reinstalled my saitek controllers drivers so that I could use SVEN's profile for them, and now it's actually reading the profile and doing what I want them to do.

 

Thank you guys very much, also if you have any suggestions or any comments for me please let me know. Thank you.

 

yes arma 2 is still crashing but I think that's hardware related due to the outdatedness of the engine, because oa runs flawlessly.

 

Cool... We''ll wait and see how it goes.

 

Another issue that was causing crashing( again on my friend's computer with the x65 ), was that he had downloaded my "training" mission and stored it in his DCS Saved Games folder. When he would try to join the MP session, he would get in for roughly 1-4 minutes, and it would CTD him. One thing that I think helped, that we did, was to create a fresh DCS Folder and .LUA file for Keyboard/Joystick.

 

He had bought the Steam version and was was using his DCS Folder from that install. I believe that the config files in this folder were not playing nice with the new ones. Ultimately we figured out that it was were he was storing that training mission; we moved it and his MP CTD stopped.

 

His x65 is another story though, that I believe we may have fixed; globally even, as there are many threads about the same issues. I have a thread called Saitek X65F/SST Software Issues for that though.

 

Keep us posted...

[SkateZilla]

HWiNFO64 is free, run it in sensors only:

http://www.hwinfo.com/download64.html

[intermarer]

Did you fix this yet?

 

I am having the same trouble. I can be 10 minutes into a training mission when my computer just reboots. No OC, low temps all around (watercooling on both cpu and gpu), running Thrustmaster flight x joystick.

 

This issue is totally killing DCS for me :(

[ENO]

Not sure if anything relating to DCS can make your computer just reboot. Crash, yes... reboot... that would be a new one.

 

What error are you given by windows for the crash?

 

 

Also what are your system specs? I know some people have been having trouble with the latest NVIDIA driver...

Edited March 5, 2014 by ENO

[intermarer]

DCS is the only game that makes my computer reboot. I play quite a few other games as well. I can honestly say that my computer has never rebooted by itself other than when I've been in DCS, and my computer is on at least 8 hours a day.

 

Windows doesn't give off an error since it just reboots. In Reliability monitor it just says some generic thing that doesn't give me any clues at all.

 

My specs are

i5 2500K watercooled

P8Z68-V

8GB RAM of a brand I can't remember

Asus Xonar STX

2x 780 GTX SLI watercooled

 

Running latest Nvidia driver. It crashed with the previous driver as well, and I perform "clean install" of the driver each time a new one arrives.

 

I'm really at a loss as to why it reboots, and *only* in DCS :(

[AtaliaA1]

DCS is the only game that makes my computer reboot. I play quite a few other games as well. I can honestly say that my computer has never rebooted by itself other than when I've been in DCS, and my computer is on at least 8 hours a day.

 

Windows doesn't give off an error since it just reboots. In Reliability monitor it just says some generic thing that doesn't give me any clues at all.

 

My specs are

i5 2500K watercooled

P8Z68-V

8GB RAM of a brand I can't remember

Asus Xonar STX

2x 780 GTX SLI watercooled

 

Running latest Nvidia driver. It crashed with the previous driver as well, and I perform "clean install" of the driver each time a new one arrives.

 

I'm really at a loss as to why it reboots, and *only* in DCS :(

 

This sounds like a voltage issue. Like having your USB touching a screw on the motherboard causing the system to short out. Software cant reboot a PC only Electrical issue can do that. (Crash type of Reboot)

[Sven2157]

For some reason I couldn't get this page to load yesterday. :huh:

 

Anyway, I was going to ask what power supply you have. As, @AtaliaA1 has mentioned, this sounds more like an under powered rig, than anything. For a descent video card, flight stick, pedals and system - you should have no less than a 700w-800w power supply.

 

I recommend a 900w+, 80+ certified.

[intermarer]

850w Seasonic PSU.

 

I also agree that this has to be hardware related. It just bugs me that it is only in DCS. If it was software windows should have given me a bluescreen or something, and not just boot my computer.

 

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure what I'll do about it, but hopefully something will just come to me...

[Sven2157]

850w Seasonic PSU.

 

I also agree that this has to be hardware related. It just bugs me that it is only in DCS. If it was software windows should have given me a bluescreen or something, and not just boot my computer.

 

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure what I'll do about it, but hopefully something will just come to me...

 

My specs are

i5 2500K watercooled

P8Z68-V

8GB RAM of a brand I can't remember

Asus Xonar STX

2x 780 GTX SLI watercooled

850w may NOT be enough power. I highlight my reasons above. I also see that Sea Sonic Electronics Co., Ltd. is listed on the 80+ Certification website, but since I do not know the exact model, I can't say whether or not yours is certified.

 

Why is that important? Very loosely explained ... Because of the ways that electronics are quality controlled, tested and a slew of other reasons, their wattage rating may be VERY inaccurate. If a PSU is tested and maintains a steady 350w, but spikes up to, say 700w, then the manufacturer can stamp a 700w sticker on it, instead of the 350w sticker it should have.

 

However, 80+ certification came to be after years of this kind of misleading promotion of products. This organisation tests each MODEL - NOT manufacturer! - for 80% efficiency or better. That means that on a 80+ 1000w PSU you are guaranteed to have available 800w at any load. They also have then Bronze, Gold, Platinum, etc, etc, which offer better performance at any load. Now, just because your PSU's manufacturer is listed on the 80+ website, does not necessarily mean that your actual PSU is certified. Certification is a long grueling process, and if one little thing changes to that model, it has to be tested again.

 

So let's look at your main issue with power: 2x 780 GTX SLI watercooled.

 

According to EVGA's website, their lowest GTX 780 Hydro has the following power requirement:

Requirements

 

Minimum of a 600 Watt power supply.

(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 42 Amps.)

An available 6-pin PCI-E power connector and an available 8 pin PCI-E power connector

Total Power Draw : 250 Watts

Now let's say your PSU is 80+. That means that you have a guaranteed 640w at your disposal. However your 2 GTX 780 Video Cards are eating up 250w X 2 = 500w, leaving you with 140w for the rest of the system and peripherals. This may be safe, as I don't know your exact build. This can also be slowly killing your hardware. DCS may be using your hardware closer to the maximum, and therefore this is only noticeable when you run DCS. Under-powering your system is way worse that overpowering your system; both are bad!

 

This brings me to my next point. Do you have any other games the have a 64 bit executable? I ask because, 64 bit games are not limited to the 2GB of RAM that 32 bit games are.

My specs are

i5 2500K watercooled

P8Z68-V

8GB RAM of a brand I can't remember

Asus Xonar STX

2x 780 GTX SLI watercooled

That is a concern, as this - as of now - no-name brand could be the culprit. Are there more than one stick of RAM; i.e. 4 x 1GB, 2 x 4GB?

 

If so, pull one stick out, and try again. If it fails, try JUST the other stick. However, if it does not reboot the computer, let itt go for a day or so. Then try the other stick. If your computer can run the game, without rebooting on both sticks - being used one at a time - then your memory is probably not the issue. But, if it reboots on one stick and not the other, then you will have found your Anti-DCS component.

 

Hope that helps! ;)

[AtaliaA1]

Good Informative input on a topic I believe to be your forte.

 

+1 rep. inbound.

[Wolf Rider]

probably got domed caps in the PSU... also check your CPU water cooler pump is actually working correctly. If it is one of the sealed closed loop type coolers, the pump may have failed - happened to me just recently.