The Oblivion Hardware Thread...

[quantum_mechani]

Not sure it this is the right thread for it, but...

My PC's cd drive won't recognize the oblivion cd. Not just no auto run, but drive D shows up as empty. It's not that the cd is messed up either, it will at least install on my laptop (which is unfortunately without a supported graphics card). And my cd drive doesn't seem to be the problem either, it recognizes other cds.

Any ideas?

[Kinjiru]

Yin, don't know how good this product is, but it is pretty darn "cool" - pun intended...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/pcmods/cooling/717a/

quantum_mechani, if your drive is giving you problems with the oblivion disc, it will soon start giving you problems with others. Meaning, it is likely starting to die. Not worth fixing them, just buy a new one. You should be able to get another drive for $40 or even less on sale.

Here is a DVD burner for $38...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058

or $14 will get you a plain old CD-ROM drive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101134

[EPW]

Originally posted by quantum_mechani
Not sure it this is the right thread for it, but...

My PC's cd drive won't recognize the oblivion cd. Not just no auto run, but drive D shows up as empty. It's not that the cd is messed up either, it will at least install on my laptop (which is unfortunately without a supported graphics card). And my cd drive doesn't seem to be the problem either, it recognizes other cds.

Any ideas?

you do realize its a DVD not a CD right?

[quantum_mechani]

Originally posted by Kinjiru
quantum_mechani, if your drive is giving you problems with the oblivion disc, it will soon start giving you problems with others. Meaning, it is likely starting to die. Not worth fixing them, just buy a new one. You should be able to get another drive for $40 or even less on sale.

Here is a DVD burner for $38...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058

or $14 will get you a plain old CD-ROM drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827101134

I dunno, I have had dying CD drives before, this seems quite a bit differnt. Normally when they are starting die you just have to try the cd several times before it finally works. With this though, it never recognizes oblivion, and always recognizes any other cd I put in.

EDIT: EPW: No, I hadn't...

[Dis]

Originally posted by yin26
Unfortunately, all is not well in graphics card land. The X1600Pro is overheating even though I have no overclocking set. I've opened the case for more air, and while this helps at the VPU's resting state, once I play Oblivion, it overheats in about 5 minutes now. I guess I was getting the screenshots because I would exit in a minute or two and while choosing a new display setting the VPU would cool enough.

I've sent in a message to ATI. I've also verified that the fan on the card itself is working...even putting a floor fan on near the open case does no good. Heck, I even just upgraded the Dell BIOS! Man, this sucks! Well, let's see if ATI has any suggestions.

How about any suggestions from Poly? Are those other cooling fan options going to be any better than an open case with a floor fan blowing air in?

very interesting. I have the same card as you (my game actually looks a little better than your screenshots- but perhaps reducing the size reduced the quality some). And as I mentioned before my power supply is below the recommended 300 W (I have 250 W). I'm not even sure if the fan on my video card is working.

I'm assuming you did hook up the power supply to the video card. You need that. I do have the side of my computer open. But that's because my power button doesn't work, and I have to run the wires outside, and hit the switch that way. It's just easier to leave the side open.

How can you tell it's overheating? Is the game shutting down? Is the computer shutting down? I don't know how to check the temperature of my card. I should get a larger power supply, but I figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Dis]

Originally posted by yin26
That would be really helpful, Bonscott. Thanks.

My case wasn't designed for gaming, so I don't have nearly the fan activity you have. What puzzles me, though, is even with the case pretty wide open and a small floor fan blowing through, the temperature still sits at 89 degrees at idle. In game, the ATI temp meter jumps to 120 almost immediately (I don't think it measures further). I think it's set to shut down at 135, which must be happening to me.

Do you think it's just the case design? I'd also throttle back the GPU, if you find that setting!

my case isn't designed for gaming either. It's actually a refurbished computer I got for $300 (I later added a video and sound card). And last week got another video card and expanded to 2 gigs of ram.

I have the same video card as you as I said. I'm not sure what settings you are running. I had the game auto detect my settings, and I'm using what they set for me.

It's been fairly cool in Vegas lately. My indoor temperatures have only been in the 60's (Fahrenheit). What are you indoor temps.

I only have one fan on my computer. And one fan on my video card. And the side of my case is open. I'm currently not using any fans, or any forced ventilation in my house or room. No need for heat or a/c when the temps are so nice outside.

It's possible the power supply cable which you hopefully have hooked up isn't delivering power. You could try taking a cable from your CD drive or something temporarily and hook it up to your video card, and see if that helps.

[Dis]

Originally posted by EPW


you do realize its a DVD not a CD right?

yeah what he said.

[Asher]

Originally posted by yin26
How about any suggestions from Poly? Are those other cooling fan options going to be any better than an open case with a floor fan blowing air in?

The open case with floor fan isn't going to do much for you.

You can try a Zalman fan: http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/...x=192&code=013

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by quantum_mechani
EDIT: EPW: No, I hadn't...

You may want to return the game... or get a DVD drive. Oblivion only comes on DVD.

[Imran Siddiqui]

[q=Dis]It's possible the power supply cable which you hopefully have hooked up isn't delivering power. You could try taking a cable from your CD drive or something temporarily and hook it up to your video card, and see if that helps.[/q]

Didn't even realize that before, Dis, but that's a great idea for Yin to check. There may indeed be a problem with the power supply's link to the card, causing the card to try to do too much.

Otherwise, Yin could try liquid cooling (though it would be at least $150) .

[yin26]

Originally posted by Dis
I'm assuming you did hook up the power supply to the video card. You need that.

Interesting. I was told I didn't need to do that...and where are you making the connection!? And would the card even work if it needed outside power?

ACK! Please tell me it's that stupid...The PSU came with special PCI-E cables, but I'm telling you I didn't see a place to put it on the card...and when the card worked at all, I figured it was good to go.

EDIT: And it case anybody is asking, there was NO documentation in the box...just an install CD.

[yin26]

Man, that must be it because another site says the card needs "PCI Expressâ„¢ compatible system with a specialized 12v graphics card power connector." I have that! Where the heck do I connect it?!

[yin26]

If I get home and see this picture, I'll slap myself and sell the computer. I'm not smart enough to have one, obviously:

http://wiki.ehow.com/Connect-A-Video-Card-Power-Cable-Correctly

[Dis]

I'm assuming you do need it. Mine did come with instructions, but it was real vague. As the instructions apply to several different Radeon models (I hate that- I wish they could be more specific).

Imran was implying it powered the card. I thought it just powered the fan. I'm not sure what it powers. But I hooked it up anyways, despite my weak power supply. I can't actually hear my fan running, and because of my sound card, can't put my finger down there to feel if it's running. But I have been able to run the game several hours with no problems at high settings.

I'm going to try to run that utility and see what my temperature is. I usually don't like that crap, as I don't like things taking away from game performance. So hopefully I can disable it.

But yes, that picture is correct. That's where I hooked it up.

[yin26]

My fan runs, which was part of why this didn't make sense. Also, I think I'm looking for this instead:



Oh, the Catalyst tools don't run unless you want them.