Game causing BSoD

Hi everyone,
First time visiting these forums but people here seem much more knowledgeable than the other forums I've been on, so here's hoping you can help!

I have been highly anticipating the release of Shogun 2: Total War and even upgraded my processor specifically with it in mind (I am well within required system specs). However I find that every time I attempt to run the game Shogun 2 I blue screen. To be more detailed every time I launch it, I get to the splash screen that shows copyright information and immediately following that I crash (so I have never made it to the main menu). This has never happened before and does not happen with any other programs, including other new graphic intensive games.

-Vista Home Premium x64 (came installed on system)
-Purchased 2nd half of '08, OS never re-installed

What I have done so far:
updated video card (from nvidia's site)
updated chipset, lan, and wireless lan (from intel's site)
updated audio (a homebrew I found that seems to work)

[gateway's support site for my laptop is horribly dated, and before I updated those things above (save for the video card update) I was still crashing due to shogun 2]

What has been suggested for me to do:
upgrade bios - (no official update exists, I found a homebrew that's slightly newer but I'm hesitant for obvious reasons)

I think I have spent more time trying to fix this then I would have playing the game if it were working.

Thank you for your help in advance!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P-6860FX
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T9300 @2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gateway P-6860FX
    Memory
    4094MB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
    Sound Card
    high definition audio compliant
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display
Hi,

The reports indicate that your NEW processor is unsupported.

Have you updated the BIOS to match your new Intel processor?

Look here for an example of the issues you face regarding updating this PC: -

Gateway P-6860FX CPU Upgrade
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion m9280.uk-a
    CPU
    2.30 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUSTek Computer INC. NARRA3 3.02
    Memory
    3582 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (4 Gig)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS NVIDIA Geforce GTS450
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition 7.1 Audio (HP drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2408 24.0" (Dual monitor)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1200, 1920 * 1200
    Hard Drives
    3*500 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Plus 2x USB (160Gig each) external HDD
    BluRay & DVD Weiters
    HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L SCSI CdRom (Bluray RW) Device
    AlViDrv BDDVDROM SCSI CdRom (Blueray) Device
    TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom
    Internet Speed
    40 Meg
I made sure to do research before I picked the T9300, and after going to that thread it confirms that the T9300 is compatible. There are no official BIOS updates for my computer...

After I popped the new processor in, my computer just recognized it and I see it correctly identified in my computers settings.

*I don't know if it makes a difference but I just ran the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool and it passed all tests
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P-6860FX
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T9300 @2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gateway P-6860FX
    Memory
    4094MB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
    Sound Card
    high definition audio compliant
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display
Hi,

OK, is the system stable at all other times?

The reports points to a hardware issue. What else have you changed?

Is there an option for you go back to standard parts, without major downgrades etc... to see if it is stable then?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion m9280.uk-a
    CPU
    2.30 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUSTek Computer INC. NARRA3 3.02
    Memory
    3582 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (4 Gig)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS NVIDIA Geforce GTS450
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition 7.1 Audio (HP drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2408 24.0" (Dual monitor)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1200, 1920 * 1200
    Hard Drives
    3*500 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Plus 2x USB (160Gig each) external HDD
    BluRay & DVD Weiters
    HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L SCSI CdRom (Bluray RW) Device
    AlViDrv BDDVDROM SCSI CdRom (Blueray) Device
    TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom
    Internet Speed
    40 Meg
Yes it is stable at all other times, I only blue screen when I try to run Shogun 2, I can still do everything else including playing other games, videos, internet etc...

And by downgrade do you mean my Processor or drivers? although I wouldn't know how far back to go with drivers because it was always 'stable'.

Also hard to know what I changed because it is impossible for me to know when this problem started as it only occurs when I specifically try to run Shogun 2 which I have had for about a week.

I realize that the easier solution is just don't run Shogun 2 (as the blue screen is specific to it). But after getting it and upgrading my processor specifically for it I don't want to think I just wasted $250 in total.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P-6860FX
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T9300 @2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gateway P-6860FX
    Memory
    4094MB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
    Sound Card
    high definition audio compliant
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion m9280.uk-a
    CPU
    2.30 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUSTek Computer INC. NARRA3 3.02
    Memory
    3582 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (4 Gig)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS NVIDIA Geforce GTS450
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition 7.1 Audio (HP drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2408 24.0" (Dual monitor)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1200, 1920 * 1200
    Hard Drives
    3*500 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Plus 2x USB (160Gig each) external HDD
    BluRay & DVD Weiters
    HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L SCSI CdRom (Bluray RW) Device
    AlViDrv BDDVDROM SCSI CdRom (Blueray) Device
    TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom
    Internet Speed
    40 Meg
I have BIOS version 94.29 (it is what shipped on the computer, it is puzzling that the one on the gateway site is older ><)

There is no option for virtualization on my BIOS... however this is the homebrew BIOS I found for my system that supposedly has a virtualization option. Of course I have not tried it out yet

New Gateway FX BIOS 94.31 with VT enabled - Not for 7811FX
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P-6860FX
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T9300 @2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gateway P-6860FX
    Memory
    4094MB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
    Sound Card
    high definition audio compliant
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display
Sorry, did you want me to run that BIOS Implementation test suite?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P-6860FX
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T9300 @2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gateway P-6860FX
    Memory
    4094MB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
    Sound Card
    high definition audio compliant
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display
I just thought it might give an insight into the PC capability & compatibilty. So, yes please.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion m9280.uk-a
    CPU
    2.30 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUSTek Computer INC. NARRA3 3.02
    Memory
    3582 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (4 Gig)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS NVIDIA Geforce GTS450
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition 7.1 Audio (HP drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2408 24.0" (Dual monitor)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1200, 1920 * 1200
    Hard Drives
    3*500 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Plus 2x USB (160Gig each) external HDD
    BluRay & DVD Weiters
    HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L SCSI CdRom (Bluray RW) Device
    AlViDrv BDDVDROM SCSI CdRom (Blueray) Device
    TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom
    Internet Speed
    40 Meg
I thought I followed the installation process correctly but I feel like it didn't give me much information so maybe I didn't... this is some of what I was able to find.

Code:
Running MSR consistency test suite...
(MSR 0x39 consistent): FAIL
(MSR 0x14e consistent): FAIL
(MSR 0x1c9 consistent): FAIL
(MSR 0x402 consistent): FAIL
Summary: 4812 Passed, 4 failed
Code:
Starting pass #1, Calibrating the TSC.
Starting pass #2, Wait here, I will be back in 15 seconds.
0      < t <=    1us; average =  85ns; count = 175634643
 Times between first few observations: 135ns  105ns  100ns 90ns  80ns
100us < t <=   1ms; average =  515us; count = 58
 Times between first few observations: 258ms  258ms  258ms  258ms  258ms

Summary of impact: observed maximum latency = 522us
Risk of OS timeouts exists with this observed latency (ideal < 150us).
Code:
Count | Signature | PlatformID| Prev Rev  | Avail Rev | New Rev  | Status
2       | 00010676 | 00000008 | 00000607 | None      | 00000607 | No Change
Replaced microcode on 0 of 2 CPUs.
error: Failed to open file: /boot/mcu.first.

although it didn't really give me much information about what my system/bios is capable of, just tests as seen above
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P-6860FX
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T9300 @2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gateway P-6860FX
    Memory
    4094MB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
    Sound Card
    high definition audio compliant
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display
I thought I followed the installation process correctly but I feel like it didn't give me much information so maybe I didn't... this is some of what I was able to find.

Code:
Running MSR consistency test suite...
(MSR 0x39 consistent): FAIL

Well,

I wish I understood some of that!

Look here for the above code: -

Mailing List Archive: Re: Performance/resume issues on Toshiba NB305

The other bits mean nothing to me!

Another reference to issues: -

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=267289
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion m9280.uk-a
    CPU
    2.30 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUSTek Computer INC. NARRA3 3.02
    Memory
    3582 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (4 Gig)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS NVIDIA Geforce GTS450
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition 7.1 Audio (HP drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2408 24.0" (Dual monitor)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1200, 1920 * 1200
    Hard Drives
    3*500 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Plus 2x USB (160Gig each) external HDD
    BluRay & DVD Weiters
    HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L SCSI CdRom (Bluray RW) Device
    AlViDrv BDDVDROM SCSI CdRom (Blueray) Device
    TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom
    Internet Speed
    40 Meg
I just tried the homebrew BIOS update, that didn't fix it either >_<. but now at least I have virtualization options (although its set to off)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P-6860FX
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T9300 @2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gateway P-6860FX
    Memory
    4094MB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
    Sound Card
    high definition audio compliant
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display
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