system freezing

[KT77]

XP-Pro 32bit
4G RAM
2.7Gb allocated to IV 2009

just upgraded to ATI FireGL 3600 (from using Matrox Parhelia)

At about 2 min into working in Inventor, my system completely freezes up. I checked Solidworks, and it freezes up, but system remains active and usable.
Doesn't seem to affect pcb design software (PADS Power PCB, Altium6, & OrCad 12).

I've gone to Autodesk website and have the latest and greatest video card drivers installed.
Is there something else I should be configuring?
TIA

 

[mcgyvr]

Using Direct3d or OpenGL? (application options/hardware tab)
Cleaned out temp files lately? (get CCleaner)
Defragged HD lately?
Using the 3G switch I assume? (what do you have for the USERVA setting in boot.ini?)
Dual monitors?

Have you tried to uninstall the graphics drivers and load again. Old drivers if not uninstalled can cause problems.

 

[KT77]

XP SP3
3GB sw userva set to 2500
Defragged on Sun
dual VGA
new Intel MB
temp files cleaned out before defrag

'Using Direct3d or OpenGL?'....I don't know
where do I find app options/hardware tab?

I'll uninstall/reinstall drivers this AM

thanks!

 

[mcgyvr]

direct3d/openGL is in (tools...application options..hardware tab)
Tools button at top where file/edit is the click application options in that dropdown then go to the hardware tab.

Also go to (windows explorer) program files/autodesk/inventor 2009/bin folder and run the program memprobe.exe (before you start inventor, then start it and watch it and post any funky results.

Since you say both Inventor and Solidworks freeze up it sounds to me like a graphics card problem as INV/Solidwrx can really tax a card.

Also which driver are you using for that card.

 

[KT77]

I taked to VAR, and he got me to all that. I eventually called Nvidia, and they were actually the most helpful. They tried to get my ATI card to work...but we determined it's prob the card...so I ordered a Quadro FX 1700...just waiting for it to arrive.....

Not bashing IV, but I've been running Matrox cards w/ Solidworks for past 10 years...and never had a problem. But since Nvidia is closely aligned w/ Autodesk....and most of you all are running Quadro cards....hey..the writing's on the wall, so to speak ;-)

I'm also going to take some IV classes at the VAR to get up to speed a bit more ....so new questions will not be too 'newbe' LOL!

Thanks all. I really appreciate this forum.

 

[mcgyvr]

I've used ATI cards with inventor for 5 years with no problems at all.
Funny you shift blame to inventor even though you stated that solidworks showed the same issue as Inventor.

Why would you call Nvidia for a problem with an ATI card...Of course the will blame it on the ATI card and talk you into an Nvidia card.

I fully believe your problem was related to a bad install of the driver or you did not uninstall the matrox card driver properly.

But yes the FX1700 is a good card and you should be happy with it. Just make sure you unintall old drivers before putting on the new Nvidia ones or you might just be back in the same boat again.

 

[KT77]

C'mon mcgyvr....I'm not blaming IV at all. It worked fine w/ my old Matrox card, too...until the assembly really got big. I was experiencing the same thing w/ large SW assys.
I went to ATI because Matrox is largly untested for IV...and I wasn't up to paying $1k+ for a higher end card that SW 'approves'.
We did everything you just mentioned. Incl uninstalled Matrox drivers BEFORE I even got the new MB and RAM.
I did not call Nvidia to solve my ATI problem. I called them to get advice on a new card. They could have said, 'well, you need to buy our card.'...but instead, they offered to help narrow down what the prob really was and maybe get the ATI to work.
Why would you not accept the possibility that it may be a bad card? I didn't pay for it (one of my clients gave it to me)...so rather than buy another one....I'd go for tried and true. Most of the pcb designers I know use Nvidia gamer cards, or Matrox cards.

Bottom line...I'm not blaming ATI products....just this particular card that's sitting in my machine. It works perfectly fine w/ all my pcb design software...
But 99% of my work now, is IV...so I'd rather get something that Autodesk is most closely aligned w/.

 

[mcgyvr]

I didn't know it was a "used" ATI card.
I just assumed it was new since you said "just upgraded to"

Cards can def. go bad..esp when handed down/passed around with no ESD protection.

Hope the new card works for you. Have a nice day