[6615WD] Freezing World of Warcraft

Hello Guys, I am a [proud] owner of a zepto 6615WD since last year.

But I am having one problem. Almost everytime I play World of Warcraft, my Zepto will freeze and lock up. This sometimes happens after 30 minutes, and sometimes after 3 hours... it varies. Sometimes it just freezes, and sometimes the screen turns black. Sometimes sound is still to be heard. My only solution is to turn the power off and on again.

My stuff:
Windows XP Pro SP2
Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0 GHZ
2048MB DDR2 667 SDRAM
Hitachi 80GB 5400 RPM HD
GeForce Go 7600 512mb ram
(maybe it's something with the network card or router?.. I got a:
Linksys WAG354G Gateway Connecting with my zepto on Wireless-G mode)


I have browsed tons of topics on the Official World of warcraft forums, but havent found a solution.

This is really the only game that crashes. I really don't know what's wrong.

I just reinstalled windows, but it doesn't seems to help.

So I am asking if fellow 6615WD owners know this problem? OR can reproduce the crash with World of Warcraft & the 6615WD

Can it be the videocard?...

I have another question about the Geforce Go 7600 videocard. With Ntune or Everest or speedfan, I cannot read the temperature of the videocard. Is that also with you guys?...
The strange part is that I CAN read the temperature in Rivatuner. It varies from 50(idle) to 90(playing WoW) degree Celsius. I know it sounds hot, but is Rivatuner trustable?
Again: Can someone try it out if they get the same readings?
(I think it's not the temperature that causes the lockups. Cause in other games it also gets to 90 degree Celsius, but they do not crash.)

The things I have tried:
-Updated the Drivers (uninstalled it and cleaned it with drivercleaner first)
-Downtuned the Videocard
-Run World of Warcraft in OpenGL mode
-Tried using a networkcable instead of wireless
-Reinstalled Windows

I am almost going to contact Zepto, but my final try is here on notebookreview.

I hope someone can help me

(and sorry for my bad English)

PS: can I post an almost similar topic in the games section of the forum?

 

Try to ask this into wow forums. You can't see the temperature because of the thermal zones that aren't listed anywhere.

And my english is worst than yours ^^

 

Well.. I thought that too,...

But in other games, it also went up to 90 degree Celsius (If I have to believe RivaTuner) But that went just fine... for hours...

 

Riva Tuner is the only utility that has been able to read the temperatures of my go 7600 (HEL80 aka Znote 2425W).

I had to offset by 200 degrees C, though.

 

I'm sorry to hear about your problem.
If yoy haven't done it allready, try to install the latest VGA and Audio drivers from ftp.zepto.dk

 

There are a lot of people on the WoW forums that have similar problems. But Blizzard is giving us zero support

I did have installed the drivers earlier this week when I reinstalled windows


---
I am curious if someone with a 6615WD plays world of warcraft and has the same problem.

 

Hey Dark.

Have you tried copying your wow dir too another computer, and running your installation from there for a session or two? Thinking that your game might be screwed. I hav run wow without problems since october on my 6615. The only errors i got was when i udpated my display driver, from the one found on the Driver cd version 1.0 - to the one found on the zepto ftp site.

Now i run Vista, wow ran, a bit choppy, but no crashes.

If your Wow install runs on another computer, and you have done a clean install of windows xp with the driver on driver cd v1.0, but wow still crashes.
Then you might wanna send it to zepto for an overhaul.
Unfortunatly, updating drivers doesnt mean a better more stabil experience.

It could be as simple as the the computer overheating when you play. And a good blowthrough with some canned air will do the trick.

 

Just to confirm got the same spec as you and getting the same problems in wow as you as well - lock after 2 or 3 hours.

Have put an antec cooler underneath and seems to help = no lockups yet.

Fanspeed was saying 60+c and that seemed to be the problem - dont get much about 40c with the coolerpad and thats ok

 

Hey I'll try that, but could you measure you temperatures of the videocard with rivatuner?... will the geforce go 7600 go up to 90 degree Celsius while playing WoW?

The temperatures... are they from the Core 2 duo processor? Or from the videocard?

 

What driver do you have installet atm?

 

I have installed Nvidia_97.44_driver_7600go.exe from the zepto FTP from a clean windows installation. It is not only this driver that is giving the problem.


But I was wondering, should a Zepto notebook work with games without overheating? And without buying an external cooling pad. Or is it a common problem with a lot of notebooks?

 

Im not sure ill be able to. I usually dont install all kinds of app. on my laptop.
And im not sure it will run on Vista anyway.

Just i quick tip, dunno if i said this allready, but try and keep your computer on a tray or on a hard flat surface, and not just in your lap, and on the sheets on the bed.

Friends of mine have had their laptops caughting up jumbo dustballs, not pretty.
Hopfully i can prevent, or postpone overheating problems due to dust.

 

Monday I started playing WoW, it's a nice game BTW, my problem is almost the same, my CPU temp. gets up to like 85*C after only ½ hour of playing.

The temp. is measured with NHC (Notebook Hardware Control) And my laptop always sits on a desk.

I've been thinking about buying a cooling pad. But if there is something wrong with the computer, it would be waste of money..

 

85 degrees Celsius doesn't particularly alarm me if it occurs while playing. Your components are designed to handle quite a bit higher than that before shutting down automatically.

A good cooling pad could help some. Perhaps the cooling guide has some information that may help you.

 

Hey I tried out some stuff,

Some findings:

After turning my notebook on, after a 30 minutes, the idle temperature was 60 degrees?! Is this normal? and can someone confirm this?

(I've read it with Rivatuner)

While playing World of Warcraft (and other games) It will go up to 90 (even 93) degree.

Are these readings normal? Would like to ask to 6615WD owners to check their temperatures.

And about a Cooling pad, I don't like the idea to take a cooling pad to every place I go, just to play World of Warcraft.

And I've heard that some owners don' have problems...

My last post to ask things till I contact Zepto Netherlands.

 

Those temps are a little warm, but nothing to worry about. You can read through the cooling guide for some tips on cooling the system down a little. Cleaning the fan may help some.

 

As a side note, as another user having some heat issues with 6615WD vs WOW vs XP Pro SP2.

I am now dual-booting Vista (Full release), and although it runs wow a little slower (not a great deal if you install the the laptop2go most recent modded inf version drivers) it is super stable in WOW.

In one month my laptop has NEVER locked or rebooted or BSOD in WOW. And that is without using my Antec coolerfan ever - its back in the box...

I would get a least a couple of lockups a week in WOW under XP more if I did not run the coolfan.

Average session maybe 2-3hrs longest 6hrs.

Thats running at max res (i.e. native res for LCD 1600x1200 or something?) full settings max colour and x1 or x2 antial.

Should give you 30fps most of the time.

Worth a try if you are considering buying vista, install in a partition alongside XP And WOW and just run the launcher from Vista - works just fine (remember to change the read/write rights to full for the whole directory or you addons wont work great as they cant save settings...).

 

Hey Rigo, I've tried your solution. My school offered me Vista Business edition for free.. I installed that on a partition I've created for Vista. Then I run the game... first day I played it for 2 hours with no problem. Today I played from 5 o clock till 7:30 when it CRASHED again T_T but this time I got a BSOD instead of a black screen freeze...

I think it is time to write a mail to Zepto the Netherlands... Cause I think it is really a hardware problem. But I have no idea if it is a memory problem, or a GPU problem, or even a CPU problem.

 

It's all a puzzle to me, to be honest. I've had 6615wd for five months or so now. I had a six-hour FEAR (yes, it's sad) session last weekend, and it didn't budge (sure, it gets over 80degrees celcius, but I'm not really fuzzed).

 

I think these laptops has a to high component faliure%
I get a feeling that its like playing russian roulet.

Zepto should really up their game, and do even more to minimize the risk of costumer getting faulty computers.
Vital components should be testet alone, and again when they are fitted into the barebone. Or they should expland their testbed of new laptops to run extra tests on memory, cpu and gpu.
As i have the feeling that most problems are either heat related, or the memory is bad.

Longer load/stress testing of CPU and GPU plus mem tests should be high on their list of thing to do better.

Cheers

 

Looking at this, Im noticing both of you with issues seem to have the Zepto 2GB PC5300 RAM, not the more expensive PC6400 RAM, so I wonder if its a problem with the zepto own brand being a bit flaky?

Does anyone with a 6615 and the more expensive PC6400 800Mhz RAM have any issue with thier notebook crashing when gaming?

 

Hmm.. That could just be the problem. Because if the videocard gets hot, wouldn't it show artifacts on the screen? Before it freezes, and crashes?

A memory Issue would explain a lot. Because I tried to play the Command & Conquer 3 Demo, and that crashes too... (with a error message, not freezing)

The only common things about WoW and Battlefield 2 are that they both us DirectX? and both use a lot of memory...

Any thoughts?

 

I tried the C&C3 demo last night. I liked it, think ill buy it. But No crashes when it played it. I would say the laptop is defective, and needs repair.

Cheers

 

Doesn't seem necessarily the answer as this guy has 2mb 667 Ram which is the Zepto's own Ram and no problems!? Anyone else?

 

i use the slower cheaper ram modules

cheers

 

I was having lots of crashes that turned out to be caused by a bad memory module - since i've removed it (it's on its way back to Zepto for replacement) i've not experienced a single crash.

I'm running Vista which rather nicely gives a lot of info about where the crashes occur and nine times out of ten it was reporting that they were in the graphics card drivers...

From this I can only assume that the graphics drivers were falling over because it was sharing some of the bad system memory.

Incidently, when I was testing my memory I found that it got less stable the longer the tests went on which leads me to think that it might also be heat related - if a memory module is prone to failure then it is quite possible that it will become more unstable the hotter it gets...

 

Hey Severina, do you know which panel on the back is from the Memory?... I am going to open it and remove one memory module.

 

Hey guys...by memory module you mean the Ram itself...i.e 1 x 1024 mb? if so Severina was it the 667 Zepto Ram or the more expensive 800ghz Ram?

 

Yes we do, Les.

It may be that Zepto's own brand of RAM is from a large manufacturer, however they've had an issues with a higher than average rate of faulty RAM SODIMMs from the manufacturer. The theory for paying for the more expensive RAM being that it:
A) May be from a larger/more reputable brand, or a more strenously tested line of RAM (higher spec parts are usually subject to much more strenous testing post dispatch than lower class parts)
B) As it may be being downclocked to run in sync with the CPU, it has less chance of showing any native clock faults, as its running it a lower rating, and thus less stress

From what a lot of people are suggesting, it really does sound like Zepto have an issue with faulty own-brand SODIMMs, as some of the issues are being caused by overheating, the others appear to be memory related, which is causing the random crashes, blue screens etc, and I wouldnt wager that those experiencing gaming issues are being caused by one of the two above, as games are by nature demanding, and tend to bring out faults in those two areas because they both stress a system, and also tend to use large amounts of resources.

This ofc is just my hypothesis, but it seems to me like something like this may be causing the issues. If I purchase the 6615, I believe I may well opt for the more expensive RAM for 2 reasons; that its less likely to show errors at the native C2D FSB, and also, as its higher FSB, its more likely to be useful as a quick upgrade in a later laptop a year or two down the line, as 667Mhz CPUs are debuting later this year, whereas 800MHz FSB processors are likely a little way off, so the 800Mhz RAM will be worthwhile on a new system for a while yet, whereas 667 is going to become a given soon enough

 

DarkEnergy - my experiences are with the 6214w laptop rather than the 6615WD so I don't know if the back is the same - the 6614w has little pictures of a memory modue next to the screws for the panel in the middle at the back.

Note, I did make sure with Zepto before opening up the back that it was ok to do so and wouldn't void my warranty - you might want to do the same...

lesquatter - yes it is the 667 Zepto ram rather then the more expensive stuff - when I bought the laptop about a month ago there wasn't a distinction on the website between Zepto and non-Zepto - interesting!

All ram should be capable of running at the speed it is rated at without errors. One of my 1GB modules wasn't, one was and still is working perfectly.

I think it is probably good practice at the moment with Zepto who are obviously haveing issues with their suppliers and testing process, to double check on recept of your new laptop that the memory is fine by downloading a decent memory checker and running it over night. The one I used is here. Just burn it to a cd and boot from it.

Getting a module replaced seems to be fairly straight forward and assuming the one I get back works ok then it won't have cost anywhere near as much as the high speed stuff which in all honesty could still be bad...

I'd also question the reasoning behind getting faster ram on the basis that it might be a useful upgrade option later on in another laptop. If you can afford it then fair enough but I doubt it's very realistic that in 2 years time it will still be 'fast' and how many of us have ever transferred ram from one laptop to another?

 

Oh its not that, it wont be 'fast' in two years (I never mentioned 2 years time, just a later date), however it may well still be up to a decent usable standard in a year or so time, whereas 667Mhz will likely no longer be viable for new processors, except running on a divider. Simply put its likely to remain viable for longer, its less likely to produce errors as its rated at a higher speed and is likely downclocked to sync with the processor, which may also result in it running at tighter timings, thus benefitting system performance slightly, and higher end parts, especially for laptops tend to hold thier value second hand better, incase I ever decide to flog it.
A good example is about 3-4 years back with PC3200 RAM for desktops. Was a frivolous extra for a bigger number, back when PC's were using PC2100, or PC2700. A year or two back however, just before DDRII started to become commonplace in new systems however, PC3200 was the standard, and PC2100 and 2700 RAM were worth absolutely nothing any more, whilst PC3200 still had value, obviously.
I simply see the faster RAM as being a way to protect an investment's value for a little longer, and has a couple of extra benefits, although whether I will opt for the more expensive RAM or not I dont know
As I'll be using this laptop for IT education, and as a work machine after if I dont change it, as well as entertainment on the move, I'd rather take spend a little more on the RAM as a little precaution on my part, as I'd rather not take a risk on RAM which is having some obvious issues with some people, as it wont be very useful to have a laptop I cant use, and considering the memory requirements of multitasking which I do a lot, limiting the system to 1GB would make it a lot less versatile while I wait for Zepto to replace the part, which could take quite a few weeks if I have to go through Nusystems from what Im hearing, and tbh, thats not going to be beneficial to me. Also, having looked at the price WITH the more expensive RAM, in the UK, its still a very reasonable price to pay, compared to the bigger manufacturers.

 

That's fair enough.

Incidently, on the Nu-systems front it's been reported in other threads that they are no longer Zeptos representatives in the UK which is a very good thing..

As far as I can tell they have never provided very good service in the uk and it looks like Zepto dropped them as soon as was possible!

I've no idea if they will source another uk distributor but at the moment all support is going directly through Denmark which is a pretty smooth process with great communication from the technical support guys

 

Oh, thats EXCELLENT news! If they wanted a UK distributer, I'd advise them to try PC World or www.overclockers.co.uk.
Overclockers is a large enthusiast site, but really lacks on the laptop front, whilst PC World are widely mocked by enthusiasts, but Zepto could really bring them a performance rice niche market they really cant/dont cover right now, and even with a large market margin, they would still be very competetive with anything else they sell, not to mention DSG (the owning market chain in the UK, which comprises PC World, and a few other large retailers like Curry's) is one of the largest consumer electronics vendors in the UK

 

I have tried to remove 1 memory module, and test them, but with each module the laptop still will crash. So I wrote my long awaited email...

I have send an email with my problem to Zepto NL...
With the info about:
1: Problem with crashing in games.
2: The videocard getting too hot or not?
3: The memorycard reader is not reading anything anymore.
4: On the right of my screen there are some dead pixels

The next morning( a few hours ago) they've send a mail back asking me about some info about my laptop (serial number, specifications, which OS I have, and the Bios version.)

I'll keep you guys updated with the corespondation

 

Good luck! I hope it all works out in the end for you.

 

Okay.. Yesterday I went to the repair shop of Zepto(was close to my home) I gave him my laptop.

Today... I called the technisian... He says the problem was probably a fan that was stuck. He already fixed that, but he need more time to fix the cardreader.

If everything goes okay, I'll be able to collect my laptop tomorrow

(gonna post my testresults)

 

Ah, reunited with your beloved .

 

He is prolly busy playing wow and C&C3 demo, or laying in bed, depressed as hell.

 

AAH :'(

I got my 6615WD back, and what I've noticed, is that the temperature is going up not as fast as before. But it still reaches to 90+ degree

and.. While playing WoW it crashed again! :'( /cry

Well the guy is now on a holiday, an will be back over a week...

I am almost out of hope

 

Hi Dark,

I had the same problems as you describe it.

But i bought a Laptop cooler (tray with fans in it to cool down the laptop) And it worked!!!!

I dont have any problems with freezing anymore!

You might want to try one (price in sweden was 120 SEK = 10 Euros)

 

CarolusX,

What make and model laptop cooler did you buy?

Cheers

 

Well I have been using an antec laptop cooler :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Antec-NOTEB...0?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1176247278&sr=8-1

Fantastic peice of kit.

One tip - the usb connection trips my psu i think (will not boot or run with it)

Buy a cheap multi voltage transformer and run the cooler power from a separate plug.

 

Ok Just to keep you guys informed,

The first time the laptop was "repaired" didn't solved the problem.

sooo...

Today (April 16th 2007) I brought my Laptop for the second time to the Zepto Repair building.

They are now going to send it to Zepto Denmark. I hope they can find the problem...
They think it will be back after about 2 weeks.

I will post updates

 

May the swartz be with you Dark

 

Well, i had my share of crashes, but not that bad as Dark.

I own a 6615WD T7200,2GB 667mhz, 7600, 100gb 7200rpm hitachi, winxp2.

I am a fanatic gamer and i tried the following games:

-Titan Quest/Immortal Throne (reso'd 1440x990 with decent FPS and NO crashing while playing long sessions)
-Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (same reso, decent FPS and crashing due to problems related to game)
-Day of Defeat: Source [and other Source based games] (High Resolution and High FPS with no crashes whatsoever
-KotOR (Widescreen modded with high FPS, no crashes)
-Battlefield 2142 (high resolution, decent FPS, no crashes > which is rare for BF on the whole)
-Dungeon Siege 2 (high resolution, high FPS, CRASHING. Black screen, sound looping endlessly. 5 + sec powerbutton.)

Just one game managing to crash on me. but still, the symptoms are about the same. Best thing yet, all other games are pretty high-end. DS2 isn't anymore. Also, i'd like to think WoW isn't too.

What if you turned down EVERY GRAPHICAL aspect as much as you can on WoW, perhaps that'll help? oh, wait, you don't have your nb anymore...

Known problems with 6615:
- BSOD: Memory parity check error (or something)
- Booting without power might sometimes be stuck at the blinking _ screen.

most things look to be, indeed, memory problems.

 

OK... I got my Laptop back...

The repairman says that he got the laptop back from Denmark and that they have replaced the heatsink?... well back home... lets try it out with a session World of Warcraft... I didn't noticed any difference?...

Still the same framerates, and still the rising temperature till 95 degrees...

And.... FREEZE after about 2 hours of WoW :'(

Well.. lets try Command & Conquer Tiberium Wars,...

Building the buildings, and after 10 minutes CRASH... Only seeying my mousecursor...

I'm like very very desperate now...

And I am starting to doubt the "userfriendly" N4ALL/Zepto NL repairshop...

Because... Is it even possible to send my notebook to Denmark and back within 6 days?! (including weekend).

So.. I think it is very possible he set me up with this beautiful story?
What if my notebook didn't leave the repairshop, and just stayed there for one week?...

I am going to pm the Zepto workers here on the forum,.. maybe they can track down any happenings in Denmark? Anyone knows who they are?



To be continued.....

 

OMG, you must be pissed off now, i know id be.

Rene is one of the Zepto guys, there are others, but i think you need to browse the forum treads to find them.

But you could also call the Danish office and ask for tech support. Then one of the is likely to answer the phone.

I hope you get it fixed or replased. I dont think Zepto Denmark wants more unhappy costumers due to bad service.

Cheers mate, and good luck.

 

OK.. YES I am pissed. I've contacted Rene on the Forum, he checked my serial number... and...

NO reference or whatsoever... -_-

So.. my notebook has never been in Denmark except when it was essembled...

And the Zepto NL Repair center doesn't reply to my mails anymore... And I am a bit too shy to confront them by phone?...

The story continuess.......

 

Those lying waffle eating aholes.

Cant you take it up with Rene, and make him take it up with the Dutch rep center?

Cheers

 

Hi! I just red the thread and I feel even more sad about it all.
I have the EXACT same problem!!
My laptop has been in to service two times now and still it aint working probably. I am struggeling to get another model or money back, this isnt working! I cant even play wow 5 minutes sometimes. And I am NOT having a damn cool-pad or something just because THEIR laptop cant work properly. I am SO disappointed at Zepto right now!

In Swedish forums:
http://www.sweclockers.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=7372259#post7372259