Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Game issue or computer?

Dec 30, 2014 6:39AM PST

AMD A6-5400k APU DUO core
R9 270
16gb mem DDR3 1866
500gb HD
Windows 7 Pro 64bit

Trying to get Crysis 3 to work on this build and tried everything including DX fixes and updates nothing allows it work. The game starts all the way to the menu but once you hit new campaign it locks up and crashes to black screen and you have to ctrl+alt+delete to back out and shut game down in the task manager. I have tried all kinds of forums including Gamespot however the site won't let me create a new tread for help can someone suggest anything to help try and get this game running

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
A little to low of an APU in my opinion.
Dec 30, 2014 6:50AM PST

This machine might be barely OK with that added GPU but the Windows install is anything but easy. Let's hear (read) your install plan.
Bob

- Collapse -
Dont understand
Dec 31, 2014 4:17AM PST

I got this game through origin and did the download then ran the installer step by step, then I set the compatibility to admin. and started the game. Is this what u mean?

- Collapse -
Sorry no.
Dec 31, 2014 4:36AM PST

That's the game install. Getting Windows (the OS) installed is pretty simple. But after that there are on average a dozen more drivers and apps to install or the machine may not be ready.

The A6 is not helping here. It's on the low side so I would be guessing why that's in a gamer rig.
Bob

- Collapse -
I still dont understand
Dec 31, 2014 5:29AM PST

Getting Windows (the OS) installed is pretty simple. What r u referring to here Windows is all up to date drivers and all so i am curious why you state this? So this core is all that may be the trouble When the purchase of this core was made the reviews is what i went by. Also is it because you are saying the cache might be to small cause its a 3.6ghz processor?

- Collapse -
Now tell me how you know the drivers are up to date.
Dec 31, 2014 6:57AM PST

We know that the Driver Update button in Windows is not how. Installing Windows and driver afterwards is well discussed but I'm getting the idea that you are new to fresh installs. That's OK but I no longer duplicate the web. You have to tell me the steps you took after Windows was installed. Otherwise I'm going with it's not done right.
Bob

- Collapse -
Ok i am confused
Jan 1, 2015 4:52AM PST

I manually go to the video cards website to put in the recent updates and along with all hardware do the same manually put in the hardware, is that what you are referring to? When it comes to windows it puts in its own updates. I am wanting to know how this has anything to do with the game when I already stated I put in the drivers myself? So I am very confused why you ask again.

- Collapse -
OK, that's Windows and the video card.
Jan 1, 2015 8:22AM PST

But what about the motherboard chipset driver package?

Also, this CPU can run badly if the memory is not installed in pairs. The details matter and I ask so that we can figure if there is anyway to boost this up a little.

Your list omitted the motherboard model, revision, firmware version and which memory stick is in which slot.
Bob

- Collapse -
ok got that
Jan 1, 2015 9:24PM PST

A78M-E35 AMD A78 chipset
2x G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900)

This is the mobo and memory.

I admit I did not update the CPU nor the chipset, cause I have heard bad things about updating these Items. Can overclocking the APU get more out of it? Or leaving well enough alone. I have never overclocked anything, never had to before.

- Collapse -
Since this board only has 2 memory slots
Jan 2, 2015 12:03AM PST

By filling both that checks off the possible config issue.

The BIOS updated the AGESA on 10-14-1014. That's noted at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGESA So given what this does, it's pretty important to the overall performance.

http://us.msi.com/support/mb/A78ME35.html#down-driver&Win8.1%2064 shows " System & Chipset Drivers " which if you skipped those, then performance again takes a dive.

The "On-Board PIDE/SATA Drivers" may be optional but some boards deliver subpar disk performance without it.

From this discussion it sounds like you are skipping the pre and post Windows work.
Bob

- Collapse -
No Go
Jan 2, 2015 11:49PM PST

I put in all the drivers that is suggested and its a no go.

- Collapse -
What's not told.
Jan 3, 2015 12:57AM PST

The crash should be taken up with the machine's maker or designer. We took this many posts to cover just installing Windows.

No where do I see the full rundown of your PC and install. I know you want folk to guess what's wrong but without the full details I can't guess if the PSU is under the mark. My mark is 50% of full load rating. If your PC draws 400 Watts under load, 800 is what I want the PSU to be rated at (or close.)

Also, there are security suites, cracked OSes and more that can interfere with apps. Your post never mentions such.
Bob