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Crashes after upgrading from 650Ti to 1660 Super Mini ITX OC

However, I've also had two crash and restarts just browsing the internet, which has never happened this PC so that has to have something to do with the GPU (or relatedly to PSU).

Thing I don't get though is, in relation to the old game that crashes the PC:
  • 650Ti and Dell 460W PSU, the old game gives ~70fps and never crashed
  • 1660 Super Mini ITX OC and Dell 460W PSU, the old game would give ~30 fps and crashed
  • 1660 Super Mini ITX OC and TX650M, the old game gives ~70 fps and crashed

Can you describe the nature of these crashes in detail?
 
Have you checked the Nvidia Control Panel settings?

The game does not appear within the list of games in the control panel. Would there be a specific global setting I should check?

Imo just dont play the old game if thats the only game that causes it or try http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2.html wrapper to emulate a old direct x for it.

Or try dling and installing dx9 redistro.. https://directx-9-0c.en.lo4d.com/windows incase of missing dx files for old games, u can install this fine on win 10 even if u use dx 12.

It's my go to de-stress game - it's old but lots of nostalgia and an active enough online group to keep it alive, so I'm more inclined to go back to 650Ti if I can't get this sorted and pop the 1660 in whenever I get a new game. Tend to play through modern games once, max twice, so won't be too much hassle.

I'm running through various checks etc. So will add the dx9 to the list and see how that goes, thanks for the steer.

Can you describe the nature of these crashes in detail?

Game Crashes
> There is no early indication a crash is on its way (e.g. no slowing down, increase in stuttering etc.)
> Game playing as normal, then freezes for approx. 3-5 seconds. Whatever was happening on screen stays on the screen (no colour changes, no flickering)
> Screen then goes black (not blue)
> Screen stays black for approx. 5 seconds
> I have dual monitors (Main screen = A, secondary = B). Screen A stays black while screen B gets the Dell logo and then the swirly circles start, then the windows login screen appears on screen A. This restart is pretty quick and takes the same time as a normal restart.
> When it last happened there were some off colours on the login screen and on web pages that disappeared when I did a 'proper' restart. I don't remember these being there when crashes occurred using the old Dell PSU but could be wrong - I think this colour change has only started since I installed the new PSU. See this image for example of these off colours (e.g. purple pixels all over windows login screen - this was taken with phone so the curvy lines are just because of the phone camera).

Crashes While Browsing (This Has Happened Twice Only)
> Was browsing internet.
> Dragged a browser window from Screen A over to Screen B
> Screens froze for at max 3 seconds
> Screens went black (not blue)
> Then same as above - black for approx 5. seconds, then Dell logo, swirly circles, login screen.

check windows event logs as well.

Maybe try a windows fix, incase files are corrupt. https://www.howtogeek.com/222532/ho...-system-files-with-the-sfc-and-dism-commands/

Ran sfc /scannow, and some corrupt files were found and replaced. Maybe that might do the trick, though the game ran perfectly fine on this PC (with corrupted files) using the 650Ti, so not 100% sure the corrupt files are to blame. Will see!

Will recheck logs and see whats thrown up.
 
The game does not appear within the list of games in the control panel. Would there be a specific global setting I should check?

I was wondering if the global settings are as they were?

o I'm more inclined to go back to 650Ti if I can't get this sorted and pop the 1660 in whenever I get a new game.

You can have both GPUs in your PC at the same time if you have the slots. Just put the 650 Ti in the x4 slot (it should be open-ended). Have one monitor on each. To switch gaming GPUs just go into Display Settings and set the primary monitor.

That sounds like a GPU stability issue.

I tend to agree. What's the airflow in the case like?
 
That sounds like a GPU stability issue.

Forgive my computer illiteracy if this is a stupid question - does that suggest there could be an issue with the GPU itself? As in that it's faulty?

I was wondering if the global settings are as they were?

You can have both GPUs in your PC at the same time if you have the slots. Just put the 650 Ti in the x4 slot (it should be open-ended). Have one monitor on each. To switch gaming GPUs just go into Display Settings and set the primary monitor.

I tend to agree. What's the airflow in the case like?

Unfortunately only one space for a GPU.

It's an XPS8700 from 2013, only one fan at the back but I've also kept the side panel off this whole time.

I ran a Kombustor stress test for 30 minutes (100% GPU load throughout) and no crashes - it hit 60 degree C during the test and stayed at that temperature. The GPU is the ITX version - so only one fan.

Meant to add the power consumption based on three games:
  • Doom 2016 on Ultra Settings: Averaged around 50W, max it went to was 70W when a tonne of enemies and guns were going off.
  • BF:BC2 on Highest Settings: Averaged around 100W, max 118W
  • TFC (old game that is causing the crashes): Averaged 25W, max 34W
 
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Did you try verifying the game files on steam?

Oh also u can try running the game with admin permissions, find the exe right click on it go to compatibility and try run as admin, u could try one of the older os at the top of the box selection like xp or win 7 see if that works? Then run from the exe not steam launcher

Ur cpu has a inbuilt gpu u could run it off that instead of the new card couldnt u? If so just grab the intel gfx drivers and try running it tho i dunno how ud pick which gpu to use in a old game like that.
 
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The game does not appear within the list of games in the control panel. Would there be a specific global setting I should check?

Game Crashes
[...]

Crashes While Browsing (This Has Happened Twice Only)
[...]
Hmm, have you tried a different set of drivers for the GPU? Preferably significantly older ones?

Have you tried a different port for the monitor? I've seen black screens fixed through this, but not auto restart.

The corrupt files make me wonder if you have a general issue that has been going undetected, or is made worse by the demands of the new GPU shifting the bottleneck to a different component.

Sorry if someone asked already, but how clean is your case and especially the CPU cooler?

Have you run memtest?

I guess it is also possible the new graphics card is faulty.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions / queries. I'm checking on things in between work so will get to them all as I go.

New tests done (haven't had a chance to play the game this evening though so not sure if the DDU and re-install will do the trick). Plan to try tomorrow and make a point of capturing all Windows Events at the time of the crash:
  • No memory errors using Memtest86 (4 passes).
  • Case is pretty clean (that's probably subjective but it looks reasonably close to brand new inside). I periodically give it a blow out. Though maybe dust buildup underneath the CPU radiator that I can't see? I can see right through the CPU radiator 'blades' (not sure what they're called) to the motherboard beneath and no sign of dust.
  • I didn't use DDU. Took the chance that since I was staying with a NVIDIA it would be OK. I just used it there to fully wipe drivers and re-install them though just in case. Just now after installing GeForce Experience I got a bunch of green pixels randomly over 'active' parts of the screen (e.g. on buttons you'd click on, on YouTube video thumbnails). Restarted PC and all green pixels are now gone -bit odd though?
Old tests done:
  • Ran sfc /scannow: Corruption found and replaced/repaired.
  • Kombustor stress test: 30 minutes, 100% GPU load, no crashes. GPU maintained 60 degrees C throughout.
  • Kombustor benchmark (1920x1080, MSI-01) = 1960. Which seems around the same as other benchmarks listed on the Kombustor score index website.
  • CPU temps: During stress test CPU temps on CoreTemp were in the high 50 degrees C I think. Don't think they went into the 60s.
  • CPU temps: During Kombustor stress test the highest CPU temps were 55-57 degrees C.
  • Played game in compatibility mode for XP:SP3 and Windows 7, and still crashed. Can't remember if I ran them as administrator - will try that also.
 
Maybe pop by steam forums for the game as they might know more as they play it more than what we would and tell em ur woes on the crashing.
 
Maybe pop by steam forums for the game as they might know more as they play it more than what we would and tell em ur woes on the crashing.

Yeah good idea, have a post up on a server specific forum. One person's running the game using a 2070 Super without issues. Given my 650Ti worked fine and a 2070 Super works fine, it does seem to be something specific to my 1660 / my system setup. Will keep troubleshooting and come back with anything of use.
 
I'm perplexed. At point of giving up on this.

Only since using DDU and re-installing the drivers:
  • I now CAN'T play Wolfenstein on max settings anymore. I loaded up the game and it told me the GPU ran out of memory and I had to reduce the settings. Prior to using DDU I had played the game for 30 minutes on maxed out setting and it was SMOOOOOOTH. I don't believe there have been any changes to the GPU settings in NVIDIA control panel / GeForce experience.
  • I keep getting weird green flashing pixels on active elements on the screen every now and then. It's fixed by plugging in and plugging out the cable (Display port to DVI). But this was never happening before using DDU.
  • There is also weird behaviour with these pixels. I have dual monitors. So say A display port on GPU goes to A DVI on monitor (A-A) and B display port on GPU goes to B DVI on monitor (B-B). The green pixels were appearing on A monitor but when dragging a window to B monitor the pixels were gone (drag back to A and pixels are there again) - so they were only on monitor A. I switched the cables around at the monitor end only - so A display port now going to B monitor (A-B), and B display port goes to A monitor (B-A). So if it is an issue with the A display port (or the cable) it should now be showing on B monitor, but it doesn't. The green pixels continue to show on A monitor. Which suggests the monitor is faulty - but again, this was not happening before using DDU and reinstalling the drivers.
Prior to using DDU, when first installing the new GPU, I just popped the new GPU in and rebooted and had none of the above behaviour at all.

List of things done without resolution:
  • Verified game files on Steam.
  • Tried compatibility setting for ALL previous version of Windows.
  • Tried running as administrator.
  • Ran sfc /scannow: Corruption found and replaced/repaired. Crashes still occur after repair.
  • Ran DISM.
  • Kombustor stress test: 30 minutes, 100% GPU load, no crashes. GPU maintained 60 degrees C throughout.
  • Kombustor benchmark (1920x1080, MSI-01) = 1960. Which seems around the same as other benchmarks listed on the Kombustor score index website.
  • CPU temps: During stress test CPU temps on CoreTemp were in the high 50 degrees C I think. Don't think they went into the 60s.
  • CPU temps: During Kombustor stress test the highest CPU temps were 55-57 degrees C.
  • No memory errors using Memtest86 (4 passes).
  • Case is clean - looks reasonably close to brand new inside. Don't believe dust is an issue.
  • Ran DELL boot up diagnostics - all clear.
  • Reinstalled drivers three times. All this did was create the green pixel problem and make Wolfenstein no longer playable on max settings.
  • Windows is fully up-to-date.
  • Purchased new PSU (went from 460W to 650W).
When checking the event logs around these crashes all I get is the below. I've Googled and advice around a dump file not being created is generally because a clean-up type of software is installed (e.g. CCleaner) but I have no such software installed:

Error - volmgr - 161 - None
Dump file creation failed due to error during dump creation.

Critical - Kernel Power - 41 - (63)

The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

Error - EventLog - 6008 - None
The previous system shutdown at 15:02:37 on ‎31/‎10/‎2020 was unexpected.

Error - EventLog - 1101 - Event Processing

Audit events have been dropped by the transport. 0
 
return the card then if u just bought it new hopefully ur 2 week window is open still. If you bought it from ocuk link this topic when asking for rma or return in customer section forums.
 
Hate when a result isn't posted back up so thought I'd post in case anyone else comes a cropper like this.

I found some similar experiences with Dell XPS8700 machines and the 16** series of NVIDIA cards.

The solution appears to be power management related based on the below four steps from another post:
  1. Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings > Set to High or Ultimate Performance.
  2. In the sleep/turn off settings > set both to Never.
  3. Under the advanced power settings > Ultimate performance > change plan settings > set PCIe Link State Power Management to off.
  4. NVIDIA control panel set Global settings/Power Management to High Performance
I went to test each one individually and found that turning off the PCIe Link State Power Management has resolved the issue by itself. Have had no crashes since making this change.

I wonder if the older game required so little GPU processing that the PCIe was shut off which was causing the problem? Or was it shut off and then, for some reason, came back on that it caused instability? Either way turning off the PCIe Link State Power Management seems to have done the trick. This might also explain why modern games ran OK, perhaps the PCIe was never shut off for those games because the GPU was actively being used.
 
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