Dying Graphics Card or

[Benny]

Hoping somebody can help me out here. As of yesterday my system was running smooth and fault free for over 4 years. I was enjoying lazy gaming days and the steam sale. I decided to get MADMAX, I heard it was well optimised so my ageing system might be able to run on low to mid specs. Went out shopping and left it on D/L. Got back and fired it up, went into the graphics options to tone it down a little. Literally clicked on disable SSAO. then it locked up. I had to reboot my system.

This is where the problems started and oh have they started. I tried running the game again, couldn't even make it into the options screen this time. It locks up, so I reboot and decide to install the latest Nvidia Drivers. Reboots back into the system, run the game. Now I get a spectrum of colours and the game freezes again. Now with black and white chequers on my screen. My immediate thoughts are that the GPU is dying or corrupt drivers, due to the amount of lockups and reboots.

So I run safe mode, uninstall the drivers, boot back into windows and we are running on the VGA adaptor. It now seems I am unable to get the graphics card to use any drivers, at all. Once I install them (I have tried 3 versions workings backwards from the latest) and reboot, I get as far as the 'Starting Windows' and a glitch appears on screen, like stretching the windows logo and it then gives me a black screen and then a BSOD. It took a while but I managed to get a photo using my phone. I could only really make out; nvlddmkm.sys. The only way I can get back into windows is to go into safe mode and then uninstall the drivers. It just won't accept any drivers even when I manage to install them and get back into windows in normal mode, in the device manager it just shows the Nvidia GTX 580 with an exclamation mark next to it.



This is my system spec.

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 | Asus Maximus IV Extreme-Z Intel Z68 (stock BIOS)
Intel Core i7 2600K 3.8 GHZ | Crucial RealSSD M4 128GB SATA 6Gb
WD 300 GB Velociraptor | WD 150 GB Raptor
MSI GTX580 Lightning 1536MB | Corsair 1200W CMPSU
8GB (2x4GB) Corsair Dominator DDR3

If the card is in fact dead, would my current system accept any of the new 970/980 cards? Would they be held back by my CPU?

I use this system as my work machine as well as my gaming rig so it is imperative I get it up and running ASAP. Really appreciate any advice.

Cheers

B

 

[ALXAndy]

Your CPU is excellent. A new GPU would bring you right up to date.

 

[Randall8686]

Yes your cpu will be absolutely fine with a 900 series gpu. If i was you i would either

Buy a 970 new
Second hand 980
Or new 980ti if budget allows.

Te 980 is not worth the premium price over a 970 unless gaming over 1080p as at 1080p both cards perform well.

Second hand 980 for new 970 money makes sence if your happy with second hand.

980ti is the dogs... But comes at a premium. Personally the 970 with a nice overclock will suit that pc really well.

Given you need to get it up and running soon i would grab one of the 970's in the boxing day sales unless you happy to cough up for a 980ti.

The amd fan boys will be along soon trying to get you to switch to red but if its a work pc too stick with nvidia as the drivers are more stable and less power consumption / heat if the pc is on all day. Not that office tasks will create heat but every little helps when your atuck in your home office all day. I know as thats me too.

P.s i have an amd card too so not being biast just saying it how it is. Having now got my 390 stable and overclocked i must say the performance is amazing but if it was a work pc then no. Gaming then yes if your happy to tinker.

 

[iB CoMpL3XiTy]

I would put my money on it either being PSU or GPU dying, I've had the 0x116 BSOD when a wire on the 24 Pin PSU cable burnt out, and I've also had that bluescreen from when a leaky CPU block made a puddle on the graphics card.

If you can test the card in another machine that would be ideal.

 

[Benny]

Thanks for the replies, I have replaced the power cables to no avail, still giving the same issues. Unfortunately I do not have a separate system to test the card in. I have an enclosed H80 watercooler and that all seems to be watertight so no leakage to report.

I'm leaning towards getting a new card but want to make sure the issue isn't related to something else first. Is the 6gb that the 980ti have get utilised on a 64bit system? I play ARMA3 and GTAV I know they like a bit of extra VRAM to play with.

 

[Randall8686]

TBH arma 3 is so badly optimised it does not use anything you throw at it. If you have the budget for the 980ti then get it. Its a beast of a card that will last a good number of years.

 

[Mariusz]

Try resetting your system back to stock, so no overclocks. Uninstall Nvidia drivers as normal, then boot in to safe mode and use display driver uninstaller. Install the last stable driver you used and test.

 

[Benny]

TBH arma 3 is so badly optimised it does not use anything you throw at it. If you have the budget for the 980ti then get it. Its a beast of a card that will last a good number of years.

True, yeah think I will go that route. Just doing a little bit of research.

I haven't done any overclocks on this rig at all 'Mariusz' I have tried reseating the card, uninstalling the drivers. Loading into safemode, cleaning all traces of the drivers and then reinstalling numerous different versions. Still getting the same issues. Pretty much out of ideas.

 

[Wizzkidy]

To be sure rebuild system with new Win 7 just so you can eliminate anything OS related as well (even though you have cleaned all drivers etc its worth a shot)

 

[Benny]

To be sure rebuild system with new Win 7 just so you can eliminate anything OS related as well (even though you have cleaned all drivers etc its worth a shot)

yup, cheers mate. That is my next port of call. I'm having to back up all my design work to an additional Network drive. Then going to format the drive and do a fresh install on that. Thanks for all the feedback very much appreciated.

 

[Quartz]

A quick check with Microsoft suggests that this is actually a disk space problem.