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GPU causing BSOD

Marty85

Marty85

Marty85

Associate
Joined
2 Nov 2012
Posts
6
Alright Folks, I'm new to the forum and have a problem I hope you could help me with.

I bought a new system in March of this year and it's been running great up until recently. Now I continuosly get BSODs. I've narrowed the problem down to my GPU (OEM Geforce GT 545) If I disable the GPU and run the onboard graphics the BSODs cease and things run fine. As soon as I enable it within a few minutes it will crash. The GPU runs at 90C when idle. I only occasionally play games on it but I've been advised these stock GPUS are poor anyway so it's not surprising.

I've spoken with the manufacturer who said they will come and collect it and if it's a fault, they will replace the part, if they cannot find a replacement they will give me a new machine. That's fine but I really cannot be without a PC from 2-4 weeks. I was planning on upgrading the GPU anyway and my question is do you think I should just upgrade it and save the hassle of sending it off or do you think there could be another problem? I don't see how because it seems to run fine when the GPU is disabled. I was just concerned because it's running at such high temps that it could be a cooling issues and the same thing would occur with a new gpu. My PC is an ASUS CM6550.

Thoughts or suggestions are welcomed
 
"The GPU runs at 90C when idle."

I'm assuming this is a misprint ! As I would be pretty (very actually) worried if this was the load temp, let alone the idle temp!! Suggest you check that the fan/s (assuming it's actively cooled of course) are actually spinning.

Your BSODs, are they all the same error code? Can we have the error code/s (full code please... or a screen print). These should be available via Windows Event Viewer.
 
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Unless that GF545 is a passive model, 95C idle sounds like the card is faulty (or reporting an incorrect temp). Might be something as simple as a badly attached heatsink / fan but if it's under warranty you are as well to get them to fix it.

Cannot find the CM6550 on Asus's site or googling: do you mean the CM6650? If asking for advice for upgrades the specs of the machine or a link to them would be useful...

For anyone here to be able to advise on parts, we'd really need the rating and quality of the PSU (the amount of 12V it can supply would be handy too). An idea of the layout of the case would be handy too since small form factors PCs (very popular in PC World etc) do limit your options quite a bit.
 
Sorry, my mistake I wrote that in work, it is a CM 6650. I don't believe t's a fault reading as I've checked it in various software. I've also felt it moments after a crash and it's roasting.

Where can I find the PSU without taking the cover off? I have CPUID but cannot find the model or spplier in that. It's some sort of energy efficient ozone friendly PSU that runs ultra silent but I think it's only about 350w. Ever since I bought it I have trouble turning my monitor on and it requires me pressing the on/off button continously for a minute or so before the power builds enough to actually start my monitor.

As for error codes, i'm afraid I Don't have any. When I say I get a BSOD, my monitor actually turns off and goes into standby for a few moments because of the crash so i'm unable to see any information on the screen. I have managed to get these screenshots from the events viewer...

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Here's my link to tech forums if you find it useful at all. http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f299/bsod-asus-672917.html#post3933606 The guy suggested it was the card ad I was going through some troubleshooting resolutions with him but I gathered the only outcome would be to identify that the problem is with the GPU and I'm sure that's the case because everything runs perfect when the GPU is disabled (like now). It's funny you mentioned the cooling and the fan because the day after I got this machine I noticed in ASUS's own monitoring software it said my main fan is DC, although I'm sure I can hear it spinning.

I don't think you can buy this GPU i think it's just bundled in with certain machines and I did buy this from ASUS. It's quite a big case and I wouldn't have any trouble crossfiring most GPUS. Size isn't a problem.

Do you think it could a PSU problem? That would certainly explain the reason why my monitor is so difficult to turn on and also why the monitor goes into standby moments before a crash but it wouldn't explain the reason for the high temps on the GPU, then again it could always have been that high but I never noticed because there was no problem.

One last thing, do you think I have any grounds to request a courtesy PC or some sort of compensation at least from ASUS if they have to come and take this away? They said before they send out a courier I have to perform a restore. I have almost filled the HDD with 2TBs of old data and new and I don't have another HDD to back everything up so it means I'll need to fork out for a new HDD aswell. What do you think?

I sincerely appreciate the help folks. If there's anything else I can provide you with that would help you, just say.
 
Bugcheck 278 = 0x116 = VIDEO_TDR_ERROR - "This indicates that an attempt to reset the display driver and recover from a timeout failed."

So looks to be pointing to the GPU as you suspected.

If the idle temp is as high as you have indicated, then I definitely think you need to remove the side panel to your PC and check that the fan/s are actually spinning on your graphics card

As to the PSU. The only way to identify what make/model, is visual (IE. you'll need to have a peek at it) and then take it from there. If I had to guess, I'd suspect it's not going to be that beefy a PSU (just going by your discrete GPU here).

"One last thing, do you think I have any grounds to request a courtesy PC or some sort of compensation at least from ASUS if they have to come and take this away?" ... depends on what sort of warranty you have ... though I doubt it to be honest. I'm assuming it's a "return to base" warranty and not an "on site repair".

Good luck and let us know how things progress.

PS. Any chance of a screen print showing the sensors tab on GPU-Z?
Available here if you don't already have it: http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/
 
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The PSU is A AC BEL HBA005 - ZA1GT

dnr.png


Note I have had the PC turned off all day and the screenshot was taken immediatley after I started the PC, enabled the GPU and restarted for the changes to take effect.

edit - I have just checked the fan and it's not spinning at all although it says there it's at 85%. Do you think it would be worth taking it out and putting it back in again?
 
The fan has failed but GPU-Z thinks it is still spinning. If you are within warranty, RMA the card and if not, it isn't worth spending money on repairs IMO.
 
As I suspected right at the outset, the fan isn't spinning. Meaning the only cooling the card is getting, is of the passive variety via the heat sink on the card.

As gregster suggests.... I'd speak to the folks you bought the PC off and see if they will just accept the graphics card back for replacement, rather than you having to return the complete PC. I would have thought they should be amenable to this myself.

Only a suggestion. But if it was me, I'd remove the card and just check that the cable coming from the fan is connected to the fan header on the graphics card PCB securely. It would not be the first time that one of these has managed to work itself loose. Though you might not be able to see this depending on the design of the card.

Edit. Should you decide to take this opportunity to upgrade your graphics card, then your PSU looks to be only rated at 350w. Can't quite make out how much juice it's got on the +12v rail but it's probably not going to be that high! So you will be somewhat limited as to what card you could go for.
 
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I bought these today and everything is running smoothly so far:

XFX Pro 550W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply

CA-007-XF_36076_350.jpg


Asus GeForce GTX 650 DirectCU 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

GX-286-AS_59246_350.jpg


I will contact ASUS and advise them of the problem and see what they say. I really appreciate the help folks, thanks!
 
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