GTX 295 Problems.... ??

DemonTraitor · 28 Jan 2011 at 11:09

Hello people

Basically I am getting problems with my PC crashing while playing Call of Duty Black Ops, and running GPU stability tests.

Symptoms
=======
Black Ops:
1. Game freezes, with sound looping... Sometimes I can CTRL + ALT + DEL to bring up Task Manager, and the game comes back...
2. Screen goes black. The system does not seem to have frozen (clock on G15 still counting), until I try to CTRL + ALT + DEL, which completely freezes system.
3. In Black Ops Menu (not 3D), Screen goes black (loses source signal), then comes back to desktop - screen comes on as if source is back on...

FurMark
=====
Running Multi-GPU version, the test runs for about 4-5 mins, with temps getting to 98C, then the test freezes, but G15 clock still runs - CTRL + ALT + DEL freezes system...

Errors
====
I have once noticed an error "bubble" in the System Tray, saying "Display Driver Nvidia Windows Kernel Mode Driver Version 266.58 stopped responding and has successfully recovered"

3D Mark Vantage runs fine.

Temperature and Voltage Reports - Playing Black Ops until the game froze at 632 seconds >>>> CPU and GPU Graphs

Basically, I am trying to figure out whether it is a Hardware or a Software problem. I have tried a full system re-install and driver sweepers.

My Rig
====

Operating System: Windows 7 Pro x64
Motherboard: EVGA 132-CK-NF78 (Socket 775)
BIOS: P10 (30/12/2009)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 @ 2.66GHz, Yorkfield 45nm Technology (O/C @ 3.20)
Cores 0, 1, 2, 3 @ 3599.7 MHz, Multiplier x8, Bus Speed 450 MHz, Rated Bus Speed 1800 MHz
RAM: GSkill 8.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 539MHz (5-5-5-15)
Graphics: BFG GTX 295
Video Forceware (Drivers): 266.58
Audio: SB Audigy Platinum
PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro M850

I hope someone can help or suggest anything :/

Sweeney · 28 Jan 2011 at 11:26

Had this recently, although would do it whilst idle on desktop too.

Although it was a case of mine not being stable at the factory overclocks, changing them back to reference speeds cured it but it's being RMA'd at the minute as it's obviously not what I paid for (the temps topped out at 93 running Furmark but remained stable).

Have you got it overclocked? Maybe worth trying the above to see if it helps or if stock could try underclock it slightly.

DemonTraitor · 28 Jan 2011 at 15:01

I installed 185.85 drivers - which basically halved my FPS in FurMark, but made in stable though.

I am now on 195.62, which has increased FPS, and also seems stable.

Going to look into Down-clocking too...

Thanks for reply

Sweeney · 28 Jan 2011 at 15:15

Be worth checking that Furmark is using both gpus.

EVGA Precision is a good tool to use for information and changing speeds of your card if you haven't already got it.

Hope you get it sorted!

DemonTraitor · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:09

Thanks Sweeney.

I have MSI Afterburner at the moment - has a great On Screen Display feature too.

I have installed latest drivers again, and clocked the GPU all the way down, and am going to step it up as I go along....

I had an EVGA 8800 GTS 512 before this - ran like a dream

Sweeney · 29 Jan 2011 at 22:36

Wasn't aware of that being applicable to nvidia hardware as I was just sticking to what I knew, might give it a try though!

Yeah, still got an EVGA 8800gtx superclocked going strong, luck of the draw I guess. I take it the card is running okay at lower speeds?

Cleeecooo · 29 Jan 2011 at 23:57

Heat issue. Had the same with my 6970. Reapply the TIM nut be careful as BFG are obviously bust so an RMA is outnof the question.

DemonTraitor · 4 Feb 2011 at 13:01

Please look at my graphs...

DemonTraitor said:
My Rig
====

Operating System: Windows 7 Pro x64
Motherboard: EVGA 132-CK-NF78 (Socket 775)
BIOS: P10 (30/12/2009)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 @ 2.66GHz, Yorkfield 45nm Technology (O/C @ 3.20)
Cores 0, 1, 2, 3 @ 3599.7 MHz, Multiplier x8, Bus Speed 450 MHz, Rated Bus Speed 1800 MHz
RAM: GSkill 8.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 539MHz (5-5-5-15)
Graphics: BFG GTX 295
Video Forceware (Drivers): 266.58
Audio: SB Audigy Platinum
PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro M850

Please can someone look at my graphs.....

I was playing Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, and the game froze, then the screen went blank (lost signal), then everything returns - this happens in a period of about 3 seconds. This happened at these specific times.... (logs generated by HWMonitor Pro)

Screen Blanks (as above) @ 163 Seconds and 221 Seconds.

The game crashed @ 302 seconds...

I have full logs in CSV format too if anyone wants to take a look?

Sweeney · 4 Feb 2011 at 15:49

CPU and 295 look fine temperature wise. Have you tried anything else to eliminate cpu/ram overclock, gfx overclock etc?

DemonTraitor · 5 Feb 2011 at 14:21

That is what I dont understand - everything looks fine. But I am no expert...

My CPU is clocked @ 3.2, but have tried it non-clocked, and I have even down-clocked the GPU.
I have not tried down-clocking the RAM - all this gets a but tiring after a while.

I may be sending the GPU to my son for him to check it, as he is the only other person I know that has a PC that has the umph to handle it.

Black Ops seems to be running ok, with an Nvidia control panel profile set to disable multi-gpu, and with the Black Ops config edited to multigpu "0"....

DemonTraitor · 5 Feb 2011 at 17:20

does anyone think my voltages are ok?

Sweeney · 5 Feb 2011 at 23:14

Was it still crashing etc even after down clocking? Yeah it gets tedious, very quickly! Only way is to eliminate the most probable causes though so has to be done.

Trying it in a known stable and capable system is a good shout though so I would do as you have said, even as far as swapping graphics cards or trying another in your system. As for the voltages I'm unsure, I've always taken reported voltages with a pinch of salt.

DemonTraitor · 7 Feb 2011 at 17:05

Yes, was still crashing.

I am at so fed up with it all :/

Rroff · 7 Feb 2011 at 17:20

Its a BFG GTX 295... you have a something like 70% chance of its developing BGA solder failure related issues which is exactly what your seeing - no idea why they are worse for it than other makes as they are essentially all off the same production line - sorry its bad new. It may or may not be possible to buy a little extra time with the "oven trick".

DemonTraitor · 7 Feb 2011 at 18:44

Rroff said:
Its a BFG GTX 295... you have a something like 70% chance of its developing BGA solder failure related issues which is exactly what your seeing - no idea why they are worse for it than other makes as they are essentially all off the same production line - sorry its bad new. It may or may not be possible to buy a little extra time with the "oven trick".

zoiks.

So will the oven trick fix it permanently or just a quick fix?

Rroff · 7 Feb 2011 at 19:02

Oven trick is a last resort really... it could kill the card dead, fix it completely or anything in between.

But I'm pretty certain this is a BGA soldering related issue which unfortunatly is notorious with BFG cards and one of the factors that resulted in them going out of business.

jigger · 7 Feb 2011 at 19:29

Try the card in another system.

Use older drivers that don't come with the latest usless bloatware. I have had no end of trouble with the newer driver packages.

DemonTraitor · 7 Feb 2011 at 23:24

I have tried older drivers, but only so far. I went to the oldest possible, but that almost halved the GPU's power - I dont really want to go that extreme. Maybe I will try older drivers.

I have noticed one thing. When I first boot, NV control panel has PhysX set to a specific card, even though I have this set to Automatic. If I change it to Auto straight after a reboot, then the card seems stable in Black Ops, which has am NV profile of "use single GPU", and "PhysX to CPU"...

I know BlOps does not use PhysX, but this could be linked to a naff driver....

Well, maybe I will dedicate a day of raw testing... go back driver versions, and test, repeat until fade...

My 8800 GTS still runs fine on latest drivers.

24MARK24 · 8 Feb 2011 at 01:12

Hi Demon,

I posted a thread about my BFG295 giving up on me some time ago, I used to get the same error "driver not responding" as the one you posted above. I also on occasion lost the picture while gaming until one day my comp instantly turned off, hence the 295 had died!

(Replaced with a gtx580 and enjoying how much quieter it is along with FPS increase!!)

DemonTraitor · 8 Feb 2011 at 09:34

The card is only about 2 years old, and has only really been used for 1.5 years