random lockups while gaming.

[YoungTom]

Hi my name is Tom.

I have read this forum for a long time but Have never been a member.

I am having an issue with my system locking up completely or randomly blue screening during gaming.

The blue screen errors are generally different every time or if the machine locks up it just freezes on the last frame and loops sound.

My system specs are:

Amd Phenom 955
Gigabyte MA770 Motherboard
4gb Kingston Hyper X 1600mhz memory @ 1.65v
Sapphire 6850 Graphics
2 x 500gb Hard Disks
Pioneer DVD RW
2 x Enermax 120mm Fans
Arctic Cooling CPU Cooler
Be Quiet 530 watt PSU

Nothing is over clocked and I run Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (legal) and ESET Smart Security 4 (latest build).

I have run Windows memory tester and Memtest on the machine, for 5 loops, on each in extended mode with no errors.

I have run the Seatools and WD diag in extended mode on my hard disks and both come back perfect.

I have also checked for malware with Combofix and Malwarebytes with both reporting nothing found.

All drivers on the system are the latest including the Catalyst 10.12 driver from ATI.

As you can see I have tried pretty much everything I can think of and this is driving me nuts.

I am beginning to suspect that my PSU might not be up to the task as it seems only to happen during games.

Any advice would be welcomed as I am tearing my hair out.

Hopefully I have posted in the right section.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

[YoungTom]

Hi Tom
Have you tried previous drivers 10.11
Does it happen in all games or just 1 ?
I know when I had bsod issues this time last year it was Down to faulty ram but you have said you tested ram
Try 10.12 hotfix drivers see what happens

Thanks for the answers guys.

Will 10.11 drivers work with my card?

I thought only 10.10e hotfix would and those are the ones I upgraded from and the same error persisted.

Ram tests fine in my system and works well in my test system at work.

Welcome to the forums Tom

Seems you have done a fair bit to resolve your issue, so only in gaming ? did you update AMD Cat drivers if so did you use driver cleaner ? some people use this but it can corrupt your system.

I am no means an expert here others will be along later but to me it seems more hardware related, Is there a friend who you can swop a graphics card with, How long do you game before it freezes ?

When was the last time you done a fresh install of windows ? I know it's a last resort but sometimes the simplest way.

Hope you get it fixed soon.

Regards

Yeah only in gaming and it doesn't matter which game, could be Bioshock 2 could be Modern Warfare 2. It is also random sometimes after 2 minutes or sometimes 2 hours.

I don't really know anyone with a gfx card similar to mine unfortunately .

My friends only have very basic cards for 2d stuff.

I last reloaded Windows 6 months ago I guess I could get a new hard disk and try a fresh install.

Check you cpu and gpu fans/fins for dust build up, could be overheating while doing intensive 3d?

The inside of my case is cleaned regularly and none of the components are overheating according to manufacturers specs.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[YoungTom]

I'd download the Sapphire Trixx utility, or MSI afterburner, and try underclocking your card - see if that fixes the issue. Can also try this in the overdrive tab in Catalyst.

Another way is to use the above mentioned utilities to push the voltage up a little bit.

I know you shouldn't have to do this, but it will help rule out a voltage/clock speed issue. Also perhaps switching from 2D to 3D clocks/voltages is dodgy on the card. Disabling 2D mode may help, but not sure how you do this on ATI cards.

Do a search for 6850 and black screen - the issues may be linked.

I downloaded the utility and did what you said.

There was no real difference.

When I upped the voltage the machine locked up and when I underclocked the card it also just locked up again after around 2 minutes.

Thankyou for the advice.

Tom

 

[YoungTom]

Hi Tom,
I am sorry that your having problems with your system.
The blue screen usually is linked to instability elsewhere in the system rather than the card itself.

I would recommend you start from the beginning and test your cpu/mobo/ram using this program.
I know your system is not OC but errors can still occur.

A) Download this.

http://majorgeeks.com/Prime95_d4363.html

download 64bit if your using 64bit windows. (here)

http://majorgeeks.com/downloadget.ph...6f699a0c02444e

B)
when you download it run it and make sure that in "advanced" setting the "round off checking" and "SUM error checking" are both ticked.

C)
Go options and select torture test. Click custom and enter 3000-3500 in memory to use. run it for about 1-2hrs will give you a pretty sure guarantee that its not memory / mobo / cpu related, then you can concentrate on the VIDEO CARD>

Ok I will do this now.

Thanks

 

[YoungTom]

What PCi slot are you using ? and have you looked in DEVICE MANAGER just to make sure there's no problems in there ?

Hi there is only one on my motherboard as it is a fairly basic model.

Device manager reports no issues.

Tom

 

[YoungTom]

Oh well, worth a try.

Have you got the latest bios for your motherboard?

It may be a motherboard/card compatibility issue - I've had that happen to me in the past.

Apart from cleaning out drivers and reinstaling plus the latest directx, and reinserting the card and checking all connections, I can't think of anything else.

An email to Gigabyte and Sapphire might help, asking if there are any known issues.

I have installed the latest F8 bios after this started happening but the symptoms persist.

I think that will be my next port of call after trying the other suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[YoungTom]

This may well be a failing psu, how long have you had the psu for?

I have had it nearly 8 months and I only paid £45 for it new.

Obviously I know it is not the best on the market but it says it has 430 watts of 12v power and 35 amps but it does get warm when gaming.

I wonder whether it would be worth buying a Corsair unit or one of the new Coolermaster Silent Gold series units as they have a fair amount more juice and good reviews.

Tom

 

[YoungTom]

I've had these sorts of problems solved by a more powerful PSU but have you tried additional cooling just in case. Take a side panel off and run a desk fan towards the inside (or run it outside).

Hi while gaming:

My GFX card never goes above 60 degrees C.

My CPU never goes above 50 degrees C.

Hard disks stay around 32 degrees C.

I have checked the MOSFETS on the motherboard and they are just warm to touch.

Do you think it is work buying a new PSU as that is what I am leaning towards.

Tom

 

[YoungTom]

As suggested above I ran Prime 95 with those exact settings and it passed with no errors.

I open Modern Warfare 2 and it bombs out after five minutes. DOH!

I have managed to buy a second hand ATI 5750 from a friend of a friend for £30 as he was going to put it on eBay.

I will be picking it up tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

Tom

 

[YoungTom]

Hi last night I fitted the ATI 5750 I brought to test the machine and it bluescreened again.

I then came across an overclocking article that said sometimes to stabilise a system add more northbridge voltage.

I added .4v to NB so it is now @ 1.14v and the bluesceens have gone away.

Is this normal as my machine is not overclocked except memory?

Will this do any damage to my machine?

Tom