random BSOD

[bignasy05]

Computer Specs:
Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI
Adhlon 64 4800+
dual BFG Geforce 7800GT 256mb video cards
550 watt Antectrue power 2 power supply.

Im thinking that its either heat or a bad graphics card. The BSOD
happens randomly, sometimes after I play a game or when Im just using
a text editor. Any Suggestions would be appreciated.

thanx for reading

 

[Mike T.]

Computer Specs:
Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI
Adhlon 64 4800+
dual BFG Geforce 7800GT 256mb video cards
550 watt Antectrue power 2 power supply.

Im thinking that its either heat or a bad graphics card. The BSOD
happens randomly, sometimes after I play a game or when Im just using
a text editor. Any Suggestions would be appreciated.

thanx for reading

Well first, that power supply is a bit anemic for the hardware you are
running. But before you replace it, run memtest86 for several hours to
check for any memory errors. 550W might be just barely enough to run your
hardware if your power supply was -extremely- efficient, but I doubt if that
Antec is extremely efficient. If you have to replace that power supply, go
for enermax or seasonic, and 600W minimum. -Dave

 

[Paul]

Computer Specs:
Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI
Adhlon 64 4800+
dual BFG Geforce 7800GT 256mb video cards
550 watt Antectrue power 2 power supply.

Im thinking that its either heat or a bad graphics card. The BSOD
happens randomly, sometimes after I play a game or when Im just using
a text editor. Any Suggestions would be appreciated.

thanx for reading

4800+ 110W
http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/details.aspx?opn=ADA4800DAA6CD

7800GT 57W each (or higher, depending on the clock)
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-consumption2006_5.html

+3.3V@32A, +5V@40A, +12V1@19A, +12V2@19A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931

12V2 feeds the processor. (110W/12V)*(1/0.90) = 10.2A, less than 19A, OK

57W/12V = about 5 amps, times 2, is 10 amps from 12V1. A hard drive,
a CD, and some fans, would take about 2.5 amps more. So again, power
supply looks OK.

Has the memory been tested with memtest86+ (memtest.org) ?

Have you run two copies of Prime95 (mersenne.org) to test both the
processor and the memory ?

Have you recorded the BSODs ? What driver did it die in ? Something
with "NV" in the name ? Have you disabled automatic restarts, so you
can copy down the BSOD text ? Have you looked in the Event Viewer ?
Are you getting an actual BSOD, or is the computer just restarting
without any error message or evidence of any kind ?

Given the failure rate of high end video cards, like the ones in
question, I'd say video is possible. But the info from the BSOD will
help narrow it down. You could also try just running with one
video card at a time, and see if one card does it more than the
other.

Paul

 

[bignasy05]

4800+ 110Whttp://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/details.aspx?opn=ADA4800DAA6CD

7800GT 57W each (or higher, depending on the clock)http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-consumption2006_5....

+3.3V@32A, +5V@40A, +12V1@19A, +12V2@19A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2Ahttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931

12V2 feeds the processor. (110W/12V)*(1/0.90) = 10.2A, less than 19A, OK

57W/12V = about 5 amps, times 2, is 10 amps from 12V1. A hard drive,
a CD, and some fans, would take about 2.5 amps more. So again, power
supply looks OK.

Has the memory been tested with memtest86+ (memtest.org) ?

Have you run two copies of Prime95 (mersenne.org) to test both the
processor and the memory ?

Have you recorded the BSODs ? What driver did it die in ? Something
with "NV" in the name ? Have you disabled automatic restarts, so you
can copy down the BSOD text ? Have you looked in the Event Viewer ?
Are you getting an actual BSOD, or is the computer just restarting
without any error message or evidence of any kind ?

Given the failure rate of high end video cards, like the ones in
question, I'd say video is possible. But the info from the BSOD will
help narrow it down. You could also try just running with one
video card at a time, and see if one card does it more than the
other.

Paul

It is a BSOD I have disabled automatic restart and NV is in the name
some of the time. Ill run my computer tonight and try to get it to
fail a couple of times and have those errors tomarrow. Also I ran
memtest86 for an entire night about 8 hours or so and had no errors.
Never even heard of Prime95 so I will be running that tonight. thanx
for the suggestions.

 

[bignasy05]

It is a BSOD I have disabled automatic restart and NV is in the name
some of the time. Ill run my computer tonight and try to get it to
fail a couple of times and have those errors tomarrow. Also I ran
memtest86 for an entire night about 8 hours or so and had no errors.
Never even heard of Prime95 so I will be running that tonight. thanx
for the suggestions.

One other question could this be a Heat related problem, I am water
cooling both GPU's and the CPU but the heatsink on on of the bridges
is right under a graphics card, and it get really hot.

 

[Mike T.]

One other question could this be a Heat related problem, I am water

cooling both GPU's and the CPU but the heatsink on on of the bridges
is right under a graphics card, and it get really hot.

It could be you just found the source of your problem. Many bridge chips
rely on CPU cooling fan to send some airflow over the heatsink. SOME
chipset coolers have active fans on them, as the airflow from the CPU fan is
not enough. In your case, the airflow over your chipset is zero, I take it?
Not good. -Dave

 

[Paul]

It could be you just found the source of your problem. Many bridge chips
rely on CPU cooling fan to send some airflow over the heatsink. SOME
chipset coolers have active fans on them, as the airflow from the CPU fan is
not enough. In your case, the airflow over your chipset is zero, I take it?
Not good. -Dave

Yup. A fan would help.

Paul

 

[JAD]

One other question could this be a Heat related problem, I am water
cooling both GPU's and the CPU but the heatsink on on of the bridges
is right under a graphics card, and it get really hot.

bingo! water cooling these days is more complicated than when we first
started.

 

[bignasy05]

bingo! water cooling these days is more complicated than when we first
started.

I think the fan I installed to blow directly on the heatsink of the
chip in question. So far so good I have run multiple games, ran
3dmark06 with out crashing. I remember questioning this chip because
it was directly under the video card. But thought that if the chip
was there then it can stand the heat. Well it seams that I was
wrong. Note to self remeber adequate cooling on all chips. Just wish
I could but a water block on the thing so I can have my silent pc
back. oh well heres to dreamin.