Help: Spent months trying to fix graphics crashes

[Behemoth]

Might be worth running memtest 86 on that system as I reckon its something to do with your RAM. May also be worth running the PC with no side panels on the case for a while and see if the problem persists that way.

[GoNz0]

running single sticks of rams always a good start to diagnose things.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

As the others say testing the memory is also important.

[hamd01]

I'm just about to kick-off memtest86. Will leave that going and let you know the outcome.

[GoNz0]

downlaod whocrashed and check what causes the error if it gets chance to log it http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

[Ferral]

You could try replacing the thermal paste on your graphics card and processor.

Also if possible try and source another graphics card to test, see if it does the same thing to try and eliminate something from the list.

Who is the manufacturer of your graphics card and motherboard? There was a problem with some of the Sapphire cards a few year back (X1950 series cards) where the voltage regulators were overheating and shutting down to stop damage as they were placed incorrectly under the heatsink. In turn this caused system instability and random crashes on desktop and in games with driver stopping responding etc.

Have you tried updating your motherboard to latest bios, sometimes this can resolve a multitude of sins.

[hamd01]

I left memtest running whilst I went out for a few hours today. It was running fine when I left, but by the time I returned the system was just totally hung No errors on the screen, but the keyboard was totally unresponsive and the program had obviously stopped.

You can see a screenshot of what it was upto when it stopped;



What I am going to do tonight is remove one stick of memory and leave the test running again. I'll then do the same with the other stick of memory, obviously if it does it with one and not the other I'll know its a memory problem and which stick.

[hamd01]

Just an update, as I have read some of the other posts.

I have updated the BIOS to the latest version from the J&W website.

[GoNz0]

thats a good start, let us know the outcome of the single ram stick.

[Behemoth]

Bios upgrade is always worth a go.

Might be worth running memtest on each stick by itself.

[hamd01]

OK I have been done some testing with the memory this week. Each time I left the machine in memtest98 for 12 hours (over-night).

Before doing all of this I took the sides off the case, and have left the machine with the sides off during testing. I have also updated the latest version from J&W.

I took a stick of memory out, leaving only 1 stick in. Re-ran memtest98, it still crashed.

I put the memory back in, and took the other stick out..... it still crashed.

Anyone any suggestions where to go next?

[kalniel]

Test 8 crash is often caused by too tight memory timings, especially the command rate. This will also manefest itself in random system crashes, especially when looking at some types of flash on websites etc.

Make sure you are running 2T (not auto or 1T), and check your other RAM settings/speeds and voltages.

[scaryjim]

is it just me, or is it more worrying that the memtest screenshot says "tesing 4096M - 4864M" when the system only has 4GB of RAM....? I don't know much about how memtest works, but that doesn't seem right somehow!

[kalniel]

is it just me, or is it more worrying that the memtest screenshot says "tesing 4096M - 4864M" when the system only has 4GB of RAM....? I don't know much about how memtest works, but that doesn't seem right somehow!

The motherboard can (and often does) shift actual memory address locations - mine has a 'memory hole' option to control it. 3-4GB is probably mapped to PCIe devices etc.

[Sputnik]

CPU is Pheno II x3 720 3.2Ghz

I should also mention that nothing is overclocked.

Slight contradiction?

I've got the J&W 790 extreme board and it can be a pain to set the BIOS up.

You didn't say what memory your using, Have you adjusted the voltage and double checked it afterwards to see what voltage the RAM is running on?