8800GTS...can't run any game

[elwoodh]

Hey all, I just built my first computer. Everything seems to be fine, put in my PNY 8800GTS, installed drivers, set my windows resolution, etc. etc.

Then I tried to play HL2. Crashed during the loading screen. Then I tried performing a PCMark score. Again, crashed in the middle. Then I tried playing Civ IV, game just aborts during the loading screen.

Sooo...any ideas? I'm using all of the new drivers and DX9c. Oh, and I'm on XP. It's perplexing. I also ran Performance Test, but that actually worked. Very strange.

Stats:



[Post] (Msg. 3) Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:31 pm
Post subject: [in reply to: blade85] Reply with quote Reply without quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post
blade85 wrote:
whats your overall system specs + psu details


E4300 @ 2.5ghz
GIG 965P-DS3 (1.3)
2GB 667mhz 55515
PNY 8800GTS 320 MB
Vigor 500W PSU (my first thought of being the culprit, kind of a cheapo PSU, but I wasn't sure how to go about diagnosing it)
SB X-FI (but haven't installed that yet)
Seagate 250GB SATA
Windows XP Home (SP2)
Samsung 206BW (DVI)

I went online to DL the new Forceware drivers, but ended up rolling back to the ones released in Dec. of 06. Still no luck.

 

[cubeless]

i had to go back to the 97 drivers, with 158 the pc would hang in 3dmk06... i think it is because the fan control doesn't work, and the card (evga 8800gts640) gets too hot...

 

[elwoodh]

I think those are the ones I rolled back to as well, but it didn't help. Maybe it is a PSU issue? I'll admit my PSU isn't the greatest, but I thought it'd be ok. During PrimeTest 95 TTs, my rail voltages fluctuated a decent amount, but nothing too bad. Are these supposed to always remain relatively stable?

 

[Acanthus]

Chipset drivers, other than that, id check your temps on GPU and CPU.

 

[sthaznpride17]

My guess is your PSU. When your graphics card needs more juice, and your PSU can't provide it, then it just aborts the application from what I have seen in your case. I also have a nagging suspicion that my 8800GTS isn't performing as well due to my PSU.

 

[elwoodh]

In HL2 and PCMark, I just got the typical "has encountered an error" dialog box. For Civ IV, it just flat out aborted on startup.

 

[elwoodh]

I just discovered that my PSU only has only one 12v supply, and at 19a. Methinks this could be my problem.

 

[cubeless]

that's pretty light for a box with a 8800...

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: elwoodh
I just discovered that my PSU only has only one 12v supply, and at 19a. Methinks this could be my problem.

:laugh:
Methinks you're right.

Very poor PSU + 8800 series card?

Bad idea...

 

[manimal]

Need at least 30 amps on the 12V rails for those monsters. There are alot of nice PSUs under 100 bucks, I got the Corsair HX 520, its built by seasonic and has a great warranty. Try not to get a super cheap one thats gonna die on you like a antec Smart Power. Mine blew after 4 months and almost took stuff with it. Thankfully it just killed the NIC and some ports on a old intel board I was running.


M

 

[idiotekniQues]

yet another reason not to skimp on your psu.

tsk tsk

 

[swtethan]

I skimped on mine

 

[xSkyDrAx]

It's also your CPU overclock.

 

[elwoodh]

Well, new PSU is on its way. Until then, I'm going to roll back all of my OCing options to stock, voltages, etc.

However, should I even turn on/use the system? I don't want to kill anything. Obviously I'd just be web surfing or something else very minimal.

 

[Phlargo]

The way you're describing your problems, I would not be looking at your CPU, PSU or graphics cards. Those kinds of random crashes are often associated with memory faults. Get Orthos and do the memory stress test at your overclocked settings. Also, you may just consider running memtest at your overclocked settings to make sure you're running stable. A few minor tweaks in memory timings can mean all the difference in the world. Further, I would say that this does not sound like a power supply issue (I've actually yet to get a straight answer on what an actual power supply issue is).

 

[elwoodh]

The only thing is that the crashes aren't random -- in fact, it's the opposite -- they occur whenever my 3D card is required for games, and not at any other time.

I'll reset my OCing options and see if that helps. I'm still going forward with the new PSU, if only because I have nowhere near the recommended power specs for an 8800GTS.

 

[idiotekniQues]

it cant be the PSU?

r u kidding me?

 

[Zenoth]

Your CPU is over-clocked. It might be CPU instability issues rather than your GPU.

Set all your hardware at stock speeds and test again, see if everything is stable. That'd be the first step.

 

[idiotekniQues]

definitely try stock clocks for everything first.

however, to say this does not hint to maybe being a psu problem is just silly IMO

 

[SolMiester]

Hmmm, I was worried about psu amperage too, cause mine only has dual 12v rails @ 15a, however the card connects via the 5v rails (pcie) which has 30a, so if he uses the the pcie connector, wouldnt that also be on the 5v rail and not the 12v rail?!

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: elwoodh
The only thing is that the crashes aren't random -- in fact, it's the opposite -- they occur whenever my 3D card is required for games, and not at any other time.

I'll reset my OCing options and see if that helps. I'm still going forward with the new PSU, if only because I have nowhere near the recommended power specs for an 8800GTS.

The fact that it crashs while running 3D applications only makes me think its more likely to be your power supply because power draw to the gpu goes through the roof when you game.

You can try reducing the cpu overclock as well just to make sure the problem doesn't lie somwhere else, but I think you've already found the problem.


Edit: Have you tried running any benchmarks/stress tests like Orthos that don't make use of the gpu to test the stability of your overclock?

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: SolMiester
Hmmm, I was worried about psu amperage too, cause mine only has dual 12v rails @ 15a, however the card connects via the 5v rails (pcie) which has 30a, so if he uses the the pcie connector, wouldnt that also be on the 5v rail and not the 12v rail?!

No, it still uses the 12V rail (and it's combined output across all 12V rails that matters)

 

[elwoodh]

Turned all settings back to stock -- still the same problem.

Also, memory passed Memtest with no errors.

I should also mention that upon my initial OC, I ran dual instances of Prime95 for around 30 minutes and received no errors. Temps maxed at 50 C.

But as I mentioned, voltages seemed unstable, especially on the 12v rail.

So, I'd say that if it's not the PSU, I'm going to run down my street naked.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: elwoodh
Turned all settings back to stock -- still the same problem.

Also, memory passed Memtest with no errors.

I should also mention that upon my initial OC, I ran dual instances of Prime95 for around 30 minutes and received no errors. Temps maxed at 50 C.

But as I mentioned, voltages seemed unstable, especially on the 12v rail.

So, I'd say that if it's not the PSU, I'm going to run down my street naked.

I agree ... also it would be best if you didn't try to run any more games at all until you get the new one because its possible you'll damage your GTS by not giving it enough juice.

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: Captante....

I agree ... also it would be best if you didn't try to run any more games at all until you get the new one because its possible you'll damage your GTS by not giving it enough juice.

I'd really like to hear more about how that works..

Should I worry about my GTS that is still in the wrapper ?

Maybe a new thread over in " Highly Technical " ?