Graphics issue on Vista

[domsq]

Hi guys

Decided to build myself a new PC, after having been without a proper gaming rig for some time.

The specs of my new PC are:

Gigabyte P35-DS3 mainboard (rev 2.1)
C2D E8200
2x 1GB Kingston HyperX DDR2-1066 RAM sticks
Point of view 8800 GT 512MB EXO edition (factory overclocked) Here
2x 320GB Seagate Barracuda SATA 2 drives (for RAID 1)
Coolermaster Elite 330 chassis with CM eXtreme Power 460W PSU
Vista Home Premium

The problem I'm having with it is that fairly often the screen goes blank for a few seconds, after which I get told 'Nvlddmkm has stopped responding...'. Now more recently, it'll do that a few times in a loop before giving me a BSOD about the fact the display couldn't be reset, etc. I have also had 1x BSOD to do with 'MEMORY_CONFIGURATION'

I have also noticed, when I turn the PC on, that at the BIOS level I'm getting these random, white dotted lines going vertically down the screen.

This stuff is only 2 days old, so I'm not going to be chuffed if anything is faulty

Has anyone ever encountered anything like this? Can anyone see a problem with the configuration of the PC as it is?

I hope someone can help me

 

[Lord Banshee]

the bios graphics artifacts sounds like a bad graphics card.

The vista error sounds like either bad ram or bad install of nvidia drivers.

Solutions:
About video card: sounds like it is broke, maybe someone else can help with this but it sounds like you need to get a RMA.
Run MemTest86+ to test the ram. If the ram is good then you know it isn't the problem. (run for a few passes at min.)

 

[domsq]

Hey there

Thanks for the quick reply...

I think it may be the graphics card after all. After reseating it and checking the connections, etc I've managed to clear the artifacts at BIOS level now, and Vista now longer just crashes (although I do still get the odd message about the driver not responding, etc). However, the speeds on this card are supposed to be 650/1950 (core/memory), but according to Riva Tuner, the memory's clocked at 2016 MHz stock, so something's up there.

I've run Prime 95 on the machine for about an hour so far, and nothing went wrong in that time, so hopefully the RAM is fine.

 

[daveybrat]

Those artifacts and nvidia driver errors in windows point to a faulty video card. Sometimes it's the fault of the manufacturer of the video card overclocking them higher than they should.

RMA the card and run Memtest on your computer to make sure the ram is good. If it's bad you can send the vid card and ram back together.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: domsq


The problem I'm having with it is that fairly often the screen goes blank for a few seconds, after which I get told 'Nvlddmkm has stopped responding...'. Now more recently, it'll do that a few times in a loop before giving me a BSOD about the fact the display couldn't be reset, etc.

Welcome to nVidia and Vista - see here

 

[Puffnstuff]

Not all video cards suffer problems in vista. I've got 4 pc's with vista and nvidia graphics cards and none of them have issues like that. Artifacting is a sure sign of a bad card. I've got an old xfx 6800gt that needs to go in, lifetime warranty, for that very reason. Artifacts until you try to boot into windows then it just goes to a black screen. Every graphics card that I've had go bad started with artifacts then steadily got worse until I replaced it.

 

[Keysplayr]

You should also try "Memtest" to check your DIMMS. If your memory passes the testing, then I would say focus on your vid card. Are you getting any artifacts at all on your monitor while gaming?

Memtest86

 

[magreen]

there's a whole (long) thread here about the 'Nvlddmkm has stopped responding...' Error. Look for it.

 

[domsq]

Quick question... could it be power related? I see that nVIDIA recommend your PSU be able to deliver 22A on the +12V rail, but according to the sticker on the side of my PSU, it's rated at 18A on the +12 rails.

 

[magreen]

For the record, my Dell Inspiron E531 with integrated nvidia 6150 graphics does it too. And that's a stock dell system,

 

[magreen]

That's under vista home premium, btw.

 

[Tempered81]

FYI vista is horrible at everything, not just gaming performance.

 

[magreen]

It's not horrible at making the screen go black for a second and then giving you a selection from a variety of informative pop-up messages.

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: magreen
It's not horrible at making the screen go black for a second and then giving you a selection from a variety of informative pop-up messages.

yeah hahaha, they should call it windows UAC. click slow popups til u die and get nothing accomplished

 

[magreen]

actually, it's quite good at making the screen go black and giving a popup -- it does it on mine even with UAC disabled.