Installed EVGA 7800GTX and blue screeing when BF2 starts

[scottvin]

Backstory
I just built a new computer:
CPU: AMD64 4200+ X2
Motherboad: A8N-SLI Premium Motherboard
Video Card: Chaintek Nvidia 6600
Memory: OCZ 2x512MB EL-PE DDR PC-3200 Dual Channel
HD: 2x74GB 10k WD Raptor SATA Drive
Dynex Case from Best Buy with a 500w Power Supply

Everything was working great; I received no errors or blue screens at all.
I could play graphic intensive games with no problems (CoV, EQ2. WoW, FEAR).

I received the EVGA 7800GTX last night and installed the card. I let Windows find the card and then started City of Villains (without rebooting). I played for about 4 hours and had no problems.

I installed BF2 and it asked me to reboot. I rebooted and then attempted to start BF2. Got to the EA games logo and then *BAM* blue screen. The dreaded IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO error.

Here is what I did not do:
Remove the old drivers ? I assumed I would not need to as the 6600 and 7800 use the same drivers.
Install drivers from EVGA CD ? Again, I assumed I would not need to.

Assumptions:
I am 99% positive that it is the video card having issues. However, it was late and I did not have a chance to try playing COV again to see if rebooting caused an error.

The video card is getting enough power from the PSU (remember I played CoV with no issues BEFORE the reboot).

Questions:
Could it be the PSU?
How much power does the 7800GTX draw as opposed to the 6600?
Should I remove all drivers and install from the EVGA CD?
Why would CoV work fine and then after reboot I started to have problems?

 

[Cheesetogo]

It's definately the psu. You need to get a quality one, not some generic "dynex" psu. The 7800gtx draws a lot of power, considerably more than the 6600. Drivers would not be the problem, as the drivers the 6600 uses are the same as the 7800. Get a quality powersupply by Antec, Enermax, Seasonic, Fortron, OCZ, etc. Dynex is not a quality powersupply. Also, do you have the pci-express power connector connected to the graphics card? Most likely your psu is no longer supplying suffiecent power to the card. I would buy a new psu.

 

[peleejosh]

Is the video card plugged in to the psu?

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Also, do you have the pci-express power connector connected to the graphics card? Most likely your psu is no longer supplying suffiecent power to the card. I would buy a new psu.

It didn't have the special adapter, so I had to use the EVGA supplied one (two power connections into 1 PCI-E adapter that goes into the vid card).

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: peleejosh
Is the video card plugged in to the psu?

yes

 

[fbrdphreak]

You bought all of that high end stuff and put it in a DYNEX case???

If that "500W" PSU is the one that came with it, kick that POS to the curb.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Also, uninstall your existing drivers. Download Driver Cleaner, boot into safe mode, and use it to clean your drivers out. Install the latest drivers from NVIDIA.

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
You bought all of that high end stuff and put it in a DYNEX case???

If that "500W" PSU is the one that came with it, kick that POS to the curb.

The case seemed pretty spacious...

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Also, uninstall your existing drivers. Download Driver Cleaner, boot into safe mode, and use it to clean your drivers out. Install the latest drivers from NVIDIA.

even though CoV worked initially with no problems?

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: scottvin

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Also, uninstall your existing drivers. Download Driver Cleaner, boot into safe mode, and use it to clean your drivers out. Install the latest drivers from NVIDIA.

even though CoV worked initially with no problems?

The latest NVIDIA drivers have optimizations for the 7800 series. You mentioned switching a 6600 for the 7800, I assumed that you were still on the drivers from that card which I would presume to be older.

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: scottvin

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Also, uninstall your existing drivers. Download Driver Cleaner, boot into safe mode, and use it to clean your drivers out. Install the latest drivers from NVIDIA.

even though CoV worked initially with no problems?

The latest NVIDIA drivers have optimizations for the 7800 series. You mentioned switching a 6600 for the 7800, I assumed that you were still on the drivers from that card which I would presume to be older.

I will use driver cleaner and remove the drivers and use the drivers on the evga CD. I think you are correct that the PSU needs to go.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Do not use the drivers on the eVGA CD. Those are going to be outdated. Download the latest ones from http://www.nvidia.com and use those.

Yes, PSU needs to go if it is the one that came with Dynex. That "500W" probly puts out the same power as a quality 300W or less.

 

[slash196]

Don't you want to treat all that shiny computer equiptment to some nice clean power?

 

[Cheesetogo]

If your going to go back to CompUSA to get a psu, they usually have an Antec 500 watt psu. I would suggest getting that.

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: slash196
Don't you want to treat all that shiny computer equiptment to some nice clean power?

I really thought I would be ok. I had my previous computer using it... albeit it was a 2600+ and 9800 pro. Not the biggest power hogs in the world.

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
If your going to go back to CompUSA to get a psu, they usually have an Antec 500 watt psu. I would suggest getting that.

I don't mind using newegg or any of the others and waiting. Any others you recommend? Should I move up to a 600W?

 

[Spacecomber]

It would help, if you gave us the driver versions that you are talking about; otherwise, it is impossible to say.

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: Spacecomber
It would help, if you gave us the driver versions that you are talking about; otherwise, it is impossible to say.

Version: 81.85

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: scottvin

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
If your going to go back to CompUSA to get a psu, they usually have an Antec 500 watt psu. I would suggest getting that.

I don't mind using newegg or any of the others and waiting. Any others you recommend? Should I move up to a 600W?

A lot of people like the OCZ Powerstreams. Antec is a good company also. I didn't want my case all cluttered up with cables like when I had my TruePower430W, so I went to the Antec NeoPower 550HE. Modular cables, 550W, sleeved cables, and high efficiency. Only cost me like $103 shipped from buy.com. There are a lot of PSU's out there though, that is just me

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: scottvin

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
If your going to go back to CompUSA to get a psu, they usually have an Antec 500 watt psu. I would suggest getting that.

I don't mind using newegg or any of the others and waiting. Any others you recommend? Should I move up to a 600W?

A lot of people like the OCZ Powerstreams. Antec is a good company also. I didn't want my case all cluttered up with cables like when I had my TruePower430W, so I went to the Antec NeoPower 550HE. Modular cables, 550W, sleeved cables, and high efficiency. Only cost me like $103 shipped from buy.com. There are a lot of PSU's out there though, that is just me

I heard the modulars aren't as good as they claim, is that not true?

 

[fbrdphreak]

I've heard that complaint too. Crap about the resistance being increased at the connection points and less power blah blah blah.

I'm running an OC'd Venice, NF4 SLI mobo, two optical drives, two hard drives, several PCI cards, and an OC'd 6800GT on the 550HE. I'm going to drop in an Opteron 170, DFI mobo, and 7800GT this weekend; THAT will be the true test of this PSU. For those who are extreme sticklers about getting 100% potential from their system, they don't want to go with a modular PSU.

Me, I have a windowed case and hate how cluttered my non-sleeved True430W PSU looks. Even if modular connections reduce max power potential by 10%, it is still more than enough for me and that is all that matters to me.

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
I've heard that complaint too. Crap about the resistance being increased at the connection points and less power blah blah blah.

I'm running an OC'd Venice, NF4 SLI mobo, two optical drives, two hard drives, several PCI cards, and an OC'd 6800GT on the 550HE. I'm going to drop in an Opteron 170, DFI mobo, and 7800GT this weekend; THAT will be the true test of this PSU. For those who are extreme sticklers about getting 100% potential from their system, they don't want to go with a modular PSU.

Me, I have a windowed case and hate how cluttered my non-sleeved True430W PSU looks. Even if modular connections reduce max power potential by 10%, it is still more than enough for me and that is all that matters to me.

let me know

 

[fbrdphreak]

I will

 

[terentenet]

I had the same problem. But I didn't get the BSOD only when starting a game, it was random. Most of the time it was IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO, in nv4disp.dll, sometimes some other error in html.dll or usb.sys

Try disabling USB Keyboard support in BIOS. It seems that "USB KBS" uses an IRQ that conflicts with the video card. It worked for me.
Let me know if it works for you

 

[scottvin]

Originally posted by: terentenet
I had the same problem. But I didn't get the BSOD only when starting a game, it was random. Most of the time it was IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO, in nv4disp.dll, sometimes some other error in html.dll or usb.sys

Try disabling USB Keyboard support in BIOS. It seems that "USB KBS" uses an IRQ that conflicts with the video card. It worked for me.
Let me know if it works for you

I will do that tonight and let you know.

*edit* I don't have that option.