Losing display while gaming

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Leustad

Commendable
Jan 6, 2017
5
0
1,510
I know this has been asked many times, but bear with me. I've done some experiment.

As you might expect from the title, I lose display on both of my monitors (connected with 1.hdmi 2. dvi) while gaming. This doesn't happen always. I'd say at least once a week. And sometimes the music continues sometimes not.

And yes I've updated my drivers, updated BIOS, ran some benchmarks, load tests on GPU and RAM. NOTHING.... The heat is steady under heavy load about 77C.

Specs:
* i7-3820 @ 3.60GHz
* 16 GB ram
* EVGA NVidia GeForce GTX 970 sc
* PSU: Model HP dps 600WB-a

Alternate GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660

Note: everything is 3.5 yrs old except GTX 970(1.5 yrs old)

Here is the thing. I lose display with GTX 970 once a week and I've been testing the system with GTX 660 for the last week and there is no problem. Now, you might say; there is your problem, your 970 has some issues. OR is it?

GTX 970 uses 2 6 pin power connectors(I have 2 - one black one white) and 660 uses only one 6 pin connector.

So the question becomes;
* Are those 2 different color connectors delivering different amount of power?
* Is my PSU degraded enough and sending flickering power down the line?
** I've done some tests related to the power on GPU but couldn't find anything. No software keep logs during a failure.

If it's my PSU degraded, and acting weird, can I solve the power issue with a UPS? (I don't think so...)

I don't think this is a RAM or motherboard issue.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? Get a new power supply?

If so, what would you suggest?

Thank you for your time.
 
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alphamatter

Commendable
Jan 6, 2017
3
0
1,510
Good evening, Leustad! Keeping warm with frustration, I think.

If I were in your shoes, yes, I may be inclined to think that the PSU would be at fault. What is your current Wattage usage on your rig with it cranked up?

That's great that you've done some experiments and you've swapped out your video card to the GTX 660 and everything is good.
Power Requirements for GTX 660: http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-660/specifications

Maximum GPU Tempurature (in C) 97C
140 WMaximum Graphics Card Power (W)
450 WMinimum System Power Requirement (W)5
One 6-pinSupplementary Power Connectors


Power Requirements for GTX 970: http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-660/specifications

Maximum GPU Temperature (in C) 98C
145 WGraphics Card Power (W)
500 WRecommended System Power (W)**
2x 6-pinsSupplementary Power Connectors

Do
Now, bear with me. As you've done some experimenting, have you dropped your resolution and seen a difference (Not in quality of the games), though a more stable display?

When you say that the music continues... or sometimes not... Do the monitors have Speakers?

Also, do you have the SAME resolution on both Monitors and refresh rates? Having them not the same could cause you grief.

On other forums, I've seen GTX models have this problem, 9XX and above. Here is another thought:

Extreme OPTION (Note, MAKE a BACKUP of your registry, as this is a Windows Subsystem, that can be killing your GTX 970)
Add or update a specific key in the registry with a zero value to disable the TDR.

Use regedit to find the keypath: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
Add or update DWORD key 'TdrLevel' with value '0' (as in zero)
Restart you machine and you're done.

The above is referring to:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff569918(v=vs.85).aspx

For Reference, Basic User Guide: http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce-gtx/GTX_970_User_Guide.Pdf
 
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A

alphamatter

Commendable
Jan 6, 2017
3
0
1,510
Also, have you checked the Power requirements, including Amps?
I think the GTX970 has a minimum of 12V current rating of 38 A.

The power supply posted has a max rating of 18A.
 
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L

Leustad

Commendable
Jan 6, 2017
5
0
1,510




Good evening alphamatter;

I've found that my system uses 357 watts but that didn't look right. Also I'm not an expert...

I have not checked the power requirements. I believe when you said 38 A you mean amps. and if that's the case there lies the culprit. (I think)

I did not drop the resolution while gaming, so I don't know.

Monitors have speakers but I've disabled them. I'm using the onboard sound system with headphones.

Monitors are the same brand and same model. Also same resolution and same refresh rate. All identical.

I'll try the registry solution you've mentioned but if that doesn't work, do you suggest to but a new PSU? You know what my system requires, what would be your suggestion?

Thank you.
 
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