Homebuilt System Crashes

[vecral]

Hello, all!

I've been having a problem for the past few weeks that is getting a bit too aggravating for me. Somewhere between every few minutes and every few hours my system will lock up, forcing a restart. This problem happens most frequently when running games, but can happen at almost any time. During the restart, sometimes the computer locks up again just before loading Windows, or immediately afterwards.

I (think I) know it isn't an overheating problem. I have a five very high power fans configured for good airflow and nothing in my system is ever running over 45C, much lower for the CPU and motherboard.

I'm running Vista 64-bit SP1. Notable hardware includes two GeForce 8800GT cards SLI-ed together and a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series card. I'm running the most recent drivers for these cards, including the recent beta drivers released for the sound card (I know the beta drivers aren't the problem -- happened since well before they came along).

Every now and then the system apparently has time before the crash to put together an error message. Here it is:

Problem:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 50
BCP1: FFFFFA600BF84000
BCP2: 0000000000000001
BCP3: FFFFFA6003652A4B
BCP4: 0000000000000000
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 768_1

Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini052508-02.dmp
C:\Users\***\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-40279-0.sysdata.xml
C:\Users\***\AppData\Local\Temp\WERBD17.tmp.version.txt



I can of course provide any more information if you let me know what I need. I'm really pulling my hair out now!

Thanks so much!

 

[vecral]

Let me update with just a bit more information that I thought might be useful after glancing around the forums.

Motherboard: Nvidia N-Force 680
Ram: 4GB

I've also reinstalled Vista-64 Home Premium now four times for various reasons, this problem being the cause for two of those reinstallations. Regardless, my system has frozen like this every time I've installed Vista.

 

[hypocrisyforever]

It could be alot of things, but off the top it sounds like it might be a ram problem. give us more ram details. It sounds like "maybe" your ram voltage is too low, or the ram timings are too tight. Of course, I can't say that definitively without a little more info. give us your ram brand, size, voltage and timings if possible.

 

[Shadow703793]

Looks like you have incorrect RAM voltage.

 

[vecral]

Thanks for the reply! Here's the information:

I bought my ram with the following description: CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel -- here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145176 is the link on Newegg.

I certainly never changed anything with the RAM beyond plugging them in. I don't have any idea how to check or change the timings, but the advertised specs say 5-5-5-18.

My NVIDIA Control Panel is reporting that my memory voltage is on "Auto." Actually, under Memory Timing Setting, it is set to "Optimal." It can be switched to Expert, ungreying "T(CAS)" and T(RCD), both of which are currently set to "Auto."

This is my power supply: ePOWER EP-1000P10 1000W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

Thanks again!

 

[vecral]

OK, more info.

I checked some reviews on my RAM and someone said that an Intel autodetect figured the RAM voltage at 1.84. I tried to change to that, but my motherboard only offers (among many others above and below) 1.825 and 1.85. BIOS is reporting that it's currently at 1.85.

Also, I did try awhile ago running it with 2GB of RAM and Vista 32-bit, but had the same problems.

 

[vecral]

Wow! You guys are fantastic! I bumped my RAM voltage up to 2.0 and dropped the tRAS to 15T and it works perfectly!

Just curious, what tipped you off that it was a RAM voltage problem? I was almost certain that it was a problem with my sound card, but was very wrong!

Thanks so much!