So I've done some reading around the forums about the issue of the monitor going black in the middle of gaming, browsing, working, etc. and I have the same issue, but a few questions to address. PC are specs at the bottom of this post.
I built this PC for digital content creation (3D modeling, digital painting, real-time rendering). The monitor going black issue is completely random on my PC at different intervals and time periods and seems to happen mostly when I am working on a 3D scene. It has happened before while gaming as well, or browsing the web.
The strange thing about this error was that even though the monitor goes black, any music that was playing stays on for about 30 seconds or so before the PC restarts it's self. After the PC has restarted a window pops up stating the issue produced a minidump file. Here's some copied text from the minidump:
VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (116)
Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed.
Arguments:
Arg1: fffffa801d247170, Optional pointer to internal TDR recovery context (TDR_RECOVERY_CONTEXT).
Arg2: fffff88011324ae4, The pointer into responsible device driver module (e.g. owner tag).
Arg3: ffffffffc000009a, Optional error code (NTSTATUS) of the last failed operation.
Arg4: 0000000000000004, Optional internal context dependent data.
ADDITIONAL_DEBUG_TEXT:
Use '!findthebuild' command to search for the target build information.
If the build information is available, run '!findthebuild -s ; .reload' to set symbol path and load symbols.
FAULTING_MODULE: fffff80003614000 nt
DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP: 4e99233b
FAULTING_IP:
nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)+0
fffff880`11324ae4 4883ec28 sub rsp,28h
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID: GRAPHICS_DRIVER_TDR_FAULT
CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT: 1
BUGCHECK_STR: 0x116
CURRENT_IRQL: 0
STACK_TEXT:
fffff880`07cdbb88 fffff880`04cdbef8 : 00000000`00000116 fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`11324ae4 ffffffff`c000009a : nt+0x70740
fffff880`07cdbb90 00000000`00000116 : fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`11324ae4 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000004 : dxgkrnl!DXGADAPTER::SqmAdapterInformation+0x2b
fffff880`07cdbb98 fffffa80`1d247170 : fffff880`11324ae4 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000004 00000000`00000001 : 0x116
fffff880`07cdbba0 fffff880`11324ae4 : ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000004 00000000`00000001 fffffa80`1d247170 : 0xfffffa80`1d247170
fffff880`07cdbba8 ffffffff`c000009a : 00000000`00000004 00000000`00000001 fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`04caf867 : nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)
fffff880`07cdbbb0 00000000`00000004 : 00000000`00000001 fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`04caf867 fffff880`11324ae4 : 0xffffffff`c000009a
fffff880`07cdbbb8 00000000`00000001 : fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`04caf867 fffff880`11324ae4 fffffa80`102d7000 : 0x4
fffff880`07cdbbc0 fffffa80`1d247170 : fffff880`04caf867 fffff880`11324ae4 fffffa80`102d7000 00000000`00000000 : 0x1
fffff880`07cdbbc8 fffff880`04caf867 : fffff880`11324ae4 fffffa80`102d7000 00000000`00000000 ffffffff`c000009a : 0xfffffa80`1d247170
fffff880`07cdbbd0 fffff880`11324ae4 : fffffa80`102d7000 00000000`00000000 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000000 : dxgkrnl!DMMVIDPNTOPOLOGY::GetPathSourceFromTarget+0x7c
fffff880`07cdbbd8 fffffa80`102d7000 : 00000000`00000000 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`0cdbe601 : nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)
fffff880`07cdbbe0 00000000`00000000 : ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`0cdbe601 fffffa80`102d2201 : 0xfffffa80`102d7000
STACK_COMMAND: kb
FOLLOWUP_IP:
nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)+0
fffff880`11324ae4 4883ec28 sub rsp,28h
SYMBOL_STACK_INDEX: 4
SYMBOL_NAME: nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)+0
FOLLOWUP_NAME: MachineOwner
MODULE_NAME: nvlddmkm
IMAGE_NAME: nvlddmkm.sys
BUCKET_ID: WRONG_SYMBOLS
Followup: MachineOwner
So I had a though about the PSU. I purchased the PSU for this PC in 2008 when I was wanting to finish this build, but never had the funds. The PSU was unused for a period of time from 2008 until 2011 when I finished the build. One of the strange things I've noticed when I completed this build is when I press the power button to turn it on, it stays on for one second and shuts off. Four seconds later, the PC turns back on and starts up. This happens every time I turn off the surge protector it's plugged into. When I originally purchased this PSU, I knew nothing about power draw or current requirements of PSUs. So when I checked out the label on the side of the PSU, I noticed that its current requirements are 18amps. The surge protector the PC is plugged into is rated at 15 amps and the breaker for the outlet is only 20 amps. I had been wondering if the current draw of the PSU had been the issue.
In addition to checking out the minidump file, I also checked out the Event Viewer and it recorded on the day and time of the minidump an error with a file named nvlddmkm.sys, which is apparently the Nvidia driver. I keep the drivers updated weekly because of this issue, as it makes it nearly impossible to get any work done (thank goodness for autosaves and backups). What I'm trying to figure out is why the most recent driver is causing an issue with my PC. Here's the text from the error reporting webpage:
Address a problem with NVIDIA Graphics Driver
NVIDIA Graphics Driver has stopped working properly.
A driver update, if available, might prevent this problem from recurring.
There are several ways of locating and installing driver updates, but it is best to let Windows do this for you. Try the first step below, which describes the process. If it doesn't produce a driver update that solves the problem, then try the remaining steps in the order given.
> Check for optional third-party updates
> Try updating NVIDIA Graphics Driver manually
> Check the NVIDIA Corporation website for driver updates
> Check your computer manufacturer's website for driver updates
My questions: Could the PSU be to blame with the current draw, causing it to lose power and cause issues? Could it be the drivers?
Any help is appreciated. PC specs below.
Intel Core i7 K875 CPU
EVGA NVidia 460GTX 2Win GPU
16GB DDR3-1333 RAM
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P Mobo
Western Digital WD5000AAKX 500GB SATA HDD
ABS Tagan ITZ Series 1100W PSU
Soundblaster Audigy 2 SPU
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
Acer X203W + Acer AL1916W monitors
I built this PC for digital content creation (3D modeling, digital painting, real-time rendering). The monitor going black issue is completely random on my PC at different intervals and time periods and seems to happen mostly when I am working on a 3D scene. It has happened before while gaming as well, or browsing the web.
The strange thing about this error was that even though the monitor goes black, any music that was playing stays on for about 30 seconds or so before the PC restarts it's self. After the PC has restarted a window pops up stating the issue produced a minidump file. Here's some copied text from the minidump:
VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (116)
Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed.
Arguments:
Arg1: fffffa801d247170, Optional pointer to internal TDR recovery context (TDR_RECOVERY_CONTEXT).
Arg2: fffff88011324ae4, The pointer into responsible device driver module (e.g. owner tag).
Arg3: ffffffffc000009a, Optional error code (NTSTATUS) of the last failed operation.
Arg4: 0000000000000004, Optional internal context dependent data.
ADDITIONAL_DEBUG_TEXT:
Use '!findthebuild' command to search for the target build information.
If the build information is available, run '!findthebuild -s ; .reload' to set symbol path and load symbols.
FAULTING_MODULE: fffff80003614000 nt
DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP: 4e99233b
FAULTING_IP:
nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)+0
fffff880`11324ae4 4883ec28 sub rsp,28h
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID: GRAPHICS_DRIVER_TDR_FAULT
CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT: 1
BUGCHECK_STR: 0x116
CURRENT_IRQL: 0
STACK_TEXT:
fffff880`07cdbb88 fffff880`04cdbef8 : 00000000`00000116 fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`11324ae4 ffffffff`c000009a : nt+0x70740
fffff880`07cdbb90 00000000`00000116 : fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`11324ae4 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000004 : dxgkrnl!DXGADAPTER::SqmAdapterInformation+0x2b
fffff880`07cdbb98 fffffa80`1d247170 : fffff880`11324ae4 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000004 00000000`00000001 : 0x116
fffff880`07cdbba0 fffff880`11324ae4 : ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000004 00000000`00000001 fffffa80`1d247170 : 0xfffffa80`1d247170
fffff880`07cdbba8 ffffffff`c000009a : 00000000`00000004 00000000`00000001 fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`04caf867 : nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)
fffff880`07cdbbb0 00000000`00000004 : 00000000`00000001 fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`04caf867 fffff880`11324ae4 : 0xffffffff`c000009a
fffff880`07cdbbb8 00000000`00000001 : fffffa80`1d247170 fffff880`04caf867 fffff880`11324ae4 fffffa80`102d7000 : 0x4
fffff880`07cdbbc0 fffffa80`1d247170 : fffff880`04caf867 fffff880`11324ae4 fffffa80`102d7000 00000000`00000000 : 0x1
fffff880`07cdbbc8 fffff880`04caf867 : fffff880`11324ae4 fffffa80`102d7000 00000000`00000000 ffffffff`c000009a : 0xfffffa80`1d247170
fffff880`07cdbbd0 fffff880`11324ae4 : fffffa80`102d7000 00000000`00000000 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000000 : dxgkrnl!DMMVIDPNTOPOLOGY::GetPathSourceFromTarget+0x7c
fffff880`07cdbbd8 fffffa80`102d7000 : 00000000`00000000 ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`0cdbe601 : nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)
fffff880`07cdbbe0 00000000`00000000 : ffffffff`c000009a 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`0cdbe601 fffffa80`102d2201 : 0xfffffa80`102d7000
STACK_COMMAND: kb
FOLLOWUP_IP:
nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)+0
fffff880`11324ae4 4883ec28 sub rsp,28h
SYMBOL_STACK_INDEX: 4
SYMBOL_NAME: nvlddmkm!_NULL_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR <PERF> (nvlddmkm+0xc3bae4)+0
FOLLOWUP_NAME: MachineOwner
MODULE_NAME: nvlddmkm
IMAGE_NAME: nvlddmkm.sys
BUCKET_ID: WRONG_SYMBOLS
Followup: MachineOwner
So I had a though about the PSU. I purchased the PSU for this PC in 2008 when I was wanting to finish this build, but never had the funds. The PSU was unused for a period of time from 2008 until 2011 when I finished the build. One of the strange things I've noticed when I completed this build is when I press the power button to turn it on, it stays on for one second and shuts off. Four seconds later, the PC turns back on and starts up. This happens every time I turn off the surge protector it's plugged into. When I originally purchased this PSU, I knew nothing about power draw or current requirements of PSUs. So when I checked out the label on the side of the PSU, I noticed that its current requirements are 18amps. The surge protector the PC is plugged into is rated at 15 amps and the breaker for the outlet is only 20 amps. I had been wondering if the current draw of the PSU had been the issue.
In addition to checking out the minidump file, I also checked out the Event Viewer and it recorded on the day and time of the minidump an error with a file named nvlddmkm.sys, which is apparently the Nvidia driver. I keep the drivers updated weekly because of this issue, as it makes it nearly impossible to get any work done (thank goodness for autosaves and backups). What I'm trying to figure out is why the most recent driver is causing an issue with my PC. Here's the text from the error reporting webpage:
Address a problem with NVIDIA Graphics Driver
NVIDIA Graphics Driver has stopped working properly.
A driver update, if available, might prevent this problem from recurring.
There are several ways of locating and installing driver updates, but it is best to let Windows do this for you. Try the first step below, which describes the process. If it doesn't produce a driver update that solves the problem, then try the remaining steps in the order given.
> Check for optional third-party updates
> Try updating NVIDIA Graphics Driver manually
> Check the NVIDIA Corporation website for driver updates
> Check your computer manufacturer's website for driver updates
My questions: Could the PSU be to blame with the current draw, causing it to lose power and cause issues? Could it be the drivers?
Any help is appreciated. PC specs below.
Intel Core i7 K875 CPU
EVGA NVidia 460GTX 2Win GPU
16GB DDR3-1333 RAM
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P Mobo
Western Digital WD5000AAKX 500GB SATA HDD
ABS Tagan ITZ Series 1100W PSU
Soundblaster Audigy 2 SPU
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
Acer X203W + Acer AL1916W monitors