System Lockup

[splinter24]

My specs:
ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0) Motherboard
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express
Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W Power Supply
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
Windows 7 64Bit

I have flashed the 6950 videocard to a 6970 using http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/...ng/vidcard/159.

The Problem:

My computer has been running pretty smoothly for the last year now, until yesterday. I was playing Guild Wars 2 and the computer screen goes black and the sound goes in a loop. I thought this was just my computer possibly overheating so I shut it down for the night.

The next morning, I attempted to play again, this time leaving the computer on and at the character select screen, with no actual playing. The computer locked up yet again after about 5 minutes. I initially thought this was isolated to Guild Wars 2 but this now occurs when the computer is idle at the DeskTop screen for 5 minutes. The screen goes black, and locks up, forcing a hard reboot.

So I checked the temps for both the processesor and graphics card. Both run idle at about 40 degrees, alittle hotter than I would like but not catastrophic. I then checked the temps while running Guild Wars 2 and they both ran around 60-70 degrees.

So I adjusted the fans a bit, cleaned out the computer, and it still locks up even after the temps get to 70 degrees MAX.

I am able to boot the computer in safe mode with NO ISSUES. I've left it idle for 3 hours at safemode and the computer has not locked up.

I have reformated my computer completely, and updated the videocard drivers as well.

So is this a clear sign my graphics card has died?

 

[crowz9]

Have you ever overclocked your CPU besides Turbo Boost? If you have tweaked the clock speed, it might become unstable.

 

[crowz9]

Try resetting the GPU clock and memory speed to its defaults.

 

[splinter24]

Wouldn't these settings for the processor and graphics card have been set to default during the system reformat?

 

[chugot9218]

They are BIOS settings, not windows settings. Unless you reset the BIOS values to default, no.

 

[splinter24]

Got ya. I will double check that I have reset my BIOs settings when I get home., currently at work.

 

[PanicMaster85]

reset your cmos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdp_L5IxaNI

is your bios update? if not then follow this
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/308518-30-update-bios

I also agree with the cpu voltage making it unstable... how long has it been since you applied thermal paste

 

[splinter24]

It's been about 6 to 7 months since I added a fresh coat. You think it's about that time again?

And I definitely appreciate the how-to's

 

[PanicMaster85]

lol yeah i love when people do that( give the how-to's) so i try and spread the favor

but yeah try both the bios update and re-coating... also get a air can and clear out all the dust from your case
http://www.amazon.com/Innovera-51505-Compressed-Gas-Duster/dp/B000U08SYK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349130387&sr=8-1&keywords=compressed+air

what are the temps of your gpu and cpu in idel and underload?
CPU(monitors the temp)
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/
gpu(again monitors the temp)
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2157/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.6.4.html

 

[crowz9]

I agree with Panicmaster
Misconfigured BIOS can be a pain in the ass

 

[PanicMaster85]

yep

 

[splinter24]

The computer temps idle at around 30 degrees, and get as high as 60-70 degrees during gameplay. I dusted and cleaned the inside out pretty well. So here's an update:

-The 6950 has a '1' and '2' setting for dual BIOs settings. So I switched it over to the '2' setting

-I reset the CMOS

-I set the processor overclock settings to their default values using the BIOs software.

After all of this, I was able to install Guild Wars 2, but still had the screen go black and lock up. So about 3 hours of uptime.

I'll try giving the BIOS an update right now and see how that works.

 

[PanicMaster85]

OK keep us posted

 

[splinter24]

Reseated the processor with new compound on it. Ran the temps on it while running Guild Wars 2. Reached 40 degrees at MAX and still locked up the computer.

I have absolutely no idea what's going on

 

[PanicMaster85]

have you updated you bios yet?

 

[splinter24]

Yup. Flashed it with the latest version VIA flashdrive.

This is getting extremely frustrating

 

[PanicMaster85]

Dont worry Panic Master is here (that was ******* cheesy )

Do you have any other gpu's? So we can make sure that its not the gpu

 

[splinter24]

I do not. Is there any way of using onboard graphics or the Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge graphics? If that's possible?

 

[PanicMaster85]

I think so... there should be a vga or dvi output on the part of your mobo that sticks out

 

[crowz9]

If you try, and integrated graphics still crash the computer, then the motherboard itself might be damaged.

 

[splinter24]

I just thought of this:

How would I test the integrated graphics? Im sure I wouldnt be able the run Guild Wars 2, so how would I stress test the integrated graphics in a similar fashion? The system does not lock up at the desktop screen anymore

 

[splinter24]

My brother's willing to let me swap out his GeForce card and test it. If this works, I can atleast narrow it down to a GPU issue and buy a new card.

 

[crowz9]

Ok you do that.

 

[splinter24]

Any suggestions on a replacement card if it does indeed turn out to be a faulty video card? Around the $170-$200 price range

 

[PanicMaster85]

what is the card you have now again?