Problem with 6800GT crashing - causes?

Hello,

I have had a BFG 6800GT for a couple of months now and it has been
running perfectly at full, maximum screen settings (2048x1536x32).
in BFV.

Yesterday, after less than 1 hours play, it crashed to a "crazy
paving" type screen and then the monitor went to "no signal". Reboot
did nothing, but the sytem came back up after switch off and on.

This scenario now keps reoccurring after 30 - 45 minutes of play. The
PC runs fine for protracted periods (hours) outside of gameplay.

The card is not run overclocked.

Suggestions as to the problem- is it likely to be temperature ? What
software can I use to monitor the cards temp? Solutions?

Thanks for any help.

Regards.

In article , Ziggy says...
Hello,

I have had a BFG 6800GT for a couple of months now and it has been
running perfectly at full, maximum screen settings (2048x1536x32).
in BFV.

Yesterday, after less than 1 hours play, it crashed to a "crazy
paving" type screen and then the monitor went to "no signal". Reboot
did nothing, but the sytem came back up after switch off and on.

This scenario now keps reoccurring after 30 - 45 minutes of play. The
PC runs fine for protracted periods (hours) outside of gameplay.

The card is not run overclocked.

Suggestions as to the problem- is it likely to be temperature ? What
software can I use to monitor the cards temp? Solutions?

Power supply. Been there myself with a 6600GT. PSU works on the fringe
of failing for ages then packs up.


--
Conor

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." O.Osbourne.

"Ziggy" wrote in message

Hello,

I have had a BFG 6800GT for a couple of months now and it has been
running perfectly at full, maximum screen settings (2048x1536x32).
in BFV.

Yesterday, after less than 1 hours play, it crashed to a "crazy
paving" type screen and then the monitor went to "no signal". Reboot
did nothing, but the sytem came back up after switch off and on.

This scenario now keps reoccurring after 30 - 45 minutes of play. The
PC runs fine for protracted periods (hours) outside of gameplay.

The card is not run overclocked.

Suggestions as to the problem- is it likely to be temperature ? What
software can I use to monitor the cards temp? Solutions?

Thanks for any help.

Regards.

Since it's been working fine, check and see if the cards fan is still
running. If it is, then think about your Power Supply. Since the
release of the FX5900 and ATI 9800 Pro types with the molex connector,
this PSU thing is a critical thing that can't be overlooked. It's hit
me twice now. For me, the Sweet Spot starts at Antec TruPower 430 watt
and goes up from that size in a quality PSU.

McG.

On Sun, 01 May 2005 12:15:00 GMT, "McGrandpa"
wrote:


Since it's been working fine, check and see if the cards fan is still
running. If it is, then think about your Power Supply. Since the
release of the FX5900 and ATI 9800 Pro types with the molex connector,
this PSU thing is a critical thing that can't be overlooked. It's hit
me twice now. For me, the Sweet Spot starts at Antec TruPower 430 watt
and goes up from that size in a quality PSU.


Thanks to Conor and yourself. I had thought about the PSU but it is
an Enermax EG465P so should have enough juice. I had also thought
about the Molex connector itself - any problems known regarding
these?

Regards.

"Ziggy" wrote in message

On Sun, 01 May 2005 12:15:00 GMT, "McGrandpa"
wrote:


Since it's been working fine, check and see if the cards fan is still
running. If it is, then think about your Power Supply. Since the
release of the FX5900 and ATI 9800 Pro types with the molex
connector, this PSU thing is a critical thing that can't be
overlooked. It's hit me twice now. For me, the Sweet Spot starts
at Antec TruPower 430 watt and goes up from that size in a quality
PSU.


Thanks to Conor and yourself. I had thought about the PSU but it is
an Enermax EG465P so should have enough juice. I had also thought
about the Molex connector itself - any problems known regarding
these?

Regards.

As a matter of fact, yep I've found that the "Y" cables are often of
slightly different size, and that especially with my hard drives
themselves, the connectors have loosened (poor connection) over a long
period of time. I pay close attention to the connection when I plug
these things in. If the Y cable connector isn't a good fit, I throw it
out. Same thing may well have happened at first when I installed this
6800GT and it didn't do so well in some games. I shut the rig down, did
a major cleanup of all the cables and connectors, and put the vid card
alone on a cable from the PSU, no Y at all there. The two HD's share
one and the two optical drives share a third. Even when doing
something like just adding a couple more stick of ram, cleaning the
fans, swapping out a drive; you nudge and move the cables. Doesn't
hurt to take another minute and ensure all connections are good and
tight.
McG.

All good suggestions. Mine is to disassemble the card's fan housing and
clean out all the dust. This dust can raise temps by a good 5C. Do the
same to the cpu/northbridge/powersupply also.

Oil the fans with Inox spray lube also.

rms

well if you think it is a heat problem open the case and use an external fan
to help cooling,
or as everyone else suggested look at the power supply. If it is the PS try
disconnecting everything
you can just to keep the system running and then see what happens. Like
disconnecting a backup HD or/and extra cdrom/dvd drives, extra case fans
etc...
"Ziggy" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I have had a BFG 6800GT for a couple of months now and it has been
running perfectly at full, maximum screen settings (2048x1536x32).
in BFV.

Yesterday, after less than 1 hours play, it crashed to a "crazy
paving" type screen and then the monitor went to "no signal". Reboot
did nothing, but the sytem came back up after switch off and on.

This scenario now keps reoccurring after 30 - 45 minutes of play. The
PC runs fine for protracted periods (hours) outside of gameplay.

The card is not run overclocked.

Suggestions as to the problem- is it likely to be temperature ? What
software can I use to monitor the cards temp? Solutions?

Thanks for any help.

Regards.

At the extreme settings you are driving that video card at, and the fact
that it works for 45 minutes, YES you are overheating it. Not good for a
long life of the card.

--
DaveW



"Ziggy" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I have had a BFG 6800GT for a couple of months now and it has been
running perfectly at full, maximum screen settings (2048x1536x32).
in BFV.

Yesterday, after less than 1 hours play, it crashed to a "crazy
paving" type screen and then the monitor went to "no signal". Reboot
did nothing, but the sytem came back up after switch off and on.

This scenario now keps reoccurring after 30 - 45 minutes of play. The
PC runs fine for protracted periods (hours) outside of gameplay.

The card is not run overclocked.

Suggestions as to the problem- is it likely to be temperature ? What
software can I use to monitor the cards temp? Solutions?

Thanks for any help.

Regards.

On Sun, 1 May 2005 16:37:14 -0700, "DaveW" wrote:

At the extreme settings you are driving that video card at, and the fact
that it works for 45 minutes, YES you are overheating it. Not good for a
long life of the card.

Well I have dropped the settings 1024x768x32 and will see what
happens.

BTW, what temp should this card ideally be running at?

Regards.

"Ziggy" wrote in message

On Sun, 1 May 2005 16:37:14 -0700, "DaveW" wrote:

At the extreme settings you are driving that video card at, and the
fact that it works for 45 minutes, YES you are overheating it. Not
good for a long life of the card.

Well I have dropped the settings 1024x768x32 and will see what
happens.

BTW, what temp should this card ideally be running at?

Regards.

50C-56C, basically anything in the Green. Core slowdown threshold is
120C, but I'd expect memory problems long before that is reached.
McG.