All games crash upon loading into them

Hi, I'm having a severe problem that i've been stuck with for about a month now. I'd like to consider myself a pretty tech savy guy, but i can't figure out this problem. I tried everything i can think of.

Heres the problem, game loads, 2 secs later bam! severe graphic and artifact issues occur. Computer locks up, sound locks up, can't alt-tab, or ctrl-alt-del.

System specs:

Corsair 750W PSU
EVGA GTX 280 SSC
4 GB of DDR2 GSkill RAM at 1066
ASUS P5Ql-E Motherboard
E8500 Wolfdale @ 3.16 GHZ

Now, i can narrow it done for you. It's not the Video Card as it's been RMA'd 4 times and they all passed testing, it's not the motherboard because it's been RMA'd and they sent me a brand new one. It's not the RAM because 24 hours of testing with memtest on EACH stick came with zero errors. I did a clean wipe and reinstalled Windows 7 fresh. Also, the Corsair 750 W is about 2 weeks old, so i doubt it's that. Also, it did on Vista 64 bit when i had that so i doubt it's the OS's fault.

Now, these crashes are random, for example. I got my new motherboard from RMA yesterday and my computer still crashed, i said what the hell, and pulled out my sound card, which was a M-Audio 5.1 revo. Wow! It worked, i was able to play all my games yesterday fine. I shut it down, wake up and turn it on, BAM, its back. And now it's back for good. Because even after about 5 restarts, it still happening. And it's been on and off like this all day (Dec 11)

I built this computer myself, and it worked great for the first year. When the summer came, it started crashing like this one a blue moon, but it just got worse and worse...

To maybe start you off, here is my DXDIAG. I'm really stuck here at a pickle and i appreciate any help i can get.

Oh and i have the latest drivers for everything. Graphics, Sound, BIOS, Windows Updates, DirectX (Apparently theres no updates for DX11 yet, or i cant find any on Microsoft's Download Center)

UPDATE

Well, same games works when AA/AF and Shadows are off or disabled...when there on crashes.

UPDATE (2)

Well, turning off AA/AF and Shadows in my games only allows me to play for about 5-10 mins without crash, to get no crashes at all i have to turn everything on low and disable everything.

To me it sounds as if it's a software issue, but i'm out of ideas on what it can be for software, this has never happened to me before and i have been gaming on the PC since 1999.

UPDATE (3)

I'm now typing this on my laptop because now i can't boot into windows, i get severe artifact issues as soon as i log on and then my comp crashes. My condition is worsening and i don't know why!

UPDATE(4)

Im back on my main computer, however my RAM is 1066MHZ i have my motherboard using it at 800MHZ. My system is extremely unstable right now i can't figure out why. No overclocking either.

 

At first, I was going to say it sounded like a software issue myself. But, after update 3 and the general behavior of your pc over time, it's really starting to sound like system errors to me. I mean, if it was one game it would be different, but it's every game. Are you sure you haven't modified any system files since your fresh install? And, you DID do a clean and new install, you said. When this started happening, do you remember getting a new program that could have altered your system files, such as a registry cleaner or similar, that you could have reinstalled after your new install of windows?

Most of your symptoms sound quite similar to when I was having system issues. Maybe I'm way off, but I would make sure that your system files are in order and aren't being modified in any way; especially if your video (and other) hardware is good and your direct x diag is good!... Hope that sparks some ideas for you anyhow...

 

Well, i was thinking something like that to, till i tried my games on my other hard drive, and it still happened. I'm pretty sure it's my mobo now. As i have disabled all the enhanced features of it, and im running the bare minimum, the RAM is at 800 mhz when it's 1066 mhz. So im able to play games stably, but AA/AAF have to be off or the system crashes.

What really puzzles me is how this didnt effect my system at all for a whole year, and then bam, it started happening more and more... The GTX280 is a fresh new RMA one, as well as the ASUS P5QL-E. So i'm really puzzled as to what the heck it is. RAM tested fine in memtest for over 400% complete on each stick. Im going to run a CPU test tonight to see if it may be that...

Oh and yeah, clean install wiping using D-Ban. is there a progam that you can direct me to show all the programs i have installed on my computer so i can post it? As far as im aware, i only have CCleaner. Ill throw up a Hijackthis log...maybe that can shed some light.

 

Alright, so here are some pictures of the artifact issues i am getting, maybe this can help! Again, thanks for any help!

 

I've read through again. I had hoped someone with more techical savvy would have come along by now. I'm really more of a "pc RAT" than anything else. You know, like a gym rat. I can never seem to help digging around and altering stuff, despite the problems I've caused myself.

Anyhow, I am thinking that, based on what you've indicated, you are probably correct about it being the MB. You've for the most part ruled out it being your graphics card (which it seems like a good possibility). You've ruled out the hard drive, which most software issues would have to be ruled out there too, I believe. We know that it is progressively worsening. And, we know that it is certainly related to the graphics... removing your sound card made no real difference.

Based on logic alone, and what you have indicated, I'm guessing that if you replaced the mobo... that would do the trick. After all, I don't think that your monitor could cause a crash.

I hate to suggest that you do that and be wrong... but that's my best guess. I'm really not good at reading hijack logs, but it doesn't sound like malware at all to me in this case, given that the same thing occured on your other drive. MoBo, is my best guess too. Hopefully someone who actually knows for sure can help out. Whatever the case, good luck with it... get well soon.

 

Some more data to munch on, and maybe a specialist will look here as it's been 4 days since this thread began and not once has a certified tech specialist said anything.

If i use an older GS7900 video card the system works PERFECTLY. it's just the GTX 280 isnt doing it... I think its the motherboard, as it's not giving the GTX 280 enough power. It's not the PSU, as the 750 W Corsair is MORE then enough to run this system. I tried upping the volts on the North Bridge, South Bridge, PCIE SATA voltage and GPU GTL line but it didn't help.

What really makes me wonder, if this was a issue with power to the card from the mobo from the beginning, why didn't this happen in the beginning? Why now a year later?

Thanks GoodFortitude, you've been great help and morale booster =)

 

The PSU could be dieing. But I would probably post this in the hardware section, you'll get more reply's there. Here people usually expect software problems with games or just general talk about games so the hardware junkies don't visit here as often.

 

Checked the PSU, everything is fine as far as voltage goes.

And if thats the case, can a mod move this to the hardware section please?

 

Heres some minidumps, apparently windows was having Blue Screens even though i couldn't see them. I have Windows set not to automatically restart upon a Blue Screen to, odd.

 

Hi BillGates91,

It reads like it may be the video card. I'd try another one. Also, Windows 7 may not be working with the vid drivers correctly, visa versa.

Techsent

 

The system works with a 7900GS but my GTX280 works on another system perfectly.

In other words, it's not the card.

 

I read ya.

It may be that the GTX280 is not fully compatible with the motherboard.

Techsent

 

Doesn't explain the fact the system ran perfectly for a whole year and all of sudden decides not to?

 

good point

Techsent