GPU Problems

Hi All

Here are my system specs

Gigabyte Quad Royal
2GB Crucial Balistix PC6400 - DDR800 (512 x4)
P4 630 3.0GHz 800FSB HT
NVIDIA 7900 GTX Duo (Shows on Everest as 7950 GX2) I understand it is same chipset.
PSU - Non branded 550W output

I have the latest NVIDIA Drivers and latest direct X installed.

OK I have a problem with my newly installed "NVIDIA 7900 GTX Duo (Shows on Everest as 7950 GX2) I understand it is same chipset"

When running 3DMark06 the PC completely dies at different stages during the tests.

The cards seems to run games ok but not great - for example on FEAR if I set GPU settings to absolute maximum and run the test sequence it crashes ! It does runs on high settings well though.
I would have expected a high end card like this one to max out on FEAR.

When it crashes the machine completely turns itself off with a nasty click noise.

I am sure that the card isn’t working right but I am not sure what is causing this crash.

So I got a few questions -

1) Do I have enough power, the card requires X2 PCI express connections and I have had to share a few hardware power supplies to power this card.

2) Is it my CPU - the CPU is the weakest part of my rig - is it this that is causing my PC to shut itself off

3) Is it another setting BIOS or something

4) IS there anyway I can test if my GPU is working properly (xPCI x16 etc)

Please help - very upset my expensive new card isn’t working how I want it to

 

Possibly an overheating issue, as it only happens when under heavy load. Try again with the case opened up.
If this does not fix it, look for 'System Error' entries in the System section of the event viewer (start->run, type eventvwr.msc, enter). If there are any (recent ones), double click on them, press the copy button and paste here.

 

1) You may have to update your BIOS to support the GX2 since its a pretty new technology.
2) Since your PSU is unbranded it may not be strong enough; for a card that powerful you'll want to make sure you have tons of power. Check out something like an OCZ GameStream. My 6800XTreme needs 450W so im guessing the GX2 needs significantly more.

 

MMM - Thanks guys for your responses

ok -

1) Looked in the event viewer but no error logs in there !

2) I have also taken the side off my box

2) I have now updated my BIOS

3) I have also disconnected some stuff in my box and have given the GPU its own power straight from the PSU.

Result =

3DMARK06 Runs but with a score of
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=526619

Which is not great but I am puttin that down to my CPU.

When I try and run FEAR I can now run it at MAX settings - however after about 20 mins of play the same thing happens -

I hear a click and the machine cuts out totaly

Any ideas ?

Also should I have the Mobo in SLI settings ? as effectivly it is only one card ?

Seems to make no difference eother way when I have tried it

 

It can still be overheating, run Speedfan and report temperatures as close to the crash as possible. Run the program and start gaming. Check temperatures every few minutes and write them down. Then report them here.
Note: Speedfan will indicate critical temperatures with a flame.

 

Thanks all -

I ran speed fan and at first it was fine but after a bit of gaming sure enough the PC died - rebooted loaded up speed fan and it was reporting a temp of 51 with a flame next to it!

I read a few posts on here and decided to clean my fans, good job I did as the filters we full of dust, cleaned the fan filters ran the game again whilst monitoring temps and the temp seemed to be about 6/9 degrees lower!

Went back to game and all was well as the game ran for much longer however the pc did it again - this time under heavy GPU load - I decided that this time it MUST be the power.

I have now purchased a OCZ GameXstream 700w and all is now running great, in fact at even slightly lower temps due to the extra cooling you get with this PSU.

So thanks to all for the help

One last thing though - why was my PC shutting off at round about the 51 mark - I have been reading on some overclock forums that temps get much higher than that?

 

like i said before, it most likely was always a power problem. 51C is not hot for a GPU at all. Glad ya got everything working

 

heat is related to wattage, as your heat increases your using more energy, that heat comes from somwhere ya know. At peak loads is where Nvidia gets there recomendation, and peak loads are 1-2 degrees cooler than that core shutdown temp. So rember the hotter the more wattage your using.