Need assistance.

Ok, seeing as though everywhere else I've turned too for help has basically failed to answer me. This issue is plaguing me, and I cannot seem to figure it out.

Here is how it goes, this build was made on the 20th of October of 2007 with this Video Card Replacing my 8800GT that I thought was causing the issue in the first place. When I first bench marked this system (With the 8800GT) it came in around 10k in 3dMark06 until recently I noticed some games just appear sluggish and choppy though no artifacts or errors...although I did get a random BSOD at boot up a few weeks ago and it was right around the performance problems started, and one while idle this morning.

A few days ago I decided to update the BIOS, they updated successfully, problem is actually a little worse, the Frames dropped by 9 FPS on average. So I reinstalled 3dMark06 only to notice my score is 4k marks worse than when I first got this build running, it's now around 6130 (Both Video Cards did the same).

Everything at a glance seems to be running ok, even though I noticed some sluggishness about the PC before the BIOS update I kind of suspect that as a big culprit but I'm not exactly sure, could use someone else's input.

My system specs:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2800 MHz (14 x 200) 5600+
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4
System Memory: A-Data Extreme Edition 2048 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
Video Card: eVGA GeForce 8800 GTS (G92) (512 MB) (Brand New, still same issue which had originally thought to be the 8800GT to be the problem)
Monitor: Acer AL2016W [20" LCD]
Sound Card: Creative SB Live! 24-bit
Power Supply: 600W OCZ GameXStream
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE 160GB
BIOS: Award Modular (03/07/08)

This system has never been overclocked and this is a fresh install of Windows only a few weeks old. My Video drivers were up to date at 169.21, I tried downgrading to 169.02 to see if there was an issue with the drivers, but that didn't help. (Yes, I used Driver Cleaner Pro during Safe Mode in between Drivers and card swaps)

I also know that my Video Card is getting enough power, the +12v is at 12.35 which maybe a little much, but still I suspect it's exceptable. My Video Card stays around 45-50 Degrees C around 60 under load. I swapped the seating of video card also switched PCI-e slots and tried different PSU variations to still no avail.

There are no rogue processes running, I keep everything off usually I only keep my AV AS and Firewall on. Total I have 27 processes, that's it. I know 3dmark06 shouldn't be my focal point on my issue, it's not, but it shows the most significant change.

Side note: A couple other random benchmarks marked my video card(s) low as well.

 

When you were around 10k in 3dMark06 what driver did you have ???

 

Random BSODs are definitely a sign that something is amiss. The only time I have ever had a BSOD on my home PC was when I had faulty hardware, and that's what I think the situation here is. Run an extended in-depth diagnostic on your memory, one stick at a time. Maybe even use 2 different testing programs just to be sure. After running the tests on each stick, run the tests on the sticks together. I have seen a pair of identical memory sticks that ran perfect on their own, but when installed together, there was problems. They were returned, but that isn't the point. For a diagnostic program I recommend the Windows Memory Diagnostic by Microsoft. It's easy to use and understand, and it's a bootable test which I think is more thorough than a Windows-based diagnostic. Be sure to press "T" for the extended tests, and run at least 3-4 passes on each stick. It will take some time so grab a six pack and fire up the DVD player....
Windows Memory Diagnostic http://www.majorgeeks.com/Microsoft_Windows_Memory_Diagnostic_d3955.html
For a second diagnostic, browse the memory download section here at Major Geeks; you're bound to find something. You could also just download and create the UBCD which is loaded with diagnostics and utilities for RAM, hard drives, etc. (it includes the RAM diagnostic I mentioned earlier, and many more).... very handy.
MG Memory downloads http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads26.html
UBCD (the Ultimate Boot CD) http://www.majorgeeks.com/Ultimate_Boot_CD_Full_d4981.html
Good luck! and keep us posted!

 

I honestly don't remember, whichever driver was out around November, I bought the 8800GT on the first of November.


I ran Windows Memory Diagnostic, it made 10 passes, no errors. I will run the others soon. Also, I have a picture of the BSOD I got the other day, if it would help. I did some more digging and I came up with the exact same problem I'm having, same Mobo and an 8800GT, Solution was a new video card.

Well I don't think that worked for me, my new Video Card, made no difference. Here is the picture: http://xs225.xs.to/xs225/08120/picture_001519.jpg

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314063/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892000/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929338/en-us
There's many different KB articles about your particular BSOD error but I just posted the most likely ones.... STOP:0x0000000A is definitely a hardware related error, but may be caused by a faulty hardware device driver. Read the info at all three links before trying the steps in any of them; that way you can try the one that makes the most sense to you first...
I hope this helps, good luck!

 

Looks like they all point to hardware, all my drivers are up to date. My memory seems to be ok, the memory tests found no errors. If it were my Video Card, the new 8800 GTS should have solved it. CPU stress tests come out good, it rarely gets near 40C. BIOS update only made things worse, I kind of think maybe it's the mobo. PSU is fine, tried 2 others, same deal.

Any other tests I could run?

Note: Ultimate Boot CD wouldn't run any of the tests, they would all halt, no errors they just wouldn't continue.

 

I just noticed something. My HT Link is only running at 201.0 Mhz, shouldn't it be around 1000?

 

I'm beginning to believe this issue is beyond anyone. Even Gigabyte has no idea (No surprise there). I have this issue around several support boards, they have resulted in no reply's. I'm not even sure what else to do. :confused

 

Fixed. :major
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4364/picture001sx9.jpg

 

:highfive :celebrate :dood
Now, why not tell us what was up, and how you fixed it? We all may learn something, and it might help someone else in the future....

 

Well I don't know exactly what fixed it but here's what I did do.

1. Ran ATI Tool showing the 3D View, avg FPS was 700 (Should be over 1000)
2. Uninstalled the Mobo Chipset Drivers, rebooted in safe mode and used driver cleaner pro.
3. Shut off the Computer pulled out the CMOS battery for an hour, reinserted and cleared the CMOS using the jumper.
4. Rebooted, entered the BIOS, reloaded Optimized Defaults.
5. Reinstalled Chipset Drivers downloaded from Gigabyte. ( I actually reinstalled these before, but I used the one on the disk.)
6. Once the OS was up, ran ATI Tool again, showed avg FPS of 1036.
7. Ran 3dMark06 and the FPS were where they should be, hitting around 100 in certain areas where as before the max I would hit would be 50 and it would drop as low as 5 fps, now it doesn't drop below 20.