BSOD playing Battlefield 3

Software Concerns:

Code:

Start Menu\Programs\MSI Afterburner	Gilad-PC\Gilad:Start Menu\Programs\MSI Afterburner	Gilad-PC\Gilad
Start Menu\Programs\MSI Kombustor	Public:Start Menu\Programs\MSI Kombustor	Public

MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner is known to cause instability with systems. Please remove the software. Software overclocking does not provide reliable overclocking. Overclocking should be accomplished through the BIOS or through the graphics card manufacturer's software.

If you need to create a fan profile for your graphics card: SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

Analysis:

It is difficult to find patterns with only one .dmp file. Yours may indicate a hardware concern, but it was probably due to MSI Afterburner.

To be safe: Run some hardware checks.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• If you have an SSD, make sure the following are up to date:
  • SSD firmware
  • BIOS Version
  • Chipset Drivers
  • Hard disk controller drivers/SATA drivers
  • If you have a Marvell IDE ATA/ATAPI device, make sure the drivers are up to date from the Intel site or Marvell site and not from your motherboard/vendor support site.
  
  
  
• Run all but the advanced tests with SeaTools for HDDs.
  SeaTools for Windows
  
  SeaTools for DOS
  
  
• Monitor temperatures during the following tests.
  
  Use the following programs to monitor the temperatures.
  • Real Temp is a good CPU temperature monitor.
  • Speccy - System Information - Free Download will monitor all hardware temperatures.
  • HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools can be inaccurate for CPU temperatures, but is a good program for GPU temperature monitoring.
  
  
  • Use FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net to test the graphics card GPU. Let it run until the GPU temperatures even out or until the GPU temperatures reach a dangerous level (you can find the max temperature for your card on either the nVidia or AMD sites; if you are not sure, ask us). The goal is to get a steady temperature, find out if the GPU is overheating, or to see if there are any artifacts present in the test itself: look for strange pixelated patterns on the screen or colors that do not look like they belong. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory. Let the memory test run for at least seven passes; the more the better.
    
    
  • Run Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95 to determine any hardware problems. Run all three tests for a few hours each. If you get errors, stop the test and post back here.
    
    
  • Follow the steps for doing CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest
  
  
• Run the boot version of Memtest86+ paying close attention to Parts 2 and 3 of the tutorial. Also, in case Memtest86+ misses anything and comes up with no errors, run the extended version of the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes. These you may want to run overnight since they take a long time to complete (run them an hour before bed each of the next two nights and check before going to sleep that they are still running).
  
  
     Warning

  Before you proceed with the following, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. WARNING: The steps that follow can void your warranty!!!
  
  
  For Part 3: If You Have Errors: If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.
  
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

First, thank you for the quick and thorough reply!

Couple of things:
1. I'll remove MSIA and run those tests as soon as possible and will report back.
2. Is it ok to create a fan profile with Sapphire TRIXX?
3. I attached 2 more dmp files, hope it helps to see things clearer.

By the way, Everything on my Pc is @stock.

Again, thanks so much writhziden!

If Sapphire TRIXX is software from the manufacturer of the graphics card, you may create a fan profile with it. Manufacturer software is trusted over 3rd party software.

Analysis:

Crashes still point to possible hardware issues. I would recommend proceeding as advised in my previous post. Additionally, you had one (and possibly two) graphics card/DirectX related crash. DirectX comes installed with Windows, so this may indicate Windows corruption. It may also be that you have corrupted drivers or a graphics card hardware problem.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• Check Windows for corruption. Run SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker up to three times to fix all errors with a restart in between each. Post back if it continues to show errors after a fourth run or if the first run comes back with no integrity violations. Use OPTION THREE of SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker to provide us with the sfcdetails.txt file if errors occur.

Follow the steps for Diagnosing basic problems with DirectX. To re-install your display card drivers as outlined in the DirectX link, use the following steps.

1. Download the drivers you want for your display card(s)
2. Click Start Menu
3. Click Control Panel
4. Click Uninstall a program
5. For AMD:
   • Uninstall AMD Catalyst Install Manager if it is listed (this should remove all AMD graphics software and drivers)
   • If AMD Catalyst Install Manager is not listed, use the following method to uninstall the graphics drivers (this applies to onboard graphics, as well):
     1. Click Start Menu
     2. Right Click My Computer/Computer
     3. Click Manage
     4. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
     5. Expand Display adapters
     6. Do the following for each adapter (in case you have multiple display cards)
        
        • Right click the adapter
        • Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
        • Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
     
     Alternatively:
     
     1. Login as an adminstrative user
     2. Click Start Menu
     3. Click Control Panel
     4. Click Hardware and Sound
     5. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
     6. Expand Display adapters
     7. Do the following for each adapter (in case you have multiple display cards)
        
        • Right click the adapter
        • Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
        • Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
6. Restart your computer after uninstalling drivers for all display cards
7. Install the driver you selected for the display cards once Windows starts

Remember to try multiple versions of the graphics drivers, download them fresh, and install the freshly downloaded drivers.

Ok, so far, I ran the following tests so that's just an update:

Memtest86+:
Ran it about 11 hours - 7 passes, no errors.

SeaTools:
Ran all tests - all passed.

Furmark:
Before running Furmark I uninstalled the AMD driver and DSweepered it. Then I installed the latest driver for my 6870. Just in case.
Then I ran the Burn-in test on 1280x720, aa off, for an hour. I stopped it manually.
Max temp: 80C (room temp: 28C). No artifacts were detected.

Then I ran the 15min Burn-in benchmark (1920x1080), aa off.
Score: 2553.
25221 frames.
Max temp: 80C (room temp: 28C). No artifacts.


I think I should note this:
All of the 3 BSODs happened each, during BF3, FIFA11 and Sony Vegas.
Now, before running Furmark (right after I installed the new AMD driver for the GPU) I ran FIFA11 again (a whole game) and didn't get a BSOD.
Did the same thing with Sony Vegas - I rendered a video - all good, no BSOD.
Then I ran BF3, the game crashed after about 10 min playing, no BSOD - just a crash and back to Windows (2 times that happened).

Hope it sheds some light on something.

I'll continue as suggested and move on to the prime95 test.

Prime95:
1. Small FFTs: 4 hours 11 minutes - no errors, no warnings.
2. In-place large FFTs: Error "Hardware failure detected" after about 11 minutes - "result.txt" is attached.
3. Blend: Did not run this one yet.

Dxdiag:
All settings are on the spot. Although I couldn't access Hardware Acceleration option under
Control Panel -> Display -> Screen resolution -> Advanced settings -> Troubleshoot tab.
Because the "Change settings" button was grey and unclickable.

SFC:
No integrity violations on the very first time (!).


What now?

It appears you are still having a memory based error. Re-run the Prime95 In-place large FFTs test with each module installed one at a time. Test each module and each slot to find a good module/slot. Test all modules in a known good slot, and test all slots with a known good module. If all modules continue to give the same error through the Prime95 test, it is likely that your CPU memory controller is damaged.

writhziden said:

If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:

1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.

Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.