BSOD whilst playing games

Hi,

This is my first post here and after looking around for a while I'm still having problems.

I have read the Posting Instructions and used the SF Diagnostic Tool, results included.
I'm not sure if that includes all my system information, but if anything is missing I'll post as soon as I can.

To clarify further the BSOD has happened on a variety of games, sometimes it can happen with in 5mins of loading one other times I am good for a couple of hours or I can play till I've quit the game with no crashing.

I have done scans with MSE, Spybot and Malware Bytes with no issues found.
From looking at other threads, one recommended using a driver scanner to check for updates (SlimDrives), again no updates found.

That's all I can think of for now, also to be honest I am a bit reluctant in having to do a full re-install and would very much like to avoid that if possible.

Thanks in advance,
Mick

Looks like hardware can you follow this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

Post back the results

Thanks

I started the Memtest yesterday afternoon and left it to run through the night.
When I checked this morning it had done 25 Passes and found no errors.

Thanks

There is a new bios update for your motherboard, you might want to update that: ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS M4A88TD-M EVO/USB3

*WARNING* Make sure that it is the right bios for your motherboard before you Flash the bios!!

Please read the notes on the bios Version 1704

Any Problems report back, thanks.

Updated the bios with no problems, but just had a BSOD while playing.

Thanks

do you monitor your GPU and CPU temps while playing? I have a GTX460 and it will get to 100C real fast.

I haven't done, what program should I use to monitor this? And is something that would keep a log of the temp up until crashing, or would I have to alt-tab and keep an eye on it?

Thanks

Mickstache said:

I haven't done, what program should I use to monitor this? And is something that would keep a log of the temp up until crashing, or would I have to alt-tab and keep an eye on it?

Thanks

Click to expand...

SIW monitor or Speed fan.

Thanks Rylan.

Using SIW, right now the CPU is at 54C and the GPU is at 73C, been playing for half hour or so and they have not risen any higher.

I had one BSOD before that too and the temps were about that again.


Editing to say I just had another BSOD and the temps had not risen.

Mickstache said:

Thanks Rylan.

Using SIW, right now the CPU is at 54C and the GPU is at 73C, been playing for half hour or so and they have not risen any higher.

I had one BSOD before that too and the temps were about that again.


Editing to say I just had another BSOD and the temps had not risen.

Click to expand...

Doesn't seem to be heating problems then.

Mickstache said:

Updated the bios with no problems, but just had a BSOD while playing.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Good Man!! Did it create a Dump file?

Thanks

Yeah, looks like that ones from today are in the diagnostic tool results.

Thanks

Are you overclocking in any way? Can you post the CPU-Z file form the SF Diagnostics tool please.

Thanks

Oh actually yes, so I forgot that but it actually came overclocked. I'm afraid I don't know much about that myself, how would I undo it?

I've attached the text file from CPU-Z.

Thanks

I don't usually debug overclocked systems, 'they kinda deserve what they get' if you know what I mean, However....

Whats actually overclocked? the CPU?

You might want to set your bios to safe defaults and test with this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html

Keep your eye on those temps, report back.

Thanks and good luck!!

Anthony, his CPU is overclocked by 317MHz which is very, very mild for his setup. CybePower sells them that way.
His Ram is running at near stock frequency.
That is if I read that report correctly.

Britton30 said:

Anthony, his CPU is overclocked by 317MHz which is very, very mild for his setup. CybePower sells them that way.
His Ram is running at near stock frequency.
That is if I read that report correctly.

Click to expand...

That sounds about right, I wouldn't have gone for an extreme option. Although the system doesn't seem to have remained that stable if this is the cause...


I tried Prime95 and it crashed almost straight away, if I go into the bios will there be a restore to default option?

Sorry for the trouble this has caused and thanks for all your help.

Let's summarize.
Temps are within safe limits.
Your RAM passed memtest.
Overclocking shouldn't be the cause.
BIOS has been flashed.
Prime 95 causes a BSOD right away.

In you BIOS there should be a key to press, usually F5 to load BIOS defaults, you'll have to check your screens to be sure. Load them, then restart and go right back to BIOS to make sure your onboard devices, SATA, LAN, USB, sound, etc are enabled and find where the setting for boot prioity are and set those. Usually in this order:
1.CD/DVD drive
2.USB drive.
3.Hard drive with w7 on it.
Restart normally and try the game again. After trying that we'll try something else.

We need to eliminate any overclock as the problem, Once we have found the problem you can do what you like.

It could be something as simple as the CPU / memory needing more volts, if he sets everything at default we cover all that in one go.

Thanks for your input.

Britton30 said:

Let's summarize.
Temps are within safe limits.
Your RAM passed memtest.
Overclocking shouldn't be the cause.
BIOS has been flashed.
Prime 95 causes a BSOD right away.

In you BIOS there should be a key to press, usually F5 to load BIOS defaults, you'll have to check your screens to be sure. Load them, then restart and go right back to BIOS to make sure your onboard devices, SATA, LAN, USB, sound, etc are enabled and find where the setting for boot prioity are and set those. Usually in this order:
1.CD/DVD drive
2.USB drive.
3.Hard drive with w7 on it.
Restart normally and try the game again. After trying that we'll try something else.

Click to expand...

I've checked those details in the BIOS and all are enabled and changed the boot priority to how you have suggested. I tried Prime95 again instead of a game (as that could be a while before crashing) and it crashed quickly but not straight away. I had speedfan running as saw the temps rise a bit, but neither more that 60C.


In regards to trying to disable the overclocking I have had a look in the BIOS and I'm currently googling that with my motherboard to find an answer as there is no straight up disable option.

In the AI Tweaker are the details:
Target CPU Frequency - 4000MHz
Target DRAM Frequency - 1600MHz

And the CPU OverClocking preset configurations are:
Manual, Auto, DOCP, CPU Level Up and Overclock Profile.

I could set all the options following those to Auto, but I don't know if that would right as just changing the profile did not change those above frequencies.
Or changing the numbers to their lowest values under Manual and anything else to Auto? Sorry I do not know more about this.

Quick edit here, I've just seen in SIW that my CPU Original Clock is 3700MHz and my Memory Speed is 1333. So would getting the details back to that mean that the overclocking is disabled or at least reduced to help sort out my BSOD problem? (if not remove it if this is the cause).

Thanks