Windows 7 - Grey screen of doom?

Heroxoot · 04-03-2010

Well, this is the third time its ever happened, but the first for windows 7. First two back on XP i froze and got a grey screen while playing counter strike. This morning while I slept it happened running lunia afk selling stuff/fishing. Is this hardware, or some kind of drive crash during these games? Its annoying even though it hasnt happened every time or anything.

On a side note, are 10.3 cat drivers any good?

smarteyeball · 04-03-2010

The cat 10.3a or 10.3b are pretty good.

As for the for the grey screen, does the entire PC freeze as well?

I'd suggest trying some different drivers, although if it's already happened in XP with older drivers + the fact it's a 4850 and not a 5770 (which was renowned for Grey screening) it may be the card going.

I recently had a 4890 go south with hard freezes + solid / striped colour screens.

It may indeed be software based, but I'd be prepared to accept it may also be the card.

How are the temps?

Heroxoot · 04-03-2010

Its a brand new card. Its more than a month old at that. The only times I can think it happening, my room was really hot, but ive never seen a temp jump much higher than 50c.

Heroxoot · 04-03-2010

Ok I found something saying its probably VPU recovery. How do I disable this for testing if it happens again? Im using 10.3 catalyst and I cannot find it anywhere.

G4b1t · 04-03-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by http://ati.amd.com/products/catalyst/VPU_OVERVIEW.pdf

How does VPU Recover work?
VPU Recover enables the ATI display driver to detect when the graphics processor is
no longer able to respond to display driver commands. When this hang occurs, the
display driver will attempt to reset the graphics hardware, enabling users to continue
using the computer without interruption or lost work.
Depending on the current state of the system when VPU Recover is activated, open
applications may be able to fully recover from the graphics processor reset. In other
cases, running applications may be closed and the user will be returned to the
Windows desktop.
Should the computer be unable to fully recover from a crash, VPU Recover will switch
the system to software rendering mode, enabling users to save their work before
restarting the system. Under rare circumstances, the hardware hang may be severe
enough that the graphics processor will be unable to recover. In these cases, a system
reboot will still be required.

This guide here shows the way to enable the VPU Recover system. You can reverse the order to disable it.
You can also follow the url stated in the quote for more information on the function
of the VPU Recover.

Source: ati.amd.com

Hope i helped.

Heroxoot · 04-03-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by G4b1t

Quote: Originally Posted by http://ati.amd.com/products/catalyst/VPU_OVERVIEW.pdf

How does VPU Recover work?
VPU Recover enables the ATI display driver to detect when the graphics processor is
no longer able to respond to display driver commands. When this hang occurs, the
display driver will attempt to reset the graphics hardware, enabling users to continue
using the computer without interruption or lost work.
Depending on the current state of the system when VPU Recover is activated, open
applications may be able to fully recover from the graphics processor reset. In other
cases, running applications may be closed and the user will be returned to the
Windows desktop.
Should the computer be unable to fully recover from a crash, VPU Recover will switch
the system to software rendering mode, enabling users to save their work before
restarting the system. Under rare circumstances, the hardware hang may be severe
enough that the graphics processor will be unable to recover. In these cases, a system
reboot will still be required.

This guide here shows the way to enable the VPU Recover system. You can reverse the order to disable it.
You can also follow the url stated in the quote for more information on the function
of the VPU Recover.

Source: ati.amd.com

Hope i helped.

Thank you for info that does not help me. Look at the picture to the right. Thats an older catalyst version. 10.3 does not have the VPU tab.

G4b1t · 04-03-2010

You can always uninstall the 10.3 release and install a previous stable one that supports disabling VPU Recover, or just uninstall Catalyst Control Center and install only the GPU Driver. That is if you dont find how to disable it in 10.3

Heroxoot · 04-03-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by G4b1t

You can always uninstall the 10.3 release and install a previous stable one that supports disabling VPU Recover, or just uninstall Catalyst Control Center and install only the GPU Driver. That is if you dont find how to disable it in 10.3

I upgraded to 10.3 after this GSOD. If it does happen again it could be weeks. They happen rarely with big margins in between them so far. I wonder if I left something else running that clashed somewhere.

Heroxoot · 04-03-2010

Ok, been thinking about it. Every time its happened I was using 9.12 CCC. I used 10.2 for a short time and went back because of a reformat (to Windows 7 obviously). What if its just an issue with those drivers and my other hardware? Could it happen? Its not like a bsod, and the card is fine. Have run tests, benchmarks and such, nothing seems to make it do it.

smarteyeball · 04-03-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Heroxoot

I upgraded to 10.3 after this GSOD. If it does happen again it could be weeks. They happen rarely with big margins in between them so far. I wonder if I left something else running that clashed somewhere.

Fingers crossed it was just software based.

Even though it's a new card, unfortunately that's not a guarantee that all is fine as some cards can be duds from day one.

(I'm not trying to be Mr. Doom and Gloom, I'm just presenting a potential worst case scenario )

That 50c temp, was that an idle temp or at load?

You can use GPU-Z to monitor and log your temps:

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Windows 7 - Grey screen of doom?

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