ATI grey screen freeze

Ok this is the third time, but the first time ever for W7. I build this pc from scratch, and once in a while I leave a game running, and find out later the screen is gray and I have to press the reset button. I don't think its a hardware issue. Happened when I afked in an RPG selling stuff in my shop. Google links seem to lead to drivers so I thought I'd ask here if anyone knows why this happens?

The 2 other times I was playing Counter strike: Source. Using 9.12 Cat drivers from my DVD that came with it.

Heroxoot said:

and once in a while I leave a game running, and find out later the screen is gray and I have to press the reset button.

Not sure what you mean when you say "I leave a game running" but...

Does this happen while you're playing the game? Or only when you leave it running for awhile?

If you're actually leaving the game running while away from the computer, that could be your grey screen problem.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your statement?

Its an RPG. In order to vend or run a shop, you leave the game running with the character sitting in place with the shop window above his head. Its a normal thing for most MMORPGs. Anyway, I think its VPU. In 9.12 ccc they just keep it on. I switched to 10.3 and I think it just uses it as you need. I googled around and the only 2 things for the grey screen of death was, a hotfix for 5xxx series cards, and VPU causing it to crash or something. Not sure.

Heroxoot said:

a hotfix for 5xxx series cards, and VPU causing it to crash or something. Not sure.

This is the hotfix you're talking about (GPU54ATICatalyst101), but it applies to the 5800 series cards, not the 4800 series. I suppose you could give it a try, but they're older drivers and probably wouldn't do anything for your card.

Have you checked for over heating problems seeing how you leave the game running for long periods of time? Maybe you ought to consider some type of cooling solution, even if it involves leaving a side panel off the case.

sygnus21 said:

Heroxoot said:

a hotfix for 5xxx series cards, and VPU causing it to crash or something. Not sure.

This is the hotfix you're talking about (GPU54ATICatalyst101), but it applies to the 5800 series cards, not the 4800 series. I suppose you could give it a try, but they're older drivers and probably wouldn't do anything for your card.

Have you checked for over heating problems seeing how you leave the game running for long periods of time? Maybe you ought to consider some type of cooling solution, even if it involves leaving a side panel off the case.

My room is indeed quite hot, but I have yet to see this card ever crack above 60c. It almost always stays at 50 - 55c when at max load with a game like, SF4 or GTA4. GTA4 has some massive load for games, I must say, but I also use AA/AF 8x in SF4 and it has never crashed. It has crashed during Counter strike: Source, and afk selling in an RPG called Lunia. The first time it ever happened, I was watching anime and left CSS running on the title screen. I'm unsure if that hotfix could help seeing as its for the 5xxx series cards. I am currently on the newest 10.3 CCC which is supposed to fix grey screens for the 5xxx, so I think it may help my 4850 as well.

It has only eve crashed 3 times. First like I said, then while playing counter strike source (actually in a game), and yesterday morning I woke up and it was a grey screen. I am unsure of the real cause but I don't think its hardware related or it would happen more.

The fact that you leave that particular game running for long periods, plus the hot room could very well lead to an overheating card since it still has to render that game for long stretches of time. And ATI cards do tend to get hot. Again, consider an alternative cooling solution.

BTW I'm an ATI user (4890) and had a 4850 that I raved about. Great performance for the price and highly recommended for anyone on a budget who's looking for a performance card.

This game is very undemanding. I used to play it on an intel 945GM, on an acer aspire ONE. When my room wasnt as hot ( like a week ago sadly) it could berally break 40c on temps. I don't think its over heating but I am paranoid about the temps so. I was thinking about looking into new heat sink thermal paste anyway, all around. The fan on it is giant and I keep it manually set to 65, or 70% now since its hotter. It stays fairly cool but its still 4c hotter than it should be.

Edit: Here are my current temps



as you can see, they arent much and that game has been idle minimized for hours now. It was running most of today once I switched to 10.3 CCC. I keep it minimized normally to release stress on the gpu anyway. But it has happened randomly even when the temps arent high. It could just be the drivers. The newest CCC are made to fix the grey screen for 5xxx series, it could help the 4800 series as well, unless I am the only person alive to get this issue. It doesnt happen often, but id like it to never happen at all.

I understand what you're saying; the game isn't as demanding as say Crysis or the other games you mentioned - SF4 or GTA4. GTA4. I get it. However, the longer you leave that game running, the hotter the card gets.

What I'm saying is even though those games are more demanding, you're still not pushing your card like you are with leaving your RPG game running for "longer" periods of time.

Here's a question???...

What’s uses more resources? A hundred pounds of metal, or a hundred pounds of feathers?

That's my point!

Am I 100 percent sure, no, it's just an educated guess. You could very well have something else going on. I'd at least give my suggestion a try before going to other or possibly more extreme measures; but that's your decision.

Sorry. I have no further suggestions.

Peace