BSOD with new Powercolor 6950 2GB, ATIKMPAG.SYS

Your .dmp file is reporting a 0x116 video TDR error ... "It's not a true crash, in the sense that the bluescreen was initiated only because the combination of video driver and video hardware was being unresponsive, and not because of any synchronous processing exception.

Since Vista, the "Timeout Detection and Recovery" (TDR) components of the OS video subsystem have been capable of doing some truly impressive things to try to recover from issues which would have caused earlier OSs like XP to crash.

As a last resort, the TDR subsystem sends the video driver a "please restart yourself now!" command and waits a few seconds.

If there's no response, the OS concludes that the video driver/hardware combo has truly collapsed in a heap, and it fires off that stop 0x116 BSOD.

If playing with video driver versions hasn't helped, make sure the box is not overheating.

Try removing a side panel and aiming a big mains fan straight at the motherboard and GPU.

Run it like that for a few hours or days - long enough to ascertain whether cooler temperatures make a difference.

If so, it might be as simple as dust buildup and subsequently inadequate cooling.

I would download cpu-z and gpu-z (both free) and keep an eye on the video temps Let us know if you need help STOP 0x116: VIDEO_TDR_ERROR troubleshooting ... Verify that your GPU is running at acceptable levels ... You may end up having to return the card for replacement ...

Nikhilvoid said:

7. I had not overclocked at all. But I thought maybe Windows was undervolting the Gpu. So I set the voltage at a constant 1.10 V (i.e. stock voltage). I have been monitoring voltages. It stays at 1.10 V. Twice I have seen it spike at 1.89V but I think that was an error with MSI Afterburner. Also, it didn't always spike when a crash happened. It has spiked twice and I have CTD'd at least 50 times and BSOD'd at least 20 times now.

Windows doesn't touch the voltages. That's dictated by the cards BIOS depending on what powerstate it's in/needed.


Double check the voltage spikes with GPU-Z

Nikhilvoid said:

My main thing is: what are the chances I'd get two faulty brand-new cards in a row?

Can't give a percentage, but it's always possible.


If not GPU, I'd be looking at your PSU - it may be behaving 'out of spec' (dodgy).

What voltages do the 12v show up as in BIOS? (*short of a PSU tester, it's the closest you'll get towards an 'accurate 'reading.

Okay, nothing instantly obvious with those PSU volts and the cards VDDC

When using GPU-Z, make sure you have Log to file and Continue refreshing this screen ticked. Also, under the drop down arrow of the VDDC (voltage) select "Show Highest Reading"

If the card is indeed spiking, the log file will show it.

Attachment 187450

*

Does the card cause any POST errors (PC fails to boot, fan ramping, freeze/black screen or crash before Windows loads), or is it only crashing once inside Windows?

If only in Windows, try uninstalling all Catalyst drivers/manager/CCC and try with the 'default' AMD driver for a bit.

Nikhilvoid said:

Only the VDDC Current seems to be high at 61.0 A.

iirc, the VDDC Current is the entire AMPs that the card is drawing - your PSU has a single 12v rail @ 72A, so all that looks to be within spec.

I have noticed, however, that the fans do spin up occasionally outside of windows.

Hmm. Some cards will ramp up once on a cold boot, but sporadic ramping is usually a sign of a H/W problem.

I once had a problem where Windows would not complete to load and the speakers would pop, the fans would go to max rpm, and the system would crash. I fixed that by doing a system restore.

If you can remember, how far into the Windows loading did it get?

It's towards the end of Windows loading that the generic driver hands over to the Cat driver. ie Did the card choose that moment to crap itself, or was it during driver handover etc

Unfortunately it's a bit inconclusive due to the chicken/egg nature of the situation.

Yesterday the problem got much worse and I was crashing during minimizing windows. It would not even BSOD. It would simply freeze and the sound would continue (only media player and not games). I would have to manually restart.

I uninstalled the drivers and installed them again and now the problem is limited to CTDing when the GPU usage goes above 30-40%. It does not crash when at 29%.

The whole screen goes grey now, the sound continues for a bit, and then I CTD or BSOD.

If it were just a CTD I'd be pointing the finger at software, and BSODs/ hard freezes/grey screens can be caused by drivers; but it can also be indicative of faulty h/w. As you are learning

I found this problem that might be similar to mine but they do not mention BSODs:

PowerColor 6950 2gb - Games freezing and fan speed

Similar - but not enough info to categorically state one way or the other if it's the same as yours

Also, Catalyst install does not work so I am manually installing all of the drivers (including the sound ones).

Now that sounds like software. Catalyst install failures, especially after Driver cleaning tools can sometimes have an adverse effect.

Yet:

Nikhilvoid said:

2. I reinstalled Windows in a new drive. Crashed as soon as I installed the AMD drivers.

Did you install all the mobo chipset drivers before trying to install the drivers? (Have you installed the chipset drivers?)

Was it just the driver you installed, or the CAT suite?

I also ran Seatools and LinX and MemTest. No errors.
.

Yeah, I don't think it's HDD, CPU or even motherboard based.

The fact that the previous card ran fine (heat aside) would also tend to rule out the PSU as well.

When you disabled the the onboard sound etc, did you also disable the integrated GPU?

Since you flashed the BIOS, it resets to defaults which would most likely re-enable it. Check Device Manager>Display Adapters - if you see two entries; your card and the integrated; disable the integrated GPU in the BIOS. If this enabled, it could be part of the CAT installation failures/root of the problem. If you've already disabled it again, then scratch that from the equation.

(This could also be why your 3rd slot is not working now. The BIOS update 'may' have changed the 3rd slot to x1 ie x16/x16/x1 instead of x16/x8/x8 etc)


Tbh, I'm reluctant to emphatically state 'your cards a dud - send it back' , only to have you go through the process and still have the same issues with a 3rd card if it turns out it is software related.



Quick reiteration of things to check/double/triple check (it's easy to overlook simple things when frustrated )

• Re-seat card. Ensure it's firmly secured and not 'bowed' (card sagging towards rear)

• Ensure mobo chipset drivers are installed (look for any yellow triangles in Device Manager)

• Triple check the PCI-E plugs are firmly secured

• Check device manager/BIOS that the integrated GPU is disabled (Advanced>Chipset>Onboard GPU>[disabled])

• Advanced>Chipset>Primary Display Adapter>[PCI-E]

• Advanced>PCIpnp>Plug n Play OS [yes]

• Advanced>Onboard Device Configuration>HD Audio [disabled]

• Advanced>Onboard Device Configuration>Hdmi Audio [disabled]

And last resort:

• Format/fresh install OS again with all BIOS settings above in place.

(You can just create a small ~30GB partition, don't activate it since it's just a testbed OS to try and eliminate software from the equation)

• Install all chipset drivers etc first - install the CATALYST suite last.

• Cross fingers while you have drink

Nikhilvoid said:

Hmm. I have to look into this. Maybe I could flashback? lol.

Unless you're planning on TRI-SLI, I wouldn't worry about it

*sigh* I hate stepping into fanboy-dom. But I think my problems will end when my month-long experiment with ATI ends. It is probably my nforce motherboard.

So I just bought a used GTX 570 from ebay for $200. yay.

Bugger fanboism - Catalyst drivers are what sent me back to nvidia

(nvidia drivers aren't perfect either, but at least they don't make me want to rage in frustration ) )

I will probably face low-VRAM issues but at least (hopefully) it will work.

If your resolution is over 1920x1200, you might have to sacrifice a few things (anything that is om nom nom on Vram ie AA) Otherwise it shouldn't be that big a hit on performance.

I will definitely do this if the GTX 570 does not work either.

Just make sure you do a sweep and clear of all Catalyst drivers and software while the 6950 is in place (if it doesn't crash that is)

You can do it with the 570 in place, but it's less of headache doing the former.

Thanks man. You have been tremendously patient and helpful.

You're welcome mate. I certainly hope 3rd times a charm for you.

And if not - at least you'll know it's not the card at fault. Best of luck :)