Solved BSOD probably due to Graphics card

I launched assassin creed revelation and my PC just froze. After restart there was no bios screen but all fans were running and in my mobo only one LED was glowing(D1 was on and D2 was off and my mobo manual said that this is due to memory error). So I cleaned RAM and tried again but same problem. I removed graphics card and it booted successfully and works fine. So I guess the problem is with graphics card(HD4870).

And just a few minutes back I reinserted the graphics card and tried to boot. It didnt boot for a few mins but I just waited and after 3-4mins it booted. But there were some patches of pixels here and there on the screen. And while starting windows it crashed(BSOD). Due to the pixelated screen I could not read the BSOD properly. I again tried booting and again it didnt boot immediately but after a few mins and while loading windows again BSOD. I tried booting again and same result.

While searching google I saw lots of BSOD posted over here. So thought of posting. I think the graphics card is dying. Since the screen is pixelated I don't think the graphics card can be repaired. Or can it be repaired? I will be inclined towards repairing it if possible or else I need to buy a new graphics card. I am uploading the SF_Diagnostic_Tool zip file. Kindly confirm if the problem is with the graphics card alone or whether other components are also affected. Without the graphics card the PC works fine. No BSODs. So I guess only the graphics card is the culprit.

Here are my PC spec(more than 3 yrs old so no warranty for graphics card)
Processor: amd phenom quad 940BE
motherboard: BIOSTAR TFORCE TA790GXB
Ram: Transcend 2x2GB ddr2 800mhz
Graphics card: Powercolor HD4870 1GB
harddisk:Seagate barracuda 1TB and Western digital green 640GB
smps: Corsair VX450

Welcome aboard, gtafreak.

It is a stop 0x116.
It is a display related crash, but not obviously the graphics card is the reason behind it. What you are to do here is to follow the guide http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lo...op-0x116-video_tdr_error-troubleshooting.html.

Based on my experience, I can say that the display driver you are using it troublesome. The July version.
First you update it. AMD Catalyst.

If still the issue persists, go for the other things.

let us know the results.

Hi. Thanks for the reply.
I just have a simple question. The drivers come into picture only when Windows 7 starts right?
But with the graphics card connected the PC doesn't even boot for a few minutes. And when it boots after 2-3 mins even the boot screen is blurred. Does the drivers come into picture at the boot screen itself? Since AMD drivers get installed inside Windows 7 I thought it only comes into picture when I enter windows 7.

I usually download drivers from this page by entering my card details here AMD Graphics Drivers & Software
As per this site the latest driver is version 12.6 (which is the one I currently have)

But the site you have given seems to have a even newer version 12.10. How?

Moreover the above installed driver 12.6 was working fine for 3-4 days without BSOD. Only a few days back this issue started.

Based on what you have told about the card, you need to stress test the card.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100356-video-card-stress-test-furmark.html

Let us know the result.

Ok Thanks again. But with the graphics card inserted I can't go beyond the blurred windows 7 logo at startup. Everytime I am getting this blurred BSOD screen after the windows 7 logo.
But if I remove the graphics card and use the inbuilt graphics then the PC works fine without BSODs and without any screen blurs.

I'll uninstall AMD drivers and insert graphics card and try to see if it is able to go past the windows 7 logo screen. Only if it gets past the screen I can try installing new drivers and furmark right?

edit: Artifacts is a better term than blurring.

gtafreak, furmark will make it sure that if the card is really bad or not.

But, as the problems are not occurring using the onboard graphics, I guess you have got it, and your issue is fixed.

Am I right?

Fixed. Yes the BSODs do not occur anymore but I want to know if it is a irrecoverable hardware fault in the graphics card and whether my only option is to buy a new graphics card for gaming(since it is out of warranty). If you can confirm that then it will save me a lot of hassle inserting reinserting and waiting for it to boot etc.

For the confirmation, furmark test is needed.

Hey common. How can I try furmark if the graphics card doesn't even allow me to enter windows 7?

Then there is no necessity of further testing at all. Just abandon it.

Use the onboard graphics till you are not buying the new card. OK?

And, is there any further troubles?

Maybe I'll just try giving it for repair. Nowadays the repair shops charge only if it can be fixed. If it can't be fixed then they just return it without charging.
And one further trouble: I am unable to PM or reply to your VM since I don't have that option. Probably due to my very low post count.

Thanks for your help and nice avatar and siggy

Thanks. If there is no further issue, mark the thread as solved.

Before closing this thread I want to confirm a few more points.
So far I didnt try safe mode. Today I was able to enter safe mode with the graphics card plugged in. In order to post the artifacts here I took a screenshot(using printscreen). But the image from printscreen is perfect(without artifacts). So I took some pics using my camera.

Since I am able to enter safemode.
1. Is there something I can do in safemode to confirm if it is only due to graphics card?
2. And I also want to know if this problem can be due to my power supply which by not supplying enough power to the card is causing the artifacts(bizzare but I just want to know since I shouldn't face the same issue with any new card that I'm planning to buy)

gtafreak, In safemode, you may try furmark.

But if the power supply is the issue, it would have caused not only with the graphics card, but also without the graphics card. is not it?

If the psu is not supplying enough power to the power hungry card will it cause artifacts?
Without the card the psu may be able to power the PC easily.
But since the PSU has been powering the Graphics card for the past 3 yrs without any issues I guess the card is the problem.

I am not sure if furmark will work in safemode since GPU-z and CPU-z didn't. Will anyway try that and report back

Well Furmark doesn't run in safe mode. Well I guess then the probability is that the GPU is dying. But we cannot be sure. Since the PC without the GPU works fine without BSODs and artifacts we cannot come to any other conclusion. I think we have discussed enough on this topic. I'll probably wait for a day or two and run some tests( memtests, HDTune etc) and mark this thread as solved.

gtafreak, as there is no need to run other hardware tests, dont go for those. It is clear that the issue is with the graphics card. You must know that all stress tests put a stress on the hardware ... it is better to not perform those tests without adequate reason.

Use the onboard graphics till you get a new card, and forget the existing .... IMHO it is the only thing you should do now, if you listen to me.

Ok. I haven't run any stress tests till date due to the fact that some stress tests have caused overheating problems and burnouts(for some people). As you've suggested since I don't have any problems now it is the graphics card problem. Marking as solved. Thanks for your help

You are welcome

Let us know whenever there is a further issue, ok?

Ya sure thanks.