New
#11
Thank you for all the inputs.
So, after messing about, I think my OS has become unstable after the numerous times I have performed System Restore. So, I decided to re-install my OS. But this time, I had a plan as to what I will do in the process of installing the drivers, especially to avoid driver conflicts.
My PC h/w specs:
Processor: Intel Core I7 2600K
MOBO: Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3
Graphics: Gigabyte GTS450
RAM: 2 x 4GB - Corsair PC1333
HDD: 2TB - WD SATA 3
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Here's what I have done so far and, touch wood, I have not seen a single BlueSOD or BlackSOD (hopefully this could come in handy for others):
1. In the BIOS, disable the USB3 controllers
2. In the BIOS, change the setting such that the BIOS will turn off the on-board display device if a GPU is detected on the PCI slots (this is to avoid any clash between the on-board graphics and the GPU, while also to avoid clash of the on-board HDMI port's hi-def audio device driver with the on-board hi-def audio driver)
3. Install the OS (in my case, RE-install the OS)
4. After the Win 7 installation completes, install the drivers for the MOBO using the provided CD - NOTE: Ensure that you do not install the Etron USB3 drivers - you should not see the driver in the list if you have already disabled the USB3 controller in the BIOS
5. After the MOBO drivers have been installed, reboot, and then install the nVidia drivers - I used 270.61 from the nVidia website (as suggested by Britton30) - I would suggest that during the installation, you do not use the "Express" installation settings, but instead use the customised settings so that the Hi Def Audio Driver can be excluded from the install
6. After the nVidia driver installs, open up Device Manager, and under the "Sound, video and game controllers", right-click and disable each of the "High Definition Audio Device", except for "Realtek High Definition Audio".
7. Reboot, and you should be up and running
I am sure some of you will feel that my steps above take a rather radical approach and that I am not doing justice by disabling some of the MOBO features in the BIOS, while also disabling some of the devices on Windows' Device Manager. The thing for me is, the steps above are more to help folks who have faced or are facing similar issues to what I have experienced, and just want to move on to use the PC without having to wonder when the system is going to crash again.
A message to Gigabyte (I understand this is not a Gigabyte forum - but hopefully the message goes to them): Please test your MOBOs THOROUGHLY with all supported graphics cards and have a list readilly available of which graphics cards are supported/compatible with the respective MOBOs - It is VERY shameful when customers face compatibility issues between Gigabyte products on the same system.
Last edited by drdunno; 21 Aug 2011 at 01:27.