BSoD when screen saver trying to start

[rting]

Well all is well until I use AMD's own Catalyst to tune the graphics cards.

Now the entire screen would turn red and then the machine hangs.

It would hang less frequently if I just have 1 screen hooked up.

Currently running Memtest86 v4.20 to test the new memories and the old and so far the tests are still on-going with the memory. It looks like I need new graphics cards - which seems to be the original problem? Until I discovered faulty memory? Now that the memory issue is fix and the graphics cards are now a problem when pushed to their limits?

Does any one have a good graphics card test software - presumably for AMD HD Radeon series of graphics cards? Can't seem to find any on AMD's website.

 

[writhziden]

http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lo...op-0x116-video_tdr_error-troubleshooting.html offers some good graphics card tests. FurMark you already ran. Just in case, read through http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100356-video-card-stress-test-furmark.html though.

On the 2nd page of the 0x116 thread, some more robust tests are offered: Unigine: real-time 3D engine (game, simulation, visualization and VR)

 

[rting]

Currently running MemTest86 v4.20 and so far the memory looks good - old and new.

Quick Question:
Furmark is a stress and benchmark test only and does not analyze what is wrong?

Will look at others as suggested.

 

[writhziden]

Correct, FurMark requires you to watch the temperature and see if it exceeds the recommended temperature for the graphics card. You also have to watch out for any artifacts. The tutorial I linked describes how it should be used: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100356-video-card-stress-test-furmark.html.

 

[rting]

Quick question:
Before the BSD today, temperature was running at around 82-84 degrees celcius - without loading programs (just the usual anti-virus, chat, printer, etc. software).

While running Battlefield 3 / Furmark, temperature reached about 95 degrees and then levels off.

Does that sound bad? I do not know the usual temperature of these cards.

Computer is still running memory tests ... so not able to re-run Furmark / re-install Catalyst from AMD, etc. as yet. It is going to be a really long weekend though.

 

[rting]

Furmark just crashed and then two of the screens went blank and now it hangs. What is going on? Cannot run Furmark ... will see if I can uninstall Catalyst ... run 1 graphics card first, etc.

 

[rting]

Well, I saw this article ... regarding Furmark and my HD4850 ... may be it explains my problem ... which is not a problem????????????

AMD/ATI Catalyst 8.8 downclocks GPU on detecting FurMark | ZDNet

Not only that, I also found that if I use AMD latest driver, the version number is 8.56.1.10 - which I think I was using - will include the Catalyst from AMD because you can only download the entire package.

While if I use Windows's Device Manager and just hit Driver Update, the version number is 8.850.0.0. Which I have no Catalyst installed on my system currently. System so far has not crashed.

Catalyst had always have a problem with my system but now I should un-install Furmark????? Attached screen shot is just one HD 4850 card with the "older" 8.850.0.0 driver and running Furmark but WITHOUT checking the "Xtreme burn-in, Post-Fx, GPU temperature alarm, and Log GPU data boxes under "Settings". It looks normal??

I will not install Catalyst for now ... at least until I tested both cards under most condition ... and assuming Furmark does not crash.

 

[writhziden]

You can install your drivers without Catalyst.

• You should already have the installer downloaded and installed the drivers/Catalyst software, so your drivers probably exist in C:\AMD\Support\xx-x_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc where the x's replace your version number of the driver software.
  
• Uninstall all AMD software related to your graphics card by uninstalling AMD Catalyst Install Manager in Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Uninstall a program
  
• Restart your computer.
  
• Re-install your drivers from the C:\AMD\Support\xx-x_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc folder using a similar method to that in OPTION TWO of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/98073-drivers-install-vista-drivers-windows-7-a.html

95 C is fairly typical of AMD cards. If you get over 100 C, there is something wrong with the card.

 

[rting]

You can install your drivers without Catalyst.

• You should already have the installer downloaded and installed the drivers/Catalyst software, so your drivers probably exist in C:\AMD\Support\xx-x_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc where the x's replace your version number of the driver software.
• Uninstall all AMD software related to your graphics card by uninstalling AMD Catalyst Install Manager in Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Uninstall a program
• Restart your computer.
• Re-install your drivers from the C:\AMD\Support\xx-x_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc folder using a similar method to that in OPTION TWO of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/98073-drivers-install-vista-drivers-windows-7-a.html

95 C is fairly typical of AMD cards. If you get over 100 C, there is something wrong with the card.

Thank you!

 

[writhziden]

You're welcome. Let us know if installing the drivers solo helps.

 

[rting]

Oh, I think my drivers were already installed as solo when I use Windows's own "Update Driver" button.

That said, it is possible to NOT install Catalyst with AMD's own installation software.

 

[writhziden]

Try Fix problems with programs that can't be installed or uninstalled and see if you can remove it that way.

How are you checking whether it was uninstalled?

 

[rting]

Soon after BSoD, the video driver and Catalyst were uninstalled with the same "installer" from AMD. Windows I guess defaults back to existing driver that came with Windows. That version is dated April 25, 2009.

This "installer" did removed the directory, etc. of related software.

Thereafter, in Control Panel --> Device Manager, one can check the version number and update the driver by telling Windows to look for an update (rather than me determining which version - usually the latest - from a manufacturer).

 

[rting]

The driver version with Windows's Device Manager is dated April 19, 2011.

Using Global Provider of Innovative Graphics, Processors and Media Solutions | AMD Autodetect it is July 17, 2011. Creating a restore point and updating to that driver now.

The latest version of Catalyst is dated April 25, 2012, however. So, I guess I will push the driver update to "as recent as possible without BSoD" and without Catalyst.

I may loose the ability to engagel CrossFire in Catalyst but I guess my PC is due for an update in the not so distance future so not going to put in more unless I have to.

 

[rting]

Ok, it seems that AutoDetect is giving me the entire package again with the file 12_4_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc.exe (which is supposedly from the manual download at AMD's website) ... so will avoid the Catalyst in the installation if prompted.

 

[writhziden]

Looks like good steps. Let us know how things go. If the system is running well after a few days, post back and let us know it is responding well.

 

[rting]

Don't need a few days ... Furmark test seems fine (tops out at 94 degrees average).

However, Battlefield 3 still thinks that it is on the older version driver ... so adding Catalyst now ... and keeping my fingers crossed ...

Technically it is not working the way I thought it would work. It seems that Catalyst is required? Will post back nonetheless.

 

[rting]

Apparently, my fingers crossed did not help. Got BSoD running Furmark just now ...

error has to do with a file atikmpag.sys - preliminary search shows that atikmpag.sys is a known problem for people with new ATI cards!?!? With the new 5xxx, 6xxxx, and 7xxx series of Radeon cards!?!?!?

Going to disable crossfire and run Furmark again ... and may even remove that crossfire cable ...

 

[rting]

Ok, played Battlefield 3 in low resolution and non-full screen mode - without Crossfire - and so far GPU got up to about 90 degrees.

I could not help but think that I am not going to purchase another ATI Radeon card until they fix this issue. I have seen the consistent theme is that its drivers crashes and older drivers works. Or in my case now that I have the latest drivers - crossfire does not work.

 

[writhziden]

Did you start having problems when you updated to the 12.x drivers? This has been common on a number of systems of late. My system has more hiccups with the 12.x drivers, though I have yet to get a crash from them. My system did freeze/hang and start again a lot immediately after installing those drivers, but a restart resolved that problem.

Have you tried rolling back to the 11.x drivers?


By the way: It may interest you to know that we get a lot of nVidia crashes related to nvlddmkm.sys because that is the nVidia video driver. You got a lot related to the atikmpag.sys or atikmdag.sys since those are the ATI video drivers. I find it amusing how many people say they want to switch to ATI because their nVidia card is causing problems and vice versa.

Your crashes are most likely due to a bad card (you said before both cards were fine, but did you confirm this for sure?), a conflict with crossfire, a driver conflict, a bad motherboard, or a RAM issue. Do you have any issues if you run each of the graphics cards by itself? I know you were doing this before you replaced the RAM, but it may be a good test now that you have no RAM errors.


It is also worth noting that while the RAM may be fine, you are mixing 333 MHz RAM and 400 MHz RAM. That can also cause conflicts. Have you tried running with only the set of 333 MHz RAM or only the set of 400 MHz RAM?