Graphics screen corruption - random noise, flickers,etc

[pr1970]

Hi All

I have a problem with my year old desktop pc and random screen corruption when I startup the pc. Sometimes it does it once a month, but in the last week its happened it every day.

This is a video of what happens but its not always the same, but its always at startup. Usually anytime upto and including the windows login screen, but never before or during the bios screen. Once it corrupts I then need to hard reset, soft reset does nothing. Also, after a successful reboot windows complains of a previous bluescreen. All drivers are up to date.
nvidia_gtx465_corruption.3gp - YouTube

I`ve tried replacing the graphics card and I still had problems and i`ve reinstalled windows 7. I`m thinking the next thing is to replace the psu? Whats strange is that it never goes wrong once windows is up and running, its only at startup. It also cause the external monitor (TV) to blank out and it freezes the pc ie caps lock,etc dont function. i`ve also tried it in someone else`s house with different monitor and the same occurred.

My equipment is as follows:
CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K (Sandy Bridge-DT XE, D2)
3400 MHz (34.00x100.0) @ 3511 MHz (35.00x100.3)
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 PRO
Chipset: Intel P67 (Cougar Point) [B3]
Memory: 16384 MBytes @ 668 MHz, 9.0-9-9-24
- 4096 MB PC10600 DDR3 SDRAM - Kingston 9905403-439.A00LF
- 4096 MB PC10600 DDR3 SDRAM - Kingston 9905403-400.A00LF
- 4096 MB PC10600 DDR3 SDRAM - Kingston 9905403-439.A00LF
- 4096 MB PC10600 DDR3 SDRAM - Kingston 9905403-400.A00LF
Graphics: Zotac GeForce GTX 465
nVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 (GF100/D12U), 1048256 KB GDDR5 SDRAM
Drive: C300-CTFDDAC128MAG, 125.0 GB, Serial ATA 6Gb/s
Drive: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0, 976.8 GB, Serial ATA 6Gb/s
Drive: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0, 976.8 GB, Serial ATA 6Gb/s
Drive: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS70, DVD+R DL
Sound: Intel Cougar Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller [B3]
Sound: nVIDIA GF100 - High Definition Audio Controller
Network: Intel 82579V (Lewisville) Gigabit Network Connection
Network: D-Link DWA-525 Wireless N 150 Desktop Adapter
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Build 7601
PSU: Coolermaster 750W

Any Ideas??

Thanks alot

 

[essenbe]

What drivers are you using. It should be 306.23. Also, when you updated drivers, did you uninstall the old drivers in safe mode first? You can download the current drivers from Nvidia's web site if that is not what you are running. I reinstall drivers by using Driver Sweeper in safe mode. Select only the Nvidia Display drivers, click analyze and then delete. Then reboot and install the new driver selecting custom install and make sure the clean install box is checked.

When you say you tried it in someone else's house, do you mean the computer or the card? If you can try just the card in someone else's computer, it may show whether it is the card or something else. Also, if you can borrow or if you have an extra PSU, you can try that. I would rather see you find out for sure what the problem is before you spend money to replace something that may or may not be defective. Just based on what I understand about your problem, it sounds like drivers. If it were the PSU, it would do the same on the bios screen. The drivers don't load until windows starts. That is where you are having the issues.

 

[pr1970]

Hi

Thanks, I have always kept upto date with the display drivers although hadnt seen these latest ones. Will give them a go. I have in the past uninstalled the old ones in safe mode yes. I usually use revo uninstaller to clean up files and registry but will give driver sweeper a go.

I took the whole PC to someone elses house, but I also tried a different graphics card that was cheaper and less powerful (only 1 power input) and that exhibited similar problems.
The PSU is a coolermaster GX-750 which is supposed to be a descent model, unless theres a fault somewhere with it. Somebody did say to me it could be a capacitor problem being it only happens at startup. But I think its odd it doesnt happen whilst in bios/dos mode only when it begins loading windows somewhere between the animated windows loading screen and the login screen. The mainboard could also be the culprit.

Strangely today has been the first day for a week it booted up first time without any problems. Two things have change, I updated the bios yesterday and also the weather is about 18c degrees cooler. So perhaps it was a heat or bios problem or maybe i was just lucky today. I`ve spoken to the shop I bought the PC from and they are willing to check it out, i`m just upto my eyeballs with work currently so it`ll have to wait until next month.

Thanks

Paul

 

[essenbe]

Try booting into safe mode and see if the problem exists. It's true that startup put a great deal of strain on the PSU, but it is the same starin when you boot into bios.And you have no problems there. But, you are going in before you load drivers. Drivers are loaded on windows startup. That's where you have the problem. I'm just guessing, but if it was a problem with the card or the PSU, you would have the same problems when booting into bios.

 

[pr1970]

ok thanks i will try safe mode first thing in the morning. Its usually ok once i`ve booted the machine more than once.
I`ve booted a few times today from powering down and installed the new nvidia drivers and havent had any problems so far.

Wouldnt windows give extra strain when loading device drivers, usb devices,switching to gfx higher resolution ,etc. Just a thought, i`m not very technical on these things.
Paul

 

[essenbe]

To answer your question, I don't know either. But, during POST, your bios is initializing all of your hardware before you can get into bios. Whether that is more or less strain than windows loading drivers, I don't know.

I would still try to borrow a known working PSU and try it before you buy one. That would answer your question with some certainty. If you do get a new PSU, I always recommend Corsair, Seasonic or Antec. They are more expensive, but are among the best quality PSU's around. My rule is you never skimp on the PSU. It is the heart of the machine.