Solved Win7x64 locks during dx9 games only

[Timed]

Hey, here are the specs of the hardware.

win7x64 (upgrade)
gigabyte z68xp-ud3 (upgrade)
core i5 2500k (upgrade)
2 sata 500gb drives (one drive upgrade)
evga nvidia 8800gts ssc
Creative x-fi extreme gamer sound card (wasn't installed initially)
antec 650w ps (old was Antec 550w)

So this issue has been going on since I did an upgrade on my system back at the end of nov 2011. I labeled everything that was an upgrade. I just did a reformat and the issue is still is happening. I have only seen the issue during dx9 games. eg i can play tf2 for ~30 mins before the display cuts out and appears to goes into standby or whats best described, occasionally the last sound will loop. *I didn't initially have the creative sound card installed but in my diagnoses I installed it.* Yes I disabled the motherboard sound card via bios

All my other dx9 games will freeze at random, i can play world of tanks for ~10mins to 90 mins. I think it's due to the fact that the battles are only ~10 minutes before going to a less graphically intense menu after the battle. If i run them in windowed mode i have no issues at all. I can play BF3 endlessly and have no issues.

Things I have tried.

- installed a new PS. Old was an antec550w
- removed all sleep settings.

- stressed the cpu with linX
​

- stressed the gpu with furmark
- ran temp logger during gameplay, also installed a spare fan (1 in front pulls in, 1 back pulls out, 1 side blows onto the video card. All temps are within normal operating or so reported.
- tested with the video card in both pci-e slots
- Bios appears to be fully updated.
- I have tried with different video card drivers (280.26, 285.62 and 290.53) fresh install is currently using the 290.53 beta
- reformat.
edit
- forgot that I down clocked my card to stock 8800gts specs

At this point I am out of ideas.

 

[smarteyeball]

Tried installing the latest DirectX Redistributable?

Download: DirectX Redist (June 2010) - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

Although from the symptoms, it sounds like it's possibly more h/w related.

Have you tested your Ram with memtest86+?

 

[Timed]

Both of those did nothing, but I think I solved it. I'm going to do other tests first before I mark this thread as solved. Another day or two as it will have to be after work.

I switched the port that my monitor is hooked up to on the card end, was just playing tf2 for ~75 minutes with no issues. I had tried playing after the dx installer update, didn't play for more then 5 mins before halting. I even ran furmark again for 10 mins, temp maxed at 83c and didn't show any graphics issues or halt my system.

I'm thinking that a driver IC for the one port on my card is faulty. This might also explain why bf3 doesn't crash as it's ran at low settings and probably doesn't heat the driver ic up as much(forgot that it did lock up once and only once). I did turn down the settings on world of tanks after it locked the first time as well allowing it to run for longer before crashing. It also would explain why event viewer has no errors other then those caused by the power off.

If it is the one port on the card, I was thinking of upgrading the card here in a month or two anyway.

 

[smarteyeball]

The fact that it ran fine in windowed mode suggested that it probably wasn't memory related, but since it was new build and the issues started around the same time - it's helpful to eliminate as many variables as you can.

It does sound like the card is on it's last legs.

 

[Timed]

Yeah it's still having issues. Probably just a stroke of luck that I was able to play for as much as i did. I'm gonna call this a card issue as everything else checks out.