Hardlocking crash

[pyrokk]

Hihi all

I've been having a bit of a problem nipping me for a couple of months now and i'm at my end of my wit trying to figure this one out.

Here is my current system configuration:
P4 3.0 GHz
Intel 865 GBF
2x 256 DDR 2100's (crucial)
Gainward GeForce 4 Ti 4200 (128)
Audigy 2 ZS
Promise TX133 controler card

The crash occurs most frequently while running graphic intensive video games. More specificly, Max payne II, Uru, SWG, Lineage II. However, just now it did it while in windows which kinda has me worried. When the crash occurs, the screen turns white with a patern of small blocks of one color or another on it. Most of the time when it does this, it will be functional for another 15-30 seconds, so I can usually reach down and hit the power button for a soft poweroff. Shortly after though it usually hardlocks for good. My orignal system configuration was the same except for my motherboard and processor which was an XP 1800 and a KT3. Those worked fine with the exact same hardware as my current system. As soon as I upgraded I started getting the crashes.

I made sure and reformatted after upgrading, and I believe once since then. I have also tried reseating everything, I RMA'd my motherboard and got a replacement, tried different RAM, tried a clean boot, tried replacing the cooler on my video card, putting an exhaust fan under my video card and putting 120mm fan blowing right at the video card with the shroud off. I have also ran windows update to make sure everything is up to date. I also installed the latest version of DirectX and the latest drivers for everything in my computer. I have also tried older versions of my video drivers. (Det. 30xx's, 40xx's and ect..)

I even tried prayer followed by the technical slap.

Anyway, a little bit more detail on the crash. When in games, depending on the mood of the computer, it can crash anywhere from every 5 minutes to not at all that night. (though usually every 5 minutes) When it does crash, windows almost never reports a problem after it boots up. THIS time however it did. Here is what it contained:

'Computer restarted after an unexpected shutdown.
Microsoft windows detected a possible device failure.

The driver for the display device was unable to complete a drawing operation.
...
The display driver for NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 seems to be responsible for the system instability.'

I found the crash log for the incident which contains the following:
******************************************************************

//
// Watchdog Event Log File
//

LogType: Watchdog
Created: 2004-03-25 22:10:34
TimeZone: 480 - Pacific Standard Time
WindowsVersion: XP
EventType: 0xEA - Thread Stuck in Device Driver

//
// The driver for the display device got stuck in an infinite loop. This
// usually indicates a problem with the device itself or with the device
// driver programming the hardware incorrectly. Please check with your
// display device vendor for any driver updates.
//

EaRecovery: 1
ShutdownCount: 91
Shutdown: 0
EventCount: 5
BreakCount: 5
BugcheckTriggered: 1
DebuggerNotPresent: 1
DriverName: nv4_disp
EventFlag: 1
DeviceClass: Display
DeviceDescription: NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200
HardwareID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0253&SUBSYS_160310B0&REV_A2
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
DriverFixedFileInfo: FEEF04BD 00010000 0006000E 000A14B7 0006000E 000A14B7 0000003F 00000008 00040004 00000003 00000004 00000000 00000000
DriverCompanyName: NVIDIA Corporation
DriverFileDescription: NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display driver, Version 53.03
DriverFileVersion: 6.14.10.5303
DriverInternalName: nv4_disp.dll
DriverLegalCopyright: (C) NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.
DriverOriginalFilename: nv4_disp.dll
DriverProductName: NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display driver, Version 53.03
DriverProductVersion: 6.14.10.5303

***************************************************************

Anyway, I would be most appreciateive if anyone wouldn't mind giving me a hand here. ;(

 

[pyrokk]

bump?

 

[johnjkr1]

I would try a different video card or power suppy. If you don't have an extra, those would be the two most likely culprits. The strage colors on the screen leads me to believe you might have a bad video card.

 

[pyrokk]

I have tried a different power supply, but if I transfer all the hardware, video card included over to my athlon board and processor, it works.

 

[amdskip]

What brand and model of power supply? People do not realize how important a good power supply really is.

 

[johnjkr1]

"The display driver for NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 3200 ....."

That is not a model of card I am familiar with, do you mean 4200? I assume after the format you did the latest chipset drivers, etc?

Since you tried a different power supply and ram, it really only leaves the CPU and the vid card. My bet is still on the vid card.

 

[pyrokk]

I'm currently using a 300w "powerman", but I tried a 400w allied with no difference.

I do have the latest drivers for all of my hardware. (Video card, chipset, audio, ect. )

As well, when I put my video card and RAM in another computer it works just fine.

 

[pyrokk]

Well, I tried another video card which solved the problem. It's the damnest thing. That video card works fine in an AMD board but won't work in an Intel board.

Edit: Thanks for the help!