High Maintenance with 2 monitors on GTX 570 for HTPC and HD Audio

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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I've been troubleshooting an intermittent problem on my main, flagship system -- summarized in my sig.

I leave the system on 24/7. Every several days, I'd have a "kernel power event-id 41" event with an unannounced reset (most of the time) or a BSOD (very seldom).

Yes, the system has been overclocked, but that's not the cause of the problem. I thought it was RAM, bought some new sticks that marginally reduce power consumption. No cigar. It happened again.

I am now suspecting the eVGA GTX 570 graphics card.

I could post this in "Home Theater," but chose this forum for now.

Through two systems -- this Sandy Bridge machine and the Q6600 system before it, I'd set up Media Center to run my AV Receiver and HDTV. The AV Receiver is a two-year-old improvement; I'd been getting MC through a 1080p monitor and the analog 5.1 speakers hooked up to onboard audio before adding the AVR into the mix. I disabled the onboard audio and Logitech speakers, so the AVR system provides all media sound and system sound.

But for the event-ID-41 problem, all of this has worked marvelously well -- for both systems over almost six years. I have a cable-card setup with an HDHomeRun Prime for TV input. Never any problem with that. But I have to note that the Q6600 system also showed similar symptoms with the two-monitor setup for its GTX 8800 graphics.

The onboard Intel 3000 graphics isn't currently used for anything. The SB system currently boots using the GTX 570 as primary in BIOS. I have a double-monitor setup: one for the HDTV (not the primary) at HD resolution; another is an older VGA LCD monitor. Both of these are connected to (a) the HDMI port on the GTX 570 with 25' quality HDMI cable (runs to AVR->HDTV), and (b) another DVI port on the dGPU with a standard 15-pin VGA converter to the LCD monitor.

The dGPU (GTX 570) has 1,284 MB of VRAM, is PCI-E 2.0 compliant, and socketed in the usual choice for such a card on the ASUS P8Z68-V-Pro motherboard.

To troubleshoot the problem -- people all over the web are reporting these event-ID-41 difficulties in Windows 7 -- I'm following one avenue of prevailing advice and upgrading the dGPU driver and software.
Every time I do this, I have problems reconfiguring Media Center to accept the 5.1 input after configuring the sound designated by my ONKYO receiver in Control Panel.

Right now, after a lot of trouble, I have it working -- but Media Center plays at full volume and I cannot adjust the volume as before. With this, the only way to control the volume is with the ONKYO remote control.
I also hear a lot of grumbling in my web-searches about the nVidia HD Audio and drivers.

Any suggestions? Does the graphics card have enough power to handle two monitors in different resolutions, plus "surround sound?" I've fiddled with "nVidia INspector" to provide "multi-monitor power saving" and put the dGPU in a P12 state, but the quality of the video is affected on the HDTV -- despite a reduction of dGPU temperatures by some 10C+ degrees.

I am thinking about running the AVR/HDTV off the onboard Intel 3000 graphics, while continuing to use the dGPU with the LCD monitor for games and mainstream apps. I am guessing this will foul up my HDCP configuration in Media Center -- possibly making it difficult or impossible to play back recorded TV made under the previous configuration.
Any thoughts about this will be profoundly appreciated.

I wish it could be shorter, and I wish it were simpler.
 

HurleyBird

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2003
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I had huge issues running HDMI audio off of my HD 7970, so it seems like an area that both AMD and Nvidia sadly neglect. The nightmare finally ended when I upgraded my i7 920 to a 4770K and used the integrated graphics to drive my audio stack. I'd recommend doing the same -- hopefully it doesn't foul up your HDCP.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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I had huge issues running HDMI audio off of my HD 7970, so it seems like an area that both AMD and Nvidia sadly neglect. The nightmare finally ended when I upgraded my i7 920 to a 4770K and used the integrated graphics to drive my audio stack. I'd recommend doing the same -- hopefully it doesn't foul up your HDCP.

S**** the HDCP hurdles, and full steam ahead (after I think about it some more :hmm: )! A decent part of stuff I recorded were PBS documentaries, news broadcasts, "state of the union," etc. etc. If I lose the encrypted "Premium" recordings, tough luck!

So, let me confer with you. You say "drive your audio stack," but I'm assuming you just run the HDMI output from the onboard HDMI port? And of course, you don't enable "multi-monitor" with that . . . LUCID VIRTU crap, but just use two separate graphics -- iGPU and dGPU for different monitors?

I can see the minor snags ahead of me. The good part: "Main monitor" for regular apps and games will remain plugged into the dGPU -- no change. So all the trouble should arise for me just for moving the HDMI cable to the motherboard.

Also -- "the plot thickens." The trouble with the volume control or just getting the Media Center to accept the new driver update arises from the "Control-Panel->Sound" device "Configuration" sequence. You have to reset everything to the way it worked before, which now apparently means disabling "let application(s) take total control of the audio." Once I deselected that, I didn't even have to run Media Center's "Set up your audio/speakers."

If you're inclined, what sort of problems did you encounter using the dGPU? A lot of NVidia aficionados grumble about their dual-monitor setup. You'd think a card that powerful -- only with my 1,284 MB of VRAM -- would handle it. Of course, it throws "sound" into the mix.

Also, I'm probably correct about this, but I assume that the "HD Audio" currently disabled in my BIOS is NOT the feature I require to get HDMI audio from the Intel iGPU graphics? All my iGPU drivers are installed for Intel HD3000 -- they just don't show up in device manager at the moment, since it's not being used . . .

Thanks. I don't feel so alone, now . . .
 
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HurleyBird

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2003
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So, let me confer with you. You say "drive your audio stack," but I'm assuming you just run the HDMI output from the onboard HDMI port?

Yes. By audio stack I mean that my HDMI audio device isn't a receiver, more of a DSP. The beginning of my stack is a Smyth Realiser which takes HDMI input, then a Grace m903 DAC, then either an audio-GD phoenix for balanced cans or a converted and restored Magnavox tube amp for unbalanced cans, although a couple headphones sound best straight out of the m903. At the very end is usually an HD-800, LCD-3, or D7000.

If you're inclined, what sort of problems did you encounter using the dGPU? A lot of NVidia aficionados grumble about their dual-monitor setup. You'd think a card that powerful -- only with my 1,284 MB of VRAM -- would handle it. Of course, it throws "sound" into the mix.

Well, I was also running eyefinity on that card, so I was using four outputs on the 7970. Every time I turned my monitors off and back on again my eyefinity array would need to be rebuilt from scratch, except sometimes it couldn't be rebuilt and I had to do various trial and error to get it back up again... infuriatingly there seemed to be no consistent rhythm or reason why sometimes more issues popped up, and the same solution one day might not work the next. I couldn't use sleep mode because the AMD drivers would crash on wake up 90% of the time. Sometimes the HDMI output would just stop working and not even appear in Catalyst, requiring a system restart and/or more trial and error on top. Also, WASAPI output was glitched and distorted -- unusable. It was the most frustrating tech thing I've ever had to deal with. I reported my issues to AMD a few times, but to no response, and I kind of resent them now for the entire situation. If it wasn't for Nvidia being equally bad at HDMI output, AMD probably would have driven me into their arms for life.

Also, I'm probably correct about this, but I assume that the "HD Audio" currently disabled in my BIOS is NOT the feature I require to get HDMI audio from the Intel iGPU graphics?

Shouldn't be.
 
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BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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Yes. By audio stack I mean that my HDMI audio device isn't a receiver, more of a DSP. The beginning of my stack is a Smyth Realiser which takes HDMI input, then a Grace m903 DAC, then either an audio-GD phoenix for balanced cans or a converted and restored Magnavox tube amp for unbalanced cans, although a couple headphones sound best straight out of the m903. At the very end is usually an HD-800, LCD-3, or D7000.



Well, I was also running eyefinity on that card, so I was using four outputs on the 7970. Every time I turned my monitors off and back on again my eyefinity array would need to be rebuilt from scratch, except sometimes it couldn't be rebuilt and I had to do various trial and error to get it back up again... infuriatingly there seemed to be no consistent rhythm or reason why sometimes more issues popped up, and the same solution one day might not work the next. I couldn't use sleep mode because the AMD drivers would crash on wake up 90% of the time. Sometimes the HDMI output would just stop working and not even appear in Catalyst, requiring a system restart and/or more trial and error on top. Also, WASAPI output was glitched and distorted -- unusable. It was the most frustrating tech thing I've ever had to deal with. I reported my issues to AMD a few times, but to no response, and I kind of resent them now for the entire situation. If it wasn't for Nvidia being equally bad at HDMI output, AMD probably would have driven me into their arms for life.

. . . .

Seems that one person's preference for a certain "usage profile" might fail to expose problems raised by another.

With the more recent processors, memory and motherboards adding also the iGPU into the mix, it would seem that among several feasible multi-monitor setups, one type of configuration might be more robust and reliable over the others. But it depends on the profile of monitor usage, too . . .

I noticed on the NVidia download page describing the driver update, they had touted "more reliability and stability" and I can't recall for sure if they mentioned "multiple monitors." But it's interesting that they highlight that note in the driver summary description.
 

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
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I have the eVGA GTX570 and have had it set up to similarly in the past (hdmi to TV and also to monitor. However, at the time it was only for playing around when I was shuffling things around.

Its been awhile since I'm messed with it (its retired to a secondary PC) but back when it was my main card I recall certain driver releases to be a pain in the butt. I forgot which driver I stuck with the one I was using was a few driver versions older.

Don't recall driver related reboots.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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I assume you checked HERE with M$ already and nothing helps?

I'd seen that and other forum posts/comments for the same Event ID.

Somebody could tell me that it's the PSU, but this is a two-year-old Seasonic 750 modular Gold X series. Never seen any fluctuation in the voltages, and they all have a little extra margin of hundredths or tenths of a volt. The unit is so cool the fan never spins up, and the monitor for my UPS from which system draws power shows between 130 and 200W for this system -- if even that. I understand PSU's are less efficient in their lower power-draw range, but there's no stress on the PSU.

Since I'll be ordering parts for a new project soon, I can always switch out the 750 and replace with the new unit, even if I use the 750 to test the parts at stock settings.

But so far, per my experience over the last couple days, I'm more and more moving toward a conclusion that this was a driver problem. I had seen other Event 41 discussions which pointed out this possibility.

The last time I tried to install new NVidia drivers, something didn't "take" and I had to roll back -- to the version that was extant for these problems to show up.

And always, when I'd have a problem configuring media center to the audio, it would suggest "updating" the NVidia HD Audio drivers. Yet the MC configuration problem was my failure to make certain selections in the "Ctrl-Panel->Sound->Configuration" screen-sequence. So because I'd blindly follow the MC message about failed "software drivers" etc., I'd let Windows go out and find "updates" -- possibly from M$ -- and install those. That may have been the problem origin -- can't say right now.

But I noticed a helluva improvement in sound quality once I got this latest update installed.

Best thing to do, and shows how I'd been getting lazy -- User should do a complete uninstall of the VGA drivers and software -- even NVidia's -- and then install the new version from scratch. It's possible to save the previous profiles, so that saved me a lot of trouble.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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I have the eVGA GTX570 and have had it set up to similarly in the past (hdmi to TV and also to monitor. However, at the time it was only for playing around when I was shuffling things around.

Its been awhile since I'm messed with it (its retired to a secondary PC) but back when it was my main card I recall certain driver releases to be a pain in the butt. I forgot which driver I stuck with the one I was using was a few driver versions older.

Don't recall driver related reboots.

I think it's taken me a long time to sort this out. I went through the entire month of August ('13) without a single reset or BSOD. The machine stays on 24/7, and I suppose I'm "using up" my HT gear, because they're on all the time. Sometimes, I'll be tuned to CNN, leave Media Center running and use the power-saving feature of the HDTV to turn off the picture.

But I also had "dabbled" with TV tuner-cards before seriously integrating the computer into the "Home Theater," getting the SiliconDust network tuner box and adding the rental of a cable-card to our cable-tv-internet bill (only $5/mo).

Something as infrequent as this creeps up on a person, after settling into the idea that everything is running perfectly, rock-stable and dependable.

It is too early to tell for sure at this time, but I am now beginning to suspect this had been a VGA driver problem. About four to ten days more, I should know for sure. Just the symptoms seem to indicate something with the VGA setup. I'm hoping that it was just the drivers all along.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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OK . ..

To sum up: This thread arose in conjunction with another I posted at CPUs & Overclocking. I'll probably put a link to this thread in that one, soon as I've finished here.

And summing up: For months, I had problems with intermittent random resets to my SB-K system. I'll readily agree -- over-clocking that system and its memory adds a profound layer of uncertainty to troubleshooting. But the system wasn't only rock-stable with those settings: it was "tuned" with ample voltage to assure maximum consistent GFLOPs in iterations of LinX.

So I initially toyed with my settings -- to no avail -- waiting for days until resets occurred. Then, I thought it may have been RAM. I thought so initially, because setting the RAM back to stock voltages and timings seemed to eliminate it. But I didn't wait long enough, and purchased a 2x8GB set to replace my 4x4 set. Then, days later, I experienced another unannounced reset. The RAM swap had cost me $170.

I had been looking for clues in forums across the web for months. "Event ID 41" seemed to be a common problem with Windows 7 users. Reasons cited: "OC settings;" "PSU;" "RAM;" and . . . . . VGA malfunction. Moreover, some posters seemed to think it was SOFTWARE DRIVERS for hardware like VGA -- not the hardware itself. The info I found per these latter possibilities seemed to prevail for NVidia graphics.

Couple weeks ago, I tried to install the new version for the GeForce card I have. The install left me with malfunction for my HDMI-to-AVR/HDTV setup and Media Center, so I reversed it. Finding these web-posts again, I decided to do a clean install, and I also discovered that the Media Center troubles were really my own fault.

Now, the system has been running 24/7 for seven days. Not a glitch. Not a hitch.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Save yourself some money and trouble by troubleshooting the drivers FIRST. I'm still not entirely "out of the water" for the elapsed time, but I've thrown everything I could at the system short of watching TV on it while running PRIME95. I've run games with the TV running -- done all sorts of stuff. If the problem was still there, it should've resurfaced. But it hasn't.

ALSO, the other "MORAL:" You commit yourself to additional complexity by over-clocking and by using your system for a lot more than just "Media Center." You have to accept that. But you should be careful and methodical enough to avoid spending $170 when you don't need it.

On the up side, I've got RAM modules to either test or use in my next PC building project. But let's face it: Overall, I still spent the same amount of money . . .