Possible problem with 8800GT

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amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
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I am having some issues with more demanding games and am not sure what the issue really is.

This just started a couple days ago, prior to this everything was running fine. When trying to launch COD4 or Crysis, my computer completely shuts down and then reboots. I have tried reinstalling the video drivers and have pulled out one Ram stick and then swapped with the other, the problem persists. It will run COD2 just fine. It will also run COD4 on the lowest settings. I did manage to get it to run on a higher resolution(with AA off) for maybe 2-3minutes, then it shut down the computer and it rebooted.

Anyone have any thoughts? Is the card bad? I have had it for about 3 months and it has been working fine with all games up until now.
 
Engineer

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
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126
Possibly overheating? Since you've had it for 3 months, possibly dirty causing excess heat?

Maybe a few more details of your system including power supply, which 8800GT model, CPU, etc. Plenty of case fans (size)?

Details...details...
 
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amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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I did think of the possible heat issue, I cleaned it out very well. Rivatuner shows a max temp of 62C on the GPU. CPU hits 45C tops.

Specs:

Windows XP Home SP2
CPU E4500
Mobo Intel DG965RY
Ram 2Gb Corsair XMS2 PC6400
Video card EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512Mb Superclocked
HD 320Gb Seagate Barracuda
Optical Drives x2
Sony DVD ROM
Sony DVD/CD burner
PSU Ultra 500W X-connect
120mm rear case fan
2 80mm front case fans
1 80mm top case fan
Side air input as well
 
R

Raider1284

Senior member
Aug 17, 2006
809
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62C is nothing, its obviously not overheating. And since it runs other 3d games without any problem it must not be the card. My guess is a bad driver. Have you tried loading a different driver?
 
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Lithan

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2004
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Possibly PSU, Ultra's are free after MIR psu's which usually means there's a 300watt PSU inside that 500watt shell.
 
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amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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I have reinstalled the driver twice in safe mode, it has made no difference. COD4 will run on the lowest setting, and on 800x600. I tried 1024x768 with AA turned off, it ran for about a minute and then the computer shut down, after a second or two it rebooted.



I have been wondering about the power supply, I guess I thought they either worked or they didnt. Can they slowly go out? I've read some bad things about Ultra PSU's.
 
A

amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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Anyone? How likely is it the PSU is causing this?

I also had some recent start up issues, I shut down the computer to take it to another location and it behaved very strangely. It started for about a sec, then off no power. Came back on and then off again, it did this repeatedly. It did finally boot to the bios screen and then shut down again. It basically kept getting a little further along in the boot process until finally Windows loaded. I move it back and forth a couple times this weekend, this happened every time. Could this be related. Would a bad PSU cause something like this?

 
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imported_wired247

Golden Member
Jan 18, 2008
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I think it is very possible that the problem is with your PSU.

If your CPU or RAM is overclocked or "timings tightened" whatsoever, set them back to default, to eliminate them as a possible culprit. Especially with the RAM, make sure the voltage is set correctly and the timings are not enhanced at all, as my RAM has caused random crashes in Crysis for me when certain timings were tightened.

Then see if you can get the video card / system to fail during a stress test.





 
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Lithan

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2004
2,919
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Easy way to check, disconnect:
All this crap
Optical Drives x2
Sony DVD ROM
Sony DVD/CD burner
120mm rear case fan
2 80mm front case fans
1 80mm top case fan
Side air input as well
and turn off ALL overvolting and overclocks (those ramp up power draw a surprising amount)

If your problem goes away, you've found your problem. PSU doesnt have enough 12v.

If it doesn't. It wont totally rule out PSU, but I'd look elsewhere first at that point.
 
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amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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Nothing has been overclocked, its all at stock settings. My mobo wont allow any adjustments, its all at factory settings if you will. I have to keep one DVD drive though, in order to test the game, but I will try the rest.
 
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amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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Ok, I tried disconnecting all the fans and the second optical drive, same thing, it completely shuts down like someone hit the power switch, then a couple seconds later it reboots.

 
error8

error8

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2007
3,204
0
76
Originally posted by: amabee
Anyone? How likely is it the PSU is causing this?

I also had some recent start up issues, I shut down the computer to take it to another location and it behaved very strangely. It started for about a sec, then off no power. Came back on and then off again, it did this repeatedly. It did finally boot to the bios screen and then shut down again. It basically kept getting a little further along in the boot process until finally Windows loaded. I move it back and forth a couple times this weekend, this happened every time. Could this be related. Would a bad PSU cause something like this?
Click to expand...

From what you've said here it should be the PSU. Try using a friends PSU and see if the problem goes away. Ultra has a really bad reputation.
 
A

amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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Yeah, the problem is I don't anyone with anything over 250W and I doubt that would help prove much.

Any other possibilities?
 
S

Stiganator

Platinum Member
Oct 14, 2001
2,492
3
81
The problem is the Ultra X Connect, it is a POS. I had one, it destroyed a motherboard and couldn't run the new one. Get a quality PSU, like Antec, Enermax, etc.
 
J

JustaGeek

Platinum Member
Jan 27, 2007
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71
Originally posted by: Stiganator
The problem is the Ultra X Connect, it is a POS. I had one, it destroyed a motherboard and couldn't run the new one. Get a quality PSU, like Antec, Enermax, etc.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

EDIT: Try to disconnect/reconnect all the PSU wires, making sure that that all the plugs are seated properly.
 
A

arnav

Member
Nov 28, 2007
72
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I don't think you have enough amps on your 12v rails in your PSU.

I have a 500W PSU with two 12v rails with 16 amps on each rail. So, if I am doing this right I have a total of 32 amps. The 8800 GT requires a total of 26 amps.
I am running my card on the borderline and maybe thats why when my card goes up to around 57C when playing COD4, my screen goes blank. My PC still runs, but I have to manually restart it or Alt-Tab out of the game and wait for the card to cool down till I see the screen. Right now, I use a room fan to keep my card cool, but I just bought the AKIMBO kit from EVGA which is said to lower the temps around 25C more.
 
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amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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I checked all the connections, everything seems ok. It is rated at 34 amps, it only has one 12v rail.

Heres what I guess I dont get, it worked fine a couple days ago, could it just have finally had to much?

I can run COD2 on its highest settings, no issues. I could also run COD4 on its highest settings as well, now the best I can do is 800x600 with AA turned off. Would COD4 make the card work that much harder?

 
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Lithan

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2004
2,919
0
0
Huh. I misread your post. I thought you had just bought the card.

So you're 24/7 100% stable in 2d but reboot in 3d? Sounds like memory or memory controller (ie motherboard) problem to me. It's possible it's PSU, but usually it wouldnt only happen in 3d if the PSU was dying and it would have shown up right after the hardware change if it was a underpowered issue. UNLESS your room is significantly hotter now than in recent months.

Make SURE that Northbridge fan and PSU fan are running.
 
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Lithan

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2004
2,919
0
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Originally posted by: amabee
Anyone? How likely is it the PSU is causing this?

I also had some recent start up issues, I shut down the computer to take it to another location and it behaved very strangely. It started for about a sec, then off no power. Came back on and then off again, it did this repeatedly. It did finally boot to the bios screen and then shut down again. It basically kept getting a little further along in the boot process until finally Windows loaded. I move it back and forth a couple times this weekend, this happened every time. Could this be related. Would a bad PSU cause something like this?
Click to expand...

I've seen that twice. Both times the PSU's internal fan was dead.

THIS sounds more like a dying PSU than the 3d rebooting problem.
 
A

amabee

Member
Dec 16, 2007
41
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COD2 is also a 3D game though, correct? It will run at a 1024x768 res and 4X AA.

COD4 used to run like this as well, up until Friday after moving my computer. Now it will run at 640X480 and 4X AA, but with an 800X600 resolution it wont it even run with 2X AA.
Crysis has this same issue now, so I dont think its just COD4.

Basically, older somewhat less demanding games seem to still work just fine, newer games, that did work just fine a few days ago, are now not working correctly.

Temps are all normal, no Northbridge fan, PSU fans are both running.
I guess I am wondering if something could have partially damaged the PSU when it was plugged in at this other location.
 
error8

error8

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2007
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Even if the PSU is not faulty ( small chance for that ) , it would be wise to buy a better quality unit. You'll sleep better. ;)
 
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Lithan

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2004
2,919
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That's pretty crazy. I'd say 70% chance its a dying PSU, 15% chance its dying mobo, 10% chance its bad vmem, 5% chance it's other.
 
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