SLI causing sporadic freezings and BSoD's in games

[Shamshir]

So, I have 2 GTX 680's in my system. I keep getting random BSoD's and screen lockups that occur only while playing games. I had not encountered any similar issues before adding the new 680 to my system. I tried running several beta and WHQL drivers but the problem persists. I tested both GPUs separately, each one for 3 weeks and I did not get a single lockup or BSoD (except one lockup with the new 680). But the random BSoD's returned as soon as I installed both GPU's again. They happen once every 2 or 3 days. Could be a faulty PSU or PCIe slot? Or not enough power?

I really have no idea what to do next.

*Update:

Sometimes my system wakes up from sleep by itself. Does that mean a faulty PSU or RAM?


PC specs:

Asus Sabertooth z77 (latest BIOS version)
Intel i5 3570K @ 4.2Ghz (stable OC)
2x EVGA GTX 680 Superclocked 2GB in SLI (310.90 WHQL drivers)
8GB Kingston HyperX Blu @ 1333Mhz
1000W Thermaltake TR2 RX 80+ Bronze PSU (dual +12v rails)

 

[denis280]

what are the BSOD code.

 

[Steltek]

Have you tried dropping your system back to standard clocks? It is usually futile to try to troubleshoot this type of problem on a overclocked system.

 

[Shamshir]

what are the BSOD code.

So far, all my BSoD's have been like this:

==================================================
Dump File : 021113-4945-01.dmp
Crash Time : 2/11/2013 3:48:41 AM
Bug Check String : DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION
Bug Check Code : 0x000000c4
Parameter 1 : 00000000`00000091
Parameter 2 : 00000000`00000002
Parameter 3 : fffff800`0380bcc0
Parameter 4 : 00000000`00000000
Caused By Driver : nvlddmkm.sys
Caused By Address : nvlddmkm.sys+18f9b8
File Description :
Product Name :
Company :
File Version :
Processor : x64
Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+7efc0
Stack Address 1 :
Stack Address 2 :
Stack Address 3 :
Computer Name :
Full Path : C:\Windows\Minidump\021113-4945-01.dmp
Processors Count : 4
Major Version : 15
Minor Version : 7601
Dump File Size : 297,048
==================================================

 

[Shamshir]

Have you tried dropping your system back to standard clocks? It is usually futile to try to troubleshoot this type of problem on a overclocked system.

Irrelevant. I overclocked my CPU just a few days ago. I have been getting these crashes and lockups since December.

 

[denis280]

So far, all my BSoD's have been like this:

==================================================
Dump File : 021113-4945-01.dmp
Crash Time : 2/11/2013 3:48:41 AM
Bug Check String : DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION
Bug Check Code : 0x000000c4
Parameter 1 : 00000000`00000091
Parameter 2 : 00000000`00000002
Parameter 3 : fffff800`0380bcc0
Parameter 4 : 00000000`00000000
Caused By Driver : nvlddmkm.sys
Caused By Address : nvlddmkm.sys+18f9b8
File Description :
Product Name :
Company :
File Version :
Processor : x64
Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+7efc0
Stack Address 1 :
Stack Address 2 :
Stack Address 3 :
Computer Name :
Full Path : C:\Windows\Minidump\021113-4945-01.dmp
Processors Count : 4
Major Version : 15
Minor Version : 7601
Dump File Size : 297,048
==================================================

it is cause by the drivers.one question when you do a driver update.do you perform a clean install?

 

[rozkan]

I haven't had one of those in last 10 years.

 

[Shamshir]

it is cause by the drivers.one question when you do a driver update.do you perform a clean install?

I used to update to beta drivers as soon as they came out, but after I got those BSoD's I learned to stick to WHQL. I'm now running the latest 314.07 WHQL drivers.

I always uninstall the old drivers using the control panel before doing a "clean install" in the Nvidia installer. I do not use any 3rd party software such as DriverSweeper.

Are you sure it's the drivers that are causing the problem? I tried many drivers but that didn't help. BTW, today I got a black screen while playing Empire: Total War. At first the screen froze and the sound got somehow glitched, then my monitor lost the signal. Had to restart the system.

 

[denis280]

When you first installed the cards, did you put them into the system at the same time and boot up with the SLI bridge on? If so, first uninstall the Nvidia drivers. You can do it through add/remove programs without a problem. Shut down, remove the SLI bridge and start the PC with both cards in. Install the Nvidia drivers with no SLI bridge on. Shut down. Put the bridge on and start up. Open control panel and enable SLI .

(except one lockup with the new 680)

and this could be the problem.

 

[Shamshir]

When you first installed the cards, did you put them into the system at the same time and boot up with the SLI bridge on? If so, first uninstall the Nvidia drivers. You can do it through add/remove programs without a problem. Shut down, remove the SLI bridge and start the PC with both cards in. Install the Nvidia drivers with no SLI bridge on. Shut down. Put the bridge on and start up. Open control panel and enable SLI.

I'm going to try this tomorrow and do some heavy gaming and 3dMark 11 stress testing. I'll keep you updated.

Thanks.

 

[Shamshir]

I followed your instructions and, so far, that seems to have stopped the BSoD's. I ran 3DMark 11 on max settings for an hour without any problem. Played Empire: Total War for 2 hours on ultra settings and it didn't crash or freeze like it used to. However, something weird happened when I was playing Natural Selection 2. At first, it was running 60+ FPS, then it froze, screen went black for a few seconds and then switched back but with extremely low FPS, maybe 10-15. Had to restart the game in order to fix that. It happened 3 times today. I think this is a driver issue, because I didn't get those black screens followed by low FPS with the previous Nvidia drivers. Why does it happen with games and not 3DMark 11 which is far more demanding?

Any further suggestions?

 

[denis280]

Glad it works. and for the gaming experience you should post in · PC Gaming

 

[Shamshir]

Alright. Thank you very much for your help. A true gentleman you are