Need some help - 8800 GTX

S

Snakekilla

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Messages
134
i'm having some issues on windows media, or any of my video viewing apps freezing on me, or just having some sort of error and freezing the image (audio keeps playing), random issues, this happeneds at least 70% of the time, random times, at the start of the video, or near end, or middle, fully random.

I think it may be my settings, i maxed out everything since i got a nice rig and nice vid card, but what is ur suggestion on the nvida settings to play the best looking and best performance?
 
come on guys, dont be like this.. i need help. i'm also having freeze issues on 2142, locking up my PC 100% forcing me to make a force reboot via tower. Nothing seems as clear as when i got my card.. please help. or at least guide me to another board or site that can..
 
What have you done so far?
Issues since updating anything? - Try rolling back to an earlier system restore point.
Issues only with BF2142 - Try reinstalling with latest DirectX .
Issues with video - try installing CCCP codec pack
 
What have you done so far?
Issues since updating anything? - Try rolling back to an earlier system restore point.
Issues only with BF2142 - Try reinstalling with latest DirectX .
Issues with video - try installing CCCP codec pack
Click to expand...

well i've been dealing with it, but now i'm just sick of it. I had it since i got the pc built (custom). I didnt reformat at least 1 yr and 6months since i got the pc, recently like 1-2 months ago reformatted clean start. Same issues. Installed the latest DirectX a month ago when i reformatted, latest nvida drivers.

I havnt tried reinstalling codec pack (i use all in one codec pack)

I only play 2142 (lack of time), i used to play cod4 didnt have many issues there, but 2142 very well known with million and trillions of bugs. But i not sure if my issue is fixable, its gotten alot worse since i reformatted, i freezed up more often after the format. (While gaming in 2142) I get very nice frames in 2142, close all the useless programs i dont need or use in game, so i get like 120+ fps, so no slow downs, just locks up at a random time in game, not just the game, but the entire OS!.. lol. before i reformatted i did freeze up but only the game, so i Ctrl+Alt Del to end task the program (game). Now its impossible, i gotta force reboot.
 
Make sure all your cables and cards are well plugged in.

Also if you have any spare SATA cables, try borrowing from a freind known good SATA cable.

I used to have random freezing, and it turn out a bad SATA was the culprit. When a game tried to access a drive it would hard freeze.

Anyways, good luck.
 
thx i'll try that. anyone else have any other different ideas? i think i fixed my video media problem, but i gotta see and wait now for if there is any problems. I installed CCCP codecs, which are different then i had before, so hopefully it would help.
 
i have a slow HDD and that's what causes my freezeups. just throwing that out there

And my X-Fi Xtremegamer is broken, i get chipmunk sped up voices and sometimes everyones voices go slowmo on ventrillo. pretty funny actually- but annoying.
 
Suprfire said:
i have a slow HDD and that's what causes my freezeups. just throwing that out there

And my X-Fi Xtremegamer is broken, i get chipmunk sped up voices and sometimes everyones voices go slowmo on ventrillo. pretty funny actually- but annoying.
Click to expand...

as for my HDD is WD Raptor 74GB, chances of that slowing down is very slim unless it is damaged, and for my X-Fi i dont got problems ethier from what i can tell. But thx for the idea.
 
how about if i have my settings set to the highest amount that i can? u think having it on the highest would damage the card or performance?
 
One thing I would check just to be safe are the temperatures. Download and install Rivatuner, set the temperature monitor running in the background, and then play 2142 for a while. After maybe 30 mins or so, alt-tab out and check the temps over the past few mins, and if it breaks 90 then that's probably your problem right there.

I used to have an 8800GTX in a poorly ventilated case and it would sometimes freeze in exactly the same way during UT3, Crysis, etc. If this is the problem then have a look and see if there's dust blocking fans or anything like that.
 
I have 8800 GTSs in SLI and I had the same issue. As dmfg said check the temps. I found that my load temps started around 75-80 degrees C and after playing a bit they would move up to 85-90 and I would freeze up. I ended up water cooling the video cards, my load temps hit around 54-58 degrees now and idle around 45 and I've had no issues. The 8800s just run hot.

1. As dmfg said check for dust...dust prevents heatsinks and fans from working properly as it restricts air flow and impedes thermal transfer.
2. Make sure air can flow freely through your case by moving cables and such to the side when possible.
3. If the computer is backed up against a wall pull it out a bit, heat from the exhaust fan in the rear of the case will build up and affect your system if it doesn't have some room.
4. If your computer is in an enclosed space make sure cool air can get in and hot air can get out.
5. I'm not sure what your room temp is but if it's feasible to lower it, it can help.

Now regarding your question. Running at max settings will put more demand on your card and generate more heat since it will be pulling more power and working harder. Generally speaking running a card harder will lower lifespan a bit as it will cause the card to run hotter. If you can compensate for the heat by properly maintaining your system and ensuring adequate air flow, you should be fine. Unless you get a bad card (or other hardware issues) it will more than likely need to be upgraded before it dies from use.
 
dmfg said:
One thing I would check just to be safe are the temperatures. Download and install Rivatuner, set the temperature monitor running in the background, and then play 2142 for a while. After maybe 30 mins or so, alt-tab out and check the temps over the past few mins, and if it breaks 90 then that's probably your problem right there.

I used to have an 8800GTX in a poorly ventilated case and it would sometimes freeze in exactly the same way during UT3, Crysis, etc. If this is the problem then have a look and see if there's dust blocking fans or anything like that.
Click to expand...

where would i get this "RivaTuner"?
i tired download.com, nothing, i tried google, i dont really see any reliable places to go and download it.

and F a good number would be? i seen when u hit 100 F is bad, but 90 F is ok. I mean my game doesnt only freeze, but my entire system locks up, forcing me to make a force reboot.

U think checking out some homemade fan filters would help a lot?

I have 8800 GTSs in SLI and I had the same issue. As dmfg said check the temps. I found that my load temps started around 75-80 degrees C and after playing a bit they would move up to 85-90 and I would freeze up. I ended up water cooling the video cards, my load temps hit around 54-58 degrees now and idle around 45 and I've had no issues. The 8800s just run hot.

1. As dmfg said check for dust...dust prevents heatsinks and fans from working properly as it restricts air flow and impedes thermal transfer.
Click to expand...

well what would the numbers be if its in F instead of C?

and my own room i get a lot of dust in my room, i may consider buying a air cleaner thing to clean up my air in my room, hopefully that would give less dust in the machine and in my own lungs lol..
 
My system locked up completely same as you describe with the sound like a broken record and all.
The only way I could get back on was to recycle the power.
Though a few times all that happened was the sound getting stuck but I think that was more of an issue with my soundcard being fried.

75 C = 167 F
80 C = 176 F
85 C = 185 F
90 C = 194 F

http://http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/temp_conv.htm

or just google it (xx C = ? F)

As for safe temps I haven't really seen any verified numbers myself so I can't help there, but I have seen alot of posts in various forums stating high temps seen with the 8800s.
 
On Rivatuner, where it shows your 8800GTX's memory bit (384-bit) and 768MB of VRAM, there should be a small button on the right. Clicking on that brings up more options, there you should see "Hardware Monitoring".

For added clarity, this is on the main screen of Riva where you open it.
 
ok i got it.. now what temps i should keep and eye on, like try to keep it at 70C or lower while gaming?
 
Check the core temperature. Most 8800 GTXs will peak at around 85 Celcius after heavy usage. You're not going to get it 70C without a very, very well ventilated case.

For now it's easiest if you just use this as a way to diagnose what the problem actually is. Only after you work out what the problem is, can you try to fix it.

Incidently, if you're already having problems with a single GTX, it's probably not a good idea to add a second, at least until you're sure you can deal with the heat they pump out.
 
Try taking the card out, and plugging it back into the mother board.

I had this same issue with my HTPC, and it was just the vid card has come a little loose.
 
dmfg said:
Check the core temperature. Most 8800 GTXs will peak at around 85 Celcius after heavy usage. You're not going to get it 70C without a very, very well ventilated case.

For now it's easiest if you just use this as a way to diagnose what the problem actually is. Only after you work out what the problem is, can you try to fix it.

Incidently, if you're already having problems with a single GTX, it's probably not a good idea to add a second, at least until you're sure you can deal with the heat they pump out.
Click to expand...

k i'll game and montor the temps.

Try taking the card out, and plugging it back into the mother board.

I had this same issue with my HTPC, and it was just the vid card has come a little loose.
Click to expand...

I'll try this when i see if i got any temp issues 1st.
 
freezing, locking up is a first sign of a RAM issue OP not a videocard. Check your sticks. I'm willing to bet one or two are effed.
 
update..

I took the vid card out, put it back in. My pc got into a Boot Loop. So this was my 1st time ever having a boot loop and i didnt have any other access to the web to ask for more help from ya guys, i had to take it to my local tech in the mall, he didnt know what was wrong to fix the boot loop. He tried new vid card, same prob., new rams, same prob. (now this prob. i'm talking about is the boot loop prob.).. So he then tried wires, same prob. So he only tried booting up with only the C drive (windows) no stroage drives (only 1 i had). It worked!.. Sadly my stoage drive might be shot and unreviable. He will be charging me $45 an hour for 3 hours of labor if he cant get any data off the drive or revive the drive at all. If he cant, then only 1 hour of labor ($45).. This whole mess cost me $132, not including the future work he planning on doing which is reviving the stoage drive, of 300GBs. (at full cap.)
 
update...

after paying a full load to $300 to my local repair guy, on RivaTuner

which temp i should look at for my gpu temps?

i see Core Temp and Ambient Temp, i am assuming Core is the processor and Ambient i am totally clueless on.. lol.. Can someone help tell me which temps are gpu temps?
 
Usually Ambient is the PCB temperature, sometimes it's the RAM chips too but I could be wrong.
 
I have had the same problem with my eVGA 8800GTX since I first bought it. The only way I have been able to get it quick locking up is to pull the side off of my case, and install a sedcondary PCI slot card cooler underneath my GTX card to keep the card cool. I have a thermaltake armor case with 2x120MM intake fans, as well as a 90 MM and a 120MM exhaust fan but my card temps were still mid 90's at idle and shot up to well over 115C under load. I thought this was the problem, but eVGA says that they do not view a card as defective unless it runs over 120C at idle as the cards are designed to run hot and at much higher temps than I am seeing. You could try pulling the side off your case too, and install an aftermarket slot cooler and see if it gives you any extra stability as well. Running the machine like this, I can run most games except for really graphically intensive ones for almost an hour before the artifacting begins and I have to shut down.

Snakekilla, download nvtemplogger.exe - it is a great little app for keeping your eyes on the scorching temps the GTX's produce.
 
Well, I just googled nvtemplogger and the first result that came up was the link you had provided. Certainly the OP isn't that slow that he wouldn't have been able to find it himself?

Jeesh.
 
I actually googled for "nvtemplogger.exe" and all I got was the windows process sites explaining about what it does then I googled for the name without .exe, got better results. So I'm just saving other people's times if they did the same way of searching as I did.
 
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