System passes all stress tests but gets BSODs during basic work

J

JVOBIKER

Weaksauce
Joined
Oct 4, 2004
Messages
70
I just built a new computer and I have been overclocking it over the past few days. Everything was running stable and then two days ago I was using a currency charting program and I got a BSOD that displayed for maybe a second and then the computer immediately restarted. At first I thought it was the software, which has some cpu intensive indicators running but nothing that should even come close to stressing a Q6600.

The problem is, the BSODs happen randomly. I started running stress tests trying to cause another BSOD so that I could take a picture to read what it said (the error message displays for less than a second before the computer restarts) but it wouldn't work. I was running two instances of SuperPI 32M, doing Prime95 blend tests, stressing my GPU (ATITools & 3dMark) but they all passed just fine. There was one time where it gave me a BSOD during tests but I don't think it had anything to do with the stress tests running because I ran them again and everything ran fine.

I initially thought it was my memory (G.Skill PC-8000 4GB), which is clocked at 800Mhz (under its rated speed) with rather tight timings (4-4-3-12) and a voltage of 2.0. Thing is, I ran as many stress tests as I could for it and they all passed. I ran MemTest86+ through the boot cd (passed test #5 15 times with no errors), then ran HCI MemTest through windows and then two instances of SuperPi 32M. Also did 1hr30min of blend through Prime95 and an hour long OCCT stress test.

Now I am kind of thinking it might be the video card. I installed an Accelero S1 and I think some of the thermal compound got smeared cause the heatsink kept on shifting while I was trying to line up the screw holes.

I also have a ThermalRight HR-05 installed on my northbridge, which was also a tricky install because of the piece of shit mounting bracket they give you. I thought maybe it wasn't installed right and the northbridge is overheating.

Just now, I opened up my computer to replace one of the fans and connect an internal card reader. Right after windows loaded and installed the drivers, I opened up CPUID to check my temps and got another BSOD. Then after it restarted, I got my camera all set up and tried running some stuff to stress it cause i figured it was getting worse and would happen pretty quickly but got nothing.

Usually when you get a BSOD, it just stays there on the screen. So I am wondering what could be failing that would cause the computer to restart right away. I'm sure one of you has some ideas.

I wish I had a picture to post but because its so erratic and only lasts for a second, I can never catch it.

System:
Intel Q6600 G0 Stepping (lapped TRUE)
Gigabyte DS3L
G.Skill PC-8000 4GB
eVGA 8800GT
WD 320GB
Asus DVD-R
Corsair HX520
 
What os you running? On XP If you right click on 'My computer', select 'Properties', then on the 'Advanced' tab, in the 'Startup and Recovery' section click the 'Settings' button. Under the 'System Failure' section see if the 'Automatically restart' checkbox is set, if it is, clear it and 'OK' everything. That should get the BSOD to stay on screen.

It might be worth looking through the event logs to see if it's been recorded there. (Right click 'My Computer', select 'Manage', it's in there somewhere.)
 
I've seen this before - a nice overclock that's stable under stress tests, but I couldn't even browse the internet without a crash.

Perfectly stable with Prime95, SuperPi and all Memtest86 tests - except Memtest86 Test#8. After adjusting RAM timings to pass multiple passes of Memtest86 Test#8, the system was rock-stable.

Hope this helps!
 
Memtest #7, the random number sequence, always seems to me to be the test that'll expose flaky ram where the other tests run fine. I'd say run memtest #7 for a good couple of hours and see what you get.

Definitely sounds like memory. You've got 4gig, is that 4 sticks though? If so, that's your problem right there. Some (most) motherboards just can't play nice with 4 sticks of ram. I ran into this a while back with my nf3. Random crashing where all stress tests run fine.

If you have 2 sticks, I'd say tinker with some of the timings, loosen them a tad.
 
mrrooster said:
What os you running? On XP If you right click on 'My computer', select 'Properties', then on the 'Advanced' tab, in the 'Startup and Recovery' section click the 'Settings' button. Under the 'System Failure' section see if the 'Automatically restart' checkbox is set, if it is, clear it and 'OK' everything. That should get the BSOD to stay on screen.

It might be worth looking through the event logs to see if it's been recorded there. (Right click 'My Computer', select 'Manage', it's in there somewhere.)
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. The error was a "Page fault in nonpaged area." Apparantely this is a very difficult error to diagnose but I searched online and found an awesome forum (techspot.com) where they figure out your bsod error for you. All you do is attach some of your minidumps and they can pinpoint the problem (hardware related, driver related, etc.)

Yesterday, I re-ran Memtest doing all tests. I just woke up and it was on its 14th pass with no errors at all. I am using a 4gig set of two 2gig dimms, btw

I reset my page file because this was recommended on the techspot forum and now I'm gonna set up a new thread with my minidumps. Hopefully they'll find the culprit.
 
I actually just went to that site a few hours ago. My error id is 0x00000050: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA. That one can be caused by many different things, which is why it's difficult to diagnose.
 
I should be the last person trying to give advise here but I recently went through the same thing and I am not 100% sure of t but my OCZ PC2-8500 is rated at 1066mhz from 2.1 to 2.3 and everytime I set it to 1066mhz (2.1 up to 2.3 it does not matter) and the timings are always at 5-5-5-15, I can't stay stable for more than 5 minutes but the only difference here is that my rig would freeze instead of BSOD. I use windows XP Pro w/SP2 and 2 x 1GB

If I use the ram at notch or two lower than 1066mhz, I am golden.
 
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