GeForce 6800 and random freezes

[N8PIZZUTO]

I understand if I spent all that mny on a alienware in stead of building my own I wouldn't want to viod their warranty. I sry for the newb callin.

What you do is the plate covering the card with the grafix you need to remove then just tighten the screws under that and tighten them good but don't strip them out. Good luck! :lol2:

[ubersoldat]

Sweet, I can call up the tech support and tell them what I'll do, then I won't void the warranty. :D

[Boz]

I too have been having this freeze/lock up problem. I only experience it during counterstrike though. And usually when I just entered into smoke from a smoke bomb (it will not happen everytime though). It will freeze and eventually come back, but everything is all broken up, even when I go back to the desk top the screen is still broken up. I have to reboot to clear it up and it may be hours before it happens again. I called PNY tech support and they suggested upgrading my mobo chipset drivers, but that did not cure my problem. All other drivers are up to date. I don't believe this is a heat problem as it has happened min after I have booted up the computer and when I go to the temp controls in the settings, I am running well below what is in the recommended temp. Someone here recommended running ram in the nondual channel mode, I might try it, but the idea of doing this to make a $500 card work seems a bit much. I didn't spend good money on "like" ram so I couldn't take advantage of the dual channel mobo. I didn't buy the "top of the line card" to have to mess with it to get it to work. I will keep scanning this forum to see if anyone comes up w/ a good solution. I am not much into overclocking or messing w/ such things. Any help would be great.

System Specs:
Pentium 4 2.8Ghz
1 gig DDR 3200 RAM in dual channel mode
Intel 875 Mobo w/ 800Mzh FSB
Sound Blaster Audigy2
Direct X 9.0c
NVidia Drivers 61.76

[ubersoldat]

Yo N8PIZZUTO. I did what you said, and now I'm going to be testing the comp this week for any probs. Lets hope for the best. I never knew the screws where lose. lol!!!

[ubersoldat]

I just ran the game ground control 2. Before I fixed the gfx card, that game froze 5 minutes after the game started. Now I tryed the game, it broke the barrier, but when I turned up the graphics, it froze and made loud snaps noices on the speakers.

[awshucks101]

I didn't buy the "top of the line card" to have to mess with it to get it to work. I will keep scanning this forum to see if anyone comes up w/ a good solution. I am not much into overclocking or messing w/ such things. Any help would be great.
We almost have identical pc's, except my mb is the 865 chipset. Your stalls are with CS, mine are with D3. So far, I've tried switching drivers, and disabling fast writes with Riva, and neither worked. Like your card, my temps are well within spec when it happens.
If I can't find a fix for it soon, cards going back. I mean, what the hell is that? Game will just lock up and then start back up again. VERY annoying. This is a new one on me. Gonna go get an Antec 550 tomorrow, see if that helps.

P4 2.8C @3.1
Asus P4P800
1 Gb Geil 3500
Koolance Exos
Evga 6800GT
CDROM
80G Seagate
Zalman 400 psu

OK, found what I needed. Turns out I only had the mb drivers from Asus installed. Didn't have the Intel inf. software download. The AGP and the Bus were on the same IRQ before, the new inf file solved it.

[TheHelpful1]

I've tried disabling FW (first with rivatuner and then with the coolbits tweak which didnt stick), setting my core clock speeds the same 2d/3d and even lowering them both to the same speeds 400/400) yet Far Cry continues to lockup ~1min into each level. If i leave it alone, sometimes it will unfreeze itself and be fine until the next level and other times it just goes into a sceen full of artifacts and BSOD >> Reboots itself.

Geforce 6800 ultra (EVGA)
XP Pro
3.4GHZ EE
2 x 250GB HDD
edit: Also my PSU is 400 watts, which 'should' be enough since nvidia lowered the estimate to 350 watts.
help! :angel2:

[eva2000]

hate to break it to you 400W psu won't be enough http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=408035#post408035

because 3.4EE uses 103W of power and oc'd can use 180-200W just the cpu itself... that's 2-3 times more than regular cpus..

[TheHelpful1]

Guess i should drop in my spare antec trupower 480watt then?

[eva2000]

already answered in other thread ;)

[ubersoldat]

Thankfully I have a true 600watt psu. :D

[Boz]

Heat sink tightening and moving memory to single channel mode did not help my situation. My power supply is a 400W version but based on looking around here it may not be enough. I do have lots and lots of things that require power so hopefully this will solve my problem. (DVD Rom, CD Rom, CD Burner, 2 HD, 3 Fans, , floppy drive, SB Audigy 2 Platnum, plus power for the Mobo) I have ordered the 520W one recomended in the above posts. This was an upgrade I was planning when I purchased the Ultra, but when Nvidia posted the 350W requirement I thought 400W would be enough so I skipped that upgrade.

I have the PS coming via 2 day air....stay tuned for my results......

[awshucks101]

Well, just went and bought a brand new 550 TruePower for $150. Problem is still there. I've tried everything now except a bios flash. Gonna go try the new beta drivers. If that doesn't work...back to the "dark side". X800vivo time.
I really like this 6800gt, the 2XAA looked as good as 4X on my 9800 pro in D3. Even the CRT connector was easier to get to on the right side instead of on the left, like they are on most AGP cards. But, these random lock ups and restarts take the f'n cake. Guess its just new technology growing pains, I don't know... and really don't care. Lockups just started on BF:V now. A $400 video card shouldn't have to be baby sat to work right.

[Boz]

I totally agree!

[Ages120]

I have been having the same problem. Disabling fast writes in my bios fixed my problem although I am bummed I have to turn it off. My setup is a 3200+ newcastle, Chaintech VNF3-250, 1gb pc3200 corsair xl, and a BFG 6800gt OC, and an Antec true 480 ps.

[TheHelpful1]

I checked my bios too but i didnt see any thing for fast writes in my ASUS p4g800-E settings. To anyone else with said board, is it just not there or did i miss something?

awshucks101: What is the 12v amp rating on your new PSU?

[TheHelpful1]

Could heat issue on the 6800 ultra be the cause of random freezes? My idle temp right now (just web browsing, etc) is at 57*C.

I have 3 tubes of AS5 but dont really want to pry off the cooling stuff from my brand new card.

If I have to change things around, which one of these would be the better upgrade for VGA coolant?

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-216&depa=0 Does this even fit the 6800 ultras?

or this one
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-186-120&depa=0

[ubersoldat]

I get average of 66*C. Hmmm, maybe NVIDIA has to release a freakin patch to help uS!!!!!! Someone needs to contact Nvidia.

[Boz]

My temp runs right around 59 to 60 degrees. My last option is the power supply I ordered. Other than that it is a card issue or a driver issue from Nvidia. If that is the case then we are screwed until we get the new driver. :lame:

[ubersoldat]

I don't get it. I get a new alienware and the first game I play freezes. Either I'm going to blame Alienware or Nvidia.

[ubersoldat]

Wow. I change the Nvidia Driver to 61.34 and now 3dmark04 didnt freeze. I now get 10442 marks this time. Much faster than 8543. Hopefully that was the problem. :D You should all do the same too. :D

[awshucks101]

Wow. I change the Nvidia Driver to 61.34 and now 3dmark04 didnt freeze.

That should of been my first thing I did, instead of leaving on the 61.77 drivers. Still though, ANY officially released Forceware should work with this board. I can never recall having this many problems with a new pc component, EVER. I even got so frustrated last night, found a bios editor and flashed the bios core from 1.3 to 1.4. Same problem
...freeze ups in BF:V. This was after playing D3 late into Saturday nite, with no problems after I installed the Intel chipset software. Figured the problem was fixed, until trying to run BF:V.
Reflashed board back to defaults now and gonna try an older official driver. LAST CHANCE.
Found an X800 pro VIVO for the same price I paid for this board, and if the new drivers don't do the trick, so long my new little friend.

[Boz]

Where did you get 61.34 drivers???

[awshucks101]

They should be on your install CD with card. I'm still getting the freeze ups in BF:V BTW. The Watchdog logfile calls it an "infinite loop." I play it online with my friends all the time, so I gotta get it to work.
I just emailed EVGA tech support for a new revision 02 bios. I've heard it cures a lot of probs with card. I'm almost at my breaking point though, I really wanted this card to work.
My 465 chip intel board is an old dog, but I'm not upgrading until ddr2 and pci express come out, so I'm stuck with it. Plus, I like the dang thing, works good, I'm used to it.
I've tried every different setting I know, no IRQ conflicts, turned off memory and turbo acceleration, disabling fast writes BLAH BLAH FREAKIN BLAH.
I've read the 61.77's are the first to introduce shader 3.0. But I rolled back to the 61.34's and still had problems.
My sales receipt goes another 20 days...If the new bios doesn't work...Happy Trails my little plastic POS. If you figure out the problem, please post it, and I promise to do the same. Good luck.

[Boz]

Still no solution. Used coolbits to set my clockspeeds to the same speed. Both 2d and 3d I set to 425 and I still get the lockups. I am still waiting on my larger Powersupply, but I am beginning to doubt that that is even going to cure this problem. I have tried all other solutions on this site but the beefy power supply. Again....... :lame: on Nvida's part for putting out a POS card. Is there anyone out there NOT having problems???