GeForce 6800 and random freezes

[ubersoldat]

Ok, still some freezes but it kicks back into the game afterword. Although even the small freezing tends to ruin the experience. God why aren't Nvidia doing anything, god this is getting on my nerves.

[awshucks101]

Well, the extent of Evga tech support was; we have no new bios files to give you, and did you try the card in a different system? LOL.
Their e-mail made my decision for me. Just ordered the X800. May even return this Antec 550 I bought for the GT also.
Oh well, I've learned more about bios settings, and how to make hardware compatible than I ever thought I could or wanted. Hopefully, the new card, which is just a faster version of what I already had, won't give me any problems.

[eva2000]

for people freezing maybe this would help (besides psu being the problem)

While browsing a few forums I came across the easier way to force 2D/3D to same speeds. Before i was just adjusting 3D then 2D to same speeds. But you can do this instead... haven't tried it yet as I just enabled it.

http://www.fileshosts.com/pentium4/D1/asus/p4c800e_results/HC200_results/3.2EE/OCZ/PC3500LE/2x512/Asus6800U/images/rivatuner_settings/forceperf_level1.jpg

http://www.fileshosts.com/pentium4/D1/asus/p4c800e_results/HC200_results/3.2EE/OCZ/PC3500LE/2x512/Asus6800U/images/rivatuner_settings/forceperf_level2.jpg

http://www.fileshosts.com/pentium4/D1/asus/p4c800e_results/HC200_results/3.2EE/OCZ/PC3500LE/2x512/Asus6800U/images/rivatuner_settings/forceperf_level3.jpg

seems to work the same as when setting 2D manually to same 3D speeds

3.2EE@ 200fsb

Asus 6800U
@ 425/1100 = 13,059 (http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=2997107)
@ 450/1100 = 13,740 (http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=2997101)

http://www.fileshosts.com/pentium4/D1/asus/p4c800e_results/HC200_results/3.2EE/OCZ/PC3500LE/2x512/Asus6800U/200-200-2226-8-inf-64u-1.55-3-1.6_Turbo_PAM/61.34/3dmark2003_425-1100_13059.jpg

http://www.fileshosts.com/pentium4/D1/asus/p4c800e_results/HC200_results/3.2EE/OCZ/PC3500LE/2x512/Asus6800U/200-200-2226-8-inf-64u-1.55-3-1.6_Turbo_PAM/61.34/3dmark2003_450-1200_13740.jpg

but will try other apps as well

[TheHelpful1]

Anyone know if the Zalman (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-216&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE) will fit the 6800 Ultras?

[Stevandy]

I've found that the force 3D performance mode like above helps, but does not eliminate freezes that last for about 5 secs.

[ubersoldat]

I think the 5 second freezes is cause by heating. Whenever my gfx I think hits 80*C it will freeze for 5 seconds so it can cool down.

[Eltigre88]

When my card freezes in DOOM 3 all I have to do is hit ctl+alt+del and wait for the processes box to come up. When it comes up the game unfreezes and I hit esc to continue playing. Not too bad till they get a driver fix.

[Boz]

Still waiting on my power supply. Played Far Cry for 40 min before the freezing started. My vid card was actually quite hot at that poin to the touch but the desktop temp still only read 64C degrees. Could this be wrong and all of this is caused by overheating? I have my case side off with a fan pointed directly at the thing. Not sure how else I can get it much cooler. Doesn't seem right that that card was hot to the touch though. I don't want to void any warranties by removing anything. I did slightly tighten the heat sink as mentioned in this forum... ever so slightly.

[ubersoldat]

64*C is like 101*F It actually really hot. When I press control alt delete it works but the whole screen gets distorted and freaky.

[KickAssCop]

I have been reading through this thread. It will be nice to know if this is an issue with all nVidia 6800GTs or just a vendor specific issue. Also does this issue effect a lot of people. If yes I am seriously reconsidering shelling 400+ bucks on this card. Please is there a solution and do all the people notice 5 second pauses?

[Killall]

Well, i got an XFX 6800 ultra work fine at stock speeds (425/1.2). I tired to OC it to 450 core but farcry will get those 10 secs pauzes (core temp reads about 65). If i back down the core to 440 all is fine.. so heat does seem to be an issue.

[toddt1233]

I just purchased the eVGA 6800GToc and built it with the Asus K8N-E Deluxe NForce 3 250 mobo and 3400+ 64bit and I have been having the same freezing problems when playing Rainbow 6, Raven Shield and 3dMark 03. I have trouble shot it down to the card when I put my eVGA 5900XT in and had no problems what so ever. System runs fine with the 5900. I found this website last night and was planing on shipping my 6800 back to Newegg today when I found this nice source of fixes last night. I will be trying them tonight when I get home and will post the results.

I hope that Asus, eVGA, NVidia and so on come out with a patch/fix for this problem quick.

[ubersoldat]

OK that definatley excites. Please test it quick. I need the results so that 3d Studio Max would stop freezing. I modeled a sweet double barrel shotgun, then never before had the 3d max freeze. Now since it froze, I had to restart and then I found out the save file was corrupt and can't open. :(

[N8PIZZUTO]

I have a PNY-6800-GT, I just bought my new NV Silencer 5 this thing rocks I am overclocked to 420/1150 I get 12,356 in 3dmark03 default settings. I am running @69c under load that is the highest temp it used to go up to 87c this cooler is what all you GT ppl need if your not afraid of the warranty crap HEAT is the problem. I am a technichian I think Nvidia needs to take a good hard look @ improving the cooling solution on this card. Well hope this helps out take care guys.

[Killall]

I dont get it.. people getting 87 degrees.. My card is max 68 and then it alrdy starts to crapp out in games so how the hell can ya get 87 degrees and still play games?

[myshkinbob]

OK that definatley excites. Please test it quick. I need the results so that 3d Studio Max would stop freezing. I modeled a sweet double barrel shotgun, then never before had the 3d max freeze. Now since it froze, I had to restart and then I found out the save file was corrupt and can't open. :(

check out c:\3dsmax6\autoback you'll find 3 autobak.max and 1 maxback.bak, they're all backups of the last scene you worked on, i think the default backup period is 10 minutes, so your shotgun will exist there somewhere providing it was the last scene you worked on.

Personally i like to save my scenes in incremental filenames, ie shotgun1.max edit it a bit, save as shotgun2.max, that way you have plenty of backups plus if you dislike the results from a change you make you can go right back through all your editing to where you can correct it, without having to start over.

[ubersoldat]

Ok thanks. Now why should I buy something extra just to get the gfx card to work properly. You spend either $300 to $500. Thats expensive for a buggy card.

[N8PIZZUTO]

I dont get it.. people getting 87 degrees.. My card is max 68 and then it alrdy starts to crapp out in games so how the hell can ya get 87 degrees and still play games? :lame:
I think I said I have a 6800GT not Ultra the Gt's need a bigger cooler they are almost the exact same card. besides the clock frequncies witch are easily changed either driver level overclocking or by flashing card but the 6800GT's have a seroius cooling issue. (newb)

[Boz]

Alright folks....I installed my newly arrived, via Fedex, Ocz Powerstream powersupply, 520watts after work today and guess what.......drum rolll please.........I just spent 3 hours straight playing Far Cry and not one freeze. My 400 watt Antec was crapping out on me it seams and was causing my problem. I have not yet tried CS to see if the smoke still cause the freeze and crashing. Just for a review of things that I tried b4 the power supply arrived today incase anyone is keeping tabs:

1 Updated to Direct X 9.0c
2 Updated Motherboard Chipset
3 updated to 66.77 Nvidia Drivers
4 updated Mobo Bios (this was a bit hairy, as the new bios didn't recognize my sata HD right away)

All of the above may have helped me, but did not solve the freezing/crashing problem.

5 upgraded 400watt antec power supply to 520watt OcZ Power supply

After doing this one I got a 3 hour session in on Far Cry w/ no problems. The core temp is running at about 63C. I do have the case side off and a fan blowing directly onto my computer.

One minor setback "beware the upgrade", now my very large tower case is not nearly large enough as this Ocz ps is a monster, not to mention the extra shielding that is around most of the wires. Not sure I could close my case now if I wanted to. Anyone got any suggestions for a good and very large tower case?

PS, I will update again and let anyone know if I am or am not having more problems.

[Boz]

Went to go play CS after my post and first Smoke I hit, it froze. Stayed that way for about a min. I then ctrl,alt, delete back to desk top and the screen is all broken up. Reboot....all is fine....at least until the next time I hit CS smoke. Well, I got in a good session of Far Cry which is a mem and graphics hog, but a 5 year old game w/ updates cause it to freeze? I guess I will spend tomorrow night on the phone again w/ PNY Tech Support. This is $#&!-ing :lame: to have to go through this for a $500 dollar card.

[N8PIZZUTO]

is CS open GL? or is it Direct3d. Has anyone else had this problem I think it is a physical incompatability most games are going to have to release a patch for the newer cards to work properly. This is my take on this CS issue. Wait for a Steam update hopefully they will figue out a fix.

[ubersoldat]

CS is both. THough I think something is terribly wrong with the design of the card. Though I hope a new Nvidia update would fix it. Please let me know what you get from the PNY tech support, I to have a PNY, Geforce 6800 ultra. $500 for a major setback. Thats so worth every penny. (sarcasm)

[coldfirenj]

Ubersoldat, I RMA'ed my PNY 6800U a few weeks ago. The got my card back quickly with a newer bios revision that fixed my freezing problems. Hope that help your decision!

[KickAssCop]

This thread is putting me off everyday from the 6800 series. Please tell me there is a solution to this. I hope some of the vendors ship out a rev 2 card or something since I am in Pakistan and getting a card shipped from the states is already another 60 bucks. RMA is something I cannot possibly afford. Dammit!

[toddt1233]

as posted before, I put my eVGA 6800gt but in and tried the different fixes that have been listed here. Well it did not work. The freezes are still there. I talked to eVGA tech support yesterday and they stated that they knew about the freezing problems with the other 6800's but the did not know of any problems with the GT's. He stated that they have bios up dates for the other 6800's but not the GT's. So if you own a eVGA 6800/Ultra, I would contact eVGA to get this bios update. I am sure other card mfg's have a bios update also for there cards.

As for me, I am going to go ahead and RMA my 6800GT and hope that I have a defective card. What leads me to think that I do, is I also get BSOD at time with the card.

Until then, I will continue to use my 5900XT that has looked the best that it has ever since I bought it in this new system. Kind of make me scrach my head and wonder if I just should get a Refund and get an ATI or just stick with the card that I have and save $450.