Crazy GPU monitoring spikes and other issues (please help...)

[BinaryBird]

So I've now been through my 2nd graphics card. I've built my own computer recently and I've been having unbelievable problems with each graphics card I've tried to use in it.

The first card I tried was an EVGA gtx 970 4gb with ACX 2.0 (Reference: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487077 ). The issues that I had encountered were frequent black screens and display drivers crashing while playing games. After many attempts at fixing the issue, nothing anyone suggested worked. I tried a clean install of the drivers and much more, no help.

I returned that card and downgraded to a MSI gtx 960 4gb (Reference: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127860&cm_re=gtx_960-_-14-127-860-_-Product ). Exact same issues as the last card, so i'm beginning to believe it may not be the card but I need help figuring out what it could be.

I am getting the Debug code d6 on my motherboard on boot-up, hence I sometimes get no picture to my monitor. Moving the card down a slot seems to help so maybe it's a problem with the motherboard?

My other specs are;
-Windows 7
-z97 MSI gaming 5 motherboard ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130770&cm_re=z97-_-13-130-770-_-Product )
- i5 4460 3.2GHz (OC at 3.5GHz) ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117302&cm_re=i5_4460-_-19-117-302-_-Product )
-PSU CX600 600W ATX12V ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028&cm_re=psu_600-_-17-139-028-_-Product )
-16gb DDR3 240-pin ram ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231567&cm_re=8gb_ram-_-20-231-567-_-Product )

I'm sure the hard drive and optical are negligible.

Here's a screenshot of the ridiculous spikes that I get at the event of the black screen. The very right of the graph is when the black screen occurs. You can also see the settings that I've changed on the GPU in an attempt to make it run more smoothly (IMPORTANT: It had the exact same errors while on default settings, not just on the settings I created!)

http://imgur.com/vexggXe

If more screenshots of different sections of the graph are needed, I can supply them on demand.

Any help would be appreciated, i'm quite frustrated that I cant figure out this issue.

 

[BadActor]

I'd say the PSU is your problem. Try using a different power supply and see if that helps.

 

[BinaryBird]

I'd say the PSU is your problem. Try using a different power supply and see if that helps.

I understand that it could be, but is there anything to say that it isn't the motherboard given the problems? I'm sorry, but I've already exchanged, returned, downgraded, a bunch of parts of my computer and because of how much time this has taken to not fix anything, I'm incredibly frustrated. Forgive any negative or harsh tones please... The thought of going through another possible solution just to fix nothing is really getting at me, so as impossible as it may be, I really want to be certain that I understand exactly what the problem is.

 

[RobCrezz]

What temps are you getting on the CPU?

Have you tried doing a bios update?

 

[BadActor]

It's easier to try and borrow another PSU and see if that is the problem rather than swapping out the motherboard. If that isn't the problem, then you can think about replacing the board. Plus, the CX series Corsairs aren't the best PSU's ever made.

 

[BinaryBird]

What temps are you getting on the CPU?

Have you tried doing a bios update?

I have the latest BIOS, I never checked the CPU temp when the black screens occur.

 

[BinaryBird]

I've since downclocked my CPU and moved the GPU to the second PCI slot down. I haven't been getting any black screens just yet. Ill update if I manage to get one.

 

[RobCrezz]

Just noticed you have been overclocking your 4460 using BCLK - dont do this, its a sure way to get instability on the PCI-E bus. You are essentially overclocking the PCI-E bus, which it doesnt like.

 

[BinaryBird]

Just noticed you have been overclocking your 4460 using BCLK - dont do this, its a sure way to get instability on the PCI-E bus. You are essentially overclocking the PCI-E bus, which it doesnt like.

I've tried a bunch of different intensive games, and not a single one has caused a black screen. All my readings on afterburner are much lower and more stable now. It's a little sad to think all I had to do was set my CPU back to default on its core clock after all the time I spent looking for other solutions.

Appreciate the help.

 

[RobCrezz]

Just noticed you have been overclocking your 4460 using BCLK - dont do this, its a sure way to get instability on the PCI-E bus. You are essentially overclocking the PCI-E bus, which it doesnt like.

I've tried a bunch of different intensive games, and not a single one has caused a black screen. All my readings on afterburner are much lower and more stable now. It's a little sad to think all I had to do was set my CPU back to default on its core clock after all the time I spent looking for other solutions.

Appreciate the help.

No worries, wish I had spotted that you were overclocking the BCLK sooner.

On your platform, you should grab one of the "K" chips if you want to overclock (so you can adjust the multiplyer instead).
On the new Skylake platform you can Overclock using the BCLK again as they have moved things like the PCI-E bus off it (which is why people are overclocking the non K chips to 4.5Ghz+)