Display driver crashing in game menus

[blitzdace]

I have been having this problem since installing the MSI GTX 970 4G.

System:
Windows 10 x64
Intel i5 4690K (currently back to stock speeds)
16GB RAM @1600 MHz
1TB HDD
Gigabyte Z87-HD3

The display driver/gpu crashes suddenly in games. Sometimes it recovers, sometimes it sort of does but I still need to power off (black screen or solid colour screen). It doesn't happen while playing the game - but in menus/UI. Eg. I've never crashed playing Overwatch, but I've crashed in the menu while waiting to find a game. This pattern repeats across other games (such as in GTA V it won't crash playing the game, but might crash while in the lobby before a heist).

Specifically with Overwatch, once I turned off the FPS Cap within its options, the crashes went from one every 1-2 weeks to every day. There are no indicators that anything is about to go wrong until the screen turns off/goes black.

It's infrequent, but happens more often with more demanding games such as GTA V - even if the FPS is still high. Some games it doesn't happen at all with, and for some it happens maybe once a day or every other day - there are others it's more like once a week.

Just get 0x80000000000000 in Event Viewer for nvlddmkm.

I'm trying to lower the core clock with MSI Afterburner. Lowering by 10 MHz had no effect, now trying 20 MHz.

I've tried clearing profiles, drivers, files along with currently downclocking.

 

[RARRAF]

"display driver uninstaller" remove graphics re-install should be good

 

[blitzdace]

Hi RARRAF,

I've tried uninstalling (including DDU and CCleaner) and reinstalling, but the problem is still there.

 

[RARRAF]

maybe a fresh install of your operating system is in order or what PSU are you using

 

[blitzdace]

Thanks for more suggestions

I actually reinstalled Windows 10 a few months ago, so I'm doubtful about that. The card went in at the same time.

The PSU is a 650W Corsair VS.

 

[RARRAF]

well it is an entry level PSU £40 and you have a £200 graphics card and all your components running off of it yeah it might not be the problem but probably is

 

[blitzdace]

The PSU has run more power hungry GPUs than the 970, and more than meets the requirements (for Watts and the 12V rail has plenty of wiggle room on this rating), so I think it's fine. Also the way it only crashes on Lobbies, Menus and "waiting" screens but not under intense gameplay makes me suspicious of the card. Maybe it's VRAM? Coupled with no system crashes but only display drivers ones. I just don't know what would cause this pattern. Before initiating a RMA (and having just sold my backups >_< ) I want to be sure before I'm left with onboard Intel graphics for weeks.

 

[ddferrari]

Have you tried a different driver, like one before the latest (such as 368.22)? Your PSU is adequate for that card, so if a different driver doesn't help then the next option would be to try the card in another system if possible.

 

[blitzdace]

Yes, I've had it now for 3-4 months and there's been a few drivers in that time.

Some annoying complications for testing it in another system:

- Replicating the crashes is a matter of playing and waiting, for hours at least but possibly days.
- I have tried running this GPU in the other system I have (because I initially bought it for that one), and for one reason or another it's even worse there. That system is running a GTX 760 without issue, but seems to crash within 10-15 mins of running a DX10/DX11 game with this GPU. The only DX9 game I play often is Guild Wars 2 and that would run without issue on it.

(I also tried everything you can think of on that system - reseating, reinstalling, different power cables, drivers, OS format, etc.)

Which casts further doubt on this GPU, I would think, but it's a weird situation and both these comps run any other GPU fine (well, they both have had 560s and 760s).

Ok, reading that back actually makes it not so weird, since the one culprit in all of these issues is the 970. I just want to be sure before RMAing.

 

[ddferrari]

Yes, I've had it now for 3-4 months and there's been a few drivers in that time.

Some annoying complications for testing it in another system:

- Replicating the crashes is a matter of playing and waiting, for hours at least but possibly days.
- I have tried running this GPU in the other system I have (because I initially bought it for that one), and for one reason or another it's even worse there. That system is running a GTX 760 without issue, but seems to crash within 10-15 mins of running a DX10/DX11 game with this GPU. The only DX9 game I play often is Guild Wars 2 and that would run without issue on it.

(I also tried everything you can think of on that system - reseating, reinstalling, different power cables, drivers, OS format, etc.)

Which casts further doubt on this GPU, I would think, but it's a weird situation and both these comps run any other GPU fine (well, they both have had 560s and 760s).

Ok, reading that back actually makes it not so weird, since the one culprit in all of these issues is the 970. I just want to be sure before RMAing.

I think you just answered your own question... sounds like RMA time.

 

[coolhatguy]

Yes, I've had it now for 3-4 months and there's been a few drivers in that time.

Some annoying complications for testing it in another system:

- Replicating the crashes is a matter of playing and waiting, for hours at least but possibly days.
- I have tried running this GPU in the other system I have (because I initially bought it for that one), and for one reason or another it's even worse there. That system is running a GTX 760 without issue, but seems to crash within 10-15 mins of running a DX10/DX11 game with this GPU. The only DX9 game I play often is Guild Wars 2 and that would run without issue on it.

(I also tried everything you can think of on that system - reseating, reinstalling, different power cables, drivers, OS format, etc.)

Which casts further doubt on this GPU, I would think, but it's a weird situation and both these comps run any other GPU fine (well, they both have had 560s and 760s).

Ok, reading that back actually makes it not so weird, since the one culprit in all of these issues is the 970. I just want to be sure before RMAing.

i just RMA'd and still having the same problem.