Games immediately crash and restart my computer

NMK42

Reputable
Jul 4, 2014
13
0
4,510
Hey folks,

I'm at my wit's end, so here we go!

My problem is that every time I try to play a game which uses my GPU, my computer crashes and restarts.

There is no error message, just black screen and reboot.

Here are my specs:
Operating System: Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit (6.3, Build 9600) (9600.winblue_gdr.140330-1035)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: P67A-UD4-B3
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.6GHz
Memory: 16384MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 16368MB RAM
Page File: 3338MB used, 29413MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 11

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 680
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Type: Full Device
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1180&SUBSYS_26803842&REV_A1
Display Memory: 4033 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1985 MB
Shared Memory: 2048 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: SyncMaster
Monitor Id: SAM055F
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: HDMI
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.4043 (English)
Driver Version: 9.18.13.4043
DDI Version: 11
Feature Levels: 11.0,10.1,10.0,9.3,9.2,9.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.3
Graphics Preemption: DMA
Compute Preemption: DMA

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4-B3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

PSU
CORSAIR HX Series HX750 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Haswell Ready

Here's what I've tried:

1. Updating GPU Drivers (and rolling back to previous drivers).
2. Reseating RAM, GPU
3. OCCT tests:
-CPU Passed
-GPU Passed
-PSU Passed
4. FurMark x LinX test -Passed
5. BIOS reset (battery removal) I also tried updating, but I guess I can't install the update on my 64-bit OS...

Any thoughts? At this point I'm tempted to just buy a new rig.
 
Solution
4. FurMark x LinX test -Passed

so you run them both simultaneously? That should rule out temps, psu, gpu and cpu then. What about ram? You could test it with memtest86+, let it run several passes if it doesn't detect any errors sooner.
http://www.memtest.org/

Also sounds like you have the 'automatic restart after blue screen' ticked in windows, I have absolutely no idea where it is hidden in win8, so I wish you good luck finding it. :)


That seems a bit extreme, given the situation. I'd rather not wipe my drives unless absolutely necessary.
 
Also, I tried running games with my graphics drivers uninstalled- they worked, albeit very slowly and chunky. Does this point to the GSU, or to the drivers themselves?
 
4. FurMark x LinX test -Passed

so you run them both simultaneously? That should rule out temps, psu, gpu and cpu then. What about ram? You could test it with memtest86+, let it run several passes if it doesn't detect any errors sooner.
http://www.memtest.org/

Also sounds like you have the 'automatic restart after blue screen' ticked in windows, I have absolutely no idea where it is hidden in win8, so I wish you good luck finding it. :)
 
Solution



Thanks- I'm trying to run Memtest but am having a terrible time. I can't seem to get it to run when mounted or via usb on startup.

I have, however, tested each RAM stick manually, cycling each one in one at a time and had no issues running my system (the games still crashed, of course).

 
Likewise, I'm still trying to update my bios and chipsets, but every time I do I get messages telling me my computer can't do it, doesn't meet a req, etc. Running out of options here.
 
if you used device manager to update and roll back your NVidia cards driver theres a footnote on that that claims NVidia does not recommend you use that..

http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/337.88/337.88-win8-win7-winvista-desktop-release-notes.pdf

Do not Use Windows Rollback for Graphics Drivers
To reinstall a previous or older NVIDIA graphics driver, do not use the Windows rollback feature. This method will not reliably restore all the previous driver files.
Instead, use the Windows Add and Remove programs to remove the current driver, and then install the older driver using setup.exe.
Uninstalling Drivers Using Device Manager is not Supported
Issue
On all supported versions of Microsoft Windows, uninstalling the NVIDIA driver using the Windows Device Manager may not remove associated files or applications.
Explanation
Microsoft has confirmed that this behavior is by design. If you wish to uninstall the NVIDIA driver, it is recommended that you do so using Add and Remove programs
 
I went ahead and purchased a new card (nvidia gtx 770) and hooked it up. I tested games and still no dice.

Since then, I've reformatted my hard drive and installed windows 7 64-bit. I then installed the latest drivers from nvidia, installed direct x11, and reinstalled a game off of steam. Lo and behold, the game still crashes.

I tried running the game in safe mode and received a "direct3d initialization failed" error message. I've tried updating directx again, but no change. Thoughts? Is it possible my mobo has failed somehow?
 


I don't have a spare PSU, unfortunately. I have run occt, furmark, and LinX tests without issue, though.
 
would not think so seeing its a dx error 2 things with that I feel is dx is built in to the game code and uses the dx files in windows .. most games come with the dx files on there disk and checks to see if your files to see if it needs to install or may just overwrite .

I don't know seems that it maybe one of them games may be overwriting and corrupting them files these dill. are in wow64 and listed like d3dx10_41 .. you can look them over but what to look for I don't know unless your error shows witch one is missing or bad

I'm useing 7-64 and have quite a few games on it some from back as far as 2001 and have not had a issue like this come up

what game did you load that this started to come up??
 



I used Age of Mythology Extended Edition which just came out a month or so ago. The last error message I received (before reformatting) was a "kernel event ID 41" error.
 
from Microsoft --- If event 41 is logged because power to the computer was interrupted, consider obtaining an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) such as a battery backup power supply. An underpowered or failing power supply may cause this behavior. For example, if you added RAM or additional devices or hard disks when this problem began, the power supply may cause the problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2028504/en-us
 


Good advice, for sure. I already use a UPS, though. I've ordered a new PSU in the meanwhile. I have no idea when the problem occurred- aside from the new GPU (which was added to try and remedy the problem), I haven't added any new hardware in over a year. I only noticed the problem recently after trying to play games for the first time in months.
 
I just installed my new PSU, everything seems to be working now. I'm not really sure how to interpret this, since I ran three different test programs on the PSU. Anyway, all fixed! Thanks for the help.