Weird crash is this a GPU problem

[Awsum McPossum]

Hey everyone.

First off here are my specs
Mobo: ASUS M4A89GTD PRO
CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 970 Black Edition
RAM: Crosair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3
VIDEO: ASUS HD Radeon 6870 1GB
CPU COOLER: Xigmatek Gaia SD1283, NOT STOCK
POWER SUPPLY: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2
HARD DRIVE: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache and a second 500GB one for storage
OS: Windows 7 Professional
CASE: Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid Tower

So I'm a bit at my wits end with this one. My computer has been crashing to a screen that looks like this and requires a restart when it happens: http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7214/img1303k.jpg (not my picture but the issue is identical)

It happens both in game (BF3 is a primary culprit) and out of game when I'm on youtube or facebook. It usually occurs right away in a session (5mins or less after boot) but occassionally pops up after usage for a while as well when it doesn't happen right away. I just reinstalled windows and updated all the drviers trying to fix it so I'm pretty sure it is not a software conflict. I've also tested the RAM and both sticks pass memtest as well. Is this a sign that my GPU is failing?

 

[nathoka]

How old is your system?

 

[Awsum McPossum]

a little over 2 years old

 

[stevieboy21]

Disable your video card and use your board's integrated HD4290 GPU for awhile to determine if your video card is causing those crashes.

 

[Awsum McPossum]

Disable your video card and use your board's integrated HD4290 GPU for awhile to determine if your video card is causing those crashes.

will do, I'll get back to you with what happens

 

[sumitd]

yeah graphic card is the culprit , this pattern started to come up with my 9800gt RMA ed it
Yeah but first confirm with onboard graphics take out the 6870

 

[Awsum McPossum]

removed my GPU and am using the onboard HD4290.

Finally tested it with a game today and it crashed again while playing BF3 but I don't think it is related to the other crashes I was experiencing. This time it gave me a BSOD reporting a REFERENCE BY POINTER error, which WhoCrashed states is related to a Driver bug and I agree (I don't think the 4290 was made with dx11 or bf3 in mind lol).

Anyways anyone have any good ideas of ways I can test it outside of normal use? If it doesn't crash during normal use for a couple days that is good enough for me to believe the 6870 is at fault, but I was just wondering if there was anything else you guys think I could throw at it.

 

[stevieboy21]

Yeah, using the HD4290 to play BF3 would probably manifest an error -- especially where drivers are concerned. If there aren't any crashes on pre-DX11 software where your dedicated card did crash, then it probably is your card. Video cards are notorious for breaking down as time goes on, and usually conveniently after the warranty has expired.