6800GT problems

Post by **-ReHaB-** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:31 am

I got my new GeFarce 6800GT a few days ago and installed it right away. CS:S looks great and the framerate is over 90FPS most of the time. Unfortunaly it crashes a few mins into a game and won't even complete the test in 3dMark 05. I've tried different drivers, changing bios settings and updateing the Mobo drivers but it's still the same. HELP!

InnerCitySumo · Post by **InnerCitySumo** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:33 am

Sounds to me like it could be overheating. You're not using overclocking software are you? Sometimes the card's drivers install overclocking software and switch it on by default.

PAYNEY · Post by **PAYNEY** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:45 am

What motherboard, version and cpu you running?

InnerCitySumo · Post by **InnerCitySumo** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:59 am

Have you checked the fan is running? That you have plugged in the extra fat power cable (if it has one - most do these days) to the motherboard? That the heat exhaust is not too close to another card?

Sorry just a few stream-of-consciousness ideas.

InnerCitySumo · Post by **InnerCitySumo** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:03 am

From http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1656:

Of course with such a quiet solution, core temperatures were a little on the high side for my taste. If I remember correctly, a highly overclocked GeForce 5950 Ultra idles around 35 degrees celsius - the Albatron 6800GT idles around 50 degrees at stock!

Whether those numbers are accurate or not is anyone's guess, but I think it is safe to say that good airflow in the case should be maintained.

Sounds like it might be prone to overheating. Try putting it in the fridge!

Post by **DE-G@vnor** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:10 am

There is no heat exhaust with the 6800 GT.

Mate, my heart goes out to you - I had exactly the same issue - the size of the card and the fact that in a tower its right next to your hard drives and cpu heatsink dont help.

Im going to throw a few suggestions at you.

It may indeed be overheating, or you are using drivers that dont support the 6800GT properly. Use the temperature monitor in NVIDIA control panel and check its not going over 80. (the NVIDIA core can take up to 140 degrees so no need worry - just make sure the threshold is set to something like 100 - 120)

Unfortunately, apart from Beta drivers there are no drivers as yet that FULLY support the 6800 Ultra/GT series - it says supports 6800 Family on the new ones, but its not optimized for the full chabanga (6800GT/Ultra users are a small minority).

Either visit guru3d.com and download beta drivers or make sure you have the BRAND new Forceware release.

Additionally, this card sucks 1.55v from the motherboard and by default most motherboards are set to 1.5 - increase that to 1.6 (on the Motherboard) - it wont push 1.6, but it will be prepared to push 1.6 - if you know what I mean.

Furthermore, fastwrites dont work properly unless your Motherboard is REALLY stable - turn fastwrites off in the BIOS. this has minimal impact

If you really want to check its not the card turn it down to 4x , turn off fastwrites and sideband addressing, go into windows set it to 1024x768 with application preference for perf settings and then run a benchmark tool. If it crashes now then it seems its broken.

Download RIVA TUNER and do the following:
In expert options select "EnablePerfLevel Forcing" - this will force your card to use the 3d settings at all times , there are problems switching between 2d and 3d with these cards.

Decrease the PCI Latency on the AGP slot (theres a tool to do this on guru3d)

Use a seperate power cable than the one to your harddrives (these are likely to surge).

DONT buy an arctic cooler, as they are shit

I bought one and my cards more unstable than it ever was - but I cant be arsed to change it back.

Post by **-ReHaB-** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:16 pm

Thanks for all the info guys. G@v I've tried some of the things you mentioned but you have a few new ideas. Firstly I will try the beta drivers. I did use them yesterday and the card was stable with HL2 and CS:S (which is the most imortant thing) but still couldn't finish 3DMark 05.
I have a DFI Lanparty NF2 ultra B mobo. with the latest drivers. I like your idea for turning evrything down and then testing..at least I will be able to tell if the card is bOrKeD. I downloaded River Tuner last night I had a fiddle but I'm a bit lost TBH. I'll give that another try as well.

I saw on another forum the advise to use a seperate power line from the PSU but that didn't fix it on it's own. I tried the Omega drivers today but they seem worse. This should have been obvious to be since thay are based on an old Nvidia driver set (61.?? I think)

Iv'e been fiddleing so much with it I had to reactivate windows by phone this morning

BTW I can't find the expert mode to select "EnablePerfLevel Forcing"

Blade! · Post by **Blade!** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:27 pm

Try changing the IRC ( if it's clashing with something ).

Post by **DE-G@vnor** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:31 pm

-ReHaB- wrote:couldn't finish 3DMark 05.

Don't worry about that Rehab - mine won't either - theres a patch but I couldn't be arsed to download it - I'm not impressed with the benchmark anyway.

Post by **DE-G@vnor** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:32 pm

Blade! wrote:Try changing the IRC .

Whats that they say about a little knowledge being more dangerous than none at all?

IRQ (request for an Interrupt on the processor to be bound to a device/bus)

And changing them is a very bad idea unless its a legacy device.

Heeh Blade, dont be offended at this post - I just couldn't resist.

Post by **DE-G@vnor** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:34 pm

-ReHaB- wrote: I tried the Omega drivers today but they seem worse. This should have been obvious to be since thay are based on an old Nvidia driver set (61.?? I think)

strange that! I am using those Omega Drivers because its the only way I can get the textures right on CS:S (black boxes outside office etc).

Now thats weird - mines a XFX 6800 GT , flashed to Ultra , what make is yours?

Post by **-ReHaB-** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:44 pm

Mine is a Inno3D unflashed...Might try that

Blade! · Post by **Blade!** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:55 pm

Indeed I have little knowledge buttttttttt one of the CRO lads had this sort of problem ( IIRC ) and thats what subby advised me and him.

Post by **-ReHaB-** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:40 pm

OK. I just discovered a weird thing. I have a Athlon 3200+ processor but if I underclock it to a 2500+ I don't get any lock-ups or looping errors! Seems a shame to underclock it though.

Post by **DE-G@vnor** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:38 pm

Is there an option in bios to fix pci at 66mhz? if so take it

Post by **-ReHaB-** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:56 pm

pci? My card is AGP

edit...No worries I just read that, because your AGP is 2X PCI, setting your AGP to 66mhz actually sets your PCI to 33mhz.

Bullet · Post by **Bullet** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:01 am

Blade! wrote:Indeed I have little knowledge buttttttttt one of the CRO lads had this sort of problem ( IIRC ) and thats what subby advised me and him.

yeah me/dimmy had random problems which were suggested trying the IRQ (not IRC...that may be where he was ciritiscing

).

altho its now going to be your response to all pc problems aint it?

Demaz · Post by **Demaz** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:12 pm

didnt read the post properly sorry

Post by **jamie** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:29 pm

6600 GT has random crashes, I stuck an 80mm fan nearby blowing air over the card, seems to have calmed it right down.

Sander · Post by **Sander** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:40 pm

What version of drivers are you using??

I have the 6800GT, and dont have any probs (had trouble with 66.93 nvidia drivers).

Now I use th 67.03 driver and its working fine (there still in beta because Nvidia hasn't posted them yet)

You can download them here:
http://home.tiscali.nl/damensr/67.03_wi ... nglish.exe

Otherwise check your BIOS settings to see everything is ok.

Good luck