Freezes, restarts, BSOD... new drivers or SLIs fault?

[Silverman]

Hey guys... here is my system.

 

Windows Vista 64 bit HP

Q9550 @ 3.4 Ghz OC

4 GB Ram 5-5-5-12 Ratio 1:1

2 x 8800 GT in SLI OC (670/1675/975)

One XFX Alpha Dog, the other a shitty PNY

 

Using eVGA Precision to OC the card.

CPU and RAM OCed in Bios.

 

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Okay, I got the new drivers from nVidia.. the latest 197.45 WHQL version. After a while I started experiencing freezing during explosions in game, during video editing, and during giant uploads. So, I noticed my GPU was getting to around 80 degrees... not TOO hot, but not the best. So I put up my fans speeds and called it a day. More freezing... I took out my PNY card and left in my XFX primary. I then installed the 178.24 driver... enabled SLI, assorted freezes but nothing too bad... I take the PNY card out and everything works. Any ideas on what I should do? I really want to get a new single card solution one of these days...

 

Basically I need to figure out a way for my system to still use SLI without freezing! And the archived 64 bit drivers on nvidia's site all say they are 32bit on my system! Also, I know a lot of Geek Squad dudes who say it might be my SLI Bridge... but the shit runs fine. Maybe there is a good diagnostic program that can test stuff like this?

[`Pepper.]

Use furmark to test graphics cards.

 

CPU temps, are they good too?

[Silverman]

Use furmark to test graphics cards.

 

CPU temps, are they good too?

 

Full load, about 50 Celsius.

[König]

I had a PNY 9800GT, shit ran hot as hell.The fan sounded somewhat familiar, oh yeah, a jet engine.

 

Anyways, that's what I'm thinking may be the problem, the cards are just too hot and their close together.

 

My recommendation, get a new card(s). Not a fan of PNY...

 

Obviously money might be an issue. If so, idk lol.

[Daze]

imo, anything over 50c is too hot.

[Wrathek]

anything over ~75 or so for a graphics card is pushing it.

 

correct me if im wrong, but i don't think you're supposed to mix and match cards for SLI. true, it probably only matters that they're both 8800GTs, but i have a feeling the XFX is probably factory OC'd or something?

[König]

, but i don't think you're supposed to mix and match cards for SLI. true, it probably only matters that they're both 8800GTs, but i have a feeling the XFX is probably factory OC'd or something?

 

Damn, I completely overlooked the fact that they are different.

 

Not really a great idea....

 

Just remove the PNY, you will still be able to play CSS

 

That's my opinion at least..

[`Pepper.]

Get rid of that overclock on the cards, and add a fan near them for testing, if that helps you are one step closer to figuring the cause out.

[König]

Lol, yeah thats just what I would do, take my approach and throw in as many fans as you can, especially near the GPU.

 

Right now I'm running 8 fans in my case. Stays nice and chilly in thar.