Bad Problem: System Hardlocking w/Dual Core/7800 GTX

Zentox · Apr 3, 2006, 06:22 PM

Hello, recently I have heard about this forum from the Asus board so I thought I would see if anyone over here has similar symptoms.

Recently it has come to my attention that many users (and me) of dual core processors, specifically AMD Athlon X2 X64bit processors in conjunction with NVidia SLI dual 7800 GTX graphics cards have been recieving problematic issues when gaming in a 3d environment. Many users along with myself are experiencing "hardlocks" and/or "BSOD screens". During a hardlock, the user experiences a frozen screen and speakers loop sound. The only way to end a hardlock or BSOD is to restart the computer manually by holding the power button down.

These "hardlocks" tend to occur at random times. For example, a "hardlock" can occur 20 minutes into a game or even after 7 hours of gameplay, it is completely random and using different settings in the game and Nvidia control panel do not make a difference. Many users including me, have tested many different possibilitties to diagnose the problem and fix it, using different settings in the BIOS of many different motherboards, Windows hotfixes, Windows 32bit, Dual Core affinity settings, Newest drivers, rollbacking old drivers, and many other attempts to no avail.

Other users who are experiencing the same issue can be found here in these threads:

Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3

My System specs are the following:

Windows XP x64 - fully updated from microsoft.com
AMD Athlon FX-60 using stock heatsink/settings - Latest AMD Drivers for x64
4x512 OCZ Platinum Elite pc4800
Asus A8N32-SLI - bios version 1103, latest Nvidia Chipset drivers for x64
2x74GB 10k WD Raptor - latest drivers
SLI BFG Geforce 7800gtx OC - Latest drivers for x64
Plextor PX-716AL
X-Fi Fatal1ty SC
OCZ PowerStream SLI 600w
Dell FP2405
Logitech G7 Laser Mouse
Logitech G15 Keyboard
Logitech Z5550 Sound System

If anyone knows a solution or can help with the issue I would appreciate your help. Does anyone recommend changing any BIOS settings? and if so what - be detailed. Thanks in advance, I'll check back later for replies.

punchinello · May 19, 2006, 12:06 AM

I practically have the same computer system:

Windows XP Pro x32
AMD Athlon 64 FX-57
2g Corsair 3200 RAM
2x 160 GB Seagate Baraccuda RAID 0
X-Fi Fata1ty SC
2x 7800GTX OC by BFG
ASUS A8N32 SLI-Deluxe Mobo
850watt PC Power and Cooling PSU
Plextor DVD-+R/CDR drive
Asus DVD drive
Logitech M518 Mouse
Logitech G15 keyboard
HPA Earforce 5.1 surround sound with mic.

All the drivers have been updated. I have the latest BIOS version 1103 and when playing WoW I get the same random lock up. Sometimes it locks up rendering no advancement of graphics, then 20 seconds later it plays catchup and it's good to go again. Other times it kills my computer and restarts it or locks up the video but you can still hear things going on around you all the while the screen is froze. I've tried everything to get this problem fixed...I don't know where else to turn. Please help.

Zentox · May 19, 2006, 01:24 PM

By using drivercleaner and installing the new 84.56 forceware drivers I have been stable for about a month now.

Looks like theres a new bios for the A8n32SLI-dlx, might want to try that also.

Hope this helps.

~~Alien1~~ · May 19, 2006, 05:47 PM

I did not had any problems with Bios 1105
and i am using a 7900 with 84.56

The new Asus A8n32 Bios 1205 gives better compatibility for a number of hardware
Try it

Apr 3, 2006, 06:22 PM	#1
Zentox DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Bad Problem: System Hardlocking w/Dual Core/7800 GTX Hello, recently I have heard about this forum from the Asus board so I thought I would see if anyone over here has similar symptoms. Recently it has come to my attention that many users (and me) of dual core processors, specifically AMD Athlon X2 X64bit processors in conjunction with NVidia SLI dual 7800 GTX graphics cards have been recieving problematic issues when gaming in a 3d environment. Many users along with myself are experiencing "hardlocks" and/or "BSOD screens". During a hardlock, the user experiences a frozen screen and speakers loop sound. The only way to end a hardlock or BSOD is to restart the computer manually by holding the power button down. These "hardlocks" tend to occur at random times. For example, a "hardlock" can occur 20 minutes into a game or even after 7 hours of gameplay, it is completely random and using different settings in the game and Nvidia control panel do not make a difference. Many users including me, have tested many different possibilitties to diagnose the problem and fix it, using different settings in the BIOS of many different motherboards, Windows hotfixes, Windows 32bit, Dual Core affinity settings, Newest drivers, rollbacking old drivers, and many other attempts to no avail. Other users who are experiencing the same issue can be found here in these threads: Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 My System specs are the following: Windows XP x64 - fully updated from microsoft.com AMD Athlon FX-60 using stock heatsink/settings - Latest AMD Drivers for x64 4x512 OCZ Platinum Elite pc4800 Asus A8N32-SLI - bios version 1103, latest Nvidia Chipset drivers for x64 2x74GB 10k WD Raptor - latest drivers SLI BFG Geforce 7800gtx OC - Latest drivers for x64 Plextor PX-716AL X-Fi Fatal1ty SC OCZ PowerStream SLI 600w Dell FP2405 Logitech G7 Laser Mouse Logitech G15 Keyboard Logitech Z5550 Sound System If anyone knows a solution or can help with the issue I would appreciate your help. Does anyone recommend changing any BIOS settings? and if so what - be detailed. Thanks in advance, I'll check back later for replies.

May 19, 2006, 12:06 AM	#2
punchinello DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Same Problem I practically have the same computer system: Windows XP Pro x32 AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 2g Corsair 3200 RAM 2x 160 GB Seagate Baraccuda RAID 0 X-Fi Fata1ty SC 2x 7800GTX OC by BFG ASUS A8N32 SLI-Deluxe Mobo 850watt PC Power and Cooling PSU Plextor DVD-+R/CDR drive Asus DVD drive Logitech M518 Mouse Logitech G15 keyboard HPA Earforce 5.1 surround sound with mic. All the drivers have been updated. I have the latest BIOS version 1103 and when playing WoW I get the same random lock up. Sometimes it locks up rendering no advancement of graphics, then 20 seconds later it plays catchup and it's good to go again. Other times it kills my computer and restarts it or locks up the video but you can still hear things going on around you all the while the screen is froze. I've tried everything to get this problem fixed...I don't know where else to turn. Please help.

May 19, 2006, 01:24 PM	Thread Starter #3
Zentox DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	By using drivercleaner and installing the new 84.56 forceware drivers I have been stable for about a month now. Looks like theres a new bios for the A8n32SLI-dlx, might want to try that also. Hope this helps.

May 19, 2006, 05:47 PM	#4
~~Alien1~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 365 Rep Power: 0	I did not had any problems with Bios 1105 and i am using a 7900 with 84.56 The new Asus A8n32 Bios 1205 gives better compatibility for a number of hardware Try it