8800 Ultra XXX freezing issue

[Shendue]

Hello.
I came to this forum looking for a solution to an annoying problem i have with my card.
My system keeps freezing when i play 3D games with maxed up graphics, mostly with Crysis (but i experienced the same problem with Bioshock and Oblivion from time to time, on a smaller scale).
After some testing, it appeared obvious that the problem depends from the Ultra XXX, because it doesn't happen if i switch it with an old ATI card i have.
At first i thought it was an overheating issue, so i changed the stock cooler with an all-copper Zalman product.
This helped the temperatures, but the freezing problem remains.
I've heard about a BIOS upgrade. Maybe that could help?

This is my configuration:
Mobo - Asus P5N32-E SLI nForce 680i
GPU - XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
CPU - X6800 Core 2 Duo
Memory - 2 x 1GB Corsair Dominator
PSU - 750W Silverstone
OS - Windows XP Home

Thanks in advance,
Matteo

[mivanx77]

When does the freezing happen, does it happen after a couple of minutes of game play?
Update everything, ex: windows, nvidia, chipset, bios, etc..

[xfxsupport]

Start a support ticket at www.xfxforce.com and let me know the ticket number. There is a BIOS that might be helpful.

[Shendue]

I submitted a ticket, #133968.

@mivanx77: Everything is up to date. Updating drivers and mobo bios was the first thing i tried, with no success.
The problem usually shows up after a few minutes of playing during Crysis (5-10 mins of playing).
A similar problem used to happen while playing Bioshock, but only after longer gaming sessions (never less then 1.30 hrs of playing or so). Sometimes it happened with Oblivion, too, from time to time, after several hours of playing.
When the game freezes up, the sound keeps going, but it freezes too, causing a very annoying noise to come out from the speakers.
I played several other 3d games, like Half-Life 2, Portal, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Pro Evoultion Soccer 2008, S.T.A.L.K.E.R without any problem.
Once it freezed up while i was playing an Half Life 2 mod with heavier textures (maybe the problem only shows up with complex textures?).

[Shendue]

I tried to downclock the card, and it doesn't seem to freeze up anymore. I played Crysis for a good hour without further problems.
The performance is poor with the card downclocked to a stock 8800 Ultra frequency, but it works.
Appearently the system hangs up because of the factory overclock.
But if i wanted a card running at stock frequencies, i would have bought a normal, cheaper Ultra instead.
Maybe that Bios update could really help.
If that won't work, i think the only solution would be liquid cooling, which i don't like, i tried it in the past and it requires much more maintenance, and it's annoying to dismantle/reassemble when you upgrade your pc.
Also, why not include a liquid system in the first place if it's required to work the card properly?
I'm pretty confused. :help:

[xfxsupport]

I just emailed you a BIOS that might help with the issue. Please let us know.

[Shendue]

Too kind from you. :icon_tiphat:
Thanks a lot, hope it helps.
I'll play a prolonged session of some hours of Crysis in the weekend then let you know if the bios fixed the problem.

[Shendue]

It still freezes...
I guess i'll find a way to try the card on another pc.

[alxtorrentazos]

Sorry to revive this thread, but I have the same problem with my XFX 8800GT G92 512mb ram, playing Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, Winning Eleven 8 International (machine hungs), but no problem if I DOWNclock the memory from 950 to 850hz with RT.....It´s a faulty card or what?
My specs:
E6400, 2gb DDR2 800, XFX8800GT 640M (640/950mhz clocks) 500mb SATA2 HDD, Lite ON DVDRW, 600W PSU with 25A in 12v line

Windows XP SP2, tried driver versions 169.21, 169.28, 163,75, etc

Ticket #140833

I apologize for my poor english, but spanish is my mother tongue.
Thanks.
Alx

[Slickric21]

Its almost always a heat issue with these cards.

Install Rivatuner or Expertool and set a fixed fan speed of 90% or higher and see if that helps first. If it does then you know its heat.
I had a lenghty issue with my 8800 xxx untill I learnt this and it fixed my problem.

[mivanx77]

Its almost always a heat issue with these cards.

Install Rivatuner or Expertool and set a fixed fan speed of 90% or higher and see if that helps first. If it does then you know its heat.
I had a lenghty issue with my 8800 xxx untill I learnt this and it fixed my problem.

I agree, can you post your idle and full load temp for the card?

[edelmiro]

I am having the same problem with my 8800 GTX XXX. In my case, the screen goes like this:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=51520&hl=

Can you please send me the new BIOS revision so I can try? I don't want to send for RMA! :help: My ticket number is 143818.

Thanks!

[alxtorrentazos]

well, mine is not a heat issue....mi idle temp is 49°C and my load temps are between 55°C-62°C....Ive created a rule in RT to rise the fan speed to 80% when temp go beyond 55°C........the problem with the artifacts and machine hungs are with PES2008, WE (all konami games) and with nvidia stability test.....crysis works fine, cod4 too...