XFX 6800GT Hardware failure... BSOD. HELP!

[carasage]

ok i came home one day and found my computer with the BSOD screen.
Error Displayed was:

MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION

0x00000009C

Steps I took:
1) Reboot
2) Passes Bios and POST
3) Windows Boot Screen
4) Freezes and BSOD
5) Repeat 1 - 4

Figuring that this might be a memory:
I removed all my memory and inserted one at a time, testing each one.
Result is the same, BSOD.

Step II:
Lets try safe mode. It works!!! it enters safe mode without a problem.
Hmm, could this be a video problem. It might be.

Step III:
Removed my second XFX GeForce 6800GT , removed SLI. And boom straight into windows.

Step IV:
- Removed all video drivers, booted up with default VGA.
- Reinstalled my second XFX Geforce 6800GT, enabled SLI.
- Attempt to reinstall latest NVidia drivers, 81.xx
- Does the usual flashes and boom BSOD..

Conclusion:
So it seems like the second card is failing when trying to load the drivers? I dont know.

I have contacted XFX support, but no response....
What should I do? I have had this for less than a year.

[System Specs]
PSU: RoseWill 550 RP
MoBo: Asus A8N-SLI
CPU: AMD Athlon 3800+ X2
RAM: 4x GEiL 512MB Dual Channel DDR400 (PC3200)
GFX: 2x XFX GeForce 6800GT in SLI
Sound: SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS
HD1: Sata Maxtor 300GB
HD2: Sata Maxtor 200GB
HD3: Sata Seagate 250GB

PS My system was running fine with 0% BSOD. I rarely rebooted. It was a surprised to me to find a BSOD when I came home from work.

Any suggestions, to further test would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[Scott Sherman]

Try switching the cards around and see what happens. Keep us informed on that and I can pass this thread to XFX if you do not get it working.

[Kougar]

Aye, was going to say that! If both cards pass okay by themselves I'd try installing an older driver package that you know to have previously worked stabily on your current rig.

Some info on your specific error is available here (http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php#0x9c) which has a direct link to the Microsoft page. Overheating doesn't sound likely at the moment, but if you have a secondary powersupply that can sustain SLI I would plug that in and give it a try. I'd verify voltages on your current one as well.

[mousiness]

seems like something is wrong with the software itself, or by judging that if you came home after leaving the pc on while you were gone, it would probably be a card or component failure.

[xfxsupport]

Hello carasage, Did you get a chance to test the cards individually? I'd be willing to bet the second card is faulty. If that is indeed the case, give us a call at 800-880-3225 and we will get the RMA started for you. Regards, Daniel.

[werty316]

Looks like one VGA card is bad if the other one boots fine.

[mousiness]

yep just like i said before, if it was on before he got home and when he got home he saw it like that its obviously a card problem :) i knew it

[werty316]

yep just like i said before, if it was on before he got home and when he got home he saw it like that its obviously a card problem :) i knew it

Only after he tested the cards individually of course ;)

[mousiness]

Yep, ofcourse we can all depend on werty to clear things up to the last detail :mrgreen:

[werty316]

It must be that you type without thinking hehe jk ;)

[Kougar]

Yep, ofcourse we can all depend on werty to clear things up to the last detail :mrgreen:

To the very last detail, yes. Quite!! ;)

[mousiness]

Lol i do, i type before i think, i talk before i think also, thats what getas me in trouble a lot, np about that werty