Can't pinpoint BSOD

[Skywoof]

Hi everyone, I'm still trying to find the source of my blue screens. They only happen when 1 or both of my 780s are plugged in, when I use the onboard graphics the system works fine. The BSODs are consistent at the end of Unigine's benchmark (normally happens when the score is being shown and I attempt to shut the program down), but they happen at random times as well.

I RMA'd both cards and got back replacements and still the problem persists. I've tried a new mobo, new PSU, tested all my RAM separately as well as hard drives. Temps are fine, the only thing I haven't tested is the CPU because I don't have another one to test with.

I took the rig to Tiger Direct and they were stumped. All drivers and BIOS are up to date, there is no OC (BIOS is set to default optimized settings).

SPECS:
4770k
Asus ROG Maximus VII Hero
2 x EVGA GTX 780 Dual ACX
Corsair HX1050w
Corsair H80i Liquid Cooler
Corsair Vengeance 32GB
Samsung 840 Pro 256GB

[Nate152]

Hello skywoof

Is your ram a single 32GB kit? If not, this could be the problem.

If it is a single 32GB kit try raising the system agent voltage to 1.15 - 1.20v.

Does this help?

[Skywoof]

Hey Nate, thanks for the reply. The 32GB is not from a single kit, but was working fine for a while. I also tested the system with just 1 RAM module and still got the BSODs.

[Nate152]

All right, what I would try is this:

1 stick of ram in the A1 slot, set defaults again in the bios. Raise the system agent voltage to 1.10v and set the cpu core voltage to 1.15v save and exit. Once in windows run the unigine benchmark and see if it still BSOD's.

[Skywoof]

Tried it and Windows BSOD'd while loading

[Nate152]

If your pc works fine with the integrated graphics and BSOD's when you install your 780's, it sounds to me like it is a power issue as in not enough juice. But you've replaced the psu and motherboard and tested everything else. I can see why TigerDirect is stumped. You might want to take your cpu to a pc shop and have them test it to rule out it's not causing the problem since you don't have another one to test with.

Take a look in the event viewer to see what is causing the BSOD's.

Has your pc ever worked properly after putting it together with the 780's installed?

[moseng]

Hmmm, I know you said you replaced the PSU, but I can't help but think that's the cause since your setup works with the stock video. Maybe a bad batch where you got them? Hope you fix it so you can start playing!

[Skywoof]

@Nate,
Yeah the PC worked fine for the longest time...that's why I'm still #2 in the USA for BF4 rocket launcher kills ;). I was actually getting BSODs back when I first built the rig in Dec (had a Maximus Hero VI), couldn't find the problem so I tried a MSI mobo (please don't hiss). I had an open thread on this same forum and finally gave up and went with a new mobo which worked up until now. First it started only BSOD'ing when my cards were in SLI, so I stopped using both with the intent on RMA'ing one of them...but then it happened with a single card. Tonight I thought I got lucky because I was able to run 2 benchmarks without crashing, so I decided to add back the 2nd card, then BOOM, BSOD'd again....so I removed the 2nd card, went back to a single, and still BSOD'd. Got all excited but it was a fluke, but that might help narrow it down.

My first thought was the PSU. I have a Corsair HX1050 (not a cheapo), but went to Tiger Direct and got a Corsair RM1000 and brought it home and BSOD'd right away. The only thing event viewer shows are crashes because of Hal.dll.

@moseng, yeah it sounds like a power issue, but 2 bad PSUs....almost as unlikely as 4 bad 780s, 3 bad mobos, 4 bad ram modules, 4 bad hard drives, etc. That pretty much only leaves the CPU unless I'm missing something....

BTW I don't believe I am OC'd, but all I did to verify was use the default optimized settings option in the BIOS. I've already started doing the legwork on how to RMA the 4770k (which is available until 2017), so I'll be doing that after the new year.

[Nate152]

How many drives do you have installed?

Try disconnecting all drives except the one the OS is installed on.

[Skywoof]

Tried that already brother. But to answer your question there are 4 drives, Win 8.1 is on the Samsung SSD which I can confirm still BSOD's while being the only drive connected. In fact when I initially took it to Tiger Direct, I had disconnected all my other drives because I don't want prying eyes going through my ****....and it BSOD'd right in the shop on the first go.

I recorded my mobo lights on boot, dunno if the codes might hint at anything helpful.