The Display driver has stopped working - The Saga

Hi guys.
Last month I posted a message about my Gigabyte 9800GTX getting this error message in Vista 64 'The Display driver has stopped working...'.

I got it while using Photoshop CS4 (uses open GL), Google Earth and when I play games.

So I tested my 2x2GB RAM with MEMTEST86 last version and it was ok. I ran it on 4 4 4 12 as written over the sticks (though at default the BIOS sets them on 5 5 5 18).

I've changed my Mobo from Asus nVidia to Gigabyte Intel.

I've changed my PSU from 500W to ThermalTek 750W.

And here is the twist - I changed my GPU from nVidia to ATI Palit HD4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition.

Still the error pops up to remind me it's still there....

So either I didn't test my RAM sticks perfectly or there's something with Vista.


I'm going to install XP and see how it works out for me. Meanwhile, if there's any Microsoft employee reading this... please pass it on to the big guys

Cheers

Gil.

Are you overclocking any parts inside the PC? I had this problem before on Vista and a reinstall of the OS corrected this problem and it has been fine ever scince. Edit don't know if this might help. Salsatech » Fix Vista’s “nvlddmkm Stopped Responding” Issue


Wizkid

wizkid said:

Are you overclocking any parts inside the PC? I had this problem before on Vista and a reinstall of the OS corrected this problem and it has been fine ever scince. Edit don't know if this might help. Salsatech » Fix Vista’s “nvlddmkm Stopped Responding” Issue


Wizkid

Click to expand...

My components are not Overclocked, however:

1. My BIOS detects at default the CAS/RAS timing as: 5 5 5 17 whereas on the RAM stick it's written 4 4 4 12.
So I changed it to 4 4 4 12 and increased the voltage by 0.1v. The voltage now is 1.97~.

2. My GPU comes overclocked from the factory.

3. Vista shows my CPU speed as 3.16GHz 3.0 GHz instead of 3.16GHz(I have C2D). I don't know if it's important but I thought why no mention it.

I've reinstalled Vista 32 twice and Vista 64 twice to no avail.

I've just finished reinstalling XP 32 with multi-boot and all my games runs smoothly!!!

This is purely visa+hardware issue.

In other words, it is poorly written drivers for Vista for your hardware devices....

CS4 is still too new to be stable. I never buy any software freshly on the market. Take VISTA w/o SP1 for example

This issue has been around awhile and has plagued both ATI and Nvidia, and seems to strike Vista way more then XP. As of now, no one has really come up with a fix yet, and that no one would include Microsoft, AT, and Nvidia. This seems to be a random problem that can pop up for any reason, card overheating, video editing, Windows DreamScene, Watching videos, opening applications, etc. If you do a Google you'll find like a thousand threads on this issue.

I myself started one at Rage3D here:
“Display driver stopped responding and has recovered” - Rage3D Discussion Area

And another one here:
Please Fix! - Display Driver stopped responding Issue - Rage3D Discussion Area

My issue went away when I switched my video card from an ATI 3870 to an ATI 4850. However, I had a suspician my 3870 was faulty because I couldn't play any games without a crash.

But others don't appear to have faulty cards, so…

Well I hardly believe it's my GPU. I just installed a new one!
I do believe it's Vista+hardware but not faulty hardware cause everything works fine on XP.
Trust me, faulty hardware is faulty hardware. It has no clue that Vista, XP or Mac runs on it. If there's a problem in the hardware it will fail 100% of the time.
I've monitored my computer Temps. and the highest I get is 65 degrees so I'm perfectly in range of normal Temps. in load.

Lastly, after replacing 3 hardware parts, I really hardly believe I still have hardware issues going on.

I'm not suggesting it is a hardware issue only. I said that "my" issue went away with a new card. However if you read my entire post you'd see where I stated that no one has figured out the cause of the problem, whether hardware or software.

Look into the links I provided.

I looked at the links but I couldn't read all.. it's exhausting.

If you do find a fix, leeme know

Quick question, is this,

PSU ThermalTek 750W

Click to expand...

a typo, or some off brand I have never heard of before?

I was doing some research on your system specifications, and you said your memory is stock at 4-4-4-12? which would mean you'd have to be using XMS series of Corsair memory and it's most likely DDR2-800 judging by how new your board and processor are, and if you were running 1066 with those timings and low voltage that would definitely be a problem. After researching around there is no XMS memory that runs at 4-4-4-12 at anything under 2.1V, and in one of your posts you state your running at 1.97V which can cause system instability in high performance memory like that.

+1 on what Killacore said about the voltages.

I have OCZ 1066mhz SLI Ram and OCZ calls for 5-5-5-15 at 2.1v or 2.0v but my EVGA mobo (Bios set to auto - default) puts the voltage at 1.8 and this had always given me problems. I had to set it manually to 2.2v and the problem went away.

Another problem was my 22" drivers not being compabitle with Vista x64 (no problem with Xp 32bit). The problem went away when I installed x64 drivers for the monitor.

Your problem might be different than mine as I used to get that only when I was playing games but is worth a check.

Sometimes a graphic problem doesn't come from faulty vga card or drivers. I can tell you horror stories with games and the fix was simple but illogical at the same time.

Killacore said:

I was doing some research on your system specifications, and you said your memory is stock at 4-4-4-12? which would mean you'd have to be using XMS series of Corsair memory and it's most likely DDR2-800 judging by how new your board and processor are, and if you were running 1066 with those timings and low voltage that would definitely be a problem. After researching around there is no XMS memory that runs at 4-4-4-12 at anything under 2.1V, and in one of your posts you state your running at 1.97V which can cause system instability in high performance memory like that.

Click to expand...

AstaLaVista said:

+1 on what Killacore said about the voltages.

Click to expand...

Correct a mundo (or something like that) +1 to Killacore

This is very true. I stated in another post that most MB (if any) will not "auto" set memory voltages to anything higher then 1.8 - 1.9 volts. To go higher you must "manually" set the voltage.

And yes, a lot of problems could probably be eliminated if more users understood this.