3GPU=BSOD/2GPU=Freeze/1GPU=Stable

[0bit]

Hi everyone,

I've got another problem on a new build. This computer is dedicated to folding, hence the three GPUs. When I fold with all three GPUs, the computer will BSOD anywhere from 30mins to 4 hours. I tried deleting some driver sweeper program and reinstalling in safe mode with no improvement. The next thing I tried is removing on of the video cards and folding with the remaining two. From that I was able to figure out that the BSODs were caused by the EVGA450(GPU 3).

With the remaining two video cards (GPU 1 and GPU2), I no longer get the BSOD when I fold. The problem with those 2 cards, the computer starts to freeze up when I fold. It happens anywhere between 2 hours and 5 hours. I then tried folding on each individual card for 24 hours and that did not give me any BSODS or freeze ups. I also switch up the cards when I rotated them, so I know all three PCI-E slots work. The temp of the cpu is around 40-45° C, GPU 1 is around 55-65° C, GPU 2 & 3 are around 50° C while folding.

I not sure if this is a software issue as this is a fresh install of win 7 with all the windows updates and the latest video drivers(260.99). The only software I have installed on the system are: MSE, ZoneAlarm, Mozilla Firefox with NoScript/AdBlock and F@H. I've also ran Memtest+ with no errors and checked the HD with Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows

Does anyone have any ideas on why it would freeze and what I should try next? Thank you in advance.

The parts are listed below:

Motherboard: ASRock 890GX EXTREME4 AM3

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 970 Black Edition Deneb 3.5GHz

Heatsink: Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C7

PSU: Antec TPQ-850 850W

HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6402AAEX 640GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

GPU1: EVGA 01G-P3-1373-AR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) Superclocked EE 1GB 256-bit GDDR5

GPU2: MSI N450GTS CYCLONE 1GD5/OC GeForce GTS 450

GPU3: EVGA 01G-P3-1458-TR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) FTW 1GB 128-bit GDDR5

[glc]

Honestly, I would suspect the Asrock board. They aren't known for quality or reliability.

If this is only a folding machine, why are you using a firewall and antivirus? Any reason you can't just do it with XP instead of Win 7?

[0bit]

Thanks for the reply GLC. To answer both your questions, I don't know, never thought about it. For every computer I've built, once I'm done with the hardaware, those are the software programs I've installed. I've never really thought about not installing them. The win 7/xp issue, I couldn't get the xp installation disc to recognize the harddrive. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the harddrive being sata 6.0. The win 7 installation had no problem recognizing the drive.

If it's the motherboard, is there anyway of testing it without getting another motherboard? If not, what's a good cheap board with at least 3 PCI-E slots to pick up?

[glc]

If you set the SATA controller to the IDE mode, XP should see the drive as long as it has SP1 or newer. I don't see the need for SATA 6.0 for that use.

Sorry, but I don't do AMD builds, I can't advise you on specific motherboards, but you cannot go wrong with an Asus. You get what you pay for.

[0bit]

Awesome, I'll give that a try as I do have a couple of winxp licenses sitting around and I'm still "trying out" the win 7.