random black screen freezes

haze_1986

haze_1986

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Hi, can anyone help me with troubleshooting my problem. I've been experiencing random black screens that requires a hard reset. Most of the times I am surfing with a browser. The sound (if any) will go off within one second the black screen is induced. The black screen is not monitor losing connection with the graphics card as the backlight can still be seen obviously. After one of the hard reset, there is an error message with "disk read error, press ctrl alt del to restart" message. Rest of the time it reboots fine into windows.

From the above I am not sure if I can safely say that it is not a problem with the graphics card. I am suspecting it is a problem with the crucial m4, the sata cables or worst everything leading up from the south bridge on the mobo, since this is a relatively old system.

Things I have tried and findings:
Running OCCT for an hour to check stability for CPU, GPU and PSU.
Ran Memtest86+ overnight 7 passes

Here is my part list:
i7 860 + eVGA P55 SLI
Sapphire R9 290
Crucial M4 + WD black 1TB

Any advice is appreciated.

Final Update
After a weekend without any problems, I wish to update you guys with my conclusion. Apparently when I first bought the card I was using drivers for my monitor that forces them to run at 75 Hz. In doing so the memory clock of the graphics card will always be maxed out @ 1300MHz. After the recent reformat, I was still running my monitors at the default 60Hz. The problem occurred and I thought of fixing it before going 75Hz. When the monitors are at 60Hz the memory clock automatically downclocks to 300MHz and this is where the problem lies. Special thanks to hlots123 who shared the links which gave me a slight clue of what the problem is.

Anyways, this is a problem with the card and may probably be fixed by a bios update. I need the 75Hz so the problem will not affect me and I do not intend to fix it as of now. Thanks all for the help!
 
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A

Alternative X

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1) Download and run CrystalDiskInfo and check the condition of your HDD.

2) Download and run Memtest86+ to test your RAM.

3) Download and run HWMonitor and check temps of CPU and GPU.
 
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haze_1986

haze_1986

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Alternative X said:
1) Download and run CrystalDiskInfo and check the condition of your HDD.

2) Download and run Memtest86+ to test your RAM.

3) Download and run HWMonitor and check temps of CPU and GPU.
Click to expand...

1) crystaldiskinfo shows my M4 in good condition at 97% health

3) I did monitor the CPU and GPU temps previously. GPU at around 70+ and CPU below 80C with a H100i.
 
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Alternative X

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1) What browser are you using to give you this problem? What are you doing on the net when this happened?

2) State PSU model and wattage.
 
haze_1986

haze_1986

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Alternative X said:
1) What browser are you using to give you this problem? What are you doing on the net when this happened?

2) State PSU model and wattage.
Click to expand...
Appreciate your quick replies

1) Tried it happens for chrome, firefox, chromium and iron. Varies from HWZ to normal webpages, sometimes youtube videos.

2) PSU is Seasonic G series 600W. I tested with the ecoplug, it draws about 500W on full load. I turned off all my overclocks and it reduced by about 100W. But the problem still occurs.
 
hlots123

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did u test older catalyst 14.4 driver? wat vers hav u alr tried?
 
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Got spare GPU? If you have one, can try swapping GPUs and see if it works if changing drivers fail to solve your problems.
 
haze_1986

haze_1986

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same problem with 14.04 drivers. I remember this problem only occurs a month or two after getting the graphics card and I was using 14.4 previously, so it should be a hardware fault. Just not sure if its graphics card or the SSD.
 
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haze_1986

haze_1986

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haze_1986

haze_1986

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After a weekend without any problems, I wish to update you guys with my conclusion. Apparently when I first bought the card I was using drivers for my monitor that forces them to run at 75 Hz. In doing so the memory clock of the graphics card will always be maxed out @ 1300MHz. After the recent reformat, I was still running my monitors at the default 60Hz. The problem occurred and I thought of fixing it before going 75Hz. When the monitors are at 60Hz the memory clock automatically downclocks to 300MHz and this is where the problem lies. Special thanks to hlots123 who shared the links which gave me a slight clue of what the problem is.

Anyways, this is a problem with the card and may probably be fixed by a bios update. I need the 75Hz so the problem will not affect me and I do not intend to fix it as of now. Thanks all for the help!
 
hlots123

hlots123

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welcome. cool that thru ur workaround, u can cfm its the graphics card fault...
 
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