Display Driver Has Stopped Working

**rock_lobster** · 09-10-10, 01:40 AM

Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered – nvlddmkm nVidia Driver

That is the message I get everytime I try to run a game on my PC. I run the game, it runs smoothly for about a minute, then goes to a black screen, then comes back up, and my game is like it's trying to run on some vid card from the early 90's.

I've rolled back to previous drivers, to no avail. I've also reinstalled current drivers, also to no avail.

I have a Nvidia 8800 GTS (640 ram on it).

I've never had this problem before, and the issue is happening with games I have been playing on my current system for years.

I have not installed nor uninstalled any new hardware or software as of late.

Help!!

**HeavyG** · 09-10-10, 02:06 AM

Is your card overheating?

Go to www.cpuid.org and download Hardware Monitor. Is your GPU running at a high temp causing it to crash?

The nVIDIA 8800 series cards have a pretty high hardware failure rate, especially from the GT series. I haven't seen as many GTS cards fail. I hate to say it, Rock, but your card might be dying.

**rock_lobster** · 09-10-10, 03:26 PM

Booooooo!!!! It must be my card dying. Now my comp won't even load up. The graphics look all screwed when it does then it crashes. Oh well. Any advice on a new card. Budget friendly

**Viktor_Olin** · 09-10-10, 09:25 PM

Don't discard your old card just yet. My brand new EVGA GTX 460 started exhibiting much the same behavior just a week or two after I installed it. It was intermittent, and occurred with the newer drivers and after rolling back to older drivers.

I was contemplating a replacement from Newegg or an RMA with EVGA, but I first re-seated the card and (I'm pretty sure this was the issue) re-seated both of the power supply cables. It has run like a champ since. I'd try that before replacing it. It could also be a PSU issue.

If replacement of your GPU becomes necessary, is it, perhaps, under lifetime warranty with EVGA?

**rock_lobster** · 09-13-10, 05:17 PM

Well, after trying all of your suggestions, it's still a no go. I'm almost positive it's the vid card now. When I can actually get it to start up, the graphics are all distorted and the screen isn't displayed correctly. I tried using an old MX4400 card just to test my theory, but ironically it doesn't fit into my mobo, lol.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102829

I need something cheap and this has the best ratings on newegg. Will that run steam games equal to my old 8800 GTS? I'd look it up myself, but I'm not on my own computer and I don't have the time to do the research.

**HeavyG** · 09-13-10, 07:49 PM

An ATI 4850 is probably as low as you want to go. I don't think the 4650 will do. There are 4850 cards going for around $100 and it will likely beat your GTS.

**rock_lobster** · 09-14-10, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by HeavyG

An ATI 4850 is probably as low as you want to go. I don't think the 4650 will do. There are 4850 cards going for around $100 and it will likely beat your GTS.

Hmmm, I'll see if I can scrape up the money.

**rock_lobster** · 09-14-10, 09:54 PM

So I'm gonna go ahead and get in contact with EVGA and see if I'm under warranty or see if I can get some sort of upgrade at a discount for customer loyalty. Otherwise I saw an ATI 5870 HD (I think that was it. Definitely in the 5 series) for 89.99. Much rather nvidia but didn't see too many cards in my price range that got decent ratings.