Blue Hardware Failure Screen when operating the 777

[alatz 0]

Dear Support,

 

I have recently purchased the PMDG 777, it does everything as advertised and the job the PMDG Group did is amazing.  My issue is that when I fly it, no matter if it is a short distance like EINN-EDDP or long distances such as RJAA-EGLL the aircraft somehow crashes my Windows 7 and I receive a Blue screen that says something to the effect of "hardware failure." The screen itself is blue with white text.  When I receive this screen it does a memory dump and then I am forced to power down my Computer and when I turn it back on I have to select the "start windows normally."  However, I am also an avid flyer of the PMDG 737NGX and the MD-11x, neither of these aircraft crash to this screen and I can fly them both with no problems with my normal settings for long periods of time and at great distances.  I have been on the AVSIM forum and I use NVIDIA Inspector and the MSI Afterburner with the recommended settings provided with the forum.  Is there an issue that I am not aware of?  Or are there recommended settings for operating this massive beautiful aircraft.  I have researched for support on this forum and cannot find any similar issues.

 

Computer Specs are as follows:

 

Intel i4770k ivy bridge (3.5 GHz overclocked to 3.9 GHz), 8GB 2166 MHz RAM, NVIDIA GTX 770 2GB, 600 WATT power supply, 1 TB SATA w/ 64GB solid state cache

 

Signed

Andrew J. Latz

[Slayer 190]

Just an educated guess: Your overclock is failing. The most likely culprit is your system memory but without further info it's hard to help you much. The crash could be anything.... 

 

First step is to get this program and then you can see your crash logs etc better:

 

http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

 

and then we can see what is crashing and start tracking down the problem. I wouldn't start to try to do any other fixes or attempts until you do so because it's just guesswork and you could end up making a compound problem.

[martin-w 3,258]

3.5 GHz overclocked to 3.9 GHz isn't much of an overclock... it's just turbo at work.

 

600 WATT power supply sounds a bit too low.

 

The error code would be useful, but yes, it could be hardware failure. strange it's only with the 777 though.

 

carry out all the usual checks, CPU temp, GPU temp, PSU tested with a test meter or something like the Antec PSU tester. Run a hard drive diagnostic etc etc.

 

I would run Prime95 and see if it blue screens with that. That way you eliminate the 777 as the issue.

[Nils_93 2]

 

600 WATT power supply sounds a bit too low.

 

 

Its way more then needed, if the power supply used in this build is a quality power supply. Lets do the maths here real quick:

 

i7 4770 K TDP = 84 Watt

GTX 770 TDP = 230 Watt

HDD, SSD, MoBo, Ram ~ 50 Watt

 

So your maximum should be around 364 Watt. I am running a system which is pretty much identicall, except my CPU (i5 4670K) is overclocked to 4.5 Ghz. At that state the CPU takes 120 Watt. So my maximum power comsuption is not more then 400 Watt and a high quality PSU like the BeQuiet E9 490 Watt CM is fully capable of handling such a system. No need for anything more then 500 Watt nowadays, unless you are running a SLI/CF Set up

 

Nils

[martin-w 3,258]

Well, yes. But you are assuming he has a high quality PSU

 

I'm not making that assumption. There was a PSU review done a few years ago that employed sophisticated equipment to test a plethora of PSU's. Many of them failed to perform any where near the claims.

 

Most of the PSU calculators would recomend around 650 watts. Thats allowing for some future expansion and capacitor wear etc.

 

If he is indeed using a top-notch PSU from the likes of Corsair, Seasonic etc, then fair enough.

[777simmer 117]

Totally agree with Martin.

 

You should have a 750W high quality PSU with one GPU installed.

More Watt are required for more than one GPUs installed!

 

You can calculate all day and show that it only needs 400W....but it is all about stability.

Maybe you can borrow a 750PSU from someone and try?

 

So, I would also recommend to first test the 777 with an unclocked default BIOS.

If all is ok then you can start clocking again.

[Nils_93 2]

First off: Corsair is far away from beeing a top-notch PSU. It might be a top-notch soldering iron, but thats it. Most of their PSU are single rail, which isn´t good at all for your components. Seasonic is a different story though, some of their product lines are good, some are really cheap.

 

@777simmer

 

So how can you explain then, that I neither have, nor had any stability problems at all, although I am far away from a 750 Watts PSU (which is in fact more than my SLI-Titan SetUp uses)?

Believe me, aslong as alatz is not using the biggest crap of a PSU, he will be fine with what he has right now. Also. from what I understood, he hasn´t overclocked yet. The 3.9 Ghz is just the default boost clock, which is pre-set by Intel.

[777simmer 117]

If he sais he overclocked to 3.9Ghz then I assume he has fixed his Turbo to 3.9.

Either in the BIOS or by Windows power scheme running 100% all the time (which is adviced for FSX).

Not sure if that falls under the definition of overclocking.

Dont matter either.

 

What matters is that 3.9 constant uses more Watts than the standard Windows power scheme that goes up and down from 1.6Ghz to 3.9Ghz (on my PC anyway).

 

 

Many many many instability problems are caused by weak/unstable PSUs.

 

I think you just got lucky with your PSU and not BSODing.

And just because you got lucky does not mean we should advice users to get a 500W PSU.

 

I am not saying he should go out and buy a replacement PSU immediately without trying anything else. But it could be the cause.

 

I am probably going to offend you or anger you but here is my opinion about all so called PC and electronics experts around:

There are a few very good guides out there when it comes to (FSX) hardware selection.

I thrust those guides.

The guide I thrust is written by a true specialist, with years and years of experience and I thrust him 100%.

 

This specialist advices to get a GOOD 750W PSU.

This specialist also said that a 12 volt 'single rail' power supplies tends to be better quality than multi-rail.

(I am no specialist so dont ask me why!)

So you are wrong here I guess

 

I bought a Corsair AX750W because my specialist has recommended their mid/upper class along with the ones from Seasonic.

Now if I would have listened to you I would not have bought Corsair because they are no good. right?!

Seasonic is way better right?!

 

check this out, a quick Google revealed what I remembered is correct.

They are the same!

http://www.overclock.net/t/865682/psu-corsair-or-seasonic

 

So wrong again.

 

 

I realize my tone is not friendly here.

Maybe it is because I am tired after todays 11 hr flight.

Maybe you dont deserve this at all, so I appologize.

But I am getting a bit tired from so called specialists who keep trying to reinvent the wheel and keep questioning everything that experienced experts have suggested.

 

Just a few weeks ago a guy had FSX crashes.

I told him politely to unclock his PC and try again.

He answered "I am an It specialist so that is not it, I would have picked up on that"

Guess what?!

A week ago he posted "hey guys, in case you have FSX crashes...mine were due to my overclock....just thought I should let you know"!

 

Now everybody is allowed an opinion and everyone can be wrong....but this..."I am a specialist so I know better", attitude is annoying.

[martin-w 3,258]

First off: Corsair is far away from beeing a top-notch PSU. It might be a top-notch soldering iron, but thats it

WHAT!!! Are you serious? No really, are you serious?

 

In the PSU review I mentioned in my previous post, I recall it was done by custom PC magazine, guess who came out on top? That's right, it was corsair. After careful analysis the conclusion was that corsair PSU's frequently perform above and beyond the call of duty, providing far more than the specs state. In addition, they happen to have a top notch warranty, in fact SEVEN years for the AX series. Manufacturers don't do that unless they are 100% confident in the product.

 

So they have a single rail design, to trash a product on that feature alone and claim it's "definitively" bad for components is weird. Yes, theoretically, a multi-rail unit will offer better protection, especially on high wattage units of 1000 watts or above, but do you really think corsair engineers are that dumb, and haven't bothered to consider such eventualities? In fact, I can go on to point out that corsairs advanced OCP, OPP, OVP, UVP, and SCP, courtesy of the supervisory IC is top-notch.

 

In fact, Nick Needham over at Simforums, the individual many regard as a top authority, you know, electronics expert, two PhD's, worked for NASA... went for a corsair AXi850, and recommends [as Rob said] At least 750 Watt.

 

None of this is helping the original poster, so my advice to you is to concentre on that, rather than engaging in a "which PSU is best" argument.

[Nils_93 2]

Ok, I was almost expecting these types of answers somehow, yet I hoped for some open-minded people. Well I guess luck wasn´t on my site this time around...

I will just comment really short a last time on this one, because you seem to (think you) know what you are doing.

 

Let me tell you, that just because I am a member of Avsim for roughly 60 days now, doesn´t mean that I have no knowledge. Infact there are also other forums (and other real-world oppurtunitys) to educate yourself - the world doesn´t stop at the borders of avsim. But if seen it quiet a lot and seems to be kind of a bad habbit within AVSIm that most of the people who are long-term members think they know it all and that new AVSimers dont know nothing at all.

 

In fact I am doing quiet a lot of reviews for an other forum and a print magazin. But I guess your right, I am just having luck and I dont know nothing about the things I am reviewing since sometime. Because I dont think it makes any kind of sense to argue with you, I will not do so. Keep your opinion, do whatever works out for you and spend to much money on oversized PSUs. Its not like that you could get a perfectly fine PSU or less money and spend the savings on something else, lets say the PMDG 777-300 expansion.

 

Anyhow, let me ask you just one thing: Do you really think its a great thing - a sign of high quality - that the PSU isn´t shutting off, even at way higher loads than it was rated for? Dont you think thats the moment when a safety feature should kick in and stop your expensive hardware from dying by excessive power? The answer is: A qualtiy PSU delivers a little bit more then it was rated for and if its too excessive it automatically performs a shut-off to protect your computer from further damage.

 

And if an electronics expert recommends you to get at least 750 Watts for a modern system which is not taking anymore then 400 Watt in worst case (with one GPU), it only shows either how "confident" he is about the quality of the PSU he is recommending, or that the paycheck he received for that statement wasn´t too bad. Just use your own brain, do the maths, read more than just review from one source and you might get a clou that you dont need 750 Watts. But I guess that will never just never happen, because its just so much easier to copy the oppinion of somebody else, then educate yourself.

 

Nils

[Goldstar Textures 85]

I had the same issues. I was overclocked to 4.4ghz for over a year. I had to underclock it back to 4.0ghz. Now I've got no issues whatsoever.

[martin-w 3,258]

Ok, I was almost expecting these types of answers somehow, yet I hoped for some open-minded people.

 

It'as not about being open minded, when you state definitvely that Corsair PSU's are crap. Not when Corsiar have an excellent reputation in this field and are regarded as among the best.

 

 

because you seem to (think you) know what you are doing.

 

Yes thank you, I believe I do. At the age of 56, more than double your age, and having build many PC's... I have a rough idea.

 

 

Anyhow, let me ask you just one thing: Do you really think its a great thing - a sign of high quality - that the PSU isn´t shutting off, even at way higher loads than it was rated for?

 

 

Who said they didn't? Of course they do. My comment was that using sophisticated equipment, Corsair PSU's performed above their stated capabilities. Do you really think the overcurrent protection designed into corsair PSU's is a lie, a fake supervisory IC???

 

 

 

And if an electronics expert recommends you to get at least 750 Watts for a modern system which is not taking anymore then 400 Watt in worst case (with one GPU), it only shows either how "confident" he is about the quality of the PSU he is recommending, or that the paycheck he received for that statement wasn´t too bad

 

 

 

The electronics expert I was referring to was Nick Needham, well respected and your statement above in bold could get you into serious trouble and banned from the forum. I'd be careful if I were you. For that reason I'll debate this with you no more.

 

Once again, if you haven't got any contribution to make in regard to the OP's issues, then don't comment further.

 

There will be no further comment from me, as you seem to like paddling in hot water.

[777simmer 117]

Let me tell you, that just because I am a member of Avsim for roughly 60 days now, doesn´t mean that I have no knowledge.

 

But if seen it quiet a lot and seems to be kind of a bad habbit within AVSIm that most of the people who are long-term members think they know it all and that new AVSimers dont know nothing at all.

 

Nils

I started to write a way too long reply here that no one else probably cares about.

 

Let me just say that is neither true nor the point I am trying to make.

 

I have decided to reply to you by PM.

 

 

Edit: I see Martin replied at the same time. Pretty much the same I wanted to say (but shorter). Could not agree more!

[martin-w 3,258]

I had the same issues. I was overclocked to 4.4ghz for over a year. I had to underclock it back to 4.0ghz. Now I've got no issues whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

 

The OP isn't overclocking though.

[vololiberista 205]

Surely as regards the PSU the motherboard manuel should recommend what wattage to use. Mine clearly stated 500watts.

When I rebuilt my system I did have a lot of blue screens. Every error under the sun so it seemed. So my thinking was it 's a memory problem. It wasn't however!

The MB has an ECO fan programme: to reduce noise and control the fans RPM. It also has a fan fail warning. Both of these functions were active in the BIOS causing all sorts of strange beeps causing constant reboots. Thus windos couldn't get a handle on how much memory there was.

Turning off the fan fail warning solved everything.

When computers give out error messages the real cause is often obscured. The overclocking could be the problem, though with the amount of memory that should be ok. Perhaps the multiplier could be out.

Unless the PSU 'is' faulty I don't think that's the problem.