Hi All,
 
Hoping that someone smarter than me can assist. I've had my GPU for about three months and I've consistently had crashes (usually in GTAV Online). The errors occurred when I was on Win7 and continue on Win10
 
If it's just one game - its probably the game right?
I thought so - but I was only playing one game lately!! Well it also crashed during 3dMark's fire-strike benchmark today and Witcher 3, so I'm thinking that perhaps I have a GPU hardware issue?
 
I can not reliably reproduce the error using any application. Sometimes I can play games for hours or run benchmarks all day long without a crash but other times the display adapter crashes and then the application right after.
 
I previously thought it was a GTA game issue and have exhausted rock-star support's suggestions already. Its interesting to note that I didn't get the error on my old reliable EVGA 670FTW - which I've since sold to a lucky owner.
 
I ran 3dmark firestrike (Here is a benchmark when it didn't crash:(--www.3dmark.com/fs/5707342--)
 
I'm not the worlds greatest computer expert but I'm happy to provide any additional info on request. I don't have a spare PC to try the GPU in unfortunately.
 
Lets start with the basics:
 
PC Specs:
OS: Win10
Motherboard: Z97X-UD5H-BK (F7 version of BIOS = its the latest)
CPU: i7-4790k
GPU: EVGA 980 FTW
PSU: Corsair AX860
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro
SSD2: Intel X25 80M
 
Overclocking:
There is no GPU or CPU overclocking (don't even have Precision X installed at the moment though I have used it in the past).
 
Event Viewer:
 
(Warning)
Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.
 
Then with the exact same time-stamp GTAV crashes with this error:
 
(Error)
The error message in event viewer reads:
Faulting application name: GTA5.exe, version: 1.0.393.4, time stamp: 0x55a62da6
Faulting module name: GTA5.exe, version: 1.0.393.4, time stamp: 0x55a62da6
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000146936c
Faulting process id: 0x126c
Faulting application start time: 0x01d0d62b2a571410
Faulting application path: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto V\GTA5.exe
Faulting module path: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto V\GTA5.exe
Report Id: bac34ea3-4868-4ff6-970b-aa70f44ba418
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:
 
Have you even tried to fix this yourself?
Yes I promise I have tried!
 
1. Clean install of latest Nvidia drivers (no geforce experience - just the driver and Physx)
2. Reinstall Microsoft .NET 3.5
3. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1
4. Reinstall DirectX (it said that it was already up to date)
5. Uninstalled GTAV
6. Used CCleaner
7. Reinstalled the game
8. Reset Windows 10 and reinstalled EVERYTHING (this error occured in Win7 aswell so is probably not specific to the OS - but hey I was getting desperate!)
 
Nothing has reliably worked for any period of time.
 
So please help me diagnose the issue - my thanks in advance.

Thanks, OK sure, I'll try that then I'll report back.

Try reducing the GPU core and memory clocks 100mhz or so using either Precision or MSI Afterburner to see if that eliminates the errors.

 
Well, HeavyHemi, you might be on to something there - I installed PrecisionX and reduced clocks by exactly 100Mhz - then enjoyed a few uninterrupted hours of gaming (lost about 2-4 fps by under-clocking though) Weird that it could be such a simple solution.
 
I feel a little perturbed because I've just seen a few other forum threads talking about the same model GPU I have and having similar issues.
 
What's the most definitive way to determine if a card is not up to its stated performance expectation and needs to be replaced?
 
(Really don't want to RMA this card because I live in New Zealand and shipping will probably be so expensive and take ages meaning I won't have a discrete GPU for some time)
 
Maybe a better option would be to approach the local retailer that sold me the GPU? Maybe they would accept a return - it is only a few months old.
 
I will also try the newer drivers from Nvidia - but seems a long shot as the release notes don't really state anything about fixing bugs...
 
Any advice?

first off reinstall drivers as a clean install and only check drivers and PhysX only
next I would go to steam game library right click on the game gta v  under local files after right click pick check verify integrity of game cache
also make sure all of c+++ Microsoft files are up to date
 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145

nvidia_man123
 
 
(Warning)
Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.
 
Then with the exact same time-stamp GTAV crashes with this error:
 
 

The only time I get this type of error (so far atleast) is usually when I am overclocking GPU's. The latest one which was yesterday was the 980 Ti KinPin (72%) when I was trying to push it to 1650MHz on air. Whilst waiting for the 980 Kingpin bitspower water blocks.
 
Basically I was running Fire Strike Extreme, 1/2  of the bench it was running fine at 1650MHz on the core couple of seconds later the screen turns black (like always), turbo boost 2.0 will then downclock the card to its stock (my stock boost on the kingpin I got was 1466MHz) the Firestrike will stop and then the notification at the bottom right will show saying "Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered." The fix was either lower the Core to a stable one or add more voltage to make the 1650 MHz more stable.
 
It could still come from other factors but usually my fix will be as someone mentioned. Either completely uninstall all of your old nvidia drivers and then reinstall a new fresh one, roll back the drivers if the newest drivers have hiccups or downclock the card (or remove any overclocking) then test the card again by playing GTA.
 

Using PrecisionX I clocked the GPU back to default and after 2 hours of play I see my fav message:
 
"Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered".

yuukichan
The factory overclock is bad. The gpu might not be getting enough voltage for the speed they are trying to push. RMA time. 

I second the RMA.

So just a little post to update.
 
I contacted support and after trying a few things they sent me instructions to modify a few switches on the GPU and update the BIOS.
 
It was a rather nerve-wracking experience - but it all seemed to go to plan. We'll see how things go - hopefully no more crashes.
 
I'll do my best to update in a week or so.

Did the bios Evga send you increase the default voltage? If it was stable at a slower speed the card may just need slightly higher volts to be stable overclocked.

nvidia_man123

BigTelHols
Did the bios Evga send you increase the default voltage? If it was stable at a slower speed the card may just need slightly higher volts to be stable overclocked.

 
I'm honestly not sure about the default voltage. There isn't anything in PrecisionX or GPU-Z to indicate - or at least I wouldn't know how to check what the "default" is.

You can view what volts the card is using in MSI Afterburner if you turn on on-screen monitoring in the options and tick what you want to monitor, I believe Evga PrecisionX is the same. Then in-game you can see what clocks/volts etc your card is running at in the top left corner.

Haha, not to worry as long as it's working OK now.

Late update - been busy...
 
Seems to be okay now...
 
To be honest since my original post there has been
1. nvidia driver update
2. GTA game update (this was the game that was crashing the most)
3. Numerous Win10 updates (with no specific patch notes, so who knows what they're doing)
 
Additionally on the advice of a friend I set the frame-rate target in precisionX to 60fps - The theory is that in some games during loading screens I was getting hundreds of fps and by locking it to 60fps (i.e. the same refresh as my screen) I wouldn't be overworking the GPU...
 
Either way - something appears to have worked.

How has it been running lately? I've been experiencing the same issues. I've not tried down-clocking yet. Though I'm on W8.1.

I've been noticing GTAV, not others, fps to hit into six to seven digits.. then drop to 0 for a few seconds. I'll try the fps lock.
 
I doubt it has anything to do withe the drivers or card itself, more or less Rockstars inability to properly code/port GTAV to the PC. They should have gone with the PC market first then port to console.