Computer hangs/freezes when using single video card in PCIE 2, but works in PCIE1

shaykal · Aug 14, 2012

Hello all,

I just built a new rig last week, and when I'm running benchmark for GPU, the computer hangs/freezes and a hard reset must be done. Sometime it hangs while watching a DVD, not even under extreme load.
My computer specs are:

Motherboard - Asrock z77 extreme9
CPU/Processor - Intel core i5 - 3570k 3.4 GHz (I didn't overclock, only ran stock speed).
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL10Q-32GBZL
Video Card - ASUS ENGTX460 DC TOP/2DI/1GD5/V2 GeForce GTX 460. nVidia driver version is: 301.42
Operating System - windows 7 enterprise (64 bit) version 6.1 build 7600 (I didn't install any updates or service pack, although this happens with windows service pack 1 as well, I installed fresh copy of windows 4 times this last weekend... :-s )
Hard Drive - Kingston C300 128GB SSD (operating system is installed here), other Hitachi HDs for storage.
PSU - Thermaltake Black Widow W0319RU 850W
Bios version - 1.50

I connected the video card in PCIE 2 as recommended in the user manual (for single card).

What I tried so far:
Ran stress test to the CPU using OCCT 4.3.1 - finished successfully
Ran stress test to the memory using OCCT 4.3.1 and MemTest - finished successfully.
Ran stress test to the GPU using OCCT 4.3.1 - sometimes it finished with errors, sometimes it hangs in the middle and sometimes it finished successfully.
Ran benchmark for GPU using Heaven DX11 Benchmark 3.0 it hangs in the middle.

When I switched the video card to PCIE 1 the above tests all finished successfully.

Yesterday I also tried to remove all the unnecessary devices and cables (no network, sound etc.), in the bios I returned to the default settings and tested with only 1 stick of memory and only the SSD connected.
Again, the same results.
I then tried with a different stick of memory in a different slot, and still I get the same freeze.
I also tried with nVidia driver version 296.10 and with windows service pack 1.

I'm not really sure what else can be done...
Do you think there is a patch or a different driver version that I should be using in order to fix this?
Maybe some configuration in the bios?
Do you think that the motherboard itself could be defective?

Thanks for your help!

eidairaman1 · Aug 14, 2012

Read your motherboard manual closely. Normally it would state when using a single video card configuration the card must occupy the top pcie 16x slot

shaykal · Aug 14, 2012

Thanks for your reply.

I actually did refer to the manual, and it says that for better performance, when using 1 video card, it's best to connect it to PCIE2, that's why I connected it there to begin with, otherwise, I would have just connected to PCIE1 as usual.

itsakjt · Aug 14, 2012

Maybe the motherboard is defective. I find no other reason.

eidairaman1 · Aug 14, 2012

less if there is a PCI E switching command in BIOS/UEFI

Ya id recommend a RMA because it states for a single video card, use PCI E 2 which is the second slot from the top, SLI/Crossfire occupy PCI E 1, 3

shaykal · Aug 14, 2012

Hi all,

I just talked to a technical support guy from Asrock and they will replace my motherboard.
It looks like they also think it's defective.

Thank you all for trying to help!

eidairaman1 · Aug 14, 2012

Well Git 'er done haha.

Glad we could help.

Let us Know when you get the new motherboard and results of the install

itsakjt · Aug 14, 2012

You are welcome.

Let us know of the results

shaykal · Aug 14, 2012

Thanks guys, I will!

shaykal · Sep 4, 2012

Hi all,

Just a small update.
I got my motherboard last week.
This time it looks like everything is working fine.
I installed the GPU in PCIE2 like Asrock recommends in the manual.
I did some tests and they all passed.
I didn’t test the other PCIE lanes since it’s already working. I just hope that in case I need to use other lanes in the future, I won’t have any unpleasant surprises…
I must say that Asrock support service was really good.
They say that after they get the defective motherboard, it takes them between 5-7 days to ship the new one.
They actually shipped the new one 2 days after they got my defective motherboard.
The only “complaint” I might have is that I had to pay for the shipment.
I mean, you try to save some money and buy combo deals, with rebate and perhaps some coupon codes, and eventually you pay the difference in the mail… and it is one of their more expensive motherboards…
Anyway, at least I got what I wanted – a working motherboard

Thank you all for trying to help

de.das.dude · Sep 4, 2012

Asrock has risen up. Better than Asus imo.

System Name	z77 build
Processor	i5-3570k
Motherboard	Asrock z77 extreme9
Cooling	Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro
Memory	G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1600
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB
Storage	Crucial 128GB C300 SATA3 SSD, 2 x Samsung 830 128GB SSD, 2 x Hitachi GST Deskstar 2TB SATA 6.0Gb/s
Display(s)	ASUS VG236HE Black 23"
Case	NZXT switch 810
Power Supply	Thermaltake Black Widow W0319RU 850W ATX

System Name	PCGOD
Processor	AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard	Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling	Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory	16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s)	AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage	Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s)	NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case	AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s)	Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply	Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse	Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard	Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software	Windows 7 Pro 64

System Name	z77 build
Processor	i5-3570k
Motherboard	Asrock z77 extreme9
Cooling	Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro
Memory	G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1600
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB
Storage	Crucial 128GB C300 SATA3 SSD, 2 x Samsung 830 128GB SSD, 2 x Hitachi GST Deskstar 2TB SATA 6.0Gb/s
Display(s)	ASUS VG236HE Black 23"
Case	NZXT switch 810
Power Supply	Thermaltake Black Widow W0319RU 850W ATX

System Name	Coffee \| Maximus
Processor	Intel Core i7 9700K @ 5.2 GHz with AVX, 4.8 GHz cache clock \| i7 9700KF @ 5.0 GHz/4.7 GHz cache
Motherboard	ASUS Maximus X Formula \| ASUS Maximus VIII Ranger (modded BIOS for Coffee Lake)+TPM2.0 module
Cooling	Cooler Master ML240 Illusion \| Cooler Master ML120L RGB
Memory	216 GB (32 GB) Kingston Fury Beast @3600 MHz CL17 \| 48 GB (32 GB) HyperX Fury @3200 MHz CL14
Video Card(s)	Zotac RTX 3070 8 GB Twin Edge \| Galax RTX 2060 Super 8 GB
Storage	Samsung PM981a 1TB NVMe+480GB SATA SSD+2 TB HDD \| Crucial P5 1TB, Crucial P1 500GB+2.5TB HDDs
Display(s)	LG OLED 55 G3, 4K 120 Hz, VRR, ALLM, GSync, FreeSync \| Samsung 43AU9070 4K TV, VRR, ALLM
Case	Corsair Crystal 460X RGB \| Lianli Lancool 215
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster Z SE \| Realtek ALC1150 (Supreme FX)
Power Supply	ASUS ROG Strix 750G (80+ Gold) \| Cooler Master MWE 650 V2 (80+ Bronze)
Mouse	Cooler Master MM731 19000 DPI gaming mouse
Keyboard	Cooler Master CK721 65% mechanical gaming keyboard (tactile)
Software	Windows 11 Pro x64 \|Windows 11 Pro x64
Benchmark Scores	Cinebench R20 MT 4200,ST 547 CPU-Z MT 4871, ST 620 \| R20 MT - 4158, ST - 534, CPU-Z MT 4798, ST 603

System Name	PCGOD
Processor	AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard	Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling	Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory	16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s)	AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage	Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s)	NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case	AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s)	Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply	Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse	Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard	Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software	Windows 7 Pro 64

Computer hangs/freezes when using single video card in PCIE 2, but works in PCIE1

shaykal

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

shaykal

itsakjt

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

shaykal

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

itsakjt

shaykal

shaykal

de.das.dude

Pro Indian Modder

System Name	Monke \| Work Thinkpad\| Old Monke
Processor	Ryzen 5600X \| Ryzen 5500U \| FX8320
Motherboard	ASRock B550 Extreme4 \| ? \| Asrock 990FX Extreme 4
Cooling	240mm Rad \| Not needed \| hyper 212 EVO
Memory	2x16GB DDR4 3600 Corsair RGB \| 16 GB DDR4 3600 \| 16GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Pulse RX6700XT 12GB \| Vega 8 \| Sapphire Pulse RX580 8GB
Storage	Samsung 980 nvme (Primary) \| some samsung SSD
Display(s)	Dell 2723DS \| Some 14" 1080p 98%sRGB IPS \| Dell 2240L
Case	Ant Esports Tempered case \| Thinkpad \| Antec
Audio Device(s)	Logitech Z333 \| Jabra corpo stuff
Power Supply	Corsair RM750e \| not needed \| Corsair GS 600
Mouse	Logitech G400 \| nipple
Keyboard	Logitech G213 \| stock kb is awesome \| Logitech K230
VR HMD	;_;
Software	Windows 10 Professional x3
Benchmark Scores	There are no marks on my bench