graphics driver failure in Windows XP (NVidia geForce4 440MX with AGP 8X)

Hi !

I'm running Windows XP Pro, with SP1 installed.

Following is my sys config -


Processor : AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (1.66 GHz)
(working at a temperature of 65 C on an average)

Motherboard : Biostar M7VIT Pro (VIA KT400 Chipset)
URL:
http://www.biostar.com.tw/products/m...itp/index.php3

RAM : 256 MB DDR

Display Card : NVidia geForce4 440MX with AGP 8X
Card Manufactured by Ennyah Corp.
URL:
http://www.ennyah.com.tw/english/pro...4_mx440_8x.htm
Currently using driver ver. 4.4.0.3 provided by
NVidia.

The problem I am facing is, when I'm working on my computer, sometimes,
randomly, it freezes for 4 or 5 seconds.
After 4 or 5 seconds, the screen automatically gets into 640*480 very low
color mode and I get a prompt which
reads "Graphics Driver Failu The driver failed to complete one of the
drawing operations. Please save your work
and then restart the computer.". If after this prompt I get into display
properties and increase the resolution and color
depth manually, the computer imadiately reboots on its on. So in any case
I've to restart the computer. When it
restarts, it gets into it's normal 1024x768 32 Bit color depth mode and
everything is back to normal.
The frequency of this happening is around once a day. I still haven't
figured out any particular event at which this happens.
I also have Win2000 installed on the same computer. Once while running
Win2000, a similar thing happend. It freezed, but
it was permanent. I had to use manual reboot to get out of it. I haven't
used Win2k much on it yet.. how ever something
definately is fishy.

does ne1 have n idea of what can be wrong? .. any solutions ! ??

thanks !

greetings,
Puneet.

"Puneet Arora" wrote in message
...
[]
Processor : AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (1.66 GHz)
(working at a temperature of 65 C on an average)

Yeah, well... AMD says the XP will run reliably all the way to 90 degrees
celcius, but that's a fantasy.

65 degrees celcius is the absolute *maximum* temp that should be allowed...
and there quite a margin for error based on whether or not your sensor is
located on the chip or on the motherboard.

You really should check to see if the heat sink is sitting on the processor
correctly, and if it is you should investigate a better heatsink/fan combo.

Also, did you know that your video card is actually closer to a GF2 than a
GF4?

--
JJJS

thanks .. will do something about cooling the thing down .

wht did u mean by my graphics card being closer to GF2
than GF4 ? .. didn't get that one ?

-puneet.

"J.J.J. Schmidt" wrote in message
...

"Puneet Arora" wrote in message
...
[]
Processor : AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (1.66 GHz)
(working at a temperature of 65 C on an
average)

Yeah, well... AMD says the XP will run reliably all the way to 90 degrees
celcius, but that's a fantasy.

65 degrees celcius is the absolute *maximum* temp that should be
allowed...
and there quite a margin for error based on whether or not your sensor is
located on the chip or on the motherboard.

You really should check to see if the heat sink is sitting on the
processor
correctly, and if it is you should investigate a better heatsink/fan
combo.

Also, did you know that your video card is actually closer to a GF2 than a
GF4?

--
JJJS

also .. one reason I feel that the temperature is not causing a problem is
that immediately after i reboot,
everything starts working fine.. though the temperature
is still the same ! .. the occurance of the problem is
absolutely random ..as of now..

-puneet.

PS: though there is no sensor to sense the graphics card
temperature, i jus opened my cabinet and touched it
with hand ! ... it is only negligibly hot !

and .. any idea where to install the second fan in the
cabinet ?..

actually .. my CPU is deep down in the little area in my
table which is enclosed from behind... ! **** .. it's gonna
be messy to find a solution out for the temperature
(incase if the problem is 'coz of that) ...

prolly I can cut the back of the table and install a fan there... but then
right behind it is the wall ! ... :'(
messy!

-puneet.

"Puneet Arora" wrote in message
...
[]
wht did u mean by my graphics card being closer to GF2
than GF4 ? .. didn't get that one ?

Nvidia calls the GPU on your video card the 'NV17'. It's basically a
GeForce2 on steroids. If you don't believe me then run 3DMark 2001 and see
if it runs any of the "true hardware" tests. It won't.

There a reason why that video card was so inexpensive. You get what you pay
for, unless you buy an FX5800 which wasn't really what Nvidia initially said
it was, or wanted it to be.

--
JJJS

"Puneet Arora" wrote in message
...
also .. one reason I feel that the temperature is not causing a problem is
that immediately after i reboot,
everything starts working fine..

It's entirely possible that temperature isn't what is causing your problem.
That doesn't mean it isn't *a* problem. 65 degrees C is too hot, and if you
don't believe me then excersise your fingers and use a search engine.

[]
PS: though there is no sensor to sense the graphics card
temperature, i jus opened my cabinet and touched it
with hand ! ... it is only negligibly hot !

You're funny. Leave the cabinet open and run 3DMark (any version)... then
touch a memory chip or the GPU's heatsink. Ouch, that hurt, didn't it?

Another nifty trick is to leave the cabinet open and see if the problem
you're having disappears. If it does then heat is definitely the issue.

Have you tried running 3DMark 2003? I wouldn't waste the time downloading
for running on a GF4MX.

--
JJJS

well .. i shut down my computer for a while and let the
CPU temp drop to room temp (around 30C).
I then kept the cabinet open and switched on the comp..
and within no time the temperature jumped to 53C .. and
it's more or less contant at this value (with the cabinet
open).

is this value fine ? .. 'coz i guess if i want it to be lesser
i'll have to change the heat sink ...
right now i'm using the one which i got with the proc.
itself.

i'm gonna keep my cabinet open always now ..
tell me the optimum temp val. though ..

"J.J.J. Schmidt" wrote in message
...

"Puneet Arora" wrote in message
...
also .. one reason I feel that the temperature is not causing a problem
is
that immediately after i reboot,
everything starts working fine..

It's entirely possible that temperature isn't what is causing your
problem.
That doesn't mean it isn't *a* problem. 65 degrees C is too hot, and if
you
don't believe me then excersise your fingers and use a search engine.

[]
PS: though there is no sensor to sense the graphics card
temperature, i jus opened my cabinet and touched it
with hand ! ... it is only negligibly hot !

You're funny. Leave the cabinet open and run 3DMark (any version)... then
touch a memory chip or the GPU's heatsink. Ouch, that hurt, didn't it?

Another nifty trick is to leave the cabinet open and see if the problem
you're having disappears. If it does then heat is definitely the issue.

Have you tried running 3DMark 2003? I wouldn't waste the time downloading
for running on a GF4MX.

--
JJJS

"Puneet Arora" wrote in message
...
[]
is this value fine ? .. 'coz i guess if i want it to be lesser
i'll have to change the heat sink ...
right now i'm using the one which i got with the proc.
itself.

'Fine' is relative. A good heatsink/fan combo should only cost you about
$30, and you can spend more for a better one if you want.

i'm gonna keep my cabinet open always now ..

Won't do you any good if the box is in an enclosed space. Any fan you stuff
in there will only serve to move the hot air around. Heatsinks work by
dissapating heat to the air passing through the fins. If the air is hot,
the heatsink's ability to cool the processor gets blown to hell.

tell me the optimum temp val. though ..

Is there a problem with you using Google?

Your processor averages 65 watts of power consumption, and has a
manufacturer's listed maximum operating temperature of 85 degrees C.

The only AthlonXP I have is an 1800 not overclocked. It idles at 30 degrees
C and maxes out at 36 degrees C when I'm pushing it.

The 'optimum temp val' is whatever you are comfortable with. If it was
mine, I would be very, very uncomfortable having it run at 65 degrees C.

--
JJJS