Black screen of death in fsx,need help

W7 and FSX has problems for many people - you might be one of them.

Also, just because your clock is 24 hours stable in benchmarks does NOT mean it's stable in FSX. Prime95 is outdated technology - use OCCT.

Remove the clock and see if you have the same problem and go from there. And you are using a beta OS, what do you expect?

Good luck

This happens with any aircraft?

This happens with no addons installed?

This happens and you are following the list for the correct way yo install FSX and patches?

182.50 drivers?

Nhancer set up correctly?

If so I cant help.. If all test checkout I would have to look at the possibility of a defective FSX disk

DZilla

I had a similar problem with certain of the 18x.xxx series drivers and found by unticking AA in the sim the issue ceased.
On other forums I have seen posts that the BS problem may be the way Vista/w7 handles sound?? May be worth a try to see if the problem exists with the sound turned off.  The solution was to lower the sound quality settings to the lowest available: http://forums1.avsim.net/lofiversion/index.php/t253282.html
Other contenders (without much hard evidence) included:
SP2 going back to SP1 "fixed" it????
Perversely fixed on some systems when SP2 installed.
DX10 preview on some systems
Multiple driver entries in the fsx.cfg file
Light Bloom especially if using FS9 planes converted to FSX
Using the mouse to access the menus in FSX
Windowed vs full screen and vice versa.
"Pause on task switch" selected in the SIM.
DirectX install has become corrupt.
Nvidia driver version - for most people 182.50 seems to be the favored one. ( I use the 190.xx series with no issues)

I hasten to add these are just observations that I have seen reported by various posters as there does not seem to be a universal solution to the problem.
Regards
PeterH

As Vic pointed out FSX will bring issues to the surface no other program will.. When you said "i have put back my overclock to the default settings but with no luck," I had to assume that was not the issue

That clock on i7 can be TRICKY

i7 wont show you errors in other applications but in FSX it sure will

If CPU VOLTAGE is set correctly and QPI/DRAM as well, you probably need a bit of IOH and ICH voltage to stabilize, or, you may be running the wrong CPU multipler against the BCLOCK pushing the memory a touch over the edge on the QPI buss

I can give you what should be stable clock settings but I need to know the following

1. What PSU is in this system.. watt rating and brand

2. What memory is in this system, brand and memory Speed AND timing spec.. a model number would be nice

3. What Motherboard is in this system. Revision and model. NOTE: I really hope its a Asus P6T becuase EVGA is not my bag. I dont use their boards for a reason.

4. What CPU heatsink is in use

And you may need to wait for an answer.. becuase I am not really in a position to stop and run BIOS numbers for people right now

First

The HSF is NOT high quality.. I dont think you are going to get much further than 3.9GHz stable on a 920 with that CPU heatsink.. possibly 4Ghz if it is a D0 proc and the ambient temp in the room is cool but 4.2?  I dont think so

Second, the memory you are using is slow (CAS 8) with respect to timing and may also be a factor in stability. It will definitely IMPACT performance with i7. Minimum should be CAS 7 with CAS 6 as the sweetspot with i7

This is even MORE important with i7 and clocking

Third..

The motherboard is a Gigabyte, which means I must convert settings by getting into the motherboad manual for that board and posting the settings based on how the Gigabyte BIOS works.. something I dont have time to do right now and may take me a few days to get to it

OK I just browsed the BIOS on that board.. I can post settings but I dont have time to give you their locations in the BIOS. It will be up to you to locate and set them correctly.

 If I didn’t post it.. then AUTO or the DEFAULT setting is probably correct

MB Intelligent Tweaker: MANUAL
CPU Ratio Setting: 20x or AUTO
Advanced CPU Features
CPU Ratio Setting: 20x or AUTo
C1E Suppport: DISABLED
Hardware Prefetcher: ENABLED
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch: ENABLED
Intel® Virtualization Tech: DISABLED
CPU TM Function: DISABLED
Execute Disable Bit: DISABLED
Intel (R) HT Techology: DISABLED
Active Processor Cores: ALL
A20M: DISABLE
Intel (R) SpeedStep (TM) Tech: DISABLED
Intel (R) Turbo Mode Tech: DISABLED
Intel (R) C-STATE Tech: DISABLED

BLCK Frequency: 190: NOTE 190x20 = 3800 this is where we start
PCIE Frequency: 100

NOTE: the next two settings are based on a 190 BCLOCK and a memory MULTIPLER of 8 and ASSUMING the BIOS is using a fractional BCLOCK value you cant see

Typically 190 BCLOCK 2 a 8x MEMORY MULTIPLER will equal a DRAM FREQUENCY of 1520 however if the BASE BCLOCK on the motherboard math is not 133 but 133.6 then that changes the result.. the settings below reflect an estimated offset

Your actual BIOS settings for DRAM FREQUENCY @ BLOCK 190 may be different by 10MHz

DRAM Frequency: 1532 (depending on BIOS math): NOTE: this is driven by BCLOCK and MEMORY Multplier. You want your DRAM FREQUENCY as CLOSE to 1600 as possible without going OVER 1600. This can be anywhere from 1400 to 1600

UCLK Frequency: 3065 (depending on BIOS math) NOTE: UCLK is ALWAYS 2xDRAM FREQUENCY so what ever you set for DRAM FREQUENCY this valuve MUST BE 2x that

QPI Link Data Rate: AUTO
 
DRAM TIMING
DRAM CAS# LATENCY = 8
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) - 8
RAS# Precharge (tRP) - 8
Cycle Time (tRAS) - 24
COMMAND RATE (CMD): 1N

NOTE: Gigabyte boards have a feature called PERFORMANCE ENHANCE. This feature can cause instability. If you are unstable at TURBO, set this to STANDARD

CPU Voltage: FIND LOWEST STABLE VALUE typically somewhere between  1.28-1.42v. START AT 1.28v but this will most likely need to come up to 1.32v min on a 3.8GHz or greater clock speed

CPU PLL Voltage: 1.80 NOTE: 1.88 is sometimes needed for higher clocks. DO not EXCEED 1.90v. If unstable, try 1.88v
QPI/Vtt Voltage: 1.35 NOTE: Some system may be more stable at 1.40. DO NOT EXCEED 1.42v and START at 1.35v which is normal for clocking i7

IOH Voltage: 1.15 TO 1.20v Start at 1.15v
ICH Voltage: 1.20v
DRAM Bus Voltage: 1.65 to 1.70 MAX - Typically 1.65 -1.68 DO NOT EXCEED 1.70v. Always start at 1.65v
 
LOAD LINE CALIBRATION: DISABLED
 
CPU SPREAD SPECTRUM: DISABLED
PCIe SPREAD SPECTRUM: DISABLED
 
Once you set all that up then its time for stability and temp tests. You need OCCT v3.01 and REALTEMP v3.0 to do that right

http://www.ocbase.com/download.php?fileext=exe

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1325i/RealTemp_3.00.zip
 
and use CPUz to verify CPU speed, QPI LINK RATE, MEMORY FREQUENCY, MB FREQUENCY and TIMING
http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpuz/cpuz_152_setup.exe

The MAX temp for the 920 is 80c. The proc WONT burn up above 80c but it can NOT go over 100 or damage will occur. 80c is the MAX for stable operation in a full LOAD test of all cores at once.
 
RUN the OCCT 1hr automatic CPU Test. IF it fails then it failed because of VOLTAGE, FREQUENCY or TEMP one of the three. If the TEMP remained BELOW 80c then the failure was a BIOS setting. Usually voltage but an improper frequency setting can cause it too. Verify.

If Frequency is correct then RAISE the CPU VOLTAGE from 1.28v to 1.32v and retest. If stable during the entire test, then check FSX. If not, raise CPU VOLTAGE to 1.35v. That SHOULD be the MAX needed for 3.8GHz on i7. Remember the LOWER the CPU voltage that rus stable the cooler the proc runs and the better.
 
If you are stable and wish to try for higher clock,

CPU RATIO: 20x (or AUTO)
BCLOCK: 200
DRAM FREQUENCY:1600
UCLK FREQUENCY: 3200
CPU VOLTAGE: 1.35v
WIll net 4GHZ @ DDR3 1600 operation
 
NOTE: SOME 920s are known to be unstable at the defualt CPU Multiplier of 20x. In some cases, RAISING or LOWERING the multipler to 19x and RAISING BCLOCK is the key

CPU RATIO 19x 200 BCLOCK = 3800MHz
CPU RATIO 21x 190 BCLOCK = 3990MHz
etc, etc
 
This CHANGES DRAM and UCLCK FREQUENCY which YOU must set manually after such changes. As stated above you DRAM wants to be as close to 1600 as possible without going over and the UCLK will ALWAYS be set to 2xDRAM
 
D0 stepping 920 processors are known to run lower CPU voltage at higher frequency. Typically CPU Voltage will be between 1.32 and 1.40v. DO NOT EXCEED 1.42v and 80c Temps for ANY REASON
And dont forget, CPU PLL VOLTAGE may need to come up to 1.88v

NOTE; IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING TAKE THIS SYSTEM TO SOMEONE WHO DOES. THE PERSON WHO CLOCKED THIS SYSTEM INITIALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING OR YOUR STABILITY PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
 
 

NO

What did I say?

80c MAX

You are in fact pushing things further than what I posted as SAFE

And I fail to understand how OCCT allowed greater than 80c to run. By default it is set to SHUT DOWN the test if you hit 80c. If you disabled that, you are in fact exceeding safe engineering settings

Your solution is a better heatsink or DROP the CPU speed to 3.8GHz and with it the CPU voltage. You can use the memory multiplier and the CPU RATIO in conjuction with BCLOCK to try and get the memory speed as close to 1600 as possible without going over, stable

I KNEW that Coolmaster v8 would top out at around 3.8-3.9GHz . That HSF is NOT a 4GHZ+ HSF unit

 Thats why you crapped out in FSX..   4.2GHz was well OVER safe, stable operation temp on a Coolmaster v8

One other thing.. OCCT says 8 Threads.. did you shut down HT (Intel HyperTransport) in the BIOS as posted? If so there must be some kind of glitch beteen the BIOS and OCCT. If not, then shut it DOWN as that MAY allow you to run 4GHz @ 80c

 HT is uselesss to FSX and runs the proc hotter

I can deal with 1c higher than 80, no more

"I KNEW that Coolmaster v8 would top out at around 3.8-3.9GHz . That HSF is NOT a 4GHZ+ HSF unit"

Hi Guys,

I am actually running one of these on my i-7 920 o/c to 4GHz as per your guide Nick and it it stable and only reaching a high of 68oC during the 1 hour test so maybe I am just lucky with my MB & CPU. Perhaps a large case and additional fans assist.

Dave

frostynz wrote: "I KNEW that Coolmaster v8 would top out at around 3.8-3.9GHz . That HSF is NOT a 4GHZ+ HSF unit" Hi Guys, I am actually running one of these on my i-7 920 o/c to 4GHz as per your guide Nick and it it stable and only reaching a high of 68oC during the 1 hour test so maybe I am just lucky with my MB & CPU. Perhaps a large case and additional fans assist. Dave

Its the luck of the draw on the 920s Dave

Some of those 920 D0's are doing just what you say, most are not

Intel pulls those 920s from the 975 runs through a process known as "speed-binning' the ones that pass all tests with a specified amount of overhead become 975's which are then further certified to be golden.. the ones that pass just barely become 950s and the ones that fail but are verified at lower spec become 920s

Now.. from that if they see a lack of stock in the 920s they may take some of the 950 or even the 975 slugs and convert them to 920s. In that respect anyone who gets one of those golden 920 D0s can probably run 4GHz stable on very low temps

Understand?

 I do very much agree that tower airflow optimizing and ambient temps are very important as well as correct application and installation of the HSF unit, but the fact of the matter is the majority of 920s are not going to run 4GHz on that coolmaster v8 and you can take that to the bank. Consider yourself very lucky Dave

and by the way.. if what you are posting is correct you should have absolutely no issue running well above 4GHz stable. Its just a matter of trimming it up

Inthe OPTIONS of OCCT 3.0.1 you will see an option to GENERATE GRAPHS

Each time you run tests OCCT generates graph data and stores it in My Documents\OCCT\ TEST DATE FOLDER

After the test is complete in OCCT, you may access those charts. Each chart serves a different function in displaying results be it temp, voltage, compares, etc

CPU LINPACK is VERY aggressive.. be careful with that test if you run it. Many times user who pass the CPU OCCT test will FAIL with temps and possibly stability in LINPACK

NEVER use any of the tests in OCCT other than the CPU OCCT or CPU LINPACK tests.. the GPU and PSU tests are still beta and may cause problems with weak hardware

...... it was supposed to be titled "My lucky little i-7 920 DO Chip"  but as usual I cocked it up  

you can be a right little party stopper sometimes ............

90c huh

75c plus at stock?  

Well, I am not going to get in the middle of that one

I posted the Intel Specification where the processor begins to shut itself down due to excessive heat and that temp is 80c (tCase 67.9c) so I guess those stock chips are already running over Intel spec?

I dont think so

Every professional i7 clocker on the net respects that limit

I also stated the max is 100c and after that.. PooF.

Prime95 is no longer used to stress test CPU after i7. OCCT or Intel LINPACK is the test software used

Air cooling

Thermalright IFX 14 Intel BP <---  top dog

Prolimatech Megahalems

Thermalright 120 Extreme 1366

Scythe Mugen 2

and there are 2 or 3 others as well

all better than a Coolmaster v8 and will run 4Ghz @ spec if they are installed correctly, the tower has proper airflow and its location allows it to breathe and the ambient room temp is not excessively high

As mentioend above do make sure the tower has good airflow and if the ambient temp is warm due to summer and no air conditioning in the room then there can also be limits

If you wish to run your proc at 86c in those load tests its up to you. I have posted the engineering data

D0 stepping i7 920

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLBEJ

C0 stepping i7 920

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLBCH

Be aware, if you have a C0 stepping i7 920 it will typically run hotter than a i7 920 D0 stepping chip

That is seen using CPUz, CPU tab on the STEPPING readout

First off i dont agree with anything this guy said and if i dident talk to you i would be still at stock speeds,i just wanted to show you what i was dealing with.Even at 3.8ghz with hes bios settings fsx was still crashing.

Just 1 other thing,going to i7 i though i was going to get a smoother sim but i still get alot of sutters and i fps r locked at 30 and stayed there most of the time.I haved followed your settings to every detail in how to tune fsx trend and have used the bufferpools tweak but that made it sutter even more.Anything else i could try to make it smother

Good Morning Mr N

I thought the results using the newer OCCT programme were interesting, it seemed to run at a lower temp. If you think its ok, how would I go about trying to go for say 4.2Ghz? (Read into this that I only managed 4.0Ghz by following your tutorial to the letter). Would I be right in picking that my Corsair 1600 DDR3 8-8-8-24 RAM will be the limiting factor?

Kind Regards Dave

Im going to through this computer out the window lol Now even at 3,8 and temps under 65 fsx is still crashing,got on to the guys i got it off and im going to get a full refund so im going to buy the parts myself

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-280-IN

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-334-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1283

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-000-PL&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=

http://www.memoryc.com/products/description/6GB_G_Skill_DDR3_PC3_12800_1600MHz_Trident_Series-6_7_6_18-Triple_Channel_kit/index.html

is this a good choice?

I all ready had the psu and graphics card installed on my old set up e8600 4ghz 4gb ram and everything was working fine so i dont think thats the problem and at stock speeds with the i7 everything is fine so i thing i have a good reason to bring it back,here is what i got off them http://cgi.ebay.ie/i7-4-0GHz-OVERCLOCKED-CPU-MOTHERBOARD-BUNDLE-6GB_W0QQitemZ370230492792QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motherboards_CPUs?hash=item563374fe78&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1300%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 as you can see i didn't get the cooler in the page which kind of made me a little mad aswell.This is the case i have http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-070-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

When i do get my refund back and get my new parts would you be able to give me a hand in the overclocking?