BSOD _ONLY_ while playing games

[yams]

Hey guys, I've recently begun getting an error, within the last two days, where during a game, I'll hear my harddrive click, the game will freeze, and I'll be able to move the mouse for a bit, and then it blue screens and reboots.

I've checked connections in my machine, I've made sure my video card and ram are in properly, I've uninstalled my drivers, driverswept them, then searched for nv4_disp files and gotten rid of them in safe mode, and then reinstalled the newest ones in addition to reinstalling my mobo drivers and yet I still get this issue.

As I said, it is ONLY while playing games. Twice I have heard the first click in a game, and then I ctrl-alt-del to end the game, and the computer is fine. I did this last night after the first click once I booted up a game and then started defragging and left the computer on all night, and it was fine.

Let me say that again - the computer only does this while playing games (anything from CS:S, to Fallout3, to Dawn of War II Demo, to Team Fortress2, etc.) and if I abort the game quickly enough, it does not crash.

What is going on?

Edit: Let me just put up my specs:

Pentium e6750 2x2.66Ghz
2GB PC3200 DDR800 RAM
GeForce 9800GTX 512MB
160GB SATA 7500RPM
ASUS P5N-E SLI motherboard

 

[Route44]

When you say your harddrive clicks how audible is it? For diagnostic information sake do the following:

1, Run ChkDsk

2. Run a full harddrive diagnostics using the free utility provided by your harddrive manufacturer.

 

[yams]

I ran this:

Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows

* File Name: WinDLG.zip
* File Size: 4.25 MB
* Version: Version 1.09b
* Publish Date: March, 2007
for my WD1600YS 160GB HD

and got this message a few seconds into the quick scan:


Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD1600YS-01SHB1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WCAP02665877
Firmware Number: 20.06C06
Capacity: 164.70 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 06-Quick Test on drive 1 did not complete! Status code = 07 (Failed read test element), Failure Checkpoint = 65 (Error Log Test) SMART self-test did not complete on drive 1!
Test Time: 09:33:24, February 13, 2009

Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD1600YS-01SHB1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WCAP02665877
Firmware Number: 20.06C06
Capacity: 164.70 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 06-Quick Test on drive 1 did not complete! Status code = 07 (Failed read test element), Failure Checkpoint = 65 (Error Log Test) SMART self-test did not complete on drive 1!
Test Time: 09:34:05, February 13, 2009


Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD1600YS-01SHB1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WCAP02665877
Firmware Number: 20.06C06
Capacity: 164.70 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 06-Quick Test on drive 1 did not complete! Status code = 07 (Failed read test element), Failure Checkpoint = 65 (Error Log Test) SMART self-test did not complete on drive 1!
Test Time: 09:34:49, February 13, 2009

 

[Route44]

Back up everything that is important as soon as you can. You are probably looking at a harddrive failing. Also, Lifeguard will provide a longer, more extensive test. Run that as well and get back to us with the results.

 

[yams]

If it is about to fail completely - how come it is perfectly fine doing everything but games? I'm not convinced.

 

[Route44]

It is your Western Digital saying fail on three seperate occassions. My suggestion to you was to run the longer, more extensive test to see what that says. I replaced an Hitachi laptop drive that passed Seagate'sa SeaTools S.M.A.R.T. and Short Diagnostic Self Test (DST) twice. But it failed the Long DST twice. Time for a new harddrive.

It won't hurt to do the extensive test. You said in your OP that you received errors. What did the errors say?

 

[Sharam]

I don't know if "Failed read test element" points to data corruption or the head, best to run the extended test or check with WD Support.

I am more concerned why this is happening, need to find the cause rather than replacing parts.

I know P5N series specially the P5N-32 SLI (similar to yours), is very finiky with memory timing, speed and voltage, the Memory Controller is weak as well (will not handle 4 high performance high voltage modules)

I know inadequate clean power is very important for proper system operation, in idle, normal use as well as high or full load.

Your spec doesn't include type and number of modules or the make and model of your power supply (wattage means nothing with a switching power supply)

We don't know what OS you are running but it seems to be up to date.

My guess is either power supply, GPU overheating or failure, memory or it's setup in the BIOS.

We also know that 9800 series had a flaw in design but things were kept hush hush, I only came across 2 in the past couple years or so.

I would run the tests using the bootable CD, with as much components taken off the power supply and the motherboard, I have an issue with testing anything in a system that has not proven to be %100 stable, I always run RAM and drive test using the test bed but some of us do this for living and are setup so, might not be as easy for other people.