BSOD : IRQL_NOT_GREATER_OR_EQUAL

Alright lets first start off with my computer specs since this maybe important.

Intel Q6600 2.4ghz overclocked to 3ghz(Asetek water cooler if it matters)
Nvidia 9500gt 1gb ddr2 made by Sparkle (occasionally i switch this out for ATI 3850 x2 Crossfired made by HIS 512mb)
ASUS P5Q3 motherboard
4gb dual channel 2x1gb configuration stock speed 1066mhz OC to 1333mhz

if i missed anything you guys may want to know just tell me in this topic but back to my problem. I've been getting BSODS lately in this type of configuration when i used to never. temps are where they should be, most under 40 degree Celsius except maybe graphics card when I'm playing games and stuff. Been trying to mess around with my CPU voltage cause i figured that the processor might be messing up in calculations or something which i heard is common in OC processors, but even after messing around with that(1.2625 V -> about 1.28ish V) there hasn't been any improvements. Anyone know how to fix this?

 

Have you reset everything back to stock settings and attempted to repeat this error?
Absolutely sure it is an OC issue? Most Google searches and Microsoft themselves say its most likely software/driver issue. Have you installed any new devices lately?

 

i have installed new drivers lately. They would be the ATI drivers but it started before that. I will go ahead and try everything at stock setting for the day and see if anything changes. Oh i also forgot to note, this problem started when i was testing graphics cards on my system and one of them made my bios reset(i really have no idea how it did it but thank goodness my mobo has EZflash). Anyways due to the testing i came to the conclusion that the graphics card had to be baked due to the fractures in the soldering and stuff. After i baked them and stuff the card worked fine without any artifacts or bios reset. So i re imputed all settings i had for my bios and this is when it started to occur the most. 2-4 times a day while using ram,processor,graphics intensely.

 

If testing different types of cards, did you need different drivers for those? Perhaps old driver wasn't uninstalled before trying different card? I'd think it would crash more often than you describe if were video driver but it wouldn't hurt to uninstall it, run CCleaner (not only the regular cleaning mode, but especially the registry scan too) then re-install.

 

Which version of Windows are your running? Win2k?

 

@ Sophocles: i am running window 7 ultimate 64bit

@ ddp: i don't think i have system restores, they seem to be more of a hassle to me and takes up several GB of hard drive space that could be put to better use most of the time

@ Deadrum33: yes i needed different drivers for them as the cards i was testing was the 3850 ATI cards and i will go ahead and also do CCleaner and registry scans. Note i have both ATI drivers and Nvidia Drivers installed since I've been switching the cards very often lately but once i stay on one i will uninstall the other.

@ all: Deadrum33's suggestion of running at stock setting seems to be doing fine at the moment no BSODs yet but I'll update this more tonight

Edit: i just noticed system temps(i believe this is mobo) is at 52ish degree Celsius andi wanted to know if this is normal temps for a P5Q3 ASUS mobo.

 

Does ATI make an HD 3850 driver for Windows 7 64 bit? That cards getting a little long in the tooth. Did Windows 7 64 bit install a working driver for it? If it did then I'd recommend that you remove the ATI driver (if you can't boot do it in safe mode)and let windows handle it until you can find an updated driver. Or you can try another 64 bit driver from an older series of Windows starting with Vista and working your way down but the key is that it has to be a 64 bit driver there is no 32 bit compatibility mode that I know of to use a 32 bit driver of any kind with a 64 bit system. Next choice of course is to get that graphics care update you've been longing for.


Changed not to no and added with a 64 bit system

 

Sophocles, they did make an ATI Driver for 3850 64bit Window 7. So yes it installed a working 64bit version of it and i made sure it was the most updated as well so it should be fine. So far i haven't bsoded at all with stock setting processor speed so it is probably the Overclocking i did that has been causing this error. If it continues like this i'll probably just either staying at stock speeds(with a water cooler T_T) or slowly overclock back up until i find a stable overclock.

Edit : k so its been about 12 hours since i started my computer up with stock setting now. and so far no BSOD. This means its my Overclocking. Now my question is, how do i manga the 3ghz overclock without BSOD

 

A quick Google brought up this, which may be of use to you as it features your processor:

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/3506-c2d-overclocking-guide-beginners-dfi-add.html

I don't know the specifics of your processor though so it may not be totally accurate, but there are lots of overclocking forums out there who are bound to have information relative to you. Overclocking is quite specific business; when you mentioned "messing around" with the voltage in the first post it didn't exactly inspire confidence.

 

Glad you got things worked out. Overclocking would have been my next question if the first set was wrong. The Q6600 is great little processor but it doesn't do well when pushed to the edge of stability. I don't know your particular level of experience with overclocking but there are other factors besides the processor that can make it BSOD such as memory. Some RAM can take it better than others. Another factor could simple be inadequate voltage applied to either processor or RAM or both. Good Luck!

 

i fairly familiar with overclocking now, been doing it for about a year now along with much research. At one point i did think it was the ram speed but when i lowered it from the stress it was taking (1066 -> 1333) it continued to BSOD so at that point I didn't think it was ram anymore that was keeping it down. Voltage i learned about as well because i always have a knack of keeping my processor really cool. i got it stable around 1.26V for processor which is about the same voltage for 2.4ghz. Voltage for RAM i have never learned about because most people said it was pretty much safe at stock voltage. Also i never learned how to access RAM Voltage on my motherboard. If you know how to do the voltage for ram however I'll glad learn =D.

 

Overclocks generally require that we lower our memory divider or its equivalent to compensate for the added pressure that an expanded front side bus demands.

For processor and settings that you displayed in your posts your RAM should be set to about 2.10 to 2.20 depending on its quality and need. Usually its safe to start with a higher voltage just to help find your processors stable point and then after that's been determined you slowly back it down to as low as you can get away with and keep your settings. Note that the Q6600 is somewhat limited in its overclocking capabilities and each individual processor has its own limits. I've been overclocking since late 1995 and early 1996 (started with a P5 166 MHz. LOL)and I've seen and heard it all since then. Fortunately things are much easier today. Good luck!

 

I would presume a BSOD if the ram is not stable?

Edit: is there a program to also test ram like who you might use Prime95 to test processor?

 

youeatpoo

To test your ram use memtest86 http://www.memtest86.com/

 

thanks Redice, but i just looked at Prime95 and its blend torture test can actually test Ram to a certain extent and so far i have managed to pull down the voltage of the ram to 1.9 and still stable with 3thz overclock. I'll probably do more testing tomorrow when i have more time.

 

WOW!!! 3thz? Here I am, still stuck counting my processor speed in ghz.

I would check that "system temp" when running overclocked...as it tends to put the chipset under a lot more stress. I can't count the number of "overclocker" boards that I have had to upgrade the chipset cooler on just to be able to run overclocked.

 

oh oops >_< i didn't mean Tera Hertz. That was a total typo and my system temp seems to be fine between 40's and 50's degree Celsius. Unless that is not normal for my mobo then i will take action.

 

lol wonder what a damage a hacker could do with 3thz speed on computer!