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Resolved Question

Can't figure out my problem

Jul 22, 2014 1:27PM PDT

So I have had this problem for a while now and I can't seem to find what it is.
My monitor is basically producing a horizontal wavey line whenever I scroll through a web page/watch a video/play a game (screen tearing?) At one point I didn't have this problem for a few months I believe and it just came back about a month or two ago.

I've replaced all the cables, made sure everything is plugging in correctly, updated all my drivers, disabled on board graphics. I have even tested with different monitors and still have the problem.

Today I was pretty fed up and went from an AMD radeon HD 6850 to a nvidia geforce gtx 660. The problem is still there but it doesn't seem as....extreme.

I just ran a diagnostic tool and it says that I have a hardware issue. When I logged into windows I received a pop up stating that I have memory issues. I'm using 16 GB of this ram.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

Is this my ****ing problem? lol. Could the ram be the cause of my headache or maybe something to do with the motherboard?
Any suggestions/questions please!!!!

Discussion is locked

marcampo has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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memory issue message
Jul 22, 2014 9:42PM PDT

Hi, sorry to hear about your issues.

Could you please post the memory issue message you got? If you ran the memory diagnostic tool from Windows you should have it in the Windows Event Viewer (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95368-memory-diagnostics-tool-read-event-viewer-log.html). You could have a defective DIMM but it could also be some other issue.

You could also run this tool (http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/) and post the results here (screenshots) so I could take a look at it and see if I find anything unusual.

Kyle

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memory msg
Jul 23, 2014 2:46AM PDT

"The Windows Memory Diagnostic tested the computer's memory and detected hardware errors. To identify and repair these problems, contact the computer manufacturer"

http://i.imgur.com/Ox1Z7Ko.png


I'm beginning to think its the mobo...I went and took out 8Gbs of ram and used a single pair at a time for each set, and it made no difference.

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memtest
Jul 24, 2014 12:36AM PDT

Well, thank you for posting the screenshots and for the error message. Regarding the screenshots I don't see anything out of the ordinary there. It's a shame that the memory error message doesn't provide any details.

Would should use mem test to double check it: http://www.memtest86.com/ . There's a free edition which is perfectly fine for this purpose.

You could also try using the other two memory slots instead and see if you get different outcomes.

The truth is, however, this issue with the display may not be related at all with the memory errors. Perhaps it would be better for you to look for a computer repair shop where they could help you in diagnosing the issue.

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Answer
It's simple
Jul 22, 2014 10:45PM PDT

It's simple really. Your VSync is turned off. Go into the display settings, look for either "VSync" "V-Sync" or "Vertical Sync" and make sure it's set as always on. Some nVidia cards, though I don't think the 660 is one of them, have what nVidia calls adaptive sync, which is supposed to give the benefits of vsync (smooth display, no tearing or warping of the image) without the drawbacks (limited game framerates). Make sure that's off as well.

You may well also have bad RAM, but that's not causing the problem you're describing. Video cards have their own dedicated pool of RAM on the card itself. Be sure to run memtest86+ overnight some time before you decide you have bad RAM. Most other memory diagnostic programs are pathetic in comparison. If you get any errors at all with memtest86+ you will need to remove all the memory modules except one, test it with memtest86+ for 2-3 passes minimum, then if no errors move on to the next module. Rinse and repeat until you've tested each module individually and isolated which one(s) are bad, if any.

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I wish it were simple!
Jul 23, 2014 2:49AM PDT

I have vsync on and off! I've tried it all lol. And i doubt its the GPU. I had this problem with my other one and I just replaced it with the 660 and its still there.

I'm going to try out that memtest tonight though and I'll let you know how it goes.