The other issue is that ALL GTX970 cards are defective and cannot use 4 gigs of ram because of the design flaw. GTX 970 uses only 3.5GB of its 4GB of VRAM, resulting in performance drops or stuttering in games that pass over that threshold.
I tried the older drivers suggested here, but the same issue remains. Windows Device Manager shows an error and the system crashes on game launch of games that worked on the previous 660ti SLI config.
Randomly, once after a reboot a driver update seemed to work and the Device Manager error was gone, the secondary monitor (on HDMI) came to life, and everything looked great. Then it crashed again, and on reboot the errors returned.
I will try a boot to a fresh Windows install, and a few other driver versions.
Heres what I dont get though. Before I purchased the GTX 970, I checked supportability in drivers, knowing that I needed to get Directx 12_0, 12_1 that came with relatively newer Nvidia drivers.
When I check the driver's Supported Products, it includes the GeForce GTX 970. Why does it explicitly state the newest driver supports the GTX 970 if it doesn't ?
1. I tried the older drivers suggested here, but the same issue remains.
2. I will try a boot to a fresh Windows install, and a few other driver versions.
3. I needed to get Directx 12_0, 12_1 that came with relatively newer Nvidia drivers.
4. Why does it explicitly state the newest driver supports the GTX 970 if it doesn't ?
1. Might have to go back even further/older since that is a 9-series card, not a 10-series like mine. Like another year older (but still within Windows-10 release window).
2. Yes, good idea. And your C-drive should be a SSD. Keep Windows-10 (64 bit) install very lean. Device-Manager should be clean/free-of-errors. If you want to install AW-CC near the end, it must be v2.8.11.0 .
3. I do not think that is how it works. DX-12 support is more about the OS . So, since Windows-10 supports DX-12, as long as your video-card is similar vintage, you are good.
4. They always say that. That is why both of us kinda posted the same thing in regards to the drivers. I've been in your situation MANY TIMES over they years. The version of Windows and the video-cards are different, but it's the same situation really.
Have to ever seen this Nvidia-970 card actually work in some machine?
GPU failure is totally different problem and cant be fixed with driver.
"This device cannot start. Try upgrading the device drivers for this device. (Code 10)"
Cause
Typically, the device's hardware key contains a "FailReasonString" value, and the value string is displays an error message defined by the hardware manufacturer. If the hardware key does not contain a “FailReasonString” value the message above is displayed.
Thanks for all the suggestions, very much appreciated to have some help.
I tried all the suggestions here
- using both power cables (wasnt before) and checked connections to ensure they are tight
- only one card in...the 970
- uninstalled and reinstalled drivers using clean install, ccleaner, only installed the drivers themselves
- removed device from device manager and reinstalled, updated driver, everything
- verified cables are functional and plugged in securely
- installed drivers starting with 353.62 (failed due to OS level), and did many intermediate drivers up to 471.something - absolutely no change in symptom (Device Manager shows error code 43)
- moved card to different slot, reseated firmly
- checked GPU version with GPUZ, it shows GTX 970
Although it seems to have worked previously, no error message in Device Manager, it only stays that way for a short time and then the error returns.
I have an LG monitor hooked up to the card's HDMI slot, it boots fine using the LG monitor and Windows starts up etc and can browse and do stuff, but it crashes when put under load like when startting a game.
I didnt do a fresh Windows install yet, will try that next.
Thanks again, just updating that I tried most of the suggestions including many uninstalls and reinstalls of various driver versions, but nothing has made any difference.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
March 25th, 2022 16:00
@AAOwner
Latest Drivers are not supported on GTX 970 its too old and has issues.
https://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/177774/en-us
The other issue is that ALL GTX970 cards are defective and cannot use 4 gigs of ram because of the design flaw. GTX 970 uses only 3.5GB of its 4GB of VRAM, resulting in performance drops or stuttering in games that pass over that threshold.
Legacy Support for Tesla architecture GPUs.
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/legacy-gpu/
Kepler is now legacy as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKtEH_7lGJg
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
March 25th, 2022 20:00
That video-card should work in that machine. I'm still using this Aurora-R1 with GTX-1070.
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/Recommended-NVIDIA-graphics-cards-for-Alienware-Aurora-R1-2009/m-p/5590870/highlight/true#M92465
But you have to use an older (more appropriate) driver:
https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8930-a-stable-NVIDIA-graphics-driver-version/m-p/8160308/highlight/true#M69676
That is two GTX-1070's ... one in an Aurora-R1, the other in a Aurora-R6. Both running recent (if not latest) Windows-10 Pro (64 bit).
Use one of those "display driver cleaners" then clean-install v457.51-DCH or v456.71-DCH .
A newer driver-package like v511.79 DCH (WHQL & DX-12) from nvidia.com, it what you use for a newer card like a RTX-3080.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
March 26th, 2022 08:00
Remember to use one 6-pinner from both cables. That should engage both 12v rails.
You said 660ti-SLI . Both of those should be removed. Only 970 installed.
Yes, Intel i7-980 and x58 chipset is Aurora-R1 ALX (because of louvers and more)
AAOwner
3 Posts
0
March 26th, 2022 08:00
Thanks.
I tried the older drivers suggested here, but the same issue remains. Windows Device Manager shows an error and the system crashes on game launch of games that worked on the previous 660ti SLI config.
Randomly, once after a reboot a driver update seemed to work and the Device Manager error was gone, the secondary monitor (on HDMI) came to life, and everything looked great. Then it crashed again, and on reboot the errors returned.
I will try a boot to a fresh Windows install, and a few other driver versions.
Heres what I dont get though. Before I purchased the GTX 970, I checked supportability in drivers, knowing that I needed to get Directx 12_0, 12_1 that came with relatively newer Nvidia drivers.
When I use the Nvidia driver search here: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/
or here: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
and put in GEforce 900 Series, GTX 970, Win10-64bit, All or GRD, the search results come up with 512.15 . https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/results/187304/ and https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/187304/en-us
When I check the driver's Supported Products, it includes the GeForce GTX 970. Why does it explicitly state the newest driver supports the GTX 970 if it doesn't ?
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
March 26th, 2022 09:00
1. Might have to go back even further/older since that is a 9-series card, not a 10-series like mine. Like another year older (but still within Windows-10 release window).
2. Yes, good idea. And your C-drive should be a SSD. Keep Windows-10 (64 bit) install very lean. Device-Manager should be clean/free-of-errors. If you want to install AW-CC near the end, it must be v2.8.11.0 .
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-M-2-NVMe-bootable-options/m-p/6073081/highlight/true#M3401
3. I do not think that is how it works. DX-12 support is more about the OS . So, since Windows-10 supports DX-12, as long as your video-card is similar vintage, you are good.
4. They always say that. That is why both of us kinda posted the same thing in regards to the drivers. I've been in your situation MANY TIMES over they years. The version of Windows and the video-cards are different, but it's the same situation really.
Have to ever seen this Nvidia-970 card actually work in some machine?
Good Luck.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
March 26th, 2022 12:00
@AAOwner
"Device Manager shows an error "
GPU failure is totally different problem and cant be fixed with driver.
"This device cannot start. Try upgrading the device drivers for this device. (Code 10)"
Cause
Typically, the device's hardware key contains a "FailReasonString" value, and the value string is displays an error message defined by the hardware manufacturer. If the hardware key does not contain a “FailReasonString” value the message above is displayed.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
March 27th, 2022 12:00
@AAOwner ,
Agreed. But I got the impression it was intermittent.
- Check those PCIe-power-cables like I posted. In fact, re-seat all power cables.
- Re-Seat card.
- Try in (other) bottom slot. This is x58-chipset. While the top-one is preferred, I'm not sure there is a difference.
AAOwner
3 Posts
0
March 28th, 2022 07:00
Thanks for all the suggestions, very much appreciated to have some help.
I tried all the suggestions here
- using both power cables (wasnt before) and checked connections to ensure they are tight
- only one card in...the 970
- uninstalled and reinstalled drivers using clean install, ccleaner, only installed the drivers themselves
- removed device from device manager and reinstalled, updated driver, everything
- verified cables are functional and plugged in securely
- installed drivers starting with 353.62 (failed due to OS level), and did many intermediate drivers up to 471.something - absolutely no change in symptom (Device Manager shows error code 43)
- moved card to different slot, reseated firmly
- checked GPU version with GPUZ, it shows GTX 970
Although it seems to have worked previously, no error message in Device Manager, it only stays that way for a short time and then the error returns.
I have an LG monitor hooked up to the card's HDMI slot, it boots fine using the LG monitor and Windows starts up etc and can browse and do stuff, but it crashes when put under load like when startting a game.
I didnt do a fresh Windows install yet, will try that next.
Thanks again, just updating that I tried most of the suggestions including many uninstalls and reinstalls of various driver versions, but nothing has made any difference.
-