Hi guys,

I've had SETI running on my computers since around 1999 when it first launched with no problems; however, my computer started crashing about three months ago. I've worked out that SETI is causing the crash (I've based this on the fact that no matter what I've tried it always crashes until I stop SETI running then no crashes at all). None of the other projects I'm running on Boinic cause the crash, only SETI. When the computer crashes it's like something has triggered it to restart as it just switches off then immediately reloads to the Windows login screen.

My computer is a Acer running Windows 10 Home Edition, version 1803, although it is set to automatically install updates over night.

Does anybody have any ideas what might be causing this to happen, more importantly whether there is anyway of preventing it rather than simply removing SETI from Boinic?

Thanks,

Nick

Two common triggers:
Drivers - using incorrect drivers. The "correct" drivers may not be those supplied by Windows, or the most recent (I don't have any AMD GPUs so can't be more specific). Hopefully someone will be along soon who knows what the "correct" ones are for you GPU.
Thermal - over time dust and dirt accumulates on heatsinks and makes them far less effective than they should be.

A lot of people have had a lot of trouble with Windows 10's automatic updates giving issues on otherwise stable systems and have turned them off (or at least gone to "update when I say so" mode). Again, I've no Windows 10 computers so I won't venture further in that direction.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Thanks for that Bob.

It only happens with SETI so I'm happily running other BOINIC projects without a hitch. Because of that I don't think it's overheating, although I did think of that at first too.

If anyone does know anything about the correct drivers that would be great.

Thanks,

Nick

Well, correct drivers depends on what hardware you have. It's not possible to point at some generic drivers someplace on the internet, we'll need specifics. When in doubt, at least give the complete model of the Acer. Should say it someplace on the outside of the case.
If you added anything afterwards yourself, make note of that.

But it can still be heat, because Seti uses different processing elements inside the CPU than other projects do.
Why not install something like Speedfan or SIV to check CPU and GPU temperatures?

Your i7 has a maximum temperature of 72.7C at the underside of the heatsink. It can run higher temperatures, but you really shouldn't do so.
Your R7 has a maximum temperature of 100C. Never run at or above that temperature!

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I like the TThortle available from the Seti add-on/in page for keeping mine from overheating.

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A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association).

Nick,

What model/version of video drivers do you now have installed? I used to run an A-10 with an integrated GPU. I had a lot of trouble with video driver crashes/re-starts under Seti GPU tasks.

Tom

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A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association).

Ah.... https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/hosts_user.php?userid=9930574

He is running an Radeon R7 240. I can't see a driver version number although it claims to have CL on it.

Any ideas?

Tom

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A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association).