Kernel Power/Event ID 41 crashes -- Intel HD Graphics at the root of the problem

[idata]

Several months ago, I built a home desktop computer using a Core i3-540 CPU and a DH57DD motherboard. I'm finally getting around to looking for solutions to some "glitches" that I've encountered, the most serious being that under Windows 7 (64-bit) the computer will crash (and then reboot) randomly with a "Kernel Power Event ID 41" error.

I realize that this problem is difficult to diagnose, unless, perhaps, you have specialized diagnostic software/hardware to pinpoint the problem. In this particular case I'm all-but certain that the fault lies with a hardware defect in the graphics subsystem of my CPU/motherboard, because

• I'm using the integrated graphics hardware instead of an external graphics card.
• The system only crashes after I install Intel's Graphics Media Accelerator driver(s). If I don't install the driver then it runs for many hours each day for days on end without crashing, while it often crashes with 30 minutes after I install the driver.
• When running Ubuntu Linux (64-bit) the computer runs 24/7 for days on end.
• The computer doesn't crash if I keep the CPU very cool: below 25 C -- or make sure it's warm: above 35 C, roughly speaking. I'm using Intel Desktop Utilities (http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/software/idu/ http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/software/idu/) to measure those temperatures.
• My computer does not support anisotropic filtering even though it should, as reported by a respondent to another discussion that I'd started. (/message/120049# http://communities.intel.com/message/120049# ).
• I've run many hours (over 24 hours) of memory diagnostics with no problem reported. I've swapped memory modules in and out without affecting the problem.

For these reasons I believe that the motherboard or the CPU is bad, but before I try an RMA I'd like to know which is bad. Does anyone have suggestions as to which of the two is more likely to be defective, or have advice on how to pin the problem down further?

Here's some information about my system: I'm using a Core i3-540 CPU and a DH57DD motherboard, BIOS version JGIBX10J.86A.0625.2010.1219.2132; the power supply is a 450-watt Corsair CMPSU-450VX; and the memory is 8GB (4x2GB) of Kingston ValueRAM KVR1333D3N9/2G. As I said above, the problem only occurs when I'm running Windows 7 (64-bit) with the Graphics Media Accelerator driver installed. The Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel reports, in part:

Intel® HD Graphics (Core i3)

Report Date: 4/11/2011

Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 19:12:11

Driver Version: 8.15.10.2291

Operating System: Windows 7 Service Pack 1(6.1.7601)

Default Language: English (United States)

DirectX* Version: 10.1

Physical Memory: 7990 MB

Minimum Graphics Memory: 32 MB

Maximum Graphics Memory: 1696 MB

Graphics Memory in Use: 69 MB

Processor: Intel64 Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 2

Processor Speed: 3066 MHz

Vendor ID: 8086

Device ID: 0042

Device Revision: 12

* Accelerator Information *

Accelerator in Use: Intel(R) HD Graphics

Video BIOS: 2086.0

Current Graphics Mode: 1920 by 1080

[Allan_J_Intel1]

Hi there!

If your computer is crashing with Windows 7 64 bit and with your current graphics driver, you can try downloading the latest drivers from Intel.

The latest drivers posted by Intel are version for Win7: 8.15.10.2361

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20037&ProdId=3231&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%20Enterprise%2C%2064-bit%20version*&DownloadType=Drivers http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20037&ProdId=3231&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%20Enterprise%2C%2064-bit%20version*&DownloadType=Drivers

If the new driver does not fix this issue, you may need to reinstall the operating system and follow critical driver installation order:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-031891.htm?wapkw=%28graphics+driver+order+installation%29 http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-031891.htm?wapkw=%28graphics+driver+order+installation%29

Thanks

Allan.

[idata]

Thanks Allen, and my apologies for taking so long to respond. I've given up on my old CPU and motherboard and replaced them with a Core i7-870 and a non-Intel motherboard using the P55 chipset, so I'm not in a position to test your suggestions. I can't recall if I updated my graphics driver to version 8.15.10.2361 or not, although I'd guess that the CPU and/or motherboard were defective since, as best as I can tell, the vast majority of people using the Core i3-540 + DH57DD motherboard never encountered my problem, even when they were using earlier versions of the graphics driver.

On the other hand, I certainly did not follow the installation order that you pointed out, at http://http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-031891.htm?wapkw=%28graphics+driver+order+installation%29 http://http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-031891.htm?wapkw=%28graphics+driver+order+installation%29. Instead I installed in this order:

1. The operating system (Windows 7 64-bit);
2. the Intel® Chipset Device Software;
3. all other device drivers (audio, graphics, LAN, etc.)
4. and only then did I install the latest operating system service pack and patches.

I have to note that I cannot see any way to follow the installation order as suggested at http://http//www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-031891.htm?wapkw=%28graphics+driver+order+installation%29 http://http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-031891.htm?wapkw=%28graphics+driver+order+installation%29, since I see no way to install "the latest operating system service pack and patches" until after installing the LAN (ethernet) driver.