cpu error access violation at 0x7c91084b dual core

[Ian (PassMark)]

This problem occurs on dual core systems when running the CPU tests.

Becuase a lot of people have this problem on their system and getting the patches from Microsoft and AMD was not so easy, we have released a new build of PerformanceTest to work around this problem. PerformanceTest V6.0 1012 is now available, and no specific patches are required. The new version can be downloaded from:
http://www.passmark.com/download/pt_download.htm

Regards,
Ian (PassMark)

[David (PassMark)]

You need to contact Microsoft if you have a problem with their web site and their hot fix.

But I did see a discussion over at Anandtech about the same issue causing problems in games and other software. See,
http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...14&STARTPAGE=2

There were also a few download links in that forum, but we can't vouch for them & you still need to follow the instructions on the Microsoft site.

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David

[robertkj]

David:
I'm confused.
When I go to that link, I don't see any clear way to download or get the 896256 hotfix. Where is the link? It seems to want me to go off to MS Support, yet MS Support only will work if I bought and installed the O/S myself, not if the PC came with the O/S installed,such as my case.
How the heck do I get this fix?
Thanks,
Robert

[David (PassMark)]

Yes, it is a bug in the Windows operating system. We investigated the issue in some depth. You need to download the Windows patch (see previous posts) to correct the problem.

Quoting from the Microsoft web site,
"Without these updates, computers that are equipped with these power management-capable, mobile, dual-core processors may experience decreased performance or unexpected behavior"

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David

[robertkj]

I get precisely the same error when I run ALL tests. The test always crashes on one of the CPU tests. Especially the prime number test.

I should note that I don't get the error every time I run ALL tests. Perhaps half the time. But, the error message is always the 0x7c91084b and the 0x00030ffc, as the previous posters.

My system is brand new. Out of the box only 3 days ago. All premium parts and it burned in perfect for days in the shop. I can assure you nothing is wrong with the hardware, and so far this software is the only thing to crash.

My system uses the Athlon 4400 X2 dual core chip. You can see the rest in my signature.

Thanks,
Robert

[Ian (PassMark)]

access violation at 0x7c91084b

For other people who may experience the same problem we have posted some information to help.

We investigated the "access violation at 0x7c91084b(tried to write to 0x00040ffc)" reported with some of the PerformanceTest CPU tests (via email communication) and found that the Microsoft Hotfix corrected the problem:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=896256

If you receive this crash address, please check that you have the latest versions of the files listed (or later versions) in the above Microsoft article (included in XP SP2):

Date Time Version Size File name
--------------------------------------------------------------
28-Sep-2005 23:35 5.1.2600.2765 134,272 Halmacpi.dll
29-Sep-2005 00:02 5.1.2600.2765 2,136,064 Ntkrnlmp.exe
28-Sep-2005 23:35 5.1.2600.2765 2,057,344 Ntkrnlpa.exe
28-Sep-2005 23:35 5.1.2600.2765 2,015,744 Ntkrpamp.exe
29-Sep-2005 00:04 5.1.2600.2765 2,180,096 Ntoskrnl.exe
28-Sep-2005 23:32 5.1.2600.2765 30,720 Arpidfix.exe


The crash address described in this post is in the Windows system dynamic library ntdll.dll. This problem has only been reported for Dual core systems when (I believe) there are at least 2 PerformanceTest CPU tests running in parallel. Our theory is that PerformanceTest is provoking a bug in one of the Windows system functions in ntdll.dll that is not thread safe (quite possibly QueryPerformanceCounter e.g. http://support.microsoft.com/?id=896256). By thread safe, I mean if the Windows system function is called at the exact same time and run in parallel on separate CPU's then a bug like the one you see could occur in
the library Windows function.


Added 11 August 2006:
This problem appears to be most common on the AMD X2. The following patch should be applied to AMD X2 systems:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...1_9706,00.html for the "AMD Dual-Core Optimizer" solution http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...ties/Setup.exe

Another update:
In PerformanceTest release V6.0 1012 we have worked around the problem. See below.

Regards,
Ian (PassMark)

[gazza]

I'm also getting this error on my AMD X2 4400 PC!! My PC is running cool (38 deg) and I haven't overclocked it (yet). can you fix this bug in your software please (at least if you want me to purchase it). Have downloaded the hotfix and latest NVIDIA drivers as per your above message - to no avail.

Rgds,


Gary

Mobo : Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI
RAM : 2 x 1gb Crucial PC3200
OS : XP Pro
Disk : Seagate 400gb SATA
Video Card : GeFORCE 6600 256mb (GV-NX66256DP)

[David (PassMark)]

As another customer reported that installing the Microsoft x2 hotfix and updated device drivers fixes the problem. This should be the first thing you should try.
See,
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=896256
http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Also as other people using other software from other companies have reported the same fault, you should check for hardware problems, e.g. heat problems. This is especially the case if you have just changed CPUs, to a hotter running CPU.

Of course there could be a bug in our software, but for the reasons given in my posts above, we still think it is unlikely. (Well unlikely enough that we want to eliminate other possibilities first)

----
David

[jonp]

I get the same fault when running with 2 processes. I have used Performance Test alot and like it. I have changed my processor from 3700+ to x2 4400+ and now get same fault as reported in this thread. New installation of Windows. Must be bug in Performance Test.

[David (PassMark)]

Yes, there is also the possibility that some device driver provoked the problem. I assumed that when you said there was a software problem you were referring to our PerformanceTest software (which I do not think is the case for this problem).

----
David

[jniles]

have you installed the amd x2 drivers? Updated nforce drivers? there is also the microsoft X2 hotfix, but I have not installed that.

I have the exact same problem. I also have a dual core system.

Athlon 64 X2 3800
Gigabyte K8N-SLi
4x512 pc3200
bfg 7800 GT OC

I don't get the error under PT 5.0, only 6.0, and only under the CPU tests, not always on the same one.

I just tested it, and I only get the error when processes is set to 2.

[jniles]

first I never said i did not plan to overclock and I see nothing wrong with overclocking !!!!

Second I had this issue @ stock speeds and yes I did test my rig @ stock speeds for stability

Finally I never said it was not hardware just stating that the problem has not re-occured is all and I have not changed my hardware but I have modified my software

[David (PassMark)]

> I dont know why you seem
> convienced it was not software related

I am not convinced, but it highly likely it is hardware because,

1) Similar problems were reported by people on the net, not using our software. These similar problems turned out to be heat related.

2) Software bugs almost always result in a crash that is repeatable. If you perform the same operation twice on the same system, you get the same crash. Of course there are from time to time software bugs that appear more randomly.

3) We have 2 reports of a problem like this, but about 200,000 other people use the software without getting this error.

4) In both cases the people who report the problem seem to be building their own PCs (but don't want to come straight out and say it) and obviously want to overlock their CPUs.

5) After investigating bugs like this for 6 years I feel I am in a position to say that overlockers are more interested in bragging rights," I have my [2.0Ghz] rig running @ 2.5GHz....", than having a perfectly stable system. Many then enter a state of denial if someone suggests their hand built hardware is anything less than perfect. (not to suggest that you would do this). So some very stong proof is required of a software bug before it is worth investigating crashes on overclocked hand built systems.

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David

[jniles]

I opened 2 instances of prime and set affinity to each core, yes 100% load

memtest is to test the dimms not cpu and it does fine

I dont know why you seem convienced it was not software related but oh well.

anyway www.anandtech.com is my choice for computer related issues, lots of knowledgeable people and great adviceI have my rig running @2.5ghz and the gaming is awesome

[David (PassMark)]

Prime95 & Memtest86 are a really poor way of testing a modern CPU.

Both these prgrams only run using a single thread. This means they use a single core of a single CPU when running and will only load your dual core CPU to about 50% capacity!

It is the same problem with dual CPU, Hyperthreading and dual core CPUs. Prime95 doesn't fully load them. You can see this from the Windows task manager.

In my case (Dual CPU with HT) Prime95 only puts about 30% load on my CPUs.

Needless to say running your CPU at 50% is not going to generate maximum heat.

PerformanceTest on the other hand starts a thread per CPU core & per HT CPU. Putting double the load on your CPU and four times the load on my CPUs.

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David