Weird major graphical problems

[Maniacal]

Two days ago I was playing Bad Company 2 for several minutes when my computer seized up, sound stopped and weird outlines appeared on the image in neon colours. I restarted, and tried playing Empire Total War later on, same thing. I restarted and used NVIDIA Monitor to check my temperature, my gpu was at 71 degrees CELSIUS. So yesterday I carefully and safely dusted out my computer, and all temps dropped back to mroe normal levels (my gpu is idling at 50 degrees now). Unfortunately the problem persists, I tried CoD4, BC2, and Warband today.

Sorry for the massive picture, I don't have time to resize it until after work.

Spoiler :

My drivers are updated, I have not changed ANY settings recently, and have had NO OTHER PROBLEMS.

I am going to try the card in another computer tonight or so, I need to convince the owners of said computers to let me try it though.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[civ_king]

probably a messed up fan

 

[Fëanor]

Digital artifact

 

[Zelig]

If it's not visible from a screenshot, it's most likely a monitor issue.

 

[Maniacal]

probably a messed up fan

The fans seem to be working fine.

Digital artifact

Yes and I want it gone.

If it's not visible from a screenshot, it's most likely a monitor issue.

I can't take a screenshot, as I said my computer seized up and I can't do anything. Sound may or may not play, and it might get distorted.

And I highly doubt my monitor is going to be able to freeze up my comp (I have a 1st gen G15 keyboard, and it shows how much of my CPU and RAM are being used, it wasn't budging).

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Your GPU temps are fine. 71C is a little high for idle, but for full load thats a good temp. Mine runs at around 65C full load, but I have run cards at 95C for weeks on end (no cool down for like a week) and they've been fine.

Make sure you reinstall the drivers completely. This means uninstall the drivers, use a driver sweeper to clean up any driver remains and reinstall the latest ones.

If that doesnt help, get your RMA on (or if warranty period is over, get your wallet out)

 

[Maniacal]

Yeah I used driver sweeper to clear the NVIDIA Display drivers.

I really hope its still under warranty (I bought it in early 2008) as I don't really want a new card, though at least the 250s are cheap and a bit better (like, less than $200, if not closer to $120).

 

[Fëanor]

$80 for the 512mb ver., +10 for the gig version.

Magazines are being cleared since the release of nVidia's new mainstream cards is rapidly approaching and while the G92 architecture is now pretty dated at those prices they are a pretty decent deal for a gamer on a thigh budget and can offer quite the performance in SLI.

 

[Maniacal]

Tried the card in my roommate's computer (finally), WoW worked for like 15 minutes and nothing happened, so I tried CSS and it crashed within a minute on a server that had people. So its definitely the card Going to contact XFX for RMA stuff, .

 

[Maniacal]

Well damnit, because I didn't register my card within 30 days of purchase my warranty expire after a year, and that was over a year ago.

New card time now, DAMNIT! I need my money for other things.

 

[Fëanor]

With the new mainstream nVidia cards around the corner i would suggest you wait before buying something new, if you really need a video card right away you can always try an get a used one from places like eBay.

I recently picked up a new HD4850 for €43 and a used 8800GTS (512mb) for €35, i want to try the 4850 in CrossfireX with the 8800GTS as dedicated PhysX card (through Hacked drivers).

 

[Maniacal]

Not helping, sorry. Thanks for trying but I miss the days when this forum would get several truly helpful replies before I've already moved on/fixed it/made up my mind.

 

[Sterf]

Not helping, sorry. Thanks for trying but I miss the days when this forum would get several truly helpful replies before I've already moved on/fixed it/made up my mind.

How are the replies not helpful? They're telling you they're artifacts, which they are. Conclusion: get a new gfx-card. Not more to it I'm afraid.

Had the same thing happen to me last week while playing GTAIV, but even more messed up. Couldn't even get it to boot the next day because of artifacts showing up everywhere and bluescreens involving my gfx-card. Did have lifetime-warranty though, so I just sent my 4 year old card in the mail to receive a newer one to be sold because I already bought a newer one.

 

[Maniacal]

I already knew they were artifacts. I was looking for a solution other than buying a new card, suc has baking it in the oven (which I tried, and apparently 7 minutes was too long for some voltage thing which had a lower melting point than everything else on the card. Not that I mind losing it, it was a fun experiment).

 

[Bratmon]

Wait, so in the past we were miracle workers, capable of magically repairing a card over the Internet?

 

[Fëanor]

I already knew they were artifacts.

If you make a thread called "Weird major graphical problems" with an OP that says pretty much that you don't have a clue about what you're dealing with, then people are going to assume that you don't know what you're dealing with.

I was looking for a solution other than buying a new card

Since we are not mind readers you should try and call the thread something like "Fixing Digital Artifacts" and ask something along the lines of "My 8-series GeForce has developed Digital Artifacts, sadly its out of warranty so i cant RMA it, does anyone here have any tips and tricks i could try to salvage it?" so that people may can help you with what your actually looking for.

 

[warpus]

Try baking it in the oven

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Try baking it in the oven

He did, and he managed to bake a piece off, rendering the card completely dead (unless he can find a replacement choke thats to the same specs as the one on the card -- I havent been able to)

 

[Maniacal]

Wait, so in the past we were miracle workers, capable of magically repairing a card over the Internet?

Sure, wait, who are you? (As in, your account is only a year old, I meant more like the last 3 or 4 years, and you weren't really there for that, but anyways <3)

If you make a thread called "Weird major graphical problems" with an OP that says pretty much that you don't have a clue about what you're dealing with, then people are going to assume that you don't know what you're dealing with.

Since we are not mind readers you should try and call the thread something like "Fixing Digital Artifacts" and ask something along the lines of "My 8-series GeForce has developed Digital Artifacts, sadly its out of warranty so i cant RMA it, does anyone here have any tips and tricks i could try to salvage it?" so that people may can help you with what your actually looking for.

I was waiting for reply from XFX and didn't know it was out of warranty yet when I made the thread, I still had hoped for helpful replies which often came quicker and more helpful in the past. Just giving a link to something or posting a short unhelpful blurb doesn't really help that much.

EDIT: But yeah I'll keep that in mind, thanks, sorry if I have been a bit aggressive or a dick, I've had nothing to get out stress and a bit of anger from recent and ongoing events.

Try baking it in the oven

It was totally worth it.