Graphics problem
Discussion
Hope you guys can help. I'm a complete PC dunce.
I have a good spec HP desktop and the graphics card is a NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT
This (image below) has happened a couple of times randomly in the last few weeks. It would freeze the computer requiring a power off shut down. It would then start up fine and perhaps go wobbly and freeze again within 5 mins or 2 days. Now it starts up like this.
It seems to run fine but it's just the screen looks like this and the resolution sets back to super large icons. I can't change the resolution and when I try to look at the device, it comes up as 'unknown'.
If I go to Device Manager, I'm told that Windows has stopped the device because of reported problems (code 43) - Google throws up that it is a device failure. It is normal for a Graphics card to fail in this manner or could there be an underlying issues that I'll need to sort as well?
So, I'm guessing I need a new grapics card.
How does it work? Simply take off the case, unplug the existing one and plug in the new one? How do you install the drivers if you can't see the screen? Is it a good idea to stick with the same or take this opportunity to upgrade? How will I know which is the best for my set up..?
Lot of questions.
Hope you can help as I need to get this sorted pronto - this is my main work PC.
I have a good spec HP desktop and the graphics card is a NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT
This (image below) has happened a couple of times randomly in the last few weeks. It would freeze the computer requiring a power off shut down. It would then start up fine and perhaps go wobbly and freeze again within 5 mins or 2 days. Now it starts up like this.
It seems to run fine but it's just the screen looks like this and the resolution sets back to super large icons. I can't change the resolution and when I try to look at the device, it comes up as 'unknown'.
If I go to Device Manager, I'm told that Windows has stopped the device because of reported problems (code 43) - Google throws up that it is a device failure. It is normal for a Graphics card to fail in this manner or could there be an underlying issues that I'll need to sort as well?
So, I'm guessing I need a new grapics card.
How does it work? Simply take off the case, unplug the existing one and plug in the new one? How do you install the drivers if you can't see the screen? Is it a good idea to stick with the same or take this opportunity to upgrade? How will I know which is the best for my set up..?
Lot of questions.
Hope you can help as I need to get this sorted pronto - this is my main work PC.
Doesn't look good. Replacing a graphics card is fairly easy (top/side off - depending machine orientation, locate card, unscrew and lift) but in the mean time does the motherboard have graphics capability (another VGA socket near the USB ports on the back is a dead giveaway) ? You should be able to use the onboard graphics (not very good for gaming) to keep you working.
I suspect the card has over heated at sometime so you might need to check the state of the fans and heat sinks (download gpu-z or speedfan to keep an eye on temperatures - I don't know about nvidia but ati cards are generally ok up to 75 degrees under load)
I suspect the card has over heated at sometime so you might need to check the state of the fans and heat sinks (download gpu-z or speedfan to keep an eye on temperatures - I don't know about nvidia but ati cards are generally ok up to 75 degrees under load)
have had an identical thing just happen to me yesterday 
((
safe mode, system restore counted for nowt
on the ubuntu pc which is working well
monitor was unknown and the mouse would freeze now and then
will try it during the day and see what happens, thought it was the monitor, but the graphics card is the other option, if it is the card, can see me upgrading soon
working today, but will let you know what happens and monitor this thread
edit - if changing the card to an ati, you will need to format the pc
if changing to another nvidia card, simply swap out, making sure that your motherboard supports the new card and you have a good enough psu for it
pretty sure the drivers are universal
((safe mode, system restore counted for nowt
on the ubuntu pc which is working well
monitor was unknown and the mouse would freeze now and then
will try it during the day and see what happens, thought it was the monitor, but the graphics card is the other option, if it is the card, can see me upgrading soon
working today, but will let you know what happens and monitor this thread
edit - if changing the card to an ati, you will need to format the pc
if changing to another nvidia card, simply swap out, making sure that your motherboard supports the new card and you have a good enough psu for it
pretty sure the drivers are universal
Edited by Scraggles on Friday 15th October 10:00
My screen looked just like that when my 8600GTS cooked itself.
Replacing the graphics card is a really simple job fortunately. A quick youtube search brings up this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9x097QRXeA
HTH
Replacing the graphics card is a really simple job fortunately. A quick youtube search brings up this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9x097QRXeA
HTH
Cheers guys - already taken the card out - very simple as you say.
For ease of use etc... I'll simply stick in another NVIDIA - I was happy with the performance before (it could run Crysis flat out), maybe get some more memory on it - it was 512k before.
I will check the heat side of things out as well.
Thanks for the help chaps. Off to the shops for a new GC.
For ease of use etc... I'll simply stick in another NVIDIA - I was happy with the performance before (it could run Crysis flat out), maybe get some more memory on it - it was 512k before.
I will check the heat side of things out as well.
Thanks for the help chaps. Off to the shops for a new GC.
Edited by Asterix on Friday 15th October 10:13
Asterix said:
Thanks for the help chaps. Off to the shops for a new GC.
So one of these then? http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/nvidia_gtx...Jinx said:
Asterix said:
Thanks for the help chaps. Off to the shops for a new GC.
So one of these then? http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/nvidia_gtx...http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-card-...
Ok - after a 3 hour trawl round Dubai, as the so called main tech shops didn't even stock graphics cards, I ended up in a specialist mall but as it is a Friday (our Sunday) only a few shops were open.
Luckily, one of the few that was open did stock NVIDIA stuff so I got the GTS 250. Not sure how much better it is than the 9800GT I had before but it does have double the memory at 1GB.
So, plugged it in. Fitted the 2 other connections - Power source and S/PDIF - and then switched it on. All went ok - started up with low resolution, said that I'd need to restart as it had identified the new hardware so I restarted it. All went find until there was a piercing high pitched noise from the monitor. Shut it down again and reversed the S/PDIF connector and it is fine.
My only concern is that it is double the width of the old card and the cooling fins are now touching some of the wires above - I can't see any other way of routing them so I'll have to keep an eye on that.
This is my first ever dabble with changing anything on a computer and it was far less scary that I thought it would be. I suppose it's that fear of plugging everything in for it simply to not work - I'd have no idea what to do and would probably cry. If it was mechanical - no problem. Computers = magic I don't understand.
Luckily, one of the few that was open did stock NVIDIA stuff so I got the GTS 250. Not sure how much better it is than the 9800GT I had before but it does have double the memory at 1GB.
So, plugged it in. Fitted the 2 other connections - Power source and S/PDIF - and then switched it on. All went ok - started up with low resolution, said that I'd need to restart as it had identified the new hardware so I restarted it. All went find until there was a piercing high pitched noise from the monitor. Shut it down again and reversed the S/PDIF connector and it is fine.
My only concern is that it is double the width of the old card and the cooling fins are now touching some of the wires above - I can't see any other way of routing them so I'll have to keep an eye on that.
This is my first ever dabble with changing anything on a computer and it was far less scary that I thought it would be. I suppose it's that fear of plugging everything in for it simply to not work - I'd have no idea what to do and would probably cry. If it was mechanical - no problem. Computers = magic I don't understand.
going to be spending most of this evening figuring what to get and if i want to goto pcworld to get it, or wait a few days for a courier
http://www.amazon.co.uk/GeForce-GTS250-PCI-E-GDDR3...
remember being in saudi arabia a while back, was rather interesting on the tech stuff to say the least
http://www.amazon.co.uk/GeForce-GTS250-PCI-E-GDDR3...
remember being in saudi arabia a while back, was rather interesting on the tech stuff to say the least
I can imagine KSA to be far worse than Dubai.
Checked the GC again and it's actually one of these - http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Gigabyte-GVN250OC1G...
Seems to be identical to the NVIDEA but with a few little extras (that'll never even think about using).
Checked the GC again and it's actually one of these - http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Gigabyte-GVN250OC1G...
Seems to be identical to the NVIDEA but with a few little extras (that'll never even think about using).
Edited by Asterix on Friday 15th October 13:16
browsing the net to see what cards are compatible, do not see the point in buying the same sort of spec of card, might as well get a better one
http://www.asus.com.au/Product.aspx?P_ID=DkEhMfgo4...
Integrated ATI Radeon X1250-based graphics caught my eye, removed the dead gfx card, set bios to onboard and it seems to be working, lots of updates and will see how much a drop I take from 5.9 performance rating
dropped from 5.9 to 3.4 on "business" graphics, lag on eve was so bad that typing and updating station assets was crazy
can afford to take some time and research the card I want and can afford
http://www.asus.com.au/Product.aspx?P_ID=DkEhMfgo4...
Integrated ATI Radeon X1250-based graphics caught my eye, removed the dead gfx card, set bios to onboard and it seems to be working, lots of updates and will see how much a drop I take from 5.9 performance rating
dropped from 5.9 to 3.4 on "business" graphics, lag on eve was so bad that typing and updating station assets was crazy
can afford to take some time and research the card I want and can afford
Edited by Scraggles on Friday 15th October 18:48
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