PC display buggered-help!

[tenohfive]

I was given COD:MW2 for xmas, and prior to installing downloaded the latest drivers for my graphics card. All was fine until yesterday, when the game started crashing to desktop every 10 or 15 minutes. Not a major issue. I also tinkered with the startup list in msconfig to remove some apps related to a DVD-RW I recently installled. I dont think its related, but I may be wrong.

This morning I fired up the PC, did some browsing for a bit then went away for a couple of hours. When I returned the display was knackered - fuzzy multi coloured lines everywhere. I tried to restart through windows but no response to keyboard or mouse. Restarted with the button on the case and got the same thing - fuzzy multicoloured lines on windows start, and unable to use the machine.

Using safe mode I system restored to a couple of days ago, then to the day before I installed the graphics card drivers - both with no effect. Safe mode lets me use the PC to some degree, but still has the fuzzy lines. Normal mode means fuzzy lines and an unresponsive PC. last time I booted I was even getting the fuzzy effect prior to windows starting to load.

Help?

[Zad]

Sounds to me like the memory on the graphics card is faulty. It is possible the fan failed and it partly toasted itself. I have experienced these symptoms with a bad power supply connection though. Power it down, open the PC up and re-seat the power connectors to the motherboard (and graphics card if it is not the integrated type). Check the fan is clear and spins ok while you are there. If that doesn't work then you are probably looking at a replacement graphics card (which fortunately cost peanuts now).

[tenohfive]

Just to add:

System specs are

Amd x2 4200
4gb RAM
Geforce 8600 GTS
Windows XP Pro
Samsung 2232BW monitor

[Frankeh]

Overclocking feature on some drivers can cause this (And has to me)... Reinstall drivers if you can. Re seat the graphics card too.

Doesn't sound like it's a software problem though, but the above should rule it out for sure.

[tenohfive]

Cheers. Will try reseating all connectors. Cant reinstall drivers though as safe mode doesnt let me use the internet.

[tenohfive]

All the power connectors are secure, the fan on the graphics card is spinning normally when turned on...but i still have the same problem. I'll try and download new drivers to my phone and see if safe mode will let me install.

[dundarach]

Just a quick question, what the bios screen like...?

If you can load into your bios and leave it a while and see if the picture is okay.

That should determine if hardware/software

[tenohfive]

Bios display goes wibble.

Tried installing old drivers in safe mode, not sure if it worked or not.

[Zad]

If the display is corrupting in Safe Mode (and especially in BIOS setup) that totally rules out driver problems.

[dundarach]

Zad said:

If the display is corrupting in Safe Mode (and especially in BIOS setup) that totally rules out driver problems.

Eye sure does - check the following if possible:

1. does graphics card have TV (super video) out if so drag out the telly and see what it looks like
2. take monitor round to neighbors, assuming you've not got another PC/laptop to try it on and see if its your monitor.

3. once you know either

a. buy new monitor
b. this is where it gets tricky, could be new graphics card or anything even cable......

test monitor with another pc and your pc with another monitor / tv first.....!!!

then let us know



Just had a look and I think your graphics card has super video out, plug it into your telly and see what you get....

Then nip round to neighbors...

Edited by dundarach on Monday 4th January 15:54

Edited by dundarach on Monday 4th January 15:54

Edited by dundarach on Monday 4th January 15:55

[tenohfive]

Any suggestions for the most likely candidate then?

[dundarach]

not sure yet - try the checks if possible...

[cyberface]

The Nvidia Geforce 8600 caused a mass failure and huge embarrassment (and a free replacement out-of-warranty scheme) to Apple...

Whilst it's not the same implementation (it was the 8600 in the Macbook Pros that typically failed) - it was acknowledged by Nvidia that it was a packaging / design fault at their end.

If you're getting graphic corruption at the BIOS screen then I'd be inclined to direct all blame at the graphics card. Either it's not getting enough power (why the hell would all the calculation pipelines in the GPU be used for VGA emulation at BIOS bootup stage? Unlikely IMO), or the GPU / onboard RAM is fried.

These things are often overclocked by their manufacturers and they run as hot as hell. If you've been playing taxing games with the PC and your cooling isn't top-notch, then there's a chance that the graphics card has got VERY hot. This, along with the many problems Nvidia had with certain 8600 chips... I bet $2.31 that it's the graphics card.

Use the opportunity to upgrade. I'd be hesitant about running it a lot in a broken state - graphics drivers run in kernel space on Windows (IIRC) and if the hardware is fked then you've got a chance of data corruption finding its way back into the kernel and hence anywhere into your system... leaving you with a potentially unreliable system, or at worst some silent bitflipper that silently damages your files. Not nice.

[bigdods]

FWIW , I picked up apair of 8600GTS's from ebay for £20 each a few weeks back , if you are happy with the performance might be worth just getting a second hand replacement ?

[tenohfive]

I'd been thinking about upgrading anyway, so its tempting to buy a new card...someone gave me some advice on here recently about what to look at, but searching for the thread on my phone is a nightmare.

Can I get a capable reasonably future proof graphics card for about £100 that will run with my existing setup, but will also be compatible with a motherboard/processor/ram upgrade in a couple of months?

[Zad]

Do you know if it is an AGP or PCI-Express connector? If it is AGP then that upgrade pathway is pretty much closed.

[tenohfive]

Existing card is PCI-E.

[Zad]

I defer to other peoples's experience here. I haven't bought a graphics card recently. I know ATi's newish cards (the 5xxx series) are DirectX11 items, but they are having chip yield problems so prices are high. Nvidia haven't even even got their DX11 cards to market yet. Depending on the power supply, it's maximum output may limit your choice.

For £100+Vat you can get a 1GB ATi 4870. (http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=35350&category_id=797&manufacturer_id=0&tid=hd-487a-zwfl)

I was going to suggest a 512MB 4550 for £31:33 inc vat, but they aren't in stock for a fortnight!

On the Nvidia side, there is a 512MB 210 for £32:21

[tenohfive]

Cheers. I've done some digging and apparently its not worth shelling out on a new card until Nvidia have brought out their DX11 cards, as that should bring the price of their other cards down.

Will have a look at the cheap cards you've mentioned, cheers.

[tenohfive]

Thought I'd post a quick update on here:

I did some digging, and eventually plumped for a GeForce 9500GT, gambling it was my old graphics card at fault. Cost me £43 posted for the 1GB 9500GT (£3 more than the 512MB card) and it turned up this morning. Removed old card, added new card, turned on, updated drivers and its all working fine. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I'm hoping I can get a bit more though. I've not tried playing any games since I installed this new card, though I'm quite keen to pick up where I left off with CODMW2. I'm wary of doing this until I've improved airflow in the case somewhat. There are a lot of cables coming out of the PSU and I don't know how I should best route them to improve airflow and cooling.

As a second question, does anyone know of any free application that can monitor graphics card temperature and give a warning if its getting too high?

• ETA:

I'll post some photo's of the inside of the case and the cabling if it would be helpful.

Edited by tenohfive on Tuesday 12th January 12:41