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8800 GTX Dying?

Rezident

Rezident

Rezident

Soldato
Joined
29 May 2007
Posts
4,917
Location
Dublin
Been using my old card again and it's fine for TF2, MW2 etc. but the other day it started artifacting - on the startup screen for TF2, before you even play the game. Uninstalled drivers, reinstalled, same again. Manually deleted all teh driver files and re-installed, but lot sof graphical slitches.

On the next reboot it started artifacting on the black POST screens right after startup. Lots of white lines etc. on the black screen, I ahven't seen that before, doesn't look good. Is the card basically dying?

Any chance it's a software issue as I have been getting the dreaded nvlddmkm.sys crash a few times over the last days before it started artifacting? Thanks.
 
if its doing odd things before getting to windows than I would say its on its last legs. ethoir that or its getting too hot, check the fan is free and spining?
 
AMG said:
if its doing odd things before getting to windows than I would say its on its last legs. ethoir that or its getting too hot, check the fan is free and spining?
Click to expand...

Yes fan was working and it wasn't hot at all when I checked. I suppose it's 2 and a half years old, how long does it normally take to kill cards? (without OC ing them much).
 
Might be owrth trying the oven trick on it, worked for me (well 2 out of 3 times) and may extend the life another 6 months till prices drop a bit on the new cards
 
If it's artifacting on the POST screen then you have a problem. My old P4 system has a knackered 7900gt in it which artifacts in the BIOS and on the POST screen. Is fine for desktop use though.
 
ghop said:
If it's artifacting on the POST screen then you have a problem. My old P4 system has a knackered 7900gt in it which artifacts in the BIOS and on the POST screen. Is fine for desktop use though.
Click to expand...

Confirmed.

I had an 8800 GTS and it died about 3-6 months ago. It was about 2.5 years old.

It started acting up and crashing L4D, TF2, etc at first. A reboot or a self-reboot by the PC would fix it. It would play randomly, maybe 2hrs no problems maybe 5 minutes and whole system crash. I knew it was on it's way.

This went on for about a week and one day it just went and artifacts appeared everywhere, even in BIOS/POST screen. As good as dead.

Can't complain, OcUK had a good deal on 4870's at the time so I picked up one for about £120 and it was such a huge improvement I haven't thought twice about my old dead card.

Sounds like you need to treat yourself :)
 
TBirdUK said:
Might be owrth trying the oven trick on it, worked for me (well 2 out of 3 times) and may extend the life another 6 months till prices drop a bit on the new cards
Click to expand...

True, I've never tried it before, do you have to take the heatsick etc. off first? nothing to lose I suppose.
 
I thought i post at moment too, I have a 8800 GTX, about 3 years old, only lately in games getting black screens, done reinstall everything else, conclusion my card is on its way out..
 
Does it look anything like this?
18112009366.jpg


That's what my GTX did in November, and the replacement they gave me in December...and the one in January.

What happens is it works fine for a while using it within windows, then as soon as i load up a game, i get a screen similar to above, my computer crashes and once i reboot i get the above and no image after the windows logo.
 
analog said:
Does it look anything like this?
18112009366.jpg


That's what my GTX did in November, and the replacement they gave me in December...and the one in January.

What happens is it works fine for a while using it within windows, then as soon as i load up a game, i get a screen similar to above, my computer crashes and once i reboot i get the above and no image after the windows logo.
Click to expand...

But... is it not the motherboard that maybe kills your gfx cards somehow?
 
analog said:
Does it look anything like this?
18112009366.jpg


That's what my GTX did in November, and the replacement they gave me in December...and the one in January.

What happens is it works fine for a while using it within windows, then as soon as i load up a game, i get a screen similar to above, my computer crashes and once i reboot i get the above and no image after the windows logo.
Click to expand...

what card were they giving you? also what OS / Drivers were you using?
 
All 8800GTX OC's running windows 7 with what ever the latest drivers are.


Vir said:
But... is it not the motherboard that maybe kills your gfx cards somehow?
Click to expand...

Could be, but im running a little 9400 right now and its fine, all be it not connecting to the power supply like the 8800.
 
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thats almost exactly what my 8800s did, after the oven they are fine - solder needs re-flowing - common problem in cards 2-3 years oold as this is when they changed the type of solder they used (but didnt change the production method to compensate - or so I read)!!
 
erm no drivers are loaded during post, if its pixalating during post/windows loadup screens etc than you got a problem with the card being RAM or core ethoir way its on its way out
 
TBirdUK said:
thats almost exactly what my 8800s did, after the oven they are fine - solder needs re-flowing - common problem in cards 2-3 years oold
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My 8800gt (2 years old) started locking up/glitching a couple of days ago during gaming and video playback - took cooler off and chucked the card in the oven at 200 degrees for 10 mins tonight, the magnetic buzzer on the card fell out during the process lol (havent bothered putting it back in). Anyway it seems to have sorted it! For how long who knows... :)
 
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Rezident said:
Yes fan was working and it wasn't hot at all when I checked. I suppose it's 2 and a half years old, how long does it normally take to kill cards? (without OC ing them much).
Click to expand...

Mine and many others I have heard only lasted just over a year so you have done well ,I was not happy considering it cost me a small fortune .
 
do you have warranty remaining with your card?

if not you could try taking it apart and cleaning the heatsink, that might help as GPU coolers can hold a lot of dust
 
I have done the oven trick quite a few times, i have also now bought an aftermarket cooler for it so hopefully it shouldnt do it anymore!
 
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