Graphics Card need replacing already?

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:09

Well, i built my new PC not long ago, and whenever i play CS:S, BioShock or whatever game, every few days, my screen just randomly goes off, the PC is still on and working, but the screen just goes off, still has power but it just doesnt come back on no matter what, i have to restart my PC for it to work.
My freind thinks its a faulty Graphics Card, is he right and will i need it replacing? :confused:

xen_ · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:16

What graphics card is it? Have you checked it's temps? It could be overheating if it randomly goes off during gaming.

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:16

ATI Radeon 4850 Ice Q, seems fine with temps.

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:20

Double checked only 42 degrees when playing CS:S

xen_ · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:21

Now thats odd, I have the same card as you and last night it randomly crashed my computer last night, first time it did it and it was only watching a youtube video at the time, got very slow screen updates and then a pop up saying ATI something and then my PC went off.

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:22

But when mine happens the game doesnt crash, the screen just looks like it dies, but it still has power :S

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:25

So what does everyone think? New graphics card needed, its still under warrenty, but this only happens like every 5ish days.

Phil2008 · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:37

The latest drivers are quite buggy, so you might want to try earlier drivers. I tried the 8.12s on my sapphire 3870 and when computer restarts it will not use the driver.

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:38

Ahh, so it might just be a buggy driver?

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:38

That makes sense aswell, because if it was a faulty GFX card, i would have thought it would have happened a lot more than it does.

xen_ · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:39

It's a shame it's such a difficult thing to test as it only happens once a week but as Phil says try some new drivers before sending it off.

Verzili · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:40

i had this problem with my 4870,screen would die pc still running..i disabled aero and it stoped doing it.

i thought at 1st is was a dodgy card or my psu,,,curently using 8.12 with no problems

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:41

Okay, i will, where do i get them from? Ill google it now.

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:48

Ohh really? Thats good to hear, because im using Aero at the moment, ill give that a try before i change the drivers.

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:48

When you say Aero, you mean the Skin thing for Vista?

Richdog · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:50

It could be a fault with the screen... I had a similar issue with my old LCD. And Jelly, you can EDIT your post instead of posting multiple times using the options at the right.

Phil2008 · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:53

just search "ATI", I recommed the 8.10s

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 14:54

Ohh, sorry for the posts, didnt see the edit

Hmm, so it could be
> Faulty Driver
> Faulty GFX card
> Faulty Screen
or even using Aero
Is the driver the 8.10 Display Driver?

JellyMonsta · 4 Jan 2009 at 15:19

Need help installing, do i need to uninstall my other driver and reinstall this one, or can i just install over it? Plus what ones do i need from this link? : http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/vista64/previous/common/common-cat810-vista64.html

Richdog · 4 Jan 2009 at 15:22

When downgrading drivers best to uninstall via add/remove programs just to be safe.

Downoad the complete driver set for your operating system...