Graphics failing?

dark_hag666 · 8 Feb 2009 at 14:06

Was browsing the web last night and I think my 8800gts 320 died. The screen froze with a regular pattern of yellow artifacts. The on reboot the POST screen had a few coloured dotted lines running down it (not moving, just static) then on the next screen it came up with a load of random characters instead of the info it usually displays.

I just want to make sure It's the graphics and not PSU or motherboard before I go and buy a replacement.

Still deciding whether to go for a like for like replacement 9800gt or for a 285 GTX.....or maybe to abandon my fanboyness for nvidia and get a 4870 1GB

Your thoughts?

Blackberries · 8 Feb 2009 at 14:33

If it's artefacting while POSTing it's very likely the graphics card dying. Try it in another computer to be sure.

As for a replacement card.. Well the 285 and 4870 are both a fair whack more powerful than the 9800GT! The 4870 1GB is a very good card and its questionable whether spending the extra £100 on a 285 would be good value for money, though the 285 is a better card.

What resolution do you play at?

Ging3r · 8 Feb 2009 at 14:51

I would always go for the upgrade rather than the similar, just to make it last that bit longer.
And in the battle between the 285 and the 4870, i would save some £ and go for the 4870.
The XFX one is a great deal atm

Angst · 8 Feb 2009 at 14:53

if your happy with the power of the 8800gts then save yourself some money and get a 9800gt, you can always splash out later when dx11 cards are released

dark_hag666 · 8 Feb 2009 at 16:47

phill0i said:
if your happy with the power of the 8800gts then save yourself some money and get a 9800gt, you can always splash out later when dx11 cards are released

That was kinda what I was planning to do... before the current one was K.I.A.