Has my graphics cards died?

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 15:41

Hi. I got 2 BFG GeForce 8800 GTXs today (the ones that are already overclocked by 25Mhz). I put them into the computer put the sli connecter on, and plugged two 6 pin power connecters into each. When I got into Windows (Vista) I installed the drivers and turned on sli. After a few minutes I started getting artifacts (I think thats what they are called) on the screen and them the computer crashed and there was a buning smell.

I them turned off the PC and both of the cards were very hot. Just touching the sides burnt me.

I also got a new PSU today to run them (a Enermax Galaxy 1000W). so is it likely that my graphics cards are fried? Would the PSU be to blame?

Thanks.

MeatLoaf · 23 Jun 2007 at 15:49

You need to try each card on its own to tell which card is faulty.

Id imagine that PSU is fine for your build

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 15:52

Will it kill anything else though if I try each in turn? And how hot should these things run both are still hot and have been off ~15 minutes and they were only on for about 5 minutes to start with (and not really doing anything apart from running windows).

Sparky · 23 Jun 2007 at 16:04

Does the mobo require a seperate feed [4 pin molex] to run SLi? If so is it plugged in?

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 16:09

It does and it was plugged in.

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 16:40

Ok. I took one out and tried the other on it's own. It seems to work fine but the fan wasn't spinning. Is this normal for when its just in windows?

I then tried to run Oblivion on it (everything on high) and it seemed to work fine (bit slow so it needs its brother). But after a few minutes the fan still wasn't spinning so I decided to turn it off in case it dies.

So does the fan spin only when it gets hot enougth or should it spin all the time?

killer_uk · 23 Jun 2007 at 16:42

It should spin all the time. Even from boot up. It would then get turned up when the GPU temp increases. Your fan is broken, looks like RMA time.

lay-z-boy · 23 Jun 2007 at 16:45

Fan should spin the second power reaches the card, RMA time.

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 16:56

Isn't it a bit weird to get two broken cards at the same time? On both the fan didn't spin at all. One seemed to burn out and the other seems to work but has a broken fan.

So anyone else ever got two broken cards at the same time?

lay-z-boy · 23 Jun 2007 at 16:59

The fact that you bought them at the same time suggests that there might have been a problem with the fans on the batch of cards yours came from.

However, 2 broken cards is still quite bad luck.

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:03

Well I just sent OcUK a webnote about the problem. Would I be sending them back to them or direct to BFG?

YoungBlood · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:04

Sorta put me off BFG should I ever upgrade to 8800. I know it should'nt with a lifetime warranty and all, but I would have thought that broken/completly none functioning fans would have been picked up during QC.

Im just guessing that each card goes through some sort of testing before it leaves the factory.

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:14

YoungBlood said:
Im just guessing that each card goes through some sort of testing before it leaves the factory.

Doesn't seem like it. It's the first BFG product I've had so it's put me off them a bit as well.

jaykay · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:16

I dont think they test every card or that would take a while. I think they would test 5 out every 500 see if they work or something like that.

helmutcheese · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:16

They also had many fan failures when 6800Ultra AGP was new, Anandt*ch forum was full of peeps complaining.

Matthew-1985 · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:24

What does seem strange is that one seemed to overheat and die really quick but the other still seemed to work. Can they have very different heat tolerances like that?

YoungBlood · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:32

I always thought 3D Cards had a temp threshold, that when exceeded, the core would slowdown or something. So that when a fan failed it would'nt kill the card, guess they don't.
I'm just reaching here, I know nothing about these things. I just assume too much

lay-z-boy · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:33

My old bfg 8800gtx arrived in perfect working order and so did thousands of others, don't let one person put you off.....

helmutcheese · 23 Jun 2007 at 17:38

Usually is not just one person and it certainly was not 1 or even a few dozen with the fans on the 6800Ultras, I have never rated BFG, and never heard of them before the 6000 series, they seemed to get a better foothold in USA market after the Yanks fav no1 manu Visiontek closed up and PNY did not do as well as they were meant to take over market.