is my graphics card about to die (9800pro) ?

[ThriceNightly]

had the card from new for aprox 2 1/2 years

it's a 9800pro sapphire 128 with an arctic cooler

anyway was playing counterstrike for 30 mins and just swithching to a bit of need for speed when i lost most the screen with coloured parallel lines.

a reboot and hardly able to see my desktop (very distorted...lot os little coloured boxes and parallel lines).

have been able to prove the monitor is not at fault

have noticed a slight burn mark on the white plastic power connector (red wire) to the card otherwise the card looks ok.

have tried the pc now 24 hours later and all appears to be ok...but for how long?.

 

[Firegod]

Sounds like the memory AFAIK? The coloured lines? You could try taking the cooler off and applying some AS5 to the core and loads on the memory chips then re-fit the cooler. May help...

 

[wellibob]

Tis possible the card is on its way out, however normally the problems persists , and isnt a "on - off" kinda thing. Be advised however, it dont sound good.

 

[ThriceNightly]

thnx for replies

the cooler is already mounted with arctic silver (2 1/2 years ago) but it won't hurt to remount the cooler and give the fan a good clean....

the problem i seem to remeber came about when i was in a game and went to desktop with the windows button.

i would like abit more life out the card if possible as it matches my system well etc.

.....though i appreciate it may well be on it's way out..i will prolly purchase another 9800 pro (secondhand)

 

[m3csl2004]

lol - you can get very cheap second hand cards atm cards atm

tbh sounds like a driver issue more than card, is it artifacting in bios? (if it does it again)

 

[Jokester]

That sounds like a damaged core to be honest, especially if it's producing a mozaic like pattern all over.

Jokester

 

[m3csl2004]

That sounds like a damaged core to be honest, especially if it's producing a mozaic like pattern all over.

Jokester

i would have thought if it were a damaged core it would be permanently damaged (like my card is) rather than working now?

 

[Jokester]

i would have thought if it were a damaged core it would be permanently damaged (like my card is) rather than working now?

Could very likely be heat related, works fine in Windows but if you game it'll push it over the edge and you'll need to wait for it to get cold again.

I notice you've got a Arctic Cooler, have you tired refreshing the TIM and reseating it?

Jokester

 

[cluderi]

Spooky.

My 9800(pro) is doing precisely the same thing. In Windows it works fine but if I start any games all the graphics then become distorted after a few mins. This remains even if I quit the game but if I turn the machine off for a min or two and power back on it's fine (until I start a game up).

I checked the inside of my machine and it's really dusty, probably means that the heatsink and fan for the card is riddled with dust.

 

[jrodga2k5]

Spooky.

My 9800(pro) is doing precisely the same thing. In Windows it works fine but if I start any games all the graphics then become distorted after a few mins. This remains even if I quit the game but if I turn the machine off for a min or two and power back on it's fine (until I start a game up).

I checked the inside of my machine and it's really dusty, probably means that the heatsink and fan for the card is riddled with dust.

That would be a damaged core matey
IF any cores have like any damage then there is a temp threshold which will push them over which in fairness wont be much more than what windows is running it at! so as soon as u start a game the gfx card runs faster and hotter which means that its now over the edge in terms of temperature!

Time to get a new card methinks!