Is my graphics card dead?

[Andy Pandy]

Hi. My graphics card has been playing up recently. Earlier on counter strike my computer locked up and there were thousands of blue dots on the screen, then it would crash to desktop. Fast forward a few hours and its happening on desktop, thousands of blue dots and then BSOD. The computer tried restarting but turned itself off before windows came on.

Is the graphics card on its last legs? Thank you.

 

[Admiral Huddy]

Yes it could be bad video RAM

5th one down?

http://www.playtool.com/pages/artifacts/artifacts.html


However, try uninstalling your drivers and replacing with the latest. Or if you already have, then revert to an older version. Rememebr to use a driver cleanner, like driver sweeper

 

[Dark_Angel]

It certainly doesn't sound good. Do you get any corruption in the BIOS screen?

Assuming it isn't power related (which is doubtful) it could be the drivers / overheating.

I would recommend removing the card and then making sure that the fan is spinning freely and has no dust clogging it up. Make sure that the PCIE slot is also free of dust and debrie.

Reseat it and reboot in to Safemode. If it does it there or in BIOS the card is most likely dying. If you can do the "test it on a friends / another PC" thing I would recommend that too.

If it is none of them, it is as Huddy said, the GPU ram is falling over.

 

[Andy Pandy]

It is more similar to the first picture than the 5th one. But I could have sworn the colours were blue instead of red like on the first pic. I have just dusted out the case to see if that helps. If it happens again I will remove the card and do what you have suggested. If it is dead, roll on the 5870

 

[Dark_Angel]

What will you do meanwhile, live with the fun random colors or will you instead buy a cheap "it will do but I can't play any games on it" card?

 

[Andy Pandy]

Well its been fine for the past hour so I dont know whats going on with it. If it dies I will just wait for the 5870. Good thing I have a PS3 or I'd be bored!

 

[Dark_Angel]

Well its been fine for the past hour so I dont know whats going on with it. If it dies I will just wait for the 5870. Good thing I have a PS3 or I'd be bored!

No PC? No PC? That is madness!

 

[Andy Pandy]

I know! I think I could last till the new cards are out... just. I cant even begin to imagine being without a PC for months at a time. Must be awful!

 

[Andy Pandy]

Its still happening. As soon as I got in a server on counter strike i saw blue dots and the PC froze. I have to control alt delete to desktop. It just happened on desktop as well. I think its had it.

Yep I think its safe to say its dead. So the 5870 comes out on the 14th October ?

 

[Dark_Angel]

Could you not see if a friend has a cheap card to do you for basic windows stuff? I remember using a Geforce 6200 for a while as I was waiting for the 8800 cards to be released (back in the day and all).