Possible Borked Card?

[Daniel]

Hello,

I not quite sure on this and am wondering if anyone can advise on this.

I was playing a game today for a couple of hours. I exited the game, the screen froze and the PC restarted.

Everything on the screen now looks corrupt. Loads of lines and blocks across the whole screen are showing as soon as the PC is powered on and show on the bios splash screen and within Windows itself. I boot the PC in safe mode and it will boot but the lines and blocks are still there.

If I try and boot windows normally it will get so far and then restart. The card is a BFG 8800GTS 512 and has never been overclocked.

Does this sound like my card has had it?


Thanks for your help
Dan


EDIT* A bit more info. I have the latest drivers and the whole PC is at stock speeds. The fan is running fine on the card as are all the case fans. There is also lots of free space around the card and everything seems nice and cool.

 

[spookywillow]

try reseating the card, if not then the card is probably dead.

 

[Randomface74]

Yeah NVIDIA modify the drivers so the memory on old cards gets too hot and burns out, this is the result. You've been NVIDIA'd.
You can confirm it by testing the card in another machine.
Good news is you can RMA it with BFG, although god knows what you'll get back.
The 8800GTS is a bit naff now anyway, might want to buy a 5770 or 5850.

To anyone else reading this. You can protect your old NVIDIA card by setting up a custom fan profile in RivaTuner.
Here's the slightly complicated guide on how to do it. http://www.guru3d.com/article/rivatuner-20-fan-speed--overclock-guide/
I've set it up so my card will go from 30% fan at 40C to 100% fan at 70C. It never goes above 65C.

 

[Daniel]

Thank you for your replies.

I just had a look at the BFG site and it looks like I won't be able to RMA it because I never registered it. I never realised I had to and BFG say unregistered cards only carry a 2 year warranty which is just out.

I have gone off nvidia with their high prices and the stories of their new cards so will happily change over to ATI and get something with a bit more guts.

 

[Daniel]

Right, now it's time to decide on the upgrade path for a new graphics card.

My current PC has a Q6600 with 8GB 6400 memory running on a Gigabyte EX38 DS5 board. The CPU is currently running at stock but I can easily overclock it to 3Ghz by raising the FSB. I currently game at 1680x1050 but the possibility is there for a higher resolution monitor in the future of 1920+.

I want something a little future proof and like to max everything out in games or as near as max. So what's best to go for? 5770, 5850 or a 5870?


Thanks for your help
Dan

 

[Marine-RX179]

Grab a 5850 and overclock it.

 

[Kelt]

And get an Asus or MSI so you can tweak the voltage further than the other makes.

 

[CAPTAINBUMFLUFF]

Asus 5850 3 year warranty and is a really good card

 

[queamin]

Thank you for your replies.

I just had a look at the BFG site and it looks like I won't be able to RMA it because I never registered it. I never realised I had to and BFG say unregistered cards only carry a 2 year warranty which is just out.

I have gone off nvidia with their high prices and the stories of their new cards so will happily change over to ATI and get something with a bit more guts.

I thought that if you had a card before a certain date then it was fine unregistered, i would send them a email anyway to see if they will replace it and even keep it as a spare card.

 

[Daniel]

Thanks for your replies.

I have just registered the card on the BFG site and uploaded proof of purchase and am currently waiting confirmation.

If they do decide to honour the warranty I'm not sure what they will send back and with newer more demanding games I think I am looking for something with a bit more guts anyway.

I notice in the this week only section there is a Sapphire 5870. I know some have suggested a 5850 and then overclocking it. I am not confident in overclocking and was wondering if the 5870 will be a beter option for me?

Is the Sapphire 5870 in the this week only section a good card?

 

[jorzeh]

i vote a 5850