Can a Certain Game Fry a Video Card??

[df96817]

So I've had two 6600GTs get fried from games by EA Sports. The first time it was Madden 05 and the second time was NBA Live 06. Both cards were from eVGA.

I never had any problems with much more graphic intensive games such as Battlefield 2 or Half Life 2. Has this happen to anyone before? Is it possible that the game is causing the video card to crap out???

 

[Jules]

Either a PSU or Mobo issue. dont see how a Certain game can fry a video card...

 

[Luckyboy1]

He's right to a point. The lame joke I like to make is that applications and programs don't kill video cards, cheap people do!

The reason why I say he's only right to a point is because some games may expose the weaknesses of your power supply or cooling. If you get a game that's so old as to not support the oldest version of the driver that will run your newer card, then yes, it is possible that the card will work harder, but even if it does, if you've done right on power and cooling issues, it shouldn't matter in the least.

How old is the wall outlet?

How old is the surge protector or power strip?

 

[df96817]

Hmm...

Running a Dell 8400 with the standard Dell 350 watt power supply. Cooling in the case isn't that great, but highest temps under load was around 60C.

Power strip is probably around 4 - 5 years old. Can these things go bad? Maybe it's time for a new one.

Wall outlet was installed probably around 1981 - 1982 when my place was built. Can this pose a problem too?

 

[Maethor]

you are runnign dual 6800's in a 350 watt dell psu at the worst. Dell is known for using horrible psus in their low end pcs I would also be willing to bet you havent sprung for a 100 dollar ups

Often in old houses you get voltage problems. For me sometimes my ups will click at me telling me unstable voltage and has once even shut down the computer because of it. If i didnt have the ups with the crappy voltages i could have burned any number of things. The reason your gpus are burning up is likely because you are over drawing a psu thats sitting on a bad outlet/circuit. a single surge in a cheap ups will go through to whatever is drawing the load ie your gfx cards which normally draw most of psu load in the first place I believe the 6600gt's say that they should not be used on a psu with less than 400 watts in the first place.

Also if you are getting 60C under load on any vid card you have a serious cooling issue man.

also power strips should say when you buy them how long they last. the cheapies i wouldnt trust for more than 2 years to protect against surges less time if you are in an area known for surges or power problems ie west or east coast. A good ups can be found for 100 a decent for about 50 and those should last you about 3 years although you can stretch it to 5.

 

[Luckyboy1]

Replace the power strips on a 3 year cycle and I like Belkin.

Go replace that garbage wall outlet with a commercial grade outlet. If you've paid less than $8.00 for the part, it ain't a true commercial grade plug.

 

[hemmy]

Originally posted by: Maethor
you are runnign dual 6800's in a 350 watt dell psu at the worst. Dell is known for using horrible psus in their low end pcs I would also be willing to bet you havent sprung for a 100 dollar ups

Often in old houses you get voltage problems. For me sometimes my ups will click at me telling me unstable voltage and has once even shut down the computer because of it. If i didnt have the ups with the crappy voltages i could have burned any number of things. The reason your gpus are burning up is likely because you are over drawing a psu thats sitting on a bad outlet/circuit. a single surge in a cheap ups will go through to whatever is drawing the load ie your gfx cards which normally draw most of psu load in the first place I believe the 6600gt's say that they should not be used on a psu with less than 400 watts in the first place.

Also if you are getting 60C under load on any vid card you have a serious cooling issue man.

also power strips should say when you buy them how long they last. the cheapies i wouldnt trust for more than 2 years to protect against surges less time if you are in an area known for surges or power problems ie west or east coast. A good ups can be found for 100 a decent for about 50 and those should last you about 3 years although you can stretch it to 5.

He is not running dual anything. And nor does he have a 6800. He has used 2 seperate 6600GTs.

60C is nowhere near hot for modern video cards. Infact, the 6600GT is one of the hottest recent GPUs, it often runs 75-85C in most cases. That is why i have a hard time believing that 60C was the true load GPU temp

 

[Luckyboy1]

Not that series of Intel chips. they are rated to 65 C and he's pretty much at the limit now.

I once lived in an older place and got a 4 C drop in temps just by replacing the wall outlet.

 

[BassBomb]

half life engine used to be really hot on my card (6600GT) but it never died