Can't get any Nvidia driver to work; is this hardware or software?

[bovinda]

In December, I upgraded some hardware on my HTPC computer, but kept the video card and hard drive:

New Hardware:
Intel i5 2500K
Asus P8Z68-VLE
Seasonic SS-560KM PSU
Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600

Old Hardware:
Palit GTS 450
Intel X2 80 GB SSD

Software:
Windows 7 Pro 64

I did a clean install. Since then, I've intermittently had video output problems when upgrading drivers. I have temporarily resolved these in the past by rolling back, or skipping a generation of drivers. But now no matter what driver I install, I still get the problems, and my computer has become unusable except with the generic drivers.

It starts off with a bunch of clumpy miscolored pixels, then proceeds to flickering, and eventually a BSOD with Stop error 0x00000116, relating to the driver.

So my question is this: is this more likely hardware, since no driver will run it correctly? Or is it more likely software since MS' generic video driver will at least display out through the vid card?

Are my only options to try a clean install or replace video card? 🙁

 

[paul878]

Yup, clumpy miscolored pixels are the sign of a dying video card.
Is the fan running on the video card?

 

[bovinda]

Crap. Hmmm...well, the fan runs, but it does make a little whirring noise now that it didn't used to before I reinstalled it. I don't know if it got bumped or something in the process.

So even though the output works without the driver installed, it could still be the video card, huh? I may have to look into a new card then...

 

[Bubbaleone]

...Are my only options to try a clean install or replace video card? 🙁

Before you scrap your card you might want to read this tut from EVGA Forums:

Make no mistake, gone is the "old" way of doing things for the experienced user. What has worked in the past with Nvidia driversets, no longer does so.

Ultimate Nvidia Driver Guide for Uninstalling and Installing driversets