Driver issue or problem with the card?

[Rio Rebel]

I keep getting reboots in Windows XP with my Geforce3 (PNY). I did recently install the 40.72 drivers, but have since uninstalled and reinstalled several versions to try to fix this problem.

After working flawlessly for several months, usually overclocked to ti500 speeds, it suddenly began losing signal when launching Battlefield 1942. By that I mean it would prepare to open the splash screen, and then my monitor light would switch to yellow (indicating no video signal) and it would just stay like that.

After a day or two, it started doing the same thing sporadically when I would click on a link in my browser. Now I'm really confused.

Some specs:
AMD 2000XP cpu, 512 DDR memory
Enermax 350w power supply (supposed to be a good one)
PNY Geforce 3 (standard)
Aopen HX08 tower with an intake fan in the lower front and an output fan in the upper back

CPU temperature gets up to about 42-43 C, temp inside the case shows about 35C

Any ideas or input? Is this usually a sign of a card gone bad or a driver problem?

 

[Cerb]

I replaced a brand new PNY GF3 Ti200 doing just that sort of thing out of the box. PNY offers a lifetime warranty...use it. If yours had a similar heatsink design, it could have been overheating (one big plate over the whole card as a heatsink is not a bad idea...attaching it with thick and uneven gobs of thermal good was). It could espeically be heat since you have a case temp of 35C (normal should be 25 or so)

 

[Rio Rebel]

Thanks for the advice.

I had already called PNY and got an RMA, but was hoping it was the drivers. I just tried it in another machine and got the same result, so it must be the card.

Is there any truth to them being able to "detect" a card that was overclocked? I was running it at ti500 speeds for a long time (no major overclock, just adjusting the slider).

 

[ctk1981]

I've "heard" that it is possible for them to detect if you overclocked it or not. But, Ive never seen an actual confirmation or explanation on how they can do this. Maybe you can be the first to confirm it is possible

Lets hope not though.

 

[Cerb]

I'd try setting it to stock and disabling coolbitsjust to be sure, though.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Yeah, I did that.

I'll let you all know if I have any troubles. What I'm hoping is that if the card fries, they may be able to detect overclocking, but I doubt they can tell if one has been clocked higher and then returned to stock settings.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Well, I was pretty impressed with the situation.

PNY took it back and had me another card pretty quickly (I actually waited a couple days before sending it). No questions, just a replacement.

It's hard to get in touch with them, but based on this experience, I'll definitely consider their "lifetime warranty" in future purchases.