Gaming PC for our Son - Problem with graphic card?

[JaySarkis]

Hello,

Couple of years ago with the help of GamesRadar Forum I put together a gaming PC for our son. Here are the components to that computer:

- PSU ANTEC|EA500 500W RT
- MB GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3L 775 P45 RT
- VGA XFX HD-485X-YDFC HD4850 512M RT
- CPU INTEL|PDC E6300 2.8G 2M RT
- MEM 2Gx2|GSK F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ R
- HD 500G|SEAGATE ST3500418AS

With the newer games now a days, he comes across this problem within few minutes of him playing his game. The computer freezes and gives him this screen:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/ati%20lines%20on%20screen/triftyice/2011-09-06.jpg

He plays Red Orchestra II, and acording to him any of the recent games causes this problem.

Could you please let us know what causes this.

Thank you in advance
Jay

 

[subtraction]

I would assume the gpu is dying. Hopefully you registered the card with XFX? If so send it in and take advantage of their lifetime warranty.

 

[trollolo]

the cards dead. also send your son outside and tell him to quit sitting in front of a computer

 

[Arachnotronic]

What? Kids shouldn't play games?

Anyway, yeah, your son's GPU is dead/dying. If you've got the cash, pick him up a newer card like a Radeon 6870.

 

[mosox]

A HD 6850 would be a nice upgrade too.

Tell him to remove and reinstall the video card drivers though.

 

[3DVagabond]

Could be overheating. Have you tried a good clean out of the heatsink?

 

[SlowSpyder]

Could be overheating. Have you tried a good clean out of the heatsink?

This is my first guess. Since the game plays for a bit and then that happens my guess is the temp is creeping up. 4850's had a reputation as pretty warm running, so add a few years of dirt build up and/or a fan failing. I'd start by pulling the card and cleaning. Monitor the temps and see how high they go when gaming.

 

[7earitup]

This is my first guess. Since the game plays for a bit and then that happens my guess is the temp is creeping up. 4850's had a reputation as pretty warm running, so add a few years of dirt build up and/or a fan failing. I'd start by pulling the card and cleaning. Monitor the temps and see how high they go when gaming.

I agree with this. It would also make sense that it is only happening in newer games because they are pushing the GPU much more than any of the older titles he may play.

 

[JaySarkis]

Thank you to everyone who has answered my question.

When I inquired GamesRadar about changing to a new graphic card he recommended HD 6950 or HD 4850. Which one would you prefer?

I have opened up the computer and spray (air) cleaned inside. Should I pull the graphic card and then air spray?


Jay

 

[marmasatt]

Thank you to everyone who has answered my question.

When I inquired GamesRadar about changing to a new graphic card he recommended HD 6950 or HD 4850. Which one would you prefer?

I have opened up the computer and spray (air) cleaned inside. Should I pull the graphic card and then air spray?


Jay

You don't need to pull out the card. Although you could. It's basically your last shot. Futile effort to make sure the card isn't just really overheating.

On to the original question. Did you get those suggestions right for cards? I don't understand the recommendations. He's kind of like saying you could have Porche or a Hyundai? Which would you choose? A 6950 is a newly released card within the last year that costs about $225-$250. A 4850 is a generation and a half behind (say 2 yrs old) and would cost about $120 new or about $40 on the forums used . I'd say a 6850 will do you fine at $125-$150. It's newer technology, cheap, and readily available. Did you/he mean 6850?

 

[Fox5]

Check to see if the fan on the video card is still working. It could be overheating.

 

[JaySarkis]

Here is what he suggested to buy:

"For video card I would recomend the AMD/ATI HD 6950 or HD6870.

The HD 6950 is a better card, but around $240
The HD 6870 will be a good deal faster than the HD 4850 for ~$170"

 

[JaySarkis]

A HD 6850 would be a nice upgrade too.

Tell him to remove and reinstall the video card drivers though.

I can not find video card drivers. What next?

 

[JaySarkis]

You don't need to pull out the card. Although you could. It's basically your last shot. Futile effort to make sure the card isn't just really overheating.

On to the original question. Did you get those suggestions right for cards? I don't understand the recommendations. He's kind of like saying you could have Porche or a Hyundai? Which would you choose? A 6950 is a newly released card within the last year that costs about $225-$250. A 4850 is a generation and a half behind (say 2 yrs old) and would cost about $120 new or about $40 on the forums used . I'd say a 6850 will do you fine at $125-$150. It's newer technology, cheap, and readily available. Did you/he mean 6850?

Here is what he suggested to buy:

"For video card I would recomend the AMD/ATI HD 6950 or HD6870.

The HD 6950 is a better card, but around $240
The HD 6870 will be a good deal faster than the HD 4850 for ~$170"

 

[Jhatfie]

Here is what he suggested to buy:

"For video card I would recomend the AMD/ATI HD 6950 or HD6870.

The HD 6950 is a better card, but around $240
The HD 6870 will be a good deal faster than the HD 4850 for ~$170"

Having owned both the 6950 and 6870, they on average generally perform within 10% of each other, if he is gaming at 1080p or less I would just get a 6850/6870. I Actually stuck a 6850 in my son's gaming computer to replace a 5770, easily OC'd it past 6870 speeds and called it good. Think I paid around $80 for it after rebates and selling the 2 free games that came with it so very good performance for not much money.

 

[Concillian]

I have opened up the computer and spray (air) cleaned inside. Should I pull the graphic card and then air spray?

Yes you definitely should. The 4850 you have was very prone to overheating a specific component (Voltage Regulator Modules / VRMs). On a stock heatsink the fan is sitting almost directly over them. Many third party heatsinks did not give the same attention to the VRMs and had issues with easily overheating.

Looks like your card shouldn't have this issue based on pictures here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageG...20Video%20Card

If you look at the 4th picture (backside of the card, where you can see the PCB) the VRMs will be on the opposite side of the PCB in between those two holes on the far left side of the card. They are just barely outlined in silver and near where the power plug is.

Blow out everything under the cover you can reach, but pay special attention to things in that area of the PCB.

As far as recommendations, I can't believe people are giving recommendations on cards without knowing resolution.

If you're at 1280x1024, for example, a 6950 would be a ludicrous purchase and a waste of money. Likely a 5770 / 6770 is fine for that resolution. I had a 5770 on a 1280x screen for a year or so and it was near perfect for that screen size. A small bump above a 4850, something like 20% faster.

If resolution is higher a 6850 or 6870 is likely worth considering, I'd only really consider a 6950 if you're at 1920x1080 or higher resolution, but even at that resolution you can get some decent gameplay from a 6850 or 6870 if you don't run absolute maximum video options. They allow a good mix of performance, visual quality and value at 1920x resolution, which is probably what I'd be shooting for on a machine built for a teenager.

 

[JaySarkis]

Having owned both the 6950 and 6870, they on average generally perform within 10% of each other, if he is gaming at 1080p or less I would just get a 6850/6870. I Actually stuck a 6850 in my son's gaming computer to replace a 5770, easily OC'd it past 6870 speeds and called it good. Think I paid around $80 for it after rebates and selling the 2 free games that came with it so very good performance for not much money.

He usually uses his computer at 1280x720. Do you suggest to buy the 6870 or 6950? The monitor itself is Acer at 1600x900

 

[crisium]

6870 for those resolutions. A 6850 would also be acceptable, but if you're willing to drop for the 6870 it will give the PC a longer gaming lifespan.

 

[Jhatfie]

He usually uses his computer at 1280x720. Do you suggest to buy the 6870 or 6950? The monitor itself is Acer at 1600x900

Well if the 4850 is indeed dead and you need to upgrade, at that resolution I would just get a 6870, save some $$ and the performance would be fantastic.

A nice deal here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150561 is $150 after rebate with free shipping and comes with Dirt3 and Deus Ex.

 

[JaySarkis]

Well if the 4850 is indeed dead and you need to upgrade, at that resolution I would just get a 6870, save some $$ and the performance would be fantastic.

A nice deal here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150561 is $150 after rebate with free shipping and comes with Dirt3 and Deus Ex.

Thank you for your help. Actually the 4850 is not dead :biggrin:. Maybe I can sell it. I think he just gets fed up of waiting and freezing.

BTW - where can I get a new shell for the computer? any you suggest? when we put the computer together I used a old computer's casing.

 

[marmasatt]

6850 and call it a day.