I think my video card is crapping out.

[chrisms]

My computer has restarted twice today, and the first time Windows XP blamed my video card upon startup. I believe both times it happened while playing a video in media player. The video card is a Radeon 9500 and to be honest I haven't touched the system in ages so it's probably layered in thick dust.

I have a new laptop coming in that I can barely afford and was thinking of returning, so I bring this up to ask if there is a simple fix or if I'm just better off keeping this new laptop? Is my computer screwed?

 

[pcgeek11]

I have a new laptop coming in that I can barely afford and was thinking of returning, so I bring this up to ask if there is a simple fix or if I'm just better off keeping this new laptop?

If you are asking us then why in gods name do you have this as a sig:

''A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance" -Hunter S. Thompson

You have to make up your own mind about keeping the laptop... or not.

Yes the card could be over heating and causing issues. Blue screen reboots usually are caused by drivers or hardware what does the log say that makes you think it is the video card? Overheating video cards will normally cause artifacts on the screen.



pcgeek

 

[ForumMaster]

have, you know, looked at the vid card to see if it's dirty? and if so, did you try to clean it? it could be overheating. but your entire computer isn't screwed. maybe just the vid card.