Located "artifacts" appears on some games; what would have generated it?

[Franklogus]

Hi all !
I am having a strange problem with my video card... I have a MSI 9800 PRO PLUS Card, and I got it 03 weeks ago...
I will try to explain what happens; its difficult to explain, although very easy to see... Sorry if my explanation is a bit confused... (My OS is WinXP PRO SP1)
Well, I like racing games, and, since the morning of today, I can see some "drizzle" (as "TV interference") in the shadow of the cars (in other words, the problem ONLY appears in the dark/black shadow where the cars go by...). It seems some very small artifacts, but ONLY on the cars shadows (so, I can see the "ground color", in some parts of the shadow). Its very, very strange, because looks like that the shadow is "perforated", and its possible to see what would be "under" it ("the ground")...
I didn't make nothing different with my video card (it was working very well until yesterday - no problems). I have already re-installed my video card driver, but the problem keeps on ... My single suspicion concerning to a game that I have installed (4x4 EVO2), and, inside which, I choose 02 different ways of rendering (Open-GL and Direct3D8 TNL Hardware). I am not sure, but I think that this strange problem can have begun after this...
As I didnt tried any kind of overclocking, and the problem ONLY (VERY specific place) appears on the cars shadows (when they are in ACTION) - not on the others eventual "black/dark" parts of the screen -, at first view, I can not believe that my video card is with some problem of hardware... Anyways, I would like some skilled opinion about...
I would like to clarify that this specific problem does not happens in ALL games I have, but in some of them...
Some hints about what is happening? And what could I do to solve it, please ??
Thanks a lot in advance for any information!!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Do artifacts appear in any other games or benchmarks? (3DMark03 is a free download) If so, it's heat or hardware.

If the artifacts are isolated to the shadows of the cars in the one specific game - it's software. Either the game rendering engine itself or the Catalyst drivers. Upgraded lately?

- M4H

 

[Franklogus]

Thanks for your attention with me, MercenaryForHire !

As I am not an expert on this matter (far from this), I would have an additional question: If is HEAT or HARDWARE, this kind of problem should not to occur in any part of the screen?? Why it only would occur on the cars (dark/black) shadows (when the cars are in action - not "stopped")?

I am sure that it is not a game problem, because until saturday the game where its more easy to see this problem (Mercedes Benz World Racing) was running perfectly ... And I have already installed the latest Catalyst driver, too (the strange "behaviour keeps on, unfortunately...).

As you advised me, I will try to run the 3dmark03 to test my video card (I am downloading it - thanks for hint!); anyway, I have another question: If there is some "weakness" of my video card (Its a very new device; I wouldn't like to know that it is with some problem..), is there some danger of to hurt it until more if I will run this benchmark program?

Thanks in advance for any additional help !