My video card is dying :(

[Beev]

I got an Ati X1900XTX around the time they acme out. It's lasted me a very long time (imo), but it's starting to die. I can't play any graphically intensive games (Bioshock, Fallout 3) or it overheats and starts to artifact and flash numbers on the screen (like a psychedelic Matrix) before freezing completely . I seem to be able to play WoW fine, and I haven't tried Half-Life 2 or TF2 yet, but I hope they work...

Anyway, is there a cheap card these days that's roughly equal in power to my X1900XTX?

 

[Wartzay]

HD 4670? 9600gt?

Something like that.

Personally I'd just get something a little better. But whatever floats your boat.

 

[bryanW1995]

yes, there are a lot of inexpensive cards that are even better than x1900xtx. http://www.tomshardware.com/re...phics-card,2404-7.html

4650 is dirt cheap, 9600 gso is generally $50-$70 depending upon MIRs available at the time, 4850 is under $100 these days. You have tons of options.

If you don't want to spend anything then you could also try to reseat your gpu cooler. The problems that you describe are probably due to insufficient heat dissipation; ie, your gpu cooler isn't making good enough contact any more with the core.



edit: just checked out some prices on newegg. If you're in the US, you can currently get a 9600 gso for $34.99 + shipping after a $20 MIR. This is cheaper than a 4650, definitely the best bang/buck out there right now. I have a 9600 gso in one of my computers, it's a great card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121320

 

[alyarb]

oh i'm sure someone predicted it. "By 2009, cards with 128-bit GDDR2 will be faster than cards with 256-bit GDDR4." there, i've just done it.

 

[Beev]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
yes, there are a lot of inexpensive cards that are even better than x1900xtx. http://www.tomshardware.com/re...phics-card,2404-7.html

4650 is dirt cheap, 9600 gso is generally $50-$70 depending upon MIRs available at the time, 4850 is under $100 these days. You have tons of options.

If you don't want to spend anything then you could also try to reseat your gpu cooler. The problems that you describe are probably due to insufficient heat dissipation; ie, your gpu cooler isn't making good enough contact any more with the core.



edit: just checked out some prices on newegg. If you're in the US, you can currently get a 9600 gso for $34.99 + shipping after a $20 MIR. This is cheaper than a 4650, definitely the best bang/buck out there right now. I have a 9600 gso in one of my computers, it's a great card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121320

I had thought about reseating it, but I've never done it for a video card, just a processor. I assume it's pretty much the same thing?

 

[Beev]

Re-seated the card and it's running 15 degrees cooler :shocked:

It was idling at about 61 degrees and now it's 46.

 

[OCNewbie]

lol, problem solved? now you have one less excuse to upgrade... DRATS!

 

[Beev]

Yeah but I'm not in a financial position to upgrade, so this is very good news for me I just loaded up Bioshock and played for 15 minutes or so. Looks like the max temp it hit was 80. Not bad all things considered.