Nvidia GeForce 9800 GX2 and Story of Distortion and Blue Screen of death

[Devilz_soul]

Ladies and Gentlemen. I need your desperate help.

First the setup I have (it's some 6-7 year old rig though)
Windows 7
Motherboard: Biostar TP43D2-A7
Display: Nvidia GeForce 9800 Gx2, Driver Version 9.18.13.3523 - (Hooked up to Samsung 65 Incher through Dennon 2809-CI AV Receiver via HDMI output on the Graphics card)
Processor: Intel Quad Core 2.6 GHZ
RAM: 4 Gig
Sound: Razer Barracuda AC-1
Bios : American Megatrend

So the problem is that the display gets distorted as if the display drivers have stopped working. I am attaching the pictures of the symptoms to show how it really looks.

Initially, when I would unhook the AV Receiver HDMI Cable, attach a DVI cabled Monitor and the distortions would go away after a few restarts and I will then hook the HDMI Back up to the Graphic card. However, for last 2 days, the distortions just won't go away no matter what I do. Its gotten to a point where the Win7 won't even start in normal mode, it will give me a blue screen of death while starting up (Picture link attached)

http://imgur.com/pOv40n1
http://imgur.com/JLnI71j
http://imgur.com/fJI16pE
http://imgur.com/5PEBut7
http://imgur.com/oFjHrC9

I have done the following

- Unhooked HDMI and started the rig in safe mode using DVI cable/Dell Monitor
- Used Air compressor can on the whole rig for any dust thinking that may be dust is creating connection issue in PCI Slots
- Uninstalled and installed drivers - Microsoft version. When I download the Nvidia 9000 series driver pack, it won't recognize the Gx2 card at all :/. However MS one install the Drivers correctly with all the Nvidia tools

I have not reinstalled the Windows 7 yet because the distortion starts as soon as I switch on the computer (See picture of the Bios). Which means that the issue starts before Win7 even kicks in? Am I Wrong?

I am completely stumped and have no idea what to do next to diagnose and fix this issue. What I am thinking to do next is
- Check the power supply - But how ? I don't have an extra power supply or rig to swap the power supply
- Check the Ram ?
- Wipe off Win7 and reinstall ?
- Burn the whole thing and just cry myself to sleep ?

I am attaching as many pictures as I can for you to see the distortion during bios, bootup, booted up (before the blue screen problem started happening) mode and also the blue screen of death.

http://imgur.com/pOv40n1
http://imgur.com/JLnI71j
http://imgur.com/fJI16pE
http://imgur.com/5PEBut7
http://imgur.com/oFjHrC9

Any help that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Face2Face]

My 9800 GX2 did the same thing. I took it apart and cleaned it, replaced the TIM; same thing. You could try baking it, but it's probably done... these cards cook themselves to death.

 

[lavaheadache]

Looks like a rare case of jusenditome. inquire within! =)

luckily mine still works fine. I would be sad if it were broke

 

[Devilz_soul]

Face2Face, How can I confirm that it is busted - I ask this dumb question because I dont have another rig and/or Card. I am stuck at a place where nearest machine is 1 hour drive away for me.

Also, Out of curiosity, Which card you changed the Gx2 with ? Would be interested to know so I can start looking into buying it

 

[Devilz_soul]

lavaheadache, I live in quite a moderate temp place with not over the top usage so I am heartbroken too if its cooked.

Seeing how you are Video Card specialist, Can you suggest a replacement card, I am inclined to change the Motherboard too.. My only requirement is higher refresh rate so I can get better picture on my 65 inch Sammy via AV Reciever..

ALso, how can i confirm my GX2 is busted ?

 

[ShintaiDK]

A 9800GX2 is quite slow today and way outdated. So a same type performance card today wont cost much. Also use a lot less power and have new features.

 

[Devilz_soul]

ShintaiDK, thanks for this. Any recommendation for the Graphic card (I am going to change the mother board too if needed)..

 

[lavaheadache]

It also just may be that only half your card that is busted too. I have an extra 7950 GX2 like that just waiting for a donor to show up.

I would try a thorough break down and reassembly. If that didn't work I probably bake it too.
Actually, If I took it apart, I would probably bake it anyway since that particular card is very tedious to work on. Baking won't hurt the card if you didn't need anyway as long as you do it knowledgably and with care. You have to be mindful of the led's near the rear I/O (exhaust bracket) because they will melt or at the very least distort if left unprotected from high oven heat.

Lastly, I only recommend what I just said assuming that you have reseated the card (and in different slots) and/or tried a different PSU plug/ whole unit. I would also try it in another rig.

If you want to replace it, there are far too many variables just lay a foolish answer out there.

I have a Titan Z that I could move if you like dual gpu's


___EDIT___

aaaand just to be clear, that sig tag is self proclaimed. There far more greater qualified guru's on here than I.

 

[Deders]

What do you use your PC for? any gaming?

 

[Devilz_soul]

What do you use your PC for? any gaming?

I am more into Cinema/Music so I use my Rig to eek out as much Video quality as I can. I hope this makes sense..

I dont play games - Please dont beat me.. its just that i dont get time... but I do like to watch the highest quality movies on the Rig.

 

[happy medium]

A used gtx 460 would be a perfect upgrade for your cpu and system. You can probably pick one up for 40$. A used 5850 would be great also.

edit:
NO games nevermind

 

[Devilz_soul]

It also just may be that only half your card that is busted too. I have an extra 7950 GX2 like that just waiting for a donor to show up.

I would try a thorough break down and reassembly. If that didn't work I probably bake it too.
Actually, If I took it apart, I would probably bake it anyway since that particular card is very tedious to work on. Baking won't hurt the card if you didn't need anyway as long as you do it knowledgably and with care. You have to be mindful of the led's near the rear I/O (exhaust bracket) because they will melt or at the very least distort if left unprotected from high oven heat.

Lastly, I only recommend what I just said assuming that you have reseated the card (and in different slots) and/or tried a different PSU plug/ whole unit. I would also try it in another rig.

If you want to replace it, there are far too many variables just lay a foolish answer out there.

I have a Titan Z that I could move if you like dual gpu's


___EDIT___

aaaand just to be clear, that sig tag is self proclaimed. There far more greater qualified guru's on here than I.

I have reseated it on other slots.. nadaa.. will do the re-assembly/baking in the evening i guess

 

[happy medium]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814121886R

R7 240 for 42$ open box, good for your needs

 

[lavaheadache]

Having a powerful video card will do nothing for your video playback quality

 

[Deders]

I am more into Cinema/Music so I use my Rig to eek out as much Video quality as I can. I hope this makes sense..

I would definitely advise getting a newer card, that 9800x2 is overkill, there are much more energy efficient cards nowadays. If you are going for quality do you use anything like MadVR to enhance the image? It has several different methods of sharpening the image when scaling, including Lanczos, which uses pixel shaders from your graphics card. You have to tell something like Media Player Classic to play through it in the options.

I believe AMD have a similar feature built in to their drivers, so if you were to get say a 260 you could enable 1080P Detail Enhancement in the control panel and it should do a similar job as MadVR, although it may use different techniques.

 

[Devilz_soul]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814121886R

R7 240 for 42$ open box, good for your needs

Happy, thanks for this. I have started my research for new Card

 

[Devilz_soul]

Having a powerful video card will do nothing for your video playback quality

I noticed that. Hence I will be more cognizant of what I am going to buy next. not planning to give into the highest spec euphoria

 

[Devilz_soul]

I would definitely advise getting a newer card, that 9800x2 is overkill, there are much more energy efficient cards nowadays. If you are going for quality do you use anything like MadVR to enhance the image? It has several different methods of sharpening the image when scaling, including Lanczos, which uses pixel shaders from your graphics card. You have to tell something like Media Player Classic to play through it in the options.

I believe AMD have a similar feature built in to their drivers, so if you were to get say a 260 you could enable 1080P Detail Enhancement in the control panel and it should do a similar job as MadVR, although it may use different techniques.

I do use MadVR and always thought that the quality of playback is because of MadVR + 9800x2 (Do forgive me, I am pretty much a noob when it comes to hardware). I am going to make sure that I pick the right stuff this time around

 

[Deders]

I do use MadVR and always thought that the quality of playback is because of MadVR + 9800x2 (Do forgive me, I am pretty much a noob when it comes to hardware). I am going to make sure that I pick the right stuff this time around

It should be able to run on most modern GPU's. I expect in your case it was only using one of the GPU's in your card, the other was most likely completely idle.

I'm not sure how well MadVR runs on lower end cards. I know that it it is too much for Intel on-board graphics chips. I expect the AMD R7 240 should be ok but you may want to check forums for what settings people can use.