NVIDIA (yes, made by them) FX5600

[SarcasticDwarf]

I obtained a manufactured by NVIDIA (engineering sample) FX 5600. The card runs flawlessly in Windows XP, however, it crashes in games often. It shuts down the video output (so the monitor goes into standby) and the computer stop functioning. The bios on the card is 4.32.20.28. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Facts:
crashes after a random ammount of play both Half-Life and GTA: Vice City
Re-installed XP Pro w/all updates
Re-installed DirectX 9.0a
not overclocked
all of the latest drivers

 

[Pete]

Is the HSF seated properly? Is your case decently cooled (reasonable airflow)? Did you try lowering 3D clockspeeds via drivers--say, setting them to 2D speeds--to try to rule out overheating? How hot does the HSF get while in 2D and in 3D?

As it's an engineering sample, you probably have nothing to lose (as long as you're reasonably coordinated and handy) by checking to see how the HSF is seated, and, if unsatisfactory, reseating it with good-quality, thinly- and evenly-applied thermal paste (assuming it's held in place by pins; otherwise, you may be relegated to thermal tape).

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Pete
Is the HSF seated properly? Is your case decently cooled (reasonable airflow)? Did you try lowering 3D clockspeeds via drivers--say, setting them to 2D speeds--to try to rule out overheating? How hot does the HSF get while in 2D and in 3D?

As it's an engineering sample, you probably have nothing to lose (as long as you're reasonably coordinated and handy) by checking to see how the HSF is seated, and, if unsatisfactory, reseating it with good-quality, thinly- and evenly-applied thermal paste (assuming it's held in place by pins; otherwise, you may be relegated to thermal tape).

Thanks for the sugestion. I removed the HSF (breaking it in the process) and replaced it with a Zalman heatpipe unit (the one as big as a suitcase). So far so good...