Starting to get random colors on screen.. card dieing? Help.

shadow9d9

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Jul 6, 2004
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Yesterday this computer started showing blotches of colors in random places(on the cursor for example). Each time I restarted the computer it got worse until the screen was almost unreadable. Then I uninstalled my video drivers and reinstalled and it got better. Today it started in again. Is my card dieing?
 

shadow9d9

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
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If it is just the colors then it has to be the video card right? I'd buy a replacement but I do not know what the power supply is on this machine since it is a dell(card is a 9800 pro). How do you check the power supply amount?
 

shadow9d9

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Jul 6, 2004
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It is a 250 watt power supply... Is there any way to know if let's say I put in a Geforce 6600 if the power would be enough?
 

thepd7

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Jan 2, 2005
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Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Yes, but it might not be terminal yet. It may just be overheating - pop the case off and touch the heatsink.

- M4H

While M4H's advice might not be excellent, I believe his diagnoses is. It is probably overheating. Check to see if the fan is working. If it is, you should probably replace the silicon paste with some AS5 to lower the temp a few degrees. Worst case scenario you have to pay $10 for an artic cooler.

My friend had a 9800 Pro and the fan just quit and it was doing something similar, I just replaced the fan/hs with an artic cooler ($9 off ebay) and now it's fine.