strange video corruption

[eXoR]

hello everyone, i did use search feature, im no n00b

here is my issue :
my video card after a while (i think) overheats and causes wierd artifacts to appear on screen. blue lines or dotes, blue or red strips on screen .. basically artifacts .... hard to explain .... i have a picture

IMAGE OF BLUE ARTIFACTS

looking at the picture ... that blue in the text is NOT supposed to be there .. its supposed to be white ... soemtimes i get more blue and soemtimes i get lotsa red lines ... its wierd .. i can play games fine .. for a while

i can play any game (even the most demanding) for a while and then it artifacts like CRAZYYY soo bad i can't see ... but now it is like that even when i don't play games... after a while i just get artifacts

i am COMPLETLY out of ideas .. i put a fan right next to it but it still seems to do it

Any ideas?
Can overheating 2-3 time PERMANENTLY damage a vid card?


System specs :

AMD 2500+ (not overclocked yet)
HD 1 = WD Raptor
HD 2 = WD 120gb SE
Mobo = DFI Lanparty NFII
Memory = 1024mb Corsair pc3200
PSU = Enermax 350w
Fans = 2 case fans at moment, im putting 5 more in soon
Vid Card = Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb
Drivers for Vid = Cat 3.6

 

[DieHardware]

Can overheating 2-3 time PERMANENTLY damage a vid card?

It could, what are your case temps like? Is the card overclocked? Does it happen with earlier Cats? (3.4s, 3.5s?) What version of the Nforce drivers are you using? Could just be a bad card.

 

[Mnementh]

Looking at the pictures it could be a driver problem or overheating. Try rolling back to a previous driver (or a later one if there is one available).

Whats the ambient temperature in your house? If that is fairly high then that will definately cause problems as even the best fans have problems with high ambient temps and the stock fans on video cards aren't exactly the best lets face it...

I was originally thinking it might be a loose monitor cable but I'm not sure as iirc that would cause the whole screen to go the weird colour not just a few sections (I might be wrong in this if somebody could clarify) but it's worth a try anyway.

When playing 3d games does the machine lock up after these artifacts appear? If it was due to overheating then this would normally be the case as the card is obviously taxed more during those times, if not then it's looking more like a driver problem than overheating imo.

Hope this helps.

Mnementh

 

[eXoR]

1) case temps can hover between 82-91 F

2) i have only really tried Cat 3.6s

3) I am using the Nforce Drivers taht came with my board which i have no idea which version

4) i know it isn't a bad card because it only started doing it in the last couple of days and i have had it 2 weeks already

5) ambient house temps can reach into the high 80s F (i do live in Souther California )

6) card is NOT overclocked

i'll try different drivers and get back to yall

 

[eXoR]

mkay im using Cat 3.4s right now and its still happening

my REAL worry is that i damaged the card PERMANENTLY and seeing as this vido card PUT ME in debt, i am realllly hoping I can fix this

i checked monitor cable and it seems OK ... i noticed 1 thing new, these blue patches only affect certain colors because if i mouse over the patches with my mouse, the mouse doesn't change colors

anymore ideas?

 

[boshuter]

is this a Sapphire card by any chance?

 

[eXoR]

no, its retail

 

[boshuter]

Originally posted by: eXoR
no, its retail

lol, not sure what "retail" has to do with being a Sapphire card are you getting any artifacts in post screen? or just when gaming?

 

[eXoR]

what i mean by retail is that it ain't a saphhire, its a MADE BY ATI kinda card .... you know .. straight fom them in a box with THEIR NAME ONLY on it (basically the kind oyu would buy at BEST BUY, but i didn't buy it there , im jsut saying)


the blue comes even if i just start up my computer and surf the web for a while

BUT

it occurs faster and more frequently when i game/play videos

you think i should post more pictures?? would that help??

<==== desperate

 

[eXoR]

hmm ... i have done a fairly long term test now (4 hours) and it seems heat is the issue ... cuz the computer sat idle for about 3 hours and i have had no blue yet now after 3 hours

perhaps i need more cooling but i am quite shocked that the cooling is THAT poor

i will be installed 4 case fans and 1 slot blower soon and i will update then

 

[eXoR]

mkay ... it MUST be heat ... i saw just little tiny bits of artifacts after cooling it directly and gaming for like 3 hours straight

what i use to cool it with ... is a WHOLE OTHER POST ENTIRELY that i plan to put up soon here in the GENERAL HARDWARE

 

[boshuter]

sounds like you have the reason for the problem... heat, but you shouldn't have to go to extremes to cool that card. i would contact ATI tech support and see what they say, you should probably try to get the card replaced. if the gpu cooler fan is working and you have the power cable hooked up to the card, it shouldn't overheat........ unless maybe you have everything crammed into a small form factor case