Video card diagnostics utility

[Link19]

I have a Radeon 9800 Pro 8X AGP video card. I occasionally have random reboots in the middle of the game play when playing Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2. I also had the game Command and Conquer Generals exit automatically to the desktop in the middle of the gameplay. I do have the latest drivers installed for this card. I was told by my new teacher at a technical college that it is possible their could be damaged hardware from ESD without complete failure of the device. I had never thought this and it was new to me. Do you know of a diagnostics tool that can check to see if there is any hardware damage to the video card? I could not find one specific to ATI's video cards on their site.

Just to note, I have never had any random lockup or reboot when not playing games with this system relating to a video driver/software/hardware issue.

 

[Vonkhan]

think ur vid card is over heating

 

[Link19]

How do I check the temp on my video card?

 

[peterf11]

It sounds like Vonkhan might be correct in saying your video card maybe overheating. I have the Radeon 9800 Pro with 256 and I have not had this problem I also have C&C Generals amongst my collection of games. When I first got the card I gave it a good run with many of the fast paced games to see if any problems might occur and there were none at all and have been none since.

You have said that you only have this problem while playing games, it seems to point toward a heat problem. Video cards will stress much more while playing games more so than with any other programs. It's working much harder and therefore increasing the heat level. You also have to remember that in addition to your card all the other components are also contributing to that heat. The CPU, hard drive, ram all create heat within the system.

These top end cards run hot so you may need to look at the overall cooling within your system

Something you can try is take the side panel off your case setup a normal everyday house fan and point it at the open area keeping it fairly close, turn it on start playing a game. Obviously if you don't have a crash then you will know it's a heating problem. This may not work for you but at least it is worth a try.

Let us know how you go