Video card problem?

[stipalgl]

I purchased a BFG GTX 260 Core 216 a couple of weeks ago and am running the Nvidia 181.20 WHQL drivers with it.

Just earlier today, while playing Crysis Warhead, during an intense scene, the computer blue screened and started dumping memory then restarted. It then happened again during a second playthrough. I checked the case and reseated the card. It occurred a third time while playing Warhead.

I proceeded to delete the drivers, used driversweeper in safe mode to empty remaining files and reinstalled it. The problem seemed to disappear until I was playing The Witcher several hours later and during a random scene, again the same problem occurred.

Prior to this, this had never occurred, however at times, very rarely however, certain distorted lines would appear across the monitor for a split second before disappearing. This could be a single line or two and would barely be visible or noticeable unless you paid attention. Again, they would flicker for less than a second and everything would be normal.

Could I be looking at a defective video card?

Thanks for any help and feedback.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

It could be a card issue, and it could also be a power supply issue or heat issue (although a heat issue would be related to a card issue). Make sure the fan is running properly and the temps are ok. You could test another power supply in your machine or you could test the card in another machine.

 

[stipalgl]

I'm running GPU-Z, which reports idle temperatures of about 39 C and load temperatures of 70 C (during a heavy scene in Crysis for example). The fan is running at 40% speed.

I wish I had the option to test using another PSU or plugging the GPU into another machine. This is all I've got unfortunately.

 

[stipalgl]

Okay, so to update, I was just trying out Mirrors Edge a few hours earlier and the blue screen occurred yet again, with the memory dump. Any noise in game will constantly repeat itself as if the machine is frozen while this happens and then it automatically reboots after all the memory has been dumped. I've since then swapped the GTX 260 for a 8800GT laying around and I've yet to encounter the problem at the moment but who knows.

Anyone else care to weigh in with their opinions/expertise? I'd appreciate it.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Sounds like a memory issue.

 

[stipalgl]

memory on the video card or the RAM itself?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: stipalgl
memory on the video card or the RAM itself?

Could be either really, but I would check the system memory 1st.

 

[stipalgl]

If it's occurring solely with the GTX 260 and not the 8800GT, then I can rule out the system memory correct?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: stipalgl
If it's occurring solely with the GTX 260 and not the 8800GT, then I can rule out the system memory correct?

That would be a safe assumption. I had the memory go bad on my 8800 GTX and it just turned my whole screen one solid color. When I have had bad sticks of system memory I got blue screens random reboots etc.

 

[stipalgl]

Yeah I'm not experiencing anything but random reboots from blue screens displaying a memory dump. They have yet to occur however with the 8800GT but like I mentioned, have appeared several times with the GTX 260.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: stipalgl
Yeah I'm not experiencing anything but random reboots from blue screens displaying a memory dump. They have yet to occur however with the 8800GT but like I mentioned, have appeared several times with the GTX 260.

When my GTX went bad I also had beep codes from my motherboard so that helped with troubleshooting a bit, yours could be the same deal I had which was bad memory on the card.

 

[stipalgl]

Well I had the card tested and apparently there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Could it be a driver problem only affecting it then? Could the PSU also be a potential candidate even though it's a 750W Corsair? The 8800GT gives no trouble but the GTX 260 does?