Video Problems

[djstepanek]

Ok so lets go back a bit, I had problems with overheating in my computer so, I got some cooling solutions in place and now a bit later I think one of them is comming back to haunt me.

I installed an arctic cooler on my x800xt, and just recently I had been noticing problems with the video, so I took of the cooler and reapplied some new arctic silver to it, worked good for the first day it was in there and then the video problems came back. I wasn't sure what had happened so since the re-greasing worked for a day I figured I might have done something wrong so I went back and did it again. And Again it worked for the better part of the day today, but just now I went to play BF2 and boom it happened again.

So I figure it might be drivers, go grabbed the new cat.11 drivers installed those and still have the problem. Noticed that when I load say a page in firefox, it looks ok but then after quickly scrolling up and down it becomes progressivly worse till you can't read a thing on it.

Not sure what to do, I thought I might take out the card again and look for traces of grease that may have got on the card itself but I have it a very through look over last time I did the greasing (yesterday). Again re applying the paste seems to work for a day but then it all goes nuts on me, not sure why that is.

Some pictures for reference to the firefox scroll thing:

http://www.supload.com/free/video1.JPG/view
http://www.supload.com/free/video2.JPG/view
http://www.supload.com/free/video3.JPG/view

 

[pol II]

How about putting the original cooler back on? That would verify that it is the Arctic Cooler itself rather than your application/mounting technique.

 

[djstepanek]

That was also a thought I had, though this solution has worked for nearly a year and I am wondering why now, when the cooler seems to be working just fine tempature wise would these problems be occuring.

 

[blodhi74]

What PSU are U using? Have U tried a different power pug to the card.

 

[pol II]

Oh, I didn't realize the Arctic cooler had been on for a year. Those artifacts could be related to vRAM rather than the GPU proper. Can you downclock your RAM for a short time and see if the problem persists? You could lower your GPU speeds too, just to cover all the bases. If it is an overheating issue, then I would guess that it is the RAM, since you were so dilligent in your treatment of the graphics chip. Perhaps a slight warping of the cooler preventing adequate contact? Just a guess.

If the downclocking doesn't work, you may be looking at reinstalling video drivers or contacting the manufacturer. If it is not a heat-related issue, nor can it be tied to software, my guess would be the hardware itself

 

[djstepanek]

Using a 420W Antec PSU, and yeah I have switched the power cables before so that it is on its own line.

Weird thing is, it is working fine now but who knows how long it will last, I just played BF2 for like 30 min and it ran fine, and my windows is fine now (not getting the problems in firefox).

I dunno how long it will last, as I said it usually runs good for a day then funks up for a while, and thats what I don't get about it.

 

[djstepanek]

Originally posted by: pol II
Oh, I didn't realize the Arctic cooler had been on for a year. Those artifacts could be related to vRAM rather than the GPU proper. Can you downclock your RAM for a short time and see if the problem persists? You could lower your GPU speeds too, just to cover all the bases. If it is an overheating issue, then I would guess that it is the RAM, since you were so dilligent in your treatment of the graphics chip. Perhaps a slight warping of the cooler preventing adequate contact? Just a guess.

If the downclocking doesn't work, you may be looking at reinstalling video drivers or contacting the manufacturer. If it is not a heat-related issue, nor can it be tied to software, my guess would be the hardware itself

Yeah perhaps I made sure the 3rd time around they there were no spaces but did notice the 2nd time that one ram chip wasn't getting covered fully, maybe I can try to tighten that side a bit more.

I might try to revert back to the stock cooler and see if that works.

 

[djstepanek]

Same thing happened today, I guess it gave me a few hours there where it was going to be nice to me.

This time around, I have inspected the video card again for traces of rouge thermal compound and have found no traces, my arctic cooler looks to be seated properly, but alas when I start up even before the windows loading screen I get tons of white lines going accross the screen, and they don't go away.

Plug in my buddy's 9800Pro and presto lines are gone, so I am pretty sure that the video card is the problem, although what that problem would be I still have no idea.

Weird thing though, it worked fine all day from about 10am - 5pm and then boom it happens, and this time I can't seem to get around it after messing with it for a few hours.