Weird graphics problems: Card fried??!!

[BeyondGomer]

Quick specs:
NVIDIA 7900GT
AMD 3600+ (whatever came right before AM2)
Asus A8N5X

Problem:
Initially I was getting what looked like dead pixel problems (red or green or blue pixels), except it wasn't with the LCD..it just looked that way. I knew this cause they scrolled when I scrolled the page, changed when I was on a new page (returned to the same spot if I went to original page).

These pixel problems were NOT just when windows loaded. I also got them during the MB startup screen and also the windows loading screen.

Recently, durring the hardware bootup, I have a new problem. There are NO pixel problems in this stage, but now I get 1) colored letters and now colored blocks in the startup. Also, the comp will semi freez and flash on and off now.

Ideas?
Dead video card? Dead MB, BIOS issue?

Please help before I spend wasted money.

Photos: (ignore the odd swirling. I think it has to do with my polarizer)

1) startup settings: Notice the colored blocks. There is a red, blue, magenta and green in this shot
http://i20.photobucket.com/alb...ndGomer/Picture001.jpg

2) MB startup screen: Notice all the pixilation
http://i20.photobucket.com/alb...ndGomer/Picture002.jpg

3) Hardware startup: Notice all the new pretty colors
http://i20.photobucket.com/alb...ndGomer/Picture003.jpg

4) Windows startup: Random pixilation
http://i20.photobucket.com/alb...ndGomer/Picture004.jpg

...and it goes on and on. PLEASE HELP!

 

[cyrusm]

imo, thats the ram on the video card.
my older vid card used to do the same...
im not sure what i did, but i recommend before you do anything drastic to do the following
1) make better ventilation
2) underclock the ram on your vid card.

 

[BeyondGomer]

Would video ram cause the odd color issues seen here?
http://i20.photobucket.com/alb...ndGomer/Picture003.jpg

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: BeyondGomer
Would video ram cause the odd color issues seen here?
http://i20.photobucket.com/alb...ndGomer/Picture003.jpg

Yes. Bad video RAM causes all kind of odd but minor issues like that. A misplaced bit here and there can add up.

 

[BeyondGomer]

Thanks. I'll try and "underclock"..now off to find out how LOL.

 

[BeyondGomer]

It gets stranger. I was playing with an old harddrive and installed vista. Once vista loaded, the problem dissapeared (only within vista).