What causes a video card to artifact?

[Kevin1211]

I am asking this because my first 6800gt began to artifact and so i RMA'ed it. Just wondering what causes it so i can further prevent it from happening (if it can be prevented)

 

[Insidious]

Artifacting occurs when information is not being processed properly. Most commonly due to trying to set the clocks too high and data errors occur. If you are at stock speeds and get this issue, you have a malfunctioning video card. If you have never tried to adjust the clock settings or alter the cooling, it is time to call it bad luck and return the card for an exchange or refund (RMA)

However, if you have been overclocking it or modifying it any other way (BIOS flash, cooling modifications, etc.) then you broke it and have learned an expensive lesson.

A possible exception to the above might be if you are not supplying enough power to the card which could happen if your power supply (PSU) is malfunctioning or of insufficient wattage.

-Sid

 

[ncage]

hmm maybe it was overheating. A slightly better cooler might have fixed the problem. I think nvidia test there chips and the ones that pass a certain criteria get branded as 6800GT those that don't pass get branded as 6600GT. Maybe this chip barely passed. Also it can be driver issues sometimes. If you were using nvidia's drivers i don't think you should have had a problem though. Also, did it just happen in certain apps? If it did you can sometimes blame it on the app.

 

[lavaheadache]

Originally posted by: ncage
hmm maybe it was overheating. A slightly better cooler might have fixed the problem. I think nvidia test there chips and the ones that pass a certain criteria get branded as 6800GT those that don't pass get branded as 6600GT. Maybe this chip barely passed. Also it can be driver issues sometimes. If you were using nvidia's drivers i don't think you should have had a problem though. Also, did it just happen in certain apps? If it did you can sometimes blame it on the app.

I cant imagine that the 6600 and 6800 are the same chip

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: lavaheadache

Originally posted by: ncage
hmm maybe it was overheating. A slightly better cooler might have fixed the problem. I think nvidia test there chips and the ones that pass a certain criteria get branded as 6800GT those that don't pass get branded as 6600GT. Maybe this chip barely passed. Also it can be driver issues sometimes. If you were using nvidia's drivers i don't think you should have had a problem though. Also, did it just happen in certain apps? If it did you can sometimes blame it on the app.

I cant imagine that the 6600 and 6800 are the same chip

I don't believe they are. Also some significant archetecture differences in application circuitry.

MUCH more than simple screening separating the two

-Sid

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Insidious

Originally posted by: lavaheadache

Originally posted by: ncage
hmm maybe it was overheating. A slightly better cooler might have fixed the problem. I think nvidia test there chips and the ones that pass a certain criteria get branded as 6800GT those that don't pass get branded as 6600GT. Maybe this chip barely passed. Also it can be driver issues sometimes. If you were using nvidia's drivers i don't think you should have had a problem though. Also, did it just happen in certain apps? If it did you can sometimes blame it on the app.

I cant imagine that the 6600 and 6800 are the same chip

I don't believe they are. Also some significant archetecture differences in application circuitry.

MUCH more than simple screening separating the two

-Sid

6600gt is a completely different core.
those that pass with flying colors branded as 6800u.
pass but cant quite run stable at 6800u speeds is 6800gt.
those without the full 16pipes fully working are branded 6800nu.
those with 12 pipes not fully working are branded as 6800le.
anything that dont pass those tests are thrown out

1 exception is that pci-e 6800nu are different coreform other 6800 series cards.

those 8x3 pass with 500mhz core(flying colors) are 6800gt.
thoes8x3 pass with at least 300mhz are 6600
those 4x2 pass with 300mhz are 6200
anything that dont pass those tests are thrown out

6200 tc are different core also.
anything that dont pass those tests are thrown out

 

[Kevin1211]

yeah i think the artifacting was done by lack of power (i have a raidmax , but will soon replace it with a XClio )... ok thanks for the replies

also, heres further info on my artifacting that forced me to RMA:
Text

 

[BFG10K]

Usually they're caused by faulty hardware, system configuration problems, heat (including OCing) or driver issues.