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PC Video Builds Up Static, Freezes
Professor Snugglesworth
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
You gotta love when PCs decide to crap out on you. You take the necessary steps, regularly updating drivers, running CC Cleaner and Spybot. You sit back and enjoy Mass Effect 2 for the next week in a row. Everything is all right with the world.
Then boom, shit occurs.
So tonight my game freezes up three times in a row. I first assume that it's a problem with the game itself, but then my PC display begins to build up static even when I'm in my desktop or on the internet.
Static probably isn't the best word to describe the situation, so I took some pics.
The static builds up about 10 minutes upon starting up my PC. On Safe Mode, I can still navigate the PC and use the internet. On Normal Mode, everything freezes up, and I can't do anything.
A quick search suggests the fault may lie with my graphics card (8800GT), so I opened it up and checked for any issues. It appears perfectly situated on the slot, though, and there isn't any excess dust inside the computer. I could try taking it out and putting it back in. The driver is up to date as well.
No doubt many of you haven't forgotten my PC woes from a couple years back, so I'm really hoping this isn't a sequel (Electric Boogaloo). If you can point the most likely culprit, and assuming it's the graphics card, perhaps I'm still under warranty. If not, it might be time to upgrade.
In any event, please help me as best you can.
Then boom, shit occurs.
So tonight my game freezes up three times in a row. I first assume that it's a problem with the game itself, but then my PC display begins to build up static even when I'm in my desktop or on the internet.
Static probably isn't the best word to describe the situation, so I took some pics.
The static builds up about 10 minutes upon starting up my PC. On Safe Mode, I can still navigate the PC and use the internet. On Normal Mode, everything freezes up, and I can't do anything.
A quick search suggests the fault may lie with my graphics card (8800GT), so I opened it up and checked for any issues. It appears perfectly situated on the slot, though, and there isn't any excess dust inside the computer. I could try taking it out and putting it back in. The driver is up to date as well.
No doubt many of you haven't forgotten my PC woes from a couple years back, so I'm really hoping this isn't a sequel (Electric Boogaloo). If you can point the most likely culprit, and assuming it's the graphics card, perhaps I'm still under warranty. If not, it might be time to upgrade.
In any event, please help me as best you can.
Professor Snugglesworth on
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I'd hate to think ME2 went and borked my card, but that is when I started noticing this issue. It happened a couple more times a few days earlier while playing the game.
Do you recommend I upgrade to a more powerful card, or just do a replacement?
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Yea, if it does that through the HDMI cable, then yes, the card/slot is borked, most likely the card
I already have an extra fan built on top of my CPU. Is there an extra fan that can be placed on top of a GPU?
And since I was looking into it anyway, what would you recommend as the next step from 8800GT? Preferably something that can handle ME2 on max settings (with zero chance of borking).
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I'd say the 280GTX, or if you don't own half of the US, the 9800GT. Yes, you can buy GPU coolers, and attach them to the card, just like the CPU
Personally I'm hoping it is, since that would be the quickest fix. I'm really hoping it's not because of some other BS like the CPU or Mobo.
On that note, would I need to upgrade either to use the new GPU? I have a core 2 duo and a...something mobo (can look it up later).
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So long as your PSU isn't total crap, you should still be able to use new graphic cards, since the 8800GT and the GTX 295 use the same port standard
Looks like a decent price, so I might purchase it as soon as tomorrow. I need a working desktop.
But will I still need a fan to go along with it? Do you have any recommendations in that case, or are most GPU fans "one size fits all"?
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You would not need a separate fan for the card you linked if canned air does not solve the problem.
Why's that? I was thinking of getting one just to be on the safe side. This card lasted around two years, so I would want the replacement to last much longer than that.
I'm seeing some GPU fans range from $5 to $10, but I have no idea what a good brand would be, or what type I would even need.
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I would try canned air on your current card first though. I used to see that problem a lot on nVidia cards with enclosed heatsinks and fans. The card would look fine and dust-free on the outside, but inside the enclosure, the heatsink's fins would get clogged with dust that was not visible from the outside.
Guys....give me a little credit here. :?
In all honesty I thought an extra GPU fan would be attatched on top of an existing one, so if instead it requires an actual swapping of fans, I'd rather not get into that. Seems pointless anyway.
I took out my card and applied the compressed air all over and inside, put it back on my PC and double-checked to make sure everything was fastened tightly.
Sadly, artifacts occurred almost immediately. Looks like it's RIP for my card, and I doubt Nvidia's warranty will cover it.
So unless there are any other recommendations, I'm planning to order the 5770 tomorrow.
I plan to max it out as I did before (if not push it further, since it seems to support higher resolutions), so if you're certain an extra fan or heatsink isn't required, that'll be all I'm buying.
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Not counting my legendary PC fuck-up, both my 360 and PS3 died last year, my laptop has a loose I/O connector, and now this. Technology seems to really hate me...even though I love it.
But I'm certain I did everything right this time. Is there any probable underlying cause as to why my GPU died after a good two years of service? Is that a standard expiration time for Nvidia cards? Would running a game on max settings (ME2) really cause it to overheat? And what can I do differently with this new card that I'll have to purchase soon?
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Well, there's always a certain variance with technology. One man's 8800 will go forever, another will arrive DOA, another will die a week after installation, and yet another's will give 2 years good service before something goes wrong.
Before buying a new card, have you tried using software/hardware settings to ensure the GPU fan is running at max? It'll be louder, but if there's nothing specifically wrong with the card and it's just that the fan wasn't keeping up with the heat, it may help.
Edit: And if you're gonna run a 5770, which is a good idea, I'd go with a 1GB version. It might run you an additional 20 bucks, but I'd say it's worth it, especially if you buy from a vendor like XFX or BFG, who have strong reputations for warranty and customer support in case you encounter additional issues.
Battle.net
And this is the card you recommended, right? It's only slightly more expensive, so if you think it'll be worth it in the long run, then I'll buy it.
Edit: Newegg has it for the same price and free shipping (also includes a free copy of Battleforge, which I've never heard of, but free's free). I've had good business with Zip Zoom, but Newegg ships ultra fast and has a great return policy, so I'm sticking with them.
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As to your issue, I wouldn't be 100% sure it is the video card. Any chance you have onboard video or a spare older video card you can test with? I am inclined to think it could be the GPU, but that it could also be the PSU or motherboard. Go into your CMOS settings and see if you have a section that displays all the various power levels it says it is getting from the PSU. This isn't 100% accurate or realistic, but if something is way off then you'll know the PSU is the culprit; otherwise you'd need a multimeter.
edit: Battleforge is an EA game like Magic The Gathering, CCG, pay out the nose to stay competitive. There's a reason it is free ;-)
RivaTuner allows you to alter GPU fan speeds.
And yes, that's the exact card I refer to. Assuming you don't damage the card yourself, the warranty should be helpful for someone who appears to be plague by the gods of faulty manufacturing. Just remember to register the warranty quickly after you purchase.
Battle.net
I'm not sure if the artifacts showing up in the start-up screen matters or not in fingering the GPU as the culprit, but I don't have a compatible cable to hook up my monitor to the on-board card. I think to erase all suspicions I'll take my PC to Best Buy. Their on-store diagnostics are free, and usually the guys there are straight with me in regards to what I need in order to fix it.
Still hoping it's the GPU, since that's the quickest fix.
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On the bright side, he said that I may still be covered by Nvidia's warranty. Even though it's been roughly two years, he says the average warranty for most GPU companies is three years. He knows for sure that Radeon has a three year warranty, so he seems convinced Nvidia has it too.
Not only that, he says they also tend to replace older cards (like my 8800GT) with an up-to-date equivalent (read: better) at no extra cost. Therefore, it's recommended I contact them first before placing the order on the 5770.
They're closed now, being the weekend, but first thing tomorrow I'll check up with them. If I don't have to shell out $150 to replace the card, and get a better model at that, that would be the best ending for this latest hassle.
The rep also took a look inside my tower, saying everything seemed properly hooked up with the exception of the extra CPU fan, which he said felt a little loose. He recommended I re-apply some thermal paste to it and make sure it's properly fastened.
I was hoping not to mess with the CPU, since I never could figure out just how much or how little paste I should apply, but he explained the best method that even I shouldn't screw up: use the paste and draw a Z across the four corners of the CPU, followed by a horizontal line across the middle. Then use a thin card (like a credit card) to smooth the paste across the CPU. He said the CPU would be the second most likely culprit for my artifacts, but still believes the GPU is more likely the cause.
I should have some thermal paste left, so I'll give it a shot later. Say what you will about their absurd repair and installation prices, but BB always comes through for me when giving an initial inspection of my PC. Edit: Nope, all out. Gonna have to order some, maybe combine it with the 5570 if I end up needing it after all.
Just glad nobody there gave me a "oh, it's YOU again" greeting. :?
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His advice about the warranty is bunk. Goto the link above at Newegg for that 5770, then click dexktop graphics cards in the chain above so it will show all of them. Now look at the manufacturer's listed. Notice the two names you don't see listed? ATI or Nvidia. Because they don't manufacturer cards anymore. They do the research, come up with chipsets, etc. but other companies make the cards. They have jack squat to do with the warranty on your card. Find out who actually manufactured it and check with them.
This, and if you do get a new card, I highly recommend XFX, they do your basic as long as you didnt run it over with a car double lifetime warranty, i just RMA's my HD4850, could not have been easier.
Also, make sure you are getting good airflow through the case, even if your card is running a reference GPU cooler design, it should be adequate to the cards heat generation. But you gotta move that warm air out, try to streamline the case, make sure the fans arent clogged or blocked by wires and whatnot. It can make a huge difference.
Who said anything about CPU fans? I encouraged him to attempt to control the speed of his GPU fan.
Battle.net
Previous temperature reports said my CPU temp was just "average", so he's probably not bs'ing on this one. I already ordered up the thermal paste (99 cents) so it couldn't hurt.
The vendor of my GPU is EVGA, and my product is still registered with the site, so maybe I'm still covered by the warranty. I'll find out soon.
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for that price range, the 5750 is probably the best card atm. but the GTS 250 isn't too far behind if you prefer Nvidia cards
heres an article on tom's hardware of their recommendations of the best cards for your buck in February:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-graphics-card,2544.html
also a lot of good comparison benchmarks charts there if you want to compare different cards
It's actually cheaper than the 5770, so I'm wondering if it's pretty much equal (or possibly better)?
The ideal solution is if my current card is still under warranty.
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the gts 250 is pretty much a gtx 9800+ , re-branded and changes a slight bit by nvidia.
so the gts 250 is about equal in every benchmark to a HD 4870, which is pretty even itself with the 5770.
the 5770 though runs cooler and uses less power than a 4870.
but pretty much either a gts 250, gtx 9800+, HD 4870, or a HD 5770 will get you about the same performance (isn't comparing gfx cards oh so much fun, wish they would stop making so many damned revisions and numbering schemes). so get what you can for the cheapest by a good brand with a good warranty and it'll all beat your current card at least.
though I hope you can just get yours replaced, saving some money is always nice.
Unfortunately I just got off the phone with EVGA, and the warranty on my card expired January last year. So I'll have to look into getting a new one.
I think I'll stick with the 5770, since you said it ran cooler and used up less power. Considering that I've had cooling issues in the past, it's probably best if I stick with it, especially since I want to continue running PC games on maximum settings.
Edit: Order was placed on the 5770.
Hopefully it'll arrive before the week is over. I'll report back with (lord willing) good news.
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It's a good card and you'll be happy with it, hopefully you bought the new one from a manufacturer that has a lifetime or at least a long warranty, sometimes video cards just die.
Haven't checked the warranty yet, just hoping that it'll work with no further problems.
To prepare, though, is there a program (either third party or included) or benchmark where I can "stress test" the card, see if the temperatures are at ideal levels when maxed out?
Also, when plugged to an LCD TV, the highest resolution you can go is 1920x1080, right? Or is it possible to go further than that?
My TV is a Samsung '45 1080p, which has worked quite well for PC games.
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check the toolkit/settings thing thats with the drivers, it might have a stress option to test the card if your overclocking, otherwise just load up some fps and max the setting and let it run a bit, that will get you a good idea of what the card temp maxes at.
and ya a 1080p will max at 1920x1080.
also if your worried about temperatures in your case/components than make sure all cables are cleared away around the edges of the case as much as possible(or run under the motherboard tray if your case allows this) and that you have your fans set up right, you want 1-2 fans drawing in fresh air at the fron of your case and than 1-2 at the back/top pushing air out of the case, so you get a constant, consistent flow of air. you don't want just a weird mix of fans pushing/pulling air at random spots around a case, or things blocking the flow as this will just lead to the air in the case swirling around and not getting rid of the heat. I know that once I cleaned up all the cables in my case I was able to drop the temp of every components by about 5-10C
I don't overclock. I was considering it at one point, but at the advice of this forum, my temperatures were only "average", at which point overclocking wasn't recommended.
I'll take a picture of the inside of my tray later on.
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The only issue is that the thermal paste doesn't have a set shipping time, so I'm wondering if I should wait until I re-apply the paste on the CPU before inserting the graphics card in, or try the latter first and gauge its temperatures to see if it's even necessary.
Also as promised, here's the inside of my case.
As you can see, the power supply came with an absurd amount of cables included, some of which used to sit on top of the graphics card. Not sure if that played a factor into its eventual overheating, but I went and moved the cables to the side in an attempt to no longer obscure any of the other components.
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I also use PSU which have a cable management system, so I can remove the cables I don't use and get rid of a potential mess. If your board and PC case allow it you can try to route some cables behind the metal panel holding your mainboard.
Any time you handle a processor, remove it, reseat it, or anything there is a risk involved. Granted it is relatively small if you take all the proper precautions, but the chance still exists that you can shock it, bend a pin, or something else. Your temps are fine, leave it alone or you are tempting the Fates. And how good has your luck been recently? Average temperatures are just that, average. Stock processor, stock HSF, stock chassis, typical airtemps should all lead to average processor temps, this is a good thing, not a bad thing.
The 5570 arrived in the mail today. I attatched it to my PC, turned it on, when right away I hear a noisy pop followed by a puff of smoke.
Ha, see? I can laugh at myself. Ha ha...yeah.
Well several hours later everything seems to be hunky dory. I'm sure you'll be amused that I had to "make room" for the GPU, though.
So the first impression of the GPU is how big it was. Way bigger than the Radeon 800GT. This caused a bit of a problem since my budget tray didn't seem to properly make way for the card. So using some steel cutters, I expanded two of the back slots into one big enough to house the GPU's backside.
The next step was carefully moving the wires around so that they didn't touch or otherwise obscure the GPU. This included moving the blue connector so that it passes under the card instead of on top of it, which would have gotten in the way of its fan.
I then re-seated a hard drive (which again, was in the way of this XBOX HUGE card), used the remainder of my can of compressed air to get rid of any visible dust (mostly concentrating on my CPU fan, which for the moment will remain untouched unless future temperatures state otherwise), double and triple-checked all the wires to make sure everything was properly connected, and used scotch tape for the open slots, so as to keep dust from getting in (or would it be better to leave them open, so as to create more air holes?)
Registered the card, downloaded the Windows 7 driver (since the CD-ROM came with only XP and Vista), applied updates, and so far everything checks out. Fired a few games to compare performance.
Previously I would run Left 4 Dead 2 with almost max settings and slight chugging. Now I can run the game completely maxed out with no stuttering whatsoever.
Mass Effect 2 already ran nearly perfect before, but now I can crank the antiscoptic filtering to the max 16x, and I still get a perfect 60 fps.
STALKER runs at a pretty much constant 60 fps, though there's some slight screen tearing I'll have to look into adjusting.
Resident Evil 5 makes the 360 version look like it's running on the Wii. All settings are maxed, looks absolutely terrific.
Currently re-installing Crysis, can't wait to see what that'll look like.
Anyway, no real questions at the moment with the exception of two:
1. People suggested Rivatuner for reading temperatures, so I downloaded it. I don't know how to use it, however, so how does this work?
2. Any custom settings I should make on the Control Center? Aside from forced v-sync, everything else is left default.
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