Graphics Artifacts [Update]

Chubbly

So, screen artifacts. They appear as soon as I start the computer and don't go away. I cleaned out my computer after it appeared, air blasted everything and it was still there.

It happened while I was playing TF2: the game froze and it blue screened. The message was along the lines of "attempted to reset driver, request timed out". When I restarted, all the artifacts were there.

My question, is my graphics card fucked, or is there any way to salvage the situation?

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I'm now borrowing a 260 GTX from a friend. However, now the computer won't start at show anything. BIOS beep code is 1 long, 2 short, indicating a video error. I reseated it, it booted but still showed nothing. Beeped once, 5 second pause, 1 beep again and then nothing. Just sits there.

pacbowl

Do they only appear in TF2 or other games as well?

If it's only TF2, it could be the game. I'm having small artifacting issues as well but they are only in TF2 and since last patch.

If it happens in most of your 3D application/games then it's the card. Either something overheated and/or went bad.

edit: just re-read and if you are getting artifacting in 2D as soon as you start the computer then the card is fuXored.

MushroomStick

Is your screen resolution set to the monitor's native resolution?

Chubbly

Not currently, as Windows doesn't recognize the card. It only allows 800x600, 1024x768 and one slightly larger that I can't remember. I'm running on the largest one I can, but I tried each and they all still have the artifacts.

@pacbowl:

Nova_C

Pacbowl is right: Artifacting at BIOS pretty much equals a damaged video card every time. Time for a new vidcard.

exmello

I had this problem with red artifacts and missing polygons when my card was overheating. I had my power supply replaced a few months before and the technician forgot had unplugged the video card's processor fan from itself for some reason and never put it back.