Topic: New Problem: For me

[Grendel]

I was playing COD tonight w/ out any problem and suddenly I had five vertical lines appear across my screen.

In addition to the lines, all of the desktop icons and other crap are obscured by dots.  Even on restart the start up screens have funky dots and lines (making it tough to make anything out).

I restared/shut down a number of times but the condition persists.  Any thoughts?

I suspect it's my vid card (ATI 9800 xt) but I'm not sure.

[Cyberdoc]

yes, sounds like it too me.  You could try a driver reinstall, but its prolly a  bad chip (overheated maybe)   Have you had any increase in temp with the warmer weather.?

[MistaObvious]

Yea, sounds like if it's just outta the blue like that, it's heat.  Perhaps, if you haven't already done so, it's time to put that AC in the window.  Might also consider how you're cooling your vid card and how much cabling and PCI cards are around it.  I usually like to leave an extra space open next to my vid so it has just a tad more room to cool with.  If that's not enough, you could always go grab one of those PCI coolers (doesn't actually use the PCI, but goes where a card normally would and blows air directly out of the box).  I personally never saw any success with them, but you never know...  every little bit helps.

[Sparks]

Card and cooling issues. Like Doc said try a clean driver install before dumping the card.

[Spockman]

could be a loose cable....

[Grendel]

Thanks all.

The good news is that it started up fine this morning, so I think it's a cooling issue.  The fans are all running fine.

There was some dust, so I cleaned that up.

If it continues, I will try the cooling tips.

[Boose]

Well there are some options

First there is this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118117

Second is what Liam was talking about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811999468

[Grendel]

BTW, what is considered a high temperature for video cards?

My comp's been on for almost an hour and is running at 69C.

[Sparks]

BTW, what is considered a high temperature for video cards?

My comp's been on for almost an hour and is running at 69C.

Sounds like a heat problem . I had the same issues last year with heat build up.
Upgraded my case this year to the Antec pI80 and running 5 cooling fans.
No more problems
Mine cpu runs at 39c & mb at 29c

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129154

[Grendel]

It crapped out again (obscuring lines and dots).  The temp was 69 (assuming the ATI monitor is correct).  It worked fine playing some Far Cry, but went bad as soon as I tried to join a COD2 server.

I'll try updating my driver (which I did only two weeks ago) and see if that helps.

Thanks for all the tips, guys.

[MistaObvious]

It crapped out again (obscuring lines and dots).  The temp was 69 (assuming the ATI monitor is correct).  It worked fine playing some Far Cry, but went bad as soon as I tried to join a COD2 server.

I'll try updating my driver (which I did only two weeks ago) and see if that helps.

Thanks for all the tips, guys.

Well, considering the temp, I don't think it's heat afterall.  I have an nVidia and it's not set to give me any warnings until well over 100c.  At idle, my card pretty much puts out as much heat as yours.

Sparks, the heat from the vid chip versus mb and cpu are completely different.  Based on what I've seen since I could actually monitor heat on my vid is that GPUs can run at a higher temp than CPUs and MB chips.

Guessing by what you said about FarCry, COD and then how long ago you updated your drivers, I would almost assume that the latest driver is your issue entirely.  Maybe roll back your driver to an earlier version you know worked.

I have to say, a pet peeve of mine is what game devs are always telling you.  "Make sure you have the latest drivers for your video card."  Here's the thing, tho.  Unless you're installing a game that just came out, I personally think "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  Even with new games, unless I encounter an issue, I won't bother updating.  There's just no point.  Same can be said about drivers for everything.  Since I don't encounter issues that can be related to my hardware, I don't bother updating the drivers until something requires me to do so (a new version of DX might warrant it, for instance).

Anyway, just a thought.

[Sparks]

Forgot to post the gpu temp 46c  / I would try the latest ati drivers.

Nividia 6800gt . The one issue I had with my card because I also had lines across the screen even at the desktop. BFG tec had me upgrade my MB bios also. That took care of the problem with the latest video drivers.
Nice little program is Everest
http://www.lavalys.com/

[Malfunction]

Gren,  same thing happened to me with my beloved ATI 9500 Pro.  I'd say the card is shot but you may want to vacuum out the inside of your case just to be sure and make sure the fan is spinning freely with no clogged dust bunnies.

[Grendel]

I updated the driver (to Catalyst 6.5) two weeks ago.  Does it make sense that the problem would take that long to manifest?

I went back and turn the comp on again.  It seemed fine until I launched ATI Tool and selected 3D view.  After a few seconds it went goofy again.  

I also took the side panel off my case, which reduced the temp by 3 degrees C, but it had no effect.

The comp otherwise seems to be working fine.

I'm starting to think that I need a new card - which sucks since it's not that old and cost a bundle.



Oh, that reminds me, ATI makes its cards.  Does NVIDIA do the same?  I was looking around and I see a bunch of other manufacturers using the NVIDIA chipset.  Are they all basically the same?

If this card is dead, I'm probably going to make a switch from ATI.  People have always seemed happy w/ NVIDIA.

[Boose]

I updated the driver (to Catalyst 6.5) two weeks ago.  Does it make sense that the problem would take that long to manifest?

I went back and turn the comp on again.  It seemed fine until I launched ATI Tool and selected 3D view.  After a few seconds it went goofy again.  

I also took the side panel off my case, which reduced the temp by 3 degrees C, but it had no effect.

The comp otherwise seems to be working fine.

I'm starting to think that I need a new card - which sucks since it's not that old and cost a bundle.



Oh, that reminds me, ATI makes its cards.  Does NVIDIA do the same?  I was looking around and I see a bunch of other manufacturers using the NVIDIA chipset.  Are they all basically the same?

If this card is dead, I'm probably going to make a switch from ATI.  People have always seemed happy w/ NVIDIA.

Nvidia makes the chipsets and then gives it to other manufacturers to make cards. I personally have always used XFX and they always last a long time for me.