Be Excellent To Each Other

I noticed it did this a few days ago and now it's doing it all the time. I'm going to open up my PC and give the graphics card a dust down but if that isn't it what is the problem? Anyone know?

I'm really hoping that it isn't the monitor...

Graphics card deaded.

Probably

When I had a decent pc the gfx card had a powersupply for the fan, if that came loose, then I would get stuff like that. It could be that the card is over heating or like others have said, be slowly dying.

Malc

If you're getting artefacts on the desktop, it's likely that it's completely buggered, because it's under a small amount of load. If it only happens during a 3D game, there's more chance the fan has stopped working and it's just overheating a bit.

Mice have made a nest in your computer.

Well I've taken it out and given it a dust down. Back in it seems to be working, but we shall see for how long.

For John, I got Meems to take a few artistic shots:

That's the fan idea out, then.

Disappointing lack of monkey in those pictures.

Looking at that first photo, the branding has really gone to pot.

Nothing that can't be fixed with a soldering iron, I'm sure.

How clogged with dirt was the heat sink on a scale of 1 to 10?

If the heat sink is the big grill thing then I'm not sure. I blew on it before taking it out and there was a lot of dust coming out.

Er....branding?

Graphical corruption usually comes from three culprits.

Failed Vram. Faulty ram, not much you can do really as they are ball soldered and not servicable (legs are tucked under the chips).

Failed RAMDAC. Usually caused by failed solder, can be repaired, see failed GPU.

Failed main GPU. Over time heat breaks down the flux in the solder and the PCB warps from expanding and contracting, causing breakages in the solder contacts. Baking in the oven can relieve this for a while but it's a slippery slope downhil thereafter.

See also : The Xbox 360.

Yours looks like the failed main GPU. Vram problems usually flash up smaller artifacts. Massive corruption like that is usually failed solder on the main GPU.

Also.. is it PCIE? Does it have to be low profile?

I have a mint 8600GTS here (256mb) if you want it. £15+ SH.

I think you missed the bit where clearing the heatsink made it work again.

Rebooting it and letting it cool probably made it work again. That worked for about two months with my 280 before I couldn't even load the driver.

Fair play, I suppose the option is there if it happens again

It's just gone all funny again so it would seem to be a repeating problem. Can anyone recommend a good graphics card from ebuyer or something? Anything that is as good as the one I have is fine, I don't want to spend a fortune.

Is that a self belm?

Yoink, I'll have it!

Hmm, looks like Craig may have made use of the ignore button.

I PMed but haven't heard back. Also as it's for business I may be better off buying new.

I only ignore one person on here.

Is it me?

Apologies for the accusations.

Sorry Craig, didn't want to step on your toes, assumed that you wanted a low profile one that is why you didn't reply.

I've no idea about graphics cards at all hence my question. It isn't Davspaz.

I sold that one Went for the going rate in the end (£25).

I pmed Craig (sorry mate, had the computers apart hacking Hybrid Physx into life).. I have a Asus 6200LE with 256mb ram and then the 256mb Turbocache. It's passive so silent and brand new..

Craig, I'll get some pics mate. I only want a tenner for it shipped. IIRC I paid about £17 plus shipping and it got used for about thirty seconds (bios update so I could use my 5 series, board didn't support them at all).

Here's a linky to the product info.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce6200_pci

Pics in about ten mins

Pickchoorz.