Confirm my diagnosis: Friend's vid card is borked

**upsettingshorts** · April 19, 2009, 09:42 AM

The following a screenshot from my friend's computer. He just installed a new GTX 260, and despite the improved graphics (his previous card was ancient) he gets this all the time:

My hardware knowledge is limited to what's good and what isn't, so tech support really isn't my thing - but I told him that his card is seated incorrectly, or it's overheating, or the PSU sucks - but I'm pretty sure it isn't the PSU, as he got a brand new one at 600w I think.

Thoughts?

**eddie291** · April 19, 2009, 10:44 AM

Does he get this with any other games? What kind of PSU is it?

The PSU or GPU can be defective. Does he have another PSU or maybe you can lend him yours and see if the GPU is the problem?

**upsettingshorts** · April 19, 2009, 11:00 AM

We're in different states so swapping isn't an option. I'll ask him about which specific PSU he has and if he can use test it using any other games. (He doesn't play too many so I'm not actually sure he has any others to try it with lol)

**Brusilov** · April 19, 2009, 01:27 PM

If the card is not seated properly then the card won't be used. A run of dxdiag will show if the card is known to the system.

What drivers are they using - the most recent ones? Also what resolution is being used in-game?

**Zeeky_Bomb** · April 19, 2009, 02:24 PM

Looks to me like the video memory is going bad. Tell him to download and run all the tests in OCCT ( http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download ), that should reveal if it's a hardware problem.

This happens all the time, not just in ETW, correct?

**belamorte** · April 19, 2009, 03:38 PM

I am having a very similar problem with the gtx260 as well. I replaced my old card and I get nearly the same problem. If I reboot the system I can play fine and it does not happen, but if I then exit ETW and go play any other game, that game will be corrupted. I need to reboot after ending a session of any game if I choose to play something different. This also happens with DVDs as well. Basically before I do anything graphic intensive I will need to reboot.

I have uninstalled/reinstalled drivers several times (properly from safe mode and with a driver sweeper), tried other drivers, updated bios, temps are fine (around 40-50C) during large load, PSU is fine (750w)...

My limited knowledeg tells me something is not clearing out after usage of the card for some reason.

I will try that OCCT test when I get home onto that computer later.

**upsettingshorts** · April 19, 2009, 11:57 PM

He said the only test (OCCT) that failed was the CPU test. It's a new CPU and motherboard so the first thing he said he's gonna do is check/re-apply the arctic silver and heatsink, and see what happens. If that doesn't help, what, RMA?

**GodofCats** · April 20, 2009, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by upsettingshorts

He said the only test (OCCT) that failed was the CPU test. It's a new CPU and motherboard so the first thing he said he's gonna do is check/re-apply the arctic silver and heatsink, and see what happens. If that doesn't help, what, RMA?

What kind of CPU is it? I ask because if it's an i7, then he needs the latest BIOS and chipset drivers. Mine would hardly work at all without them, but now with them installed, it runs like a dream.