Is my GPU broken?

**Arn** · January 28, 2011, 01:34 PM

My screen went flowerpower like a week ago and my pc told me all the time that the Nvida Graphics driver stopped working. I noticed that the GPU was overheated, Nvidia 9800gt, I removed it and got rid of 13 kilos of dust trapped between the fan and the cooling thingy (you know what I mean). I did the same thing with the CPU cooler and all of the fans (loooads of dust removed). I also installed the latest drivers.

So now the temperatures are ok. But there's still errors when I try to play games. I play Mafia II to test the GPU on a heavy game. I play on medium settings, physx turned on, aa turned off. And the screen keeps freaking out. Sometimes it's just the colors going nuts, then the the whole screen turns black and colored dots appear everywhere. I goes on for half a minute then the game totally freezes (sometimes followed by a squeeky noise) and I have to reboot my pc. Even minecraft sometimes suddenly freeze!

Is it my GPU that's broken or could it be something else? I want to know for sure before I call the store and ask if it still has the warranty left.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · January 28, 2011, 01:41 PM

Any warranty it might have would be by the manufacturer (unless you bought a store warranty) however if an excess of dust caused it to overheat and ruined the card then no warranty would technically cover that as it is your fault for not cleaning the dust out. Course it's not like they would know that was the case necessarily... anyway, it does indeed sound like you fried your card.

**Ishan** · January 28, 2011, 01:44 PM

9800GT is an old card a buy new one sounds to me that it's retired, any else game you tested?
If the temps are normal then it shouldn't how such behaviour.

Try out more games and then report back also reinstall the graphics drivers sometimes it happens use Driver sweeper to do it begore you install it again.

Also what are the current GPU temps when playing games?

**Top-Tier-Tech** · January 28, 2011, 02:10 PM

Well, first of all re-install the latest drivers (or try some legacy drivers instead).

You could try this GPU stress test http://downloads.guru3d.com/FurMark-...load-2523.html Your card should show pretty bad artifacting or it may even BSOD.

I've had drivers "stop working" for various reasons and a fried card is certainly one of them.

I'd be surprised if it turns out to be drivers based on what you said but hey, it's worth a shot. Furmark should pretty much seal the deal.

**Arn** · January 28, 2011, 02:10 PM

I tried Civ V which used to run great and smooth, but it the same thing there. Colors freaking out and pc freezing

I don't even get a chance to look at the GPU temp during a game. But before dust removal it was 68c while showing the desktop. Now it's 58 degrees when showing the desktop.

EDIT: got your post in between ChaobSiroc! I'll try out furmark, got it installed already.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · January 28, 2011, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Arn

I tried Civ V which used to run great and smooth, but it the same thing there. Colors freaking out and pc freezing

I don't even get a chance to look at the GPU temp during a game. But before dust removal it was 68c while showing the desktop. Now it's 58 degrees when showing the desktop.

EDIT: got your post in between ChaobSiroc! I'll try out furmark, got it installed already.

Well 68c is not going to fry the card. But you need to monitor the temps while the card is being stressed, should be able to do that with furmark as it runs in a window. Ah, I just downloaded it myself again... looks to be a box you can check to monitor GPU temps from within furmark even.

**Ishan** · January 28, 2011, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by ChaobSiroc

Well 68c is not going to fry the card. But you need to monitor the temps while the card is being stressed, should be able to do that with furmark as it runs in a window.

68ºC is nothing my card runs on it on full load and fan speed 20%. So i concur with CS.

Run what you call that erm MSI afterburner there is a graph in it that records the temps in Real time so when you exit the game you can know for sure by checking the peak temp point.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · January 28, 2011, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Ishan

Run what you call that erm MSI afterburner there is a graph in it that records the temps in Real time so when you exit the game you can know for sure by checking the peak temp point.

MSI afterburner and EVGA Precision both can show the GPU temps in an on-screen overlay while gaming, although I monitor temps on my keyboard's LCD screen when gaming

My second GTX570 hits 87C in furmark but it only gets that high because SLI cuts down on airflow. Truly though the temps aren't all that important now, the dust is gone so they shouldn't be high any more unless the fan were broken, mainly furmark stresses the card out to determine if it is indeed failing.

**Arn** · January 28, 2011, 02:26 PM

I ran furmark earlier today after having graphics errors, I got my card up to 90 degrees, it made me feel a bit uncofortable so I turned it off.

Played minecraft for a while and it worked ok for like an hour (occasional one sec freezes)

But now...
Fur mark ran for one second, screen turns black, graphics driver stopped, window with the fur donut turns all white. Same thing twice.
And games freeze after minutes.

I never reinstalled the drivers though, after all I installed the latest version today.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · January 28, 2011, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Arn

I ran furmark earlier today after having graphics errors, I got my card up to 90 degrees, it made me feel a bit uncofortable so I turned it off.

Played minecraft for a while and it worked ok for like an hour (occasional one sec freezes)

But now...
Fur mark ran for one second, screen turns black, graphics driver stopped, window with the fur donut turns all white. Same thing twice.
And games freeze after minutes.

I never reinstalled the drivers though, after all I installed the latest version today.

Yup, just as I figured. furmark runs the card at 100% usage so it causes it to fail quickly if it is indeed no longer functioning properly. No doubts at all now, you'll either have to try for warranty help or buy a newer card.

**Arn** · January 28, 2011, 02:34 PM

All right, thanks.

Time for retirement Geforce 9800, I'll miss you but you've at least got to be able to do your job right!

Anyway, the help is much appreciated!
Arn