Is my GPU dead?

[Inkie]

I'm using a 1024mb ATI Radeon HD4650, on Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit), and my PC is only a couple years old. And yet, a few days ago I was playing M2 when the comp shut down by itself. I found it weird but started playing again the next day only to be met with the same result.

So I ran a hardware monitor and played M2 for five minutes before noticing the temperature was soaring and closing the game. Basically, idle temperature for my GPU is currently around 65°, and when I play a game it shoots up to around 90° and then keeps going until my PC shuts off. Needless to say, I can't really play games nowadays - I've increased the fan speed and cleaned out the whole PC thoroughly with compressed air, yet I'm still getting the same results.

After checking around on the net I found that my case was similar to that of this guy. None of the cases I read about were related to issues with thermal paste, and it appears that my card has simply worn itself out. Is this just a natural result with ATI cards (I read that they usually run hotter than Nvidia ones) and do I just have to go and shell out another hundred or so bucks to replace it? This really sucks, especially because it's so soon and I didn't factor my GPU into some upgrades I've been planning (namely my OS...).

So, any advice?

[Legio XII]

Unfortunately, I think your card may indeed be done. The only thing I have been able to find is to stop overclocking your card (assuming that you are doing so). That might keep your temps down, at least for a little while. But I do not think it will be a permanent fix. I hate to be negative, but I am unable to find any other ideas or options. Wait til some other people answer though; second and third opinions are always good to have.

I've learned quite a bit in the past few months, the hard way, about computer hardware, in the frustrating process of building my own PC. If you do replace your GPU, a couple of the buying rules I came up with:

Stay the hell away from AMD products, and ATI products. When it comes to reliability, and performance, they simply cannot compare to the big boys on the block (Intel and Nvidia).

That's about it.

[Doono]

I'm using a 1024mb ATI Radeon HD4650, on Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit), and my PC is only a couple years old. And yet, a few days ago I was playing M2 when the comp shut down by itself. I found it weird but started playing again the next day only to be met with the same result.

So I ran a hardware monitor and played M2 for five minutes before noticing the temperature was soaring and closing the game. Basically, idle temperature for my GPU is currently around 65°, and when I play a game it shoots up to around 90° and then keeps going until my PC shuts off. Needless to say, I can't really play games nowadays - I've increased the fan speed and cleaned out the whole PC thoroughly with compressed air, yet I'm still getting the same results.

After checking around on the net I found that my case was similar to that of this guy. None of the cases I read about were related to issues with thermal paste, and it appears that my card has simply worn itself out. Is this just a natural result with ATI cards (I read that they usually run hotter than Nvidia ones) and do I just have to go and shell out another hundred or so bucks to replace it? This really sucks, especially because it's so soon and I didn't factor my GPU into some upgrades I've been planning (namely my OS...).

So, any advice?

You mentioned thermal paste, I personally would just try reapplying some new thermal compound and reseating the heatsink first before buying a new card. Thermal paste wont cost much and is handy to have anyway. If you havn't tried removing the heatsink from the card already you will probably find its clogged with dust, compressed air won't always work.