My BFG 6800GT dying? (Unique situation)

[Shamrock]

Ok, to start off, This has been happening since about mid December. I can start up a game, and it will run fine for about 20 minutes. Then the weird stuff starts happening. Sometimes it will blink to a black screen. I have to hit the windows button to get to the desktop, then back to the game to get anything back. I am enclosing a bunch of pictures, but first let me tell you what I have done to try and track down the culprit.

I have installed (and uninstalled) the following drivers:
83.40 WHQL
82.12
81.98 WHQL
81.89
78.92 WHQL
77.72

ALL of these drivers do the same thing! Also, on the desktop, if I am browsing the internet, and I happen upon a java website, my desktop blinks, and goes REALLY fuzzy, to the point you have to squint to see the text. I re-formatted. Even installed 2 versions of DirectX (9c, and 9c december edition) I have even bought a new monitor thinking that was it, but to no avail.
Should I be contacting BFG about a possible RMA?

First Image is Command & Conquer Generals : Zero Hour...Interface leaves, and so does my cursor.

This is Champ Cap Challenge by iDT, the green stuff is suppose to be smoke.

Well, this is what I see in Need For Speed Underground 2

The rest of these are rFactor, and this happens alot. Notice it doesnt have a ****pit.





Thanks
-Shamrock

[jAkUp]

Definetely looks like the card is failing. How are the temps?

[Shamrock]

Oh, another thing, I have NEVER OC'ed it. The 6800GT is plenty for my lowly 3200+

temps are as follows:

core/ambient (degrees in C)
desktop: 63/42
ChampCar: 68/46
C&CG:ZH: 63/42
NFSU2: 73/49
rFactor: 73/49

[Lfctony]

Definitely looks like a bad card, RMA time. Maybe if they don't have any GTs left you might end up with a 7800GS.

[Son Goku]

Is that the CPU temp for the first number, or the GPU temp? Those numbers, all things said, do look a bit high, as I'd definitely be sh*ting bricks if I saw a CPU temp of 73 C... Yeah, yeah, some might be able to argue it can run so warm, but...

Reason I ask though, is with a case/mobo temp? of 46 and 49 C, I do wonder how hot the GPU on the gfx card is getting? My case and CPU temps are well below that, with the case temp measured in the lower 30s, but in the past when I had measured some gfx card temps and the CPU using a thermocouple in prior system, I had at least noticed that the GPU temp could run hotter then the CPU. Not sure in your case...

BTW, how long have you had the card?

Is this a recent problem on a card you've had for a year or so? (Could definitely be a card going bad there.)

You mention after 20 minutes of game play. Is it only after you've been pushing the gfx on that thing for awhile? (aka when the card could run hotter?)

Either way, you might want to get some cooling in your computer case to help bring those ambient system temps down a bit. In the interum, running case open, with a room fan or the like blowing into the thing should cool it down enough to rule out temp. If lower case temps doesn't improve this, definitely RMA the card then...

[TierMann]

I'm idling at 53/30c (70c max under load) with my BFG 6800GT OC right now. That's with a Zalman 700CU and AS5 though. With the stock cooler I got ~60c idle.

That isn't unusual for that card, but if you're saying it's idling at 63 and only hitting 73 max is that temp after alt+tabbing back to the desktop to check the temp or is it from a log while you're playing? If you are alt+tabbing back to windows it's quite probable that you're hitting 80c or higher in games. The temp drops very quickly as soon as you come out of 3d mode.

I'm just asking because I know my card doesn't like sitting around 80c. I don't get anything as major as your artifacts and weirdness, but I do get some artifacts if I sit ~80c for too long. Either way though, if you're getting artifacts that bad, it looks like it's RMA time.

Blue numers are my temps (GPU | Ambient | CPU)...

[Shamrock]

Originally Posted by Son Goku

Is that the CPU temp for the first number, or the GPU temp? Those numbers, all things said, do look a bit high, as I'd definitely be sh*ting bricks if I saw a CPU temp of 73 C... Yeah, yeah, some might be able to argue it can run so warm, but...

That first number is the GPU core temp. The CPU temp usually hovers around 33c, 35 at full load. ambient inside the case is around 31-33 at full load (I have 8 case fans), how I got the temps, is in the NVidia control panel, where it says Temperature settings (You can also set how high the GPU can go before threshold exceeds).

BTW, how long have you had the card?

I have the receipt! it's 9/18/04

Is this a recent problem on a card you've had for a year or so? (Could definitely be a card going bad there.)

It started about mid December of 2005 (so maybe about 2 months?)

You mention after 20 minutes of game play. Is it only after you've been pushing the gfx on that thing for awhile? (aka when the card could run hotter?)

For the corruptions, yes. But it can blink to black at anytime, and the blurry Java application thing is anytime I visit a java website.

Either way, you might want to get some cooling in your computer case to help bring those ambient system temps down a bit. In the interum, running case open, with a room fan or the like blowing into the thing should cool it down enough to rule out temp. If lower case temps doesn't improve this, definitely RMA the card then...

as said before, ambient case temp is around 31-33c, with 8 case fans (80mm), plus the twin fans on the gpu. One of the exhaust case fans are EXACTLY over the vid card, so it pulls the heat out.

Originally Posted by Tiermann

That isn't unusual for that card, but if you're saying it's idling at 63 and only hitting 73 max is that temp after alt+tabbing back to the desktop to check the temp or is it from a log while you're playing? If you are alt+tabbing back to windows it's quite probable that you're hitting 80c or higher in games. The temp drops very quickly as soon as you come out of 3d mode.

alt+tabbing, I dont have a temperature program to monitor it

[Peoples-Agent]

I would RMA that card without hesitation, tell tell signs that it's screwed i'm afraid.

[ynnek]

That exactly what I saw when my card was overheating, which I suspect its the GPU itself.. wierd gemetry problems... Did you try cleaning it out, especially under the top plate that covers the heatsink? It comes off in 3-4 screws.. That solved my heat realted problems.. Even if you keep a clean case, the dust still collects under the top plate.

Although my card and systems runs normally hotter than those temps u posted, and is still stable.

Best way to check vid card temps while under load is to run rthdribl http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~masa/rthdribl/

Run that in a window, with your temp readings in another window.. You'd be surprised how hot you can get in 30 mins.


EDIT: I'm wondering if that exhaust fan right over your vid card is creating some weird turbulence effect? Maybe not..

[Geekusdeekus]

Damn, small world. I logged on here to explain the exact same problem with my Leadtek 6800GT. Although I also have a different problem. My whole screen goes fuzzy, then when I reboot, even the initial boot screen that tells you what card you have is fuzzy.

My comp has been with a local firm for a week and they can't diagnose a problem with it, yet I get it home tonight, load COD2 up and low and behold 15 mins later the same bloody thing happens.

I'm going to try that rthdribl program and see what happens when the temps go higher, I'll try and post a screen shot.

[CR0C0DILE]

did you take the cover off and clean the dust out?
the stock heat sink fan cloggs with dust every so often making the card overheat. Also applying new thermal paste wont hurt.
cards dont slowly die. they die all to once. if your card works when its cool then its still good.

[Shamrock]

Yes, I clean it thoroughly every 3-4 months, I even take off the little metal plate. I don't want to take off the heatsink and fan, because it might void my warranty. I did email support, and they had this to say:

he temperatures seem fine, and you have obviously tried several different drivers. In order to accurately troubleshoot this problem, I would appreciate if you could send the specifications of your power supply(watts,volts,amps,ect.) as well as the IRQ assignment of your card. This can obtained by going into Device Manager, selecting View, then Resource by Type, and then Interupt Request. Your card should be alone, on a spot in anywhere between IRQ 5 and IRQ 15. If this is not the case you should consult Microsoft Knowledge Base article # 299340 for manual reassignment of IRQs.

but the problem is, the knowledge base they sent me to you must either re-installs drivers (I did about 7 times!) or you must upgrade or re-install Windows XP!

my reply:

The power supply is:
INPUT
550W
Voltage ranges:103-132VAC or 206-264VAC RMS switch selectable
Input freguency:50-60Hz
Input current:10A for 115VAC, 5A for 230VAC
OUTPUT
520W
30amps @+5volts
normal current 24A
Short-circuit/ Over current/ Over voltage/ Over power/ Under voltage/ Electric shock free protection
**note** It has 2 fans to cool the power supply

The knowledge base you sent me to, is for forcing a HAL during an installation or upgrade of Windows XP. I have already re-installed Windows once (including the activation junk), and the only other way to force it is to install new drivers (Knowledge base says to update drivers in. I have done that several times already, as you can see from all the driver installs. My Video card is on IRQ16 (I have 22). On a side note, I did right click on the video card properties, and went to resources, and it said I have no conflicts.