I notice when using google earth, the display winds up very broken up. I thought it was the app, then tried some game and the same thing happens. I wonder what could be wrong. Perhaps it's the driver?
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I notice when using google earth, the display winds up very broken up. I thought it was the app, then tried some game and the same thing happens. I wonder what could be wrong. Perhaps it's the driver?
Heat? Does this only occur with 3D? You may want to verify if the fan on the card is still working.
Yeah, only when 3d apps are running. I checked the card, and te fan seems to be running alright. I took it out, reseated the thing, checked for debris in the fan (lots of dust) and restarted.Quote:
Originally Posted by SirDice
I am guessing the dust may have messed it up because too much dust may have caused inadequate cooling and messed up the gpu? Who knows.
Hi Donkey Punch,
SirDice is correct in that heat is the most common cause of this sort of thing.
This can sometimes be be provoked by people being too aggressive in overclocking their cards.
As you seem to have suffered from a heat problem, the only other thing I would suggest is removing the heatsink, cleaning it and the CPU and replacing the thermal paste (or patch) with a silver based compound such as Arctic Silver or Antec.
I have never removed the heatsink from a 6600GT, but I strongly suspect that it will have the standard "white gunk" or a patch, and the silver compounds are 20x more efficient than either of those.
:)
A lot of the time the memory gets too hot and becomes damanged. If this is the case it is irrversable so good luck to ya -- hope it isnt.
No, I never overclocked the thing. I think it is a heat problem from too much dust and other crap.Quote:
Originally Posted by nihil
And if the problem is irreversible, then there is not a lot I can do other than replace the thing. It should be really, really cheap now.
Hi,
I suspect that you may have gotten away with it. These cards are fairly robust, and you don't mention seeing any "magic smoke?"
I would still be inclined to replace the thermal compound though, in case it has been compromised or started to "leak".
I am guessing that when things started to look weird you gave up fairly quickly, so you could well have avoided any permanent damage.
Good Luck :)
Basically just give it a quick test and see if it works, now you have evicted the dust bunnies.
I have no idea what tests to run. Therefore, I have no idea where to start.
Hi,
Easiest is to look at Google Earth and the Game again. Then replace the thermal paste.
What operating system is it?............... I will post you a link to a free "video card stability test"
I am a bit old fashioned, as I like to test with real applications before using benchmarking and analysis tools. My reasoning is that if it doesn't work with a real application it almost certainly won't with the more rigorous testing software, and even if it did, that isn't much good because it is the apps you want to run? :D
OK if the tests did work, I would at least try updating the firmware, and patching the applications.............
I'll Google it. Thanks.
Hi,
The link is here:
http://freestone-group.com/video-car...ility-test.htm
:)
With the latest nvidia driver you have the option of looking at the temperature of the GPU. IIRC you can leave it running to get a nice graph.
I had a 6600GT but I seemed to have fried it's memory. If that's the case you would also see artifacts and random screen corruption in 2D too (even in the BIOS screens). Blinking polygones in 3D applications and normal picture in 2D usually indicates an overheated GPU.
You could have a look around for a replacement fan. I replaced a fan once on an ATI 7600 with a passive heatpipe. Worked like a charm.
I added thermal paste, got rid of the dust, reseated the thing and still have the same issue. I am getting the gpu temp thing now.Quote:
Originally Posted by SirDice
ATI 7600?
Yes, the 7600 is an nVidia card. ATi would be the 7500 or the 9600 IIRC?
I didn't ask, but has this happened recently or have you only started using 3D intensive apps recently? Like did it work before?
You might try:
1. Set the colours to 16bit, refresh rate to 72Hz and the size to 1024 x 768.
2. Check the 3D settings and try changing them. These would be something like:
i] anti aliasing
ii] anisotropic filtering
iii] texture preference
iv] mipmap detail
v]alpha dithering method
vi] support DXT texture formats
vii] alternate pixel centre
Generally try them with "application default", and the minimum and maximum or alternative settings.
One thing that has occurred to me........... that card should be getting power directly from the PSU................ is that cable in place?
:)
Yeah, sorry, replaced fan on a ATI 9700 pro. And the fried memory was on an nvidia 6600GT. Friggin type numbers.. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by nihil
Actually... no. I'll have to buy one, huh?Quote:
Originally Posted by nihil
Hi Donkey Punch,
It is a bit weird, but that stuff happens with relatively powerful cards :confused: