Hardware Seems like my graphics card is having a 'slight' problem. z.z

[Skelletonike]

As soon as I got home, expecting to relax and enjoy my Friday while playing games on the PC, I unexpectedly encountered an unpleasant problem:



As you can see in the video, I get some rainbow show at start, then the computer goes on to load normally and well, so far it works normal with the unpleasant stripes laying there though, I'll try recording another video while the PC is being used for more details.

Ignore the video's tittle by the way, I recorded and uploaded that with the phone, before checking anything, I've already discarded the other two options.

I've also removed the Graphics Card and cleaned it inside, it did have some dust but the problem remains... I'm also unsure if it could be the DVI to VGA adapter:

Spoiler

Currently I don't own another one, so I can't be sure if the problem could be coming from the adapter itself (it's 5 years old now).


Well, what do you think the problem is? Driver? Broken? Damaged?

Meh... I just didn't want to spend money on new parts for now, but I'll have to buy a new motherboard and graphics card if this is indeed broken.


Thanks in advance.



EDIT: Here's the follow up video which starts from where the previous left off:



I hadn't tried it yet when I started recording, apparently the monitor has problems detecting the proper display settings and vice-versa... Due to not detecting anything, the monitor ends up suspending itself after a while.

 

[Eerpow]

Look into GPU baking if you can't fix it by other means.

 

[LockeCole_101629]

if you have a desk fan, you could try to blow it up from rear by opening rear case of your pc, although most of time a broken gpu can't be fixed.
you might want to check your PSU rail also.

it's quite rare adapter cause it.

Worst case is you have to replace graphic card & PSU.

 

[Skelletonike]

if you have a desk fan, you could try to blow it up from rear by opening rear case of your pc, although most of time a broken gpu can't be fixed.
you might want to check your PSU rail also.

it's quite rare adapter cause it.

Worst case is you have to replace graphic card & PSU.

The PSU works works just fine, it's still recent and I have some backup ones if I need them later.

I already cleaned the whole thing, I even opened the graphics card to clean it inside, still, it's quite strange... The PC was working just fine yesterday, no one touched it today before I came home, and when I do, it just becomes like that. >.>

 

[LockeCole_101629]

that's the usual symptoms before it dies completely.

 

[Celice]

Try booting without the graphics card inserted, to verify that is the problem.

When did you purchase this graphics card? You may still be eligible for servicing.

 

[Skelletonike]

Try booting without the graphics card inserted, to verify that is the problem.

When did you purchase this graphics card? You may still be eligible for servicing.

It's a Geforce 8800 model, I doubt it has servicing by this time. xP

 

[Originality]

This whole time I was wondering if it was a scaler problem (one of the chips on the graphics card). Now that you mention it's a 8800, it makes more sense. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that the scaler on the 8800 series wasn't cooled, so it eventually became the first part to die (usually after a couple years of thrashing first).
EDIT: after looking it up, I was mistaken. That's for Xbox 360.

 

[Skelletonike]

This whole time I was wondering if it was a scaler problem (one of the chips on the graphics card). Now that you mention it's a 8800, it makes more sense. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that the scaler on the 8800 series wasn't cooled, so it eventually became the first part to die (usually after a couple years of thrashing first).

I'm assuming it doesn't have a fix then? <.<

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

It looks like one of your graphics RAM chips has gone belly up.

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

I'm assuming it doesn't have a fix then? <.<

No scaling chips on PC graphics cards, no need for them as they support the resolutions that they output native. Just wanted to clear that up before it got any further.

 

[Skelletonike]

No scaling chips on PC graphics cards, no need for them as they support the resolutions that they output native. Just wanted to clear that up before it got any further.

I see, and is there a way to fix the ram chip? Would the re-flowing the solder work?

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

I see, and is there a way to fix the ram chip? Would the re-flowing the solder work?

I doubt that would work, if you could find a donor card with the same type and speed of RAM you might transfer the memory over... Usually when I have seen this its a bad cell in the RAM because it's not crashing its probably in the frame buffer?

It's probably just better to buy some new card, you can get cards with about the same performance these days for a decent price.

One thing you can try is downloading a bootable Linux CD, boot from that just to see if its not some weird software issue (I still think it's bad RAM, but it's nice to eliminate all the cheap possible solutions first.)

 

[Skelletonike]

I doubt that would work, if you could find a donor card with the same type and speed of RAM you might transfer the memory over... Usually when I have seen this its a bad cell in the RAM because it's not crashing its probably in the frame buffer?

It's probably just better to buy some new card, you can get cards with about the same performance these days for a decent price.

One thing you can try is downloading a bootable Linux CD, boot from that just to see if its not some weird software issue (I still think it's bad RAM, but it's nice to eliminate all the cheap possible solutions first.)

The PC is working just fine without the graphics card, I'm currently using the onboard one, it's crappy obviously, but it's good enough to manage for now.

I'm currently trying to see if I find a decent graphics card somewhat better than the one I had that doesn't cost a lot. xP

 

[urbanman2004]

Too bad I'm not able to see the video at work (Youtube blocked).

 

[DCG]

I would say a bad gpu aswel.
As it was said before, look up baking your gpu I thought the 8800 and 9800's had those bad soldering, but it will die withing 3 months anyway :/

 

[Celice]

I would say a bad gpu aswel.
As it was said before, look up baking your gpu I thought the 8800 and 9800's had those bad soldering, but it will die withing 3 months anyway :/

My 9800 lasted more than three years, and more, until my friend (who bought the card off me) ran in some 2k resolution and burned his machine into the ground D:

 

[urbanman2004]

By the way the streaks are running down the screen, I would take an educated guess and say that your gpu is wearing down. First, try using a different port on the GPU (i.e. HDM, VGA, or DVI). If that doesn't work try updating the drivers. If all else fails, try it against another working gpu to ensure functionality.

 

[DCG]

My 9800 lasted more than three years, and more, until my friend (who bought the card off me) ran in some 2k resolution and burned his machine into the ground D:

Wow, that's old for a baked card, I've read they only last a couple of months after it (which most of the time is enough, because it gives you some more time to find a new one)