Not STRICTLY limited to FNV tech issues, but...

Post » Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:25 am

if the RAM was defective, you would get random crashes/blue screens no matter what you do.
defective motherboards are rare and very difficult to diagnose.

all the images you showed indicate a broken graphics adapter.
and if you think about it, it should be very obvious, that it's the graphics card.
furmark running => more artifacts


check out some prices on the web or ask your competent forum folk for help on that one. =)

good luck with your new card. ~=)


They kind of are random crashes. Sometimes I'm able to run my computer just fine, like I'm posting here, other times I have to wait like 2 hours before the computer will work because every time I start it up, it's artifacting or not even getting to desktop. And when it freezes or artifacts, I eventually get to a BSOD.

I'm not hard-charging on the issue of whether it's RAM. I just don't want to go get a new card and find out this was something else. I can see what you're saying about the furmark test.
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Matt Terry
 
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Post » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:05 pm

I'm not hard-charging on the issue of whether it's RAM. I just don't want to go get a new card and find out this was something else. I can see what you're saying about the furmark test.


Based on all that I've read, I can't help but think that you may wish to try a different video card.

:)


If you are in USA, don't some stores allow you to return them if you change your mind?
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Timara White
 
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Post » Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:52 am

err, is it normal for a video card to just become useless after 2 years like this then? I've never heard of anything like that.

It may not be normal, but that does not mean you are one of the unlucky few it has happened to.

I am 90% sure it is your graphics card. The other 10% is reserved to the fear of zombies creeping up behind me.
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Natalie Harvey
 
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Post » Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:48 pm

What materials would I look at buying to fix the whole thermal compound thing for the video card?

93-97%+ isoparm alcohol
cotton balls,
que tips,
the right sized screw driver to remove screws off your gpu
pipecleaners helps you clean out the heat fins of the gpus's heat sink.

thermal compounds none conductive! "aka no artic silver 5 its conductive and has a cure/bake time"
MX-2
IC Diamond
Shin Etsu
These three will give you the best results for a gpu, make sure you know how to apply them also go to the evga forums and ask about the post on changing thermal compound I am sure someone will look it up and direct you to it.

Now going though all your post you do need a new gpu man=/ if your without a warranty go to my driver post you can try the bake method but its a last resort where your sol no warranty no money and have nothing to lose
Looking at your screen shots of furmark that is not normal and the signs of a failing card or a card that is too hot..... Im guessing you need a new card get the GTX 460 is a great card for the money, the GTS 450 not so much, but if money is an issue then it may be an option. The GTX 460 is the new bang for the buck card like the 8800/9800 GT where at there release. The GTX 460 has about the gpu power of a 285 GTX but includes DX11, runs cool, uses way less power, and is alot smaller.

Oh btw EVGA does have B-stock products only 90 day warranty but you pay alot less than it being new http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20 might be a good option to get a decent gpu at a good price
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Jessica Lloyd
 
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Post » Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:09 am

I have to agree w/ everyone else that this is a GPU issue. If you're not confident about temps, you can try speedfan and use the logging feature (don't use it for anything else, though.) Run it in the background and it'll write .csv log files to its main directory giving time and temps to whatever you want logged. This sounds like it's more than temps however I do believe in the process of elimination before resorting to buying new hardware.
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X(S.a.R.a.H)X
 
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Post » Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:36 am

I've managed to get an out-of-warranty replacement for my video card, it's all a waiting game now.

But while I'm waiting, and continuing to diagnose the problems, I've been noticing something that i normally ignored until now. Every so often, after a freeze, my computer will give me a notice that it detected that I plugged in headphones or some other audio device, and to confirm it. Since my sound is onboard my motherboard, wouldnt this point to a possible motherboard problem? Screenshot posted below:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9021/audionb.jpg
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[ becca ]
 
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Post » Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:06 pm

More pictures (have to use camera now)

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7901/cam1c.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1224/cam2y.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/8648/cam3p.jpg
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/5197/cam4a.jpg
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Lyndsey Bird
 
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Post » Thu Sep 02, 2010 1:18 am

yeah man your video card is going down hill=/
your next video card take good care of it, and it will last you a long long time, iv managed to keep 8800 GT's 8800 GTX's, an 8800 Ultra, a Geforce 7950, 5x 280 GTX FTW's and a 3dfx voodoo 5 55000 still working today because I took care of my hardware you look on alot of support forums and you see these cards going out left and right due to age and end user negelect my driver post actually goes into maintence to some degree but not in great detail on how to apply thermal compound, how to clean up the old thermal compound, how to take apart your card. Goes into detail in some degree on what exactly you need to do. BTW what brand is your video card? EVGA if you registered your card in 30 days of purchase and has a lifetime they honor it normally resulting in upgrades as long as you didnt take your gpu out back and beat it with a hammer...
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Kirsty Collins
 
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Post » Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:12 pm

is your fan speed reading correct? i mean ok 4 core is new to me since i never had one, but 27 rpm on cpu fan? (dont kill me for that noobish question pls^^)
had some issues like yours in FO3 long time ago: pixel chaos on screen, texture issues, system freezing (in game, office, net searching etc) and finally the cpu said "bye bye honey" found out that is was the fan that was spinning way too slow and never gave a warning.

strangest thing ever: while looking at screenshot my system shut down in not even 3 seconds wihtout any message oO something like that never happened before... man your screeshots are evil ;) (dont take it too serious)
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Lizzie
 
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