Help!!

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 12:27

PC am bork.

Crazy graphical glitches appears on the desktop when it loads, a thin band of wrongness appears across the middle of the dektop then about 10 seconds after windows has finished loading the whole screen goes glitchy.

Graphics Card?
Processor?

It loads up in safe mode ok with no graphical problems

I'm gonna try my old graphics card later but any suggestions as to how I can find out what the problem is?

(Jam/eye interface options are not being ruled out at this point)

Sheriff Fatman · Post by **Sheriff Fatman** » November 4th, 2006, 12:29

On first impressions I'd say gfx card. Pull it out, give it a good clean and try re-seating it.

Or perhaps try re-installing the drivers. Make sure you completely scrub the old ones though.

Check the temps as well.

/standard advice

Post by **deject** » November 4th, 2006, 12:30

Given the graphical glitches, I'm afraid your video card is pretty borked. It may work fine in safe mode because it is only doing 640x480 with minimal colors, but it's pretty safe to assume it's about to die.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 12:30

YAY!

Fear · Post by **Fear** » November 4th, 2006, 13:22

If there is a fan on the gfx card make sure it still spins and that some ide/sata cable isn't jammed between the blades.

Only other thing is higher res = high freq data on the cable, so check the cable isn't damaged or resting against a monster of a power supply transformer or something like that.

I suspect tho it is eBuyer/OverClockers/Aria/<strike>Anne Summers</strike>/Dabs tiem.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 13:27

Fear wrote:I suspect tho it is eBay tiem.

Fix'd

Post by **deject** » November 4th, 2006, 13:33

I'm guessing you've still got an AGP slot.

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/118281

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » November 4th, 2006, 13:34

mrbobbins wrote:Fix'd

bad!

Seriously, new card, decent warranty (BFG's warranty is very good, IIRC) = WHIN.

Ebay can be fine for some stuff, but i don't really trust it for tech stuff most of the time.

Post by **Joose** » November 4th, 2006, 13:48

Dr. kitteny berk wrote: Ebay can be fine for some stuff, but i don't really trust it for tech stuff most of the time.

this.

Unless, of course, you find a decent card for a fiver. Then you might as well

cashy · Post by **cashy** » November 4th, 2006, 13:59

Probably caused by overheating, make sure the cards fan isnt almost touching a soundcard or something daft (yes, i did this

).
It's also worth trying the 'pull it out, put it back in' trick as this has worked a few times for me, although if its been acting up for a while then theres a good chance its fairly borked

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 14:08

Back on my PC now, removed drivers and it works ok @ 800x600 normal mode.

Gonna try driver reinstall but at a lower res than my standard 1900x1200.

Yep, still on AGP, but i've got a (potentially borked) 6800 GT 256mb so the ATI isn't any better,

If I have to get a new card I may as well upgrade but the only better model I can see is the 7800GS, but that's £180

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/103597

Unless I do a full system upgrade to Core 2 Duo

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 14:11

cashy wrote:Probably caused by overheating, make sure the cards fan isnt almost touching a soundcard or something daft (yes, i did this ).
It's also worth trying the 'pull it out, put it back in' trick as this has worked a few times for me, although if its been acting up for a while then theres a good chance its fairly borked

Nope, it has plenty of room to breath.

Post by **deject** » November 4th, 2006, 14:11

mrbobbins wrote:Yep, still on AGP, but i've got a (potentially borked) 6800 GT 256mb so the ATI isn't any better,

I think you'll find that you're very wrong on that point.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 14:17

deject wrote:
I think you'll find that you're very wrong on that point.

What's all this then?:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/graphics/ ... &chart=199

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/graphics/ ... &chart=211

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » November 4th, 2006, 14:26

you might *possibly* be able to revive your current card by underclocking it a little (use Coolbits)

as far as a full upgrade goes, i'd leave it a few weeks, given the kentsfields appearing will push the prices of the duos down

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 14:51

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:you might *possibly* be able to revive your current card by underclocking it a little (use Coolbits)

as far as a full upgrade goes, i'd leave it a few weeks, given the kentsfields appearing will push the prices of the duos down

I think it's proper borked, I switched to my small CRT before reinstalling drivers, half way through installation the screen went to shit with the same glitches, this was even before it had tried to change the resolution.

I took it out and reseated it, happened again.

I'm back to my good old Matrox Parhelia for the moment, (t)rusty workhorse

What kind of implications for Fista and DX10 are there with currently available hardware?

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 18:39

Ooh check this out

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/ ... Cards.html

X1950 Pro coming to AGP end of November, £190

This could be just what i need to keep my PC going for another year.

Special prize for anytone who can find one for sale now!

Post by **Roman Totale** » November 4th, 2006, 21:11

Have you tried hitting it with a big hammer?

I might not resolve the issue, but it will release some pent up rage.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » November 4th, 2006, 21:13

Roman Totale wrote:Have you tried hitting it with a big hammer?

I might not resolve the issue, but it will release some pent up rage.

Now that I know it's broken, hammer time may be imminent!

Post by **Roman Totale** » November 4th, 2006, 21:20

I should work on an IT helpdesk.

I have all the knowledge and the skills.