Video Issues

[Duke]

I'm currently running an BFG 8800GTS 640MB PCIE Video Card on my main rig and I'm not sure if it's giving me issues or if perhaps my PSU (Power Supply) is packing it in.

A while back I started to have heat related graphical issues and as such upped the cooling in my case with a 100mm fan blowing in cool air to the front of the card. I also added an additional VGA dedicated "tunnel fan" and aligned it's fan output with my VGA's heatsink fan for additional airflow. Prior to adding the cooling I was running in the mid 80's under load which has come down to around 79 under prolonged load.

Of course I've since uninstalled the nForce Drivers as they were causing no end of problems with my card meaning I'm now only using Nvidia Display Drivers. This solution worked fine for about a month or so but now I'm experiencing screen flickering and D3D Errors with my daughters Sims2 Games. Also, the bottom and top edges of my screen are compressing so the the viewable area of my monitor loses about an inch on both top and bottom of the screen; this happens after about 5 - 10 minutes of operation and comes and goes.

I'm pretty sure the monitor is fine and the video card is pretty new with tons of cooling so I have a hard time believing it's at fault (although it's possible). I was wondering if possibly my Power Supply is at fault as it's only a 504 Watt (continual load, 550 Watt Nominal) and perhaps underpowering the card causing issue.

I'm also running:

• E6600 2.4 GHz CPU
• 2 x 1 GB Kingston DDR2 Dual Channel @ 667 MHz
• 2 x Seagate Raptor 320 GB SATA II HD
• Creative Labs Audigy2

A similar card can be seen here.

Quoted from above link:

Minimum System Requirements

• 1GB of system memory
• CD-ROM drive
• 50MB of available hard disk drive space for basic driver installation
• Microsoft Windows XP operating system
• PCI Express-compliant motherboard with one vacant PCI Express x16 slot
• 450W PCI Express-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current rating of 30A or more

Here is my PSU.

Any ideas?

[PepsiChic]

I had a simular issue to the visual problems, my screen would flicker or id loose an inch around the sides, sometimes it would appear to be a funny blue or reddish tint to it as well.

Mine wasnt so much of a power problem (but upgrading the psu did help) but loose connectors with the gfx card itself. the solder on the card wasnt right because before i put in the new fans it got very hot and it caused a few problems.

[Mondo]

Even 504 watts will power all that lot. My work PC is similar to your system and runs off a 375 watt supply without issue.

I personally think its the video card but not overheating. If it was lacking in power the screen should just go blank, if it was overheating you'd get artifacts. Is it still within warrenty?

[Duke]

Thanks for the replies; I do worry it's the video card but another friend of mine suspects it may be the monitor instead. Since I have a backup 19" I'll plug it in and put it through the paces to see if I can replicate the issue.

...at least this test is easy, free and conclusive. I actually find myself hoping it's the monitor because a new video card is almost as expensive as a months rent.

[Duke]

So as it turns out it was the monitor causing the issue as my backup works flawlessly and the main monitor is freaking on my backup PC.

...loox like time for a flat panel.

[IR_Efrem]

I was about to reply and tell you to try changing the monitor... Dah well looks like you got it all sorted out anyhow. Glad to hear it!

if you want to actually use the other monitor on the backup PC try cranking the refresh rate way down. Perhaps to 50-60 or so, it might make the monitor usable for a good long time. It might also have an affect on yur eyes heh....

Anyhow, ttfn