Artifacting?

**MagicLess** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 04:39 PM

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...001/screen.jpg

When I was talking with jessycubed she was mentioning that her screen was pixelated. I didn't have a good idea what she meant so I asked her to send me a screenshot, and by the one I received I'm guessing that the 8500GT that keeps having early work unit ends is from a poorly done factory overclock, and with a lack of active cooling, is probably overheating.

Any thoughts on this as to possible other cause?

**Sirrobin4ever** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 04:58 PM

Be brave and go into the case and touch the heatsink....did it burn you? If the answer is yes, get a small fan and attach it to the heatsink somehow. Likely just overheating.

**Dean** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 05:08 PM

Did you check GPU temps at all? Update drivers? What driver is she currently running?

-Dean

**MagicLess** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 05:23 PM

When I took out the 8500GT previously the heatsink was hot enough that it felt like it would have burned me if I had touched it while it was running.

Attaching a fan might be tricky, putting in the HD3850 that's over there would be easier, but it can't really fold. Then again, neither can that 8500GT.

Driver should be latest within the past couple of weeks. Actual temps I'm unsure on.

**Sirrobin4ever** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicLess

When I took out the 8500GT previously the heatsink was hot enough that it felt like it would have burned me if I had touched it while it was running.

Attaching a fan might be tricky, putting in the HD3850 that's over there would be easier, but it can't really fold. Then again, neither can that 8500GT.

Driver should be latest within the past couple of weeks. Actual temps I'm unsure on.

Adding fans is easy! Just buy a cheap fan from somewhere, and use hot glue to attach it to the heatsink. The heatsink, although it gets to a high temperature, can't get hot enough to melt the hot glue. Plug it in, and you're done.

**rugrat2553** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirrobin4ever

Adding fans is easy! Just buy a cheap fan from somewhere, and use hot glue to attach it to the heatsink. The heatsink, although it gets to a high temperature, can't get hot enough to melt the hot glue. Plug it in, and you're done.

This also works for a NB

**tool_462** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 07:14 PM

Yeah, overheating for sure. Just slap a $1 80mm fan on there and/or underclock the memory a bit and see if that helps (without hurting PPD)

**JumpingJack** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 07:35 PM

This looks very much like a card issue ... and it looks like it is a fault in the VRAM either a bad chip or a bad controller.

The periodicity of the 'speckels' makes me think a bad column in the chip.

**MagicLess** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tool_462

Yeah, overheating for sure. Just slap a $1 80mm fan on there and/or underclock the memory a bit and see if that helps (without hurting PPD)

I attempted through Rivatuner to underclock, and it wouldn't allow it. Might need to mess with a BIOS underclock, but that's too much work.

Jessycubed reminded me of something, and I agree with her idea of moving the computer across the room. It's right in front of the heating register, and the PCI port shield beneath it is off.

Nothing like a nice blast of burning hot air to help the longevity of a computer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JumpingJack

This looks very much like a card issue ... and it looks like it is a fault in the VRAM either a bad chip or a bad controller.

The periodicity of the 'speckels' makes me think a bad column in the chip.

Bad chip wouldn't surprise me too much. When I bought the card last year it was an impulse buy, and the factory overclock didn't sound too bad. Boy have I learned a lot since then.

Thanks for that technical input.

Afrodisiac · #10 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 05:22 AM

**** the graphics problem, there is another one that should be fixed first... The Sims? COME ON WTF!?!

**MagicLess** · #11 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrodisiac

**** the graphics problem, there is another one that should be fixed first... The Sims? COME ON WTF!?!

*Kicks Sevag in the crotch.*

Know your roll, *****. I was the one who installed that.

**tool_462** · #12 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrodisiac

**** the graphics problem, there is another one that should be fixed first... The Sims? COME ON WTF!?!

It has been known to occur...12 hour Sims 2 binges by an entire floor in the dorms...

Plus its the only game my girlfriend would play

jessycubed · #13 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 06:11 AM

I turned the computer off last night for about 90 minutes, and ever since I turned it back on there hasn't been any artifacting.

I had it on all night, folding, and still no artifacting.

gomerpile · #14 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JumpingJack

This looks very much like a card issue ... and it looks like it is a fault in the VRAM either a bad chip or a bad controller.

The periodicity of the 'speckels' makes me think a bad column in the chip.

I have a 5700 that did exactly that lost its timing. This would happen then go away. Then finally it died still works its just to weird looking

**MagicLess** · #15 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessycubed

I turned the computer off last night for about 90 minutes, and ever since I turned it back on there hasn't been any artifacting.

I had it on all night, folding, and still no artifacting.

Hopefully the problem goes away, or a powerful card with a silent, but effective, fan falls into your lap.

m25 · #16 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 02:28 PM

Glad you seem to have solved the problem,... it was a nice looking effect though, ta least as a screensaver

gomerpile · #17 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 11:40 PM

Nice read here boyz some of the things here are quite useful in troubleshooting the problems of artifacts.
Diagnose video card problems by comparing with example corrupted screens
I have been studying for my A++ few more months and I'll be ready for self exam. No not the brain boyz. Anyways site that were not known to me are starting to become everyday sites for learning T.S.