Graphics card possibly broke?

[Carty]

Hi guys. This is driving me maaad, im hoping its not my graphics card broke but see what you all think.

I was playing Modern Warfare 2 the other day when all of a sudden my PC locks up, squiggly red lines appear across the screen, and then it reboots after 5 - 10 secs.

From then on I've had those red squiggly lines which have now changed to red vertical lines or staggered red dots. These start from as soon as the PC turns on before the POST, boot up, everything. In my limited knowledge if it was a driver issue I was under the impression this wouldn't be obvious until after the boot up.

In device manager the graphics card has got the exclamation next to it meaning there's a problem. I've updated the drivers, roll backed the drivers, totally uninstalled, and run driver sweeper. Also the monitor is just being picked up as "Default monitor" which im guessing is the fault of the graphics card but it means I can't change refresh rate or anything.

The device status of the graphics card is "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)" if that means anything.

I'm running Windows 7 64bit with a Geforce 8800GT

I've tried everything I can think of with my limited knowledge before coming here so please dont think I've run straight to you guys

Also my virgin media modem decided to pack up a week before this so why im waiting for an engineer to come im using a very slow dongle so i haven't included any screenshots, but I can do if needed. I'm not having to much luck recently, lol.

Thanks for any help!

Ben

[Jasp]

Defo sounds like the card is toast from what you have said. Easiest way to find out is to try another one if you have one handy.

[Ulti]

Even if you don't have another one and you have integrated graphics, just run the game through integrated graphics. If it lags but no dodgy graphics appear then the problem was definitely graphics card related.

[Dingo]

Definately driver related........Use the troubleshooting wizard for the device in the device manager to see if it can give a resolution.

[BEANFro Elite]

This happened on three of my graphics cards, the first time it happened was on a Power Color [sic] ATi Radeon 9700Pro and the second was an XFX Nvidia 7800GT and most recently a BFG Tech 7900GT OC (it seems to happen a lot with pre-overclocked cards) the problem on all occasions was that the memory modules had managed to overheat and become faulty, obviously due to the pre-overclocked values in the GPU's BIOS.

I'd imagine your warranty has expired seeing as its an 8800GT, however, as long as this is not due to any further overclocking or modding etc. then it'd come under a manufacturing defect so you might be able to get an RMA direct with the manufacturer, I'd hazard a guess and say it is an XFX or a BFG Tech as this happens quite often with these brands, at least thats what I found when I trawelled the web for answers at the time of their demises.

Sorry to dampen your spirits but its highly likely its bricked, so you can either invest in a new GPU or if money is tight seek an RMA citing a manufacturing defect, hope this helps

[synaesthesia]

Just another case of the 8800's biting the dust. Hope you're lucky and have a brand like BFG with lifetime warranty. Sent my 8800GT OC off to BFG and 4 days later had a GTX285 OC FU sitting on my doormat in replacement. Quite pleased - even more so if the thing fitted in my case

[mac124]

As much as i hate to say it it sounds like a fubar gfx card to me too.

[Carty]

Thanks for all the help everyone, even if it is the bad news I expected

As was said it was a BFG tech card and it was pre overclocked brought from overclockers. It's also well over a year old so i think my warranty is done and dusted, hehe.

Guess I'l get savin, and here was me thinking about getting into overlocking

[GoNz0]

Definately driver related........Use the troubleshooting wizard for the device in the device manager to see if it can give a resolution.

how do you figure this when he quite clearly states it happens during the bios screen, there is no video driver loaded until the pc is mid boot into windows.

Thanks for all the help everyone, even if it is the bad news I expected

As was said it was a BFG tech card and it was pre overclocked brought from overclockers. It's also well over a year old so i think my warranty is done and dusted, hehe.

Guess I'l get savin, and here was me thinking about getting into overlocking

contact BFG, it should have longer than a year, up to 10 iirc

[Bleak]

I had this problem about 3-4 weeks ago. The memory chips on the graphics card overheated I think. Started with Windows crashing as you described and then had the defect prior to POST as well.

Mine was an XFX 8800GTS and in all honesty it did have a load of dust in it when I had a look. Quite sure it was out of warranty and used it as an excuse for an upgrade.

[mac124]

If its a BFG card definately try to RMA it at least, i RMA'd a card i bought second hand, it was working fine when i got it but died a few months later, though i did tell a little white lie saying i can't remember what retailer it came from so had no proof of purchase, they still took it back and exchanged it .

Can't fault them on their service tbh, though the RMA proceedure its self is a tad confusing but a few emails soon sorted it out. I sent an 8800GTS 320OC away got a 9600GTOC back.

[GoNz0]

bypass OCUK and go direct to BFG's support. i sent a PM with the email for there support

[Domestic_Ginger]

Try the RMA otherwise the oven trick should sort it out! Read the instructions carefully.

[Carty]

Thanks for the help all. Got my internet back working properly now so going to start the RMA.

Crossing my fingers

[synaesthesia]

Good show. Most likely you'll get a 9800 or GTX260 back. BFG's warranty, as said, is 3 years standard or lifetime if you reigstered your card with them

[Carty]

Sent off the RMA earlier, I purchased the card January 2008 so in time for the 3 years thankfully.

How glad am I that i posted this up on here, I like you guys