Odd linear artifacts in games

[mlewis]

Hi All,

I've built my first PC. Incredible, so far, I'm really chuffed. However, in some games I'm getting some really weird glitching; always on characters, strange sharp narrow spikes of variable length emanating from the character model. It happens on The Witcher 2, SW:TOR too, and MS Flight, and Arkham City; all unpredicatbly but fairly regularly.

I'm running the latest drivers from NVIDIA, I've updated the BIOS on the GPU, the temperatures on the card are never more than 75C so I'm at a loss. Scan have offered me an RMA, but I'm nervous about that as they'll charge if they don't find a problem. It doesn't happen in Furmark or Heaven benchmarks, oddly, which makes me wonder what the games do that the benchmarks dont. Does anyone have any bright ideas or can explain this for me?

I have some pictures but can't post them as I'm a new member here

Specs:
Intel Core i5 3570K
Ssung 12X BDROM
8GB 2x4GB CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9
120GB AGT325SAT3120G AGILITY 3
Asus P8Z77-V Z77 MoBo
CAIR 650W CMPSU-650TXV2 PSU
2GB ASUS GTX670 DIRECT CU2 TOP
1TB SGATE ST1000DM003 SATA3

[Tonka777]

Pretty likely to be a bad GPU, with vertex placement corruption in the memory, IMO.

Other than trying a few different driver combinations, all you can do is RMA it. Make a video of the problem, or send your pictures as supporting evidence when you send it back, so those who test know what they're looking for.

[ladcrooks]

I built a pc for my sister, used a hd6870 and the tech guys could not find a problem, i had to spell it out to them. Never went down on games or their stress tests! it was when the card was using less of a power draw!

I read somewhere it needed more voltage ...... bla! bla! cant remember exactly so it was happening in 2D apps and not in 3D this was a big thing with the Hd cards at the time!

[hesham1516]

Try reseating the graphics card and make sure the power connectors are in properly, and if that doesnt fix it, borrow a friends graphics card if you do not own a spare and try it to see if you get a similar problem which should tell you if the problem is the gpu or the pci-e connector.

[deejayburnout]

You dont say what resolution you are running the games at.

Do you still get the same problems on lower quality settings and lower resolutions?

[Viper81]

Have you tried testing with the onboard graphics?