Graphics Problems!

[Slick]

Right I started having a couple of problems with my comp recently then yesterday my graphics card's gone crazy, not sure if they're related but I'll post both.

1) A few weeks ago my comp would just suddenly cut out and restart for no reason whatsoever. It seemed to happen more when it was hot which is weird cos my comp has lots of cooling in. I thought it would either be the PSU or processor. My processor was slightly overclocked but I underclocked it to 800Mhz, I put really slack ram timings on and didn't run any fast programs and it still happened. My PSU is a Qtec550w one so I thought I might need a new one.

Then this problem started happening less and suddenly yesterday the main problem happened:

2) I noticed that on my second monitor (analogue) whenever the mouse went over to the screen there would be a greenish box around the mouse. I ignored this and then a few hours later I decided to try to hook my tv up to my computer. I turned my TV on and suddenly my second monitor completely went all white, you could vaguely make out the shape of programs running behind it. I turned off and unplugged this monitor. Then I turned my computer off.

Today I turned it back on and I'm getting a large greenish screen which flickers to black on my primary monitor (digital). I've no idea what to do! My graphics card is a radeon 9500 pro which has never been overcloked.

On IRC it was suggested I should remove the card, blow on the AGP slot and clean it with an eraser, this didnt help. I also tested my monitor on another computer and it worked. Is my graphics card completely knackered? (its only just over a year old) Are the problems related? Any other suggestions?

update: I have also tried removing the graphics card and putting an old PCI one in. The PCI one worked fine on both monitors.

[Shogun]

Heat problems maybe? Thats the first thing that comes to mind.

[Slick]

I doubt it, its freezing cold in here atm, my computer has 8 fans running and everythings running at either stock speed or underclocked. The crashing did happen though a few weeks ago when it was hot weather so that could have contributed to the first problem.

[Shogun]

Tbh i would try it in a different pc, just to make sure its the card. Can troubleshoot more from there.

[Slick]

Ok just tried that and its thrown back some interesting results.

My card will work on another computer but now wont work at all on my main computer (not even showing green shapes anymore).

So what are we thinking now? Motherboard problems?

[Slick]

the plot thickens...

now I've tried using another AGP card in my computer, and it works!

so...my graphics card works on another computer
and another graphics card works in my computer

but together...they dont

(oh and I'm back to the green/white screen again on my comp)

[Shogun]

Thats very strange. Might be power problems tbh. The q-tec might not be providing enough juice on bootup which would make it not boot. I expect that you are using an older card in your main rig now? Which would draw less power.

[Slick]

Im using an old card now but getting lots of problems, it isnt recognising 2 of my hard drives and the power is cutting out after 5 mins. Is there any way to test the PSU? its 550w which I would have thought would be more than enough

[Shogun]

Its q-tec. Can you rip the psu out from the other system if it is beefy enough and test using that instead? Try disconnecting everything you dont need, cd rom drives, all non boot hdd and the such. See if it runs better then.

[Slick]

ok we may be onto something, I cant test another PSU on it which would handle the system at the minute but Ive unplugged a lot of hardware and its not cutting out anymore.

However, I am getting black barcode lines over parts of my screen, so I'm not convinced that there isnt a graphics problem there. Also the fact my second monitor went white the moment I turned my TV on (which was plugged into my graphics card). How could that be explained by a PSU failure?

[Shogun]

Hmm a power surge from the psu could have done some damage but im not sure.... Normally it cuts output to all my monitors whenever i plug a tv into my video card, you updated drivers or anything recently?

[Slick]

no, although one was running dvi and the other analogue.

[Shogun]

Try getting a new psu and doing a full format/reinstall the drivers. Might sort it.

[Slick]

ok cheers for the great help. I wouldnt mind a second opinion though before blowing £70 on a decent PSU. Im not convinced there isnt another problem, if it was just the PSU, why does every AGP card I try (even the basic ones) create some errors on the screen wheras PCI ones work fine?

[da_ging]

dude you have a qtec even if your system was running fine you should still get rid of the pos that is the qtec

[Ravens Nest]

You dont need to spend £70 on a PSU, you can get the CWT 350W PSU from scans for £24.62.

It's the one i have got and my PC has never been so stable and i have had the PSU for over 6 months now also it is supposed to be the same as the Antec..

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=59490