GPU Issue - OS/Gaming Artifacts/Freezing

[kidzer]

Hi Folks.

I've recently noticed odd graphical errors in Windows/Ubuntu - and had the occasional freeze/artifacts in games (GTR2 has frozen a few times, Company of Heroes had displayed artifacts on occasion).

I also recently chucked a 3rd GiB of RAM into the machine, I can't say for sure - but I've only really noticed these issues since I put that stick in.

Let me describe the issues I'm having with regular desktop-y stuff;

When Vista loads, there is the black screen with the pretty windows logo - and then the login screen appears - which should be a smooth transition to the pretty login screen, it isn't though - sometimes the password box will appear and the rest will appear about half a second later, other times it will fade in as normal - but with parts black for about half a second (lines of black, basically).

In ubuntu, when the nVidia GPU drivers are installed, a splash screen with an nVidia logo should appear before you are presented with the GDM display to log in, in my case it isn't - I'm getting a black screen with an odd section of sometimes random colors on the bottom right of the screen - also in Ubuntu, using 7.10 with desktop effects enabled - one of the effects appears to be giving artifacts - see below....



odd, imageshack has resized them - nevertheless, you can still see (especially in the 1st one I've posted) where these artifacts seem to be occuring.

I've removed the stick of RAM that I got, and the Vista logon screen error has gone - I've not played CoH/GTR2 since, but I shall try them over the weekend - the Ubuntu errors remain, but I am using an OS there that is 1 day old - so they might be software issues, but I would expect more folks to be having them, and from my googling I can't seem to find any!

I'd rather it was the stick of RAM and some 7.10 bugs, I don't want to have to return my GPU!

Any advice welcomed

[Blitzen]

When Vista loads, there is the black screen with the pretty windows logo - and then the login screen appears - which should be a smooth transition to the pretty login screen, it isn't though - sometimes the password box will appear and the rest will appear about half a second later, other times it will fade in as normal - but with parts black for about half a second (lines of black, basically).

I get the screen tear when the log in page comes up sometimes. I tried going to a different driver and all went well. I think its just a driver issue.

If the card was effed then the artifacting would start from post onwards. (Well my old X850XT did anyway and that was knackered memory on the card).