Video games artifacting/freezing/sputtering?

GT2000 · 12-21-2006, 09:58 AM

These are classic signs of video card problems, more notably, heat.

I had these issues last week with Battlefield 2142. Running 2 Evga 7800gts in sli, made it a bit easier, although more time consuming, to troubleshoot. I noticed that during bf2142 sessions my video temps would go over 100c..and eventually peak at the 115c threshold that the Nvidia control panel sets. It was at that point where the game would freeze and cause me to force a reboot.

Having the 2 cards helped me troubleshoot this, I pulled one of the cards and never saw temps over 88c, this is about the temp at which the fan was kicking into overdrive and dropping the temperature back down to the low 80s (still a bit too hot for my liking but ambient temps are no good). So I threw in the other card and started to experience the same issues, temps pushing 100c+ and locking up.

So out of curiosity I logged into my Newegg account to check when I purchased the cards, and if I would still be able to RMA them.. purchase date was 1/06/06, RMA was available for replacement or repair. Score.

As of now I'm waiting on word back from Newegg on either a like replacement item or a refund of the current market value (not to exceed the original purchase price of course).

So as always, Newegg proves to be superior when it comes to customer service

, and the temperature in my room continues to be good at destroying hardware.

GT2000 · 12-21-2006, 05:51 PM

Good 'ol Newegg.

I was offered either a brand new EVGA 7950GT 512mb, which retails for $270, $240 after rebate, or $260 cash. I took the cash, and won't complain, the 7800gt's cost me $300 each almost a year ago.

Metallistar · 12-22-2006, 07:35 AM

Score, I've had very good luck with newegg over the years. I've returned a few mobos and a couple hd's all with very little hastle.

GT2000 · 12-22-2006, 10:08 AM

Yeah, this makes my..5th RMA in 4 years with them. A couple of them were crapshoots with refurbed/open box mobos..you know how those go.

Metallistar · 12-24-2006, 09:02 AM

been down that road, remember when epox mobos had a bad habbit of poping caps? Had to rma a few of them refurb mobos.

GT2000 · 12-24-2006, 09:38 PM

Yeah, I posted about one here a year or two ago.. and just recently I rebuilt a friends machine that I built a long time ago with an Epox, cracked that bitch open and what did I see, yep, ruptured caps.

GT2000 · 01-12-2007, 04:41 PM

I might have to recommend staying away from EVGA cards at this point, as my 2nd 7800gt out of the two purchased just over a year ago has started to exhibit the exact same problem.

Started playing the Vanguard open beta today after a horribly long download/install lastnight.. (the download is 6.5gb, and the game to install takes around a mere 17gb..)

Playing the game with my lone 7800gt I started to get artifacting, I minimized the game and opened up the nvidia control panel only to see +100c temps again..

Getting a zalman cooler in a bit, hopefully it does the trick..

GT2000 · 01-12-2007, 07:48 PM

Got the vf700 cu (zalman) and installed it, plus the ram sinks that it came with.. booted up to an idle of 44-46c as opposed to a high 50s c before.

12-21-2006, 09:58 AM	#1
GT2000 Playing God @ Your Xpense Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Va Beach, Va Posts: 2,040	Video games artifacting/freezing/sputtering? These are classic signs of video card problems, more notably, heat. I had these issues last week with Battlefield 2142. Running 2 Evga 7800gts in sli, made it a bit easier, although more time consuming, to troubleshoot. I noticed that during bf2142 sessions my video temps would go over 100c..and eventually peak at the 115c threshold that the Nvidia control panel sets. It was at that point where the game would freeze and cause me to force a reboot. Having the 2 cards helped me troubleshoot this, I pulled one of the cards and never saw temps over 88c, this is about the temp at which the fan was kicking into overdrive and dropping the temperature back down to the low 80s (still a bit too hot for my liking but ambient temps are no good). So I threw in the other card and started to experience the same issues, temps pushing 100c+ and locking up. So out of curiosity I logged into my Newegg account to check when I purchased the cards, and if I would still be able to RMA them.. purchase date was 1/06/06, RMA was available for replacement or repair. Score. As of now I'm waiting on word back from Newegg on either a like replacement item or a refund of the current market value (not to exceed the original purchase price of course). So as always, Newegg proves to be superior when it comes to customer service , and the temperature in my room continues to be good at destroying hardware. __________________ Hop in, strap down, and hold on tight.

12-21-2006, 05:51 PM	#2
GT2000 Playing God @ Your Xpense Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Va Beach, Va Posts: 2,040	Good 'ol Newegg. I was offered either a brand new EVGA 7950GT 512mb, which retails for $270, $240 after rebate, or $260 cash. I took the cash, and won't complain, the 7800gt's cost me $300 each almost a year ago. __________________ Hop in, strap down, and hold on tight.

12-22-2006, 07:35 AM	#3
Metallistar Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wakeman, OH Posts: 320	Score, I've had very good luck with newegg over the years. I've returned a few mobos and a couple hd's all with very little hastle. __________________ 1997 GTP & 1998 GTX http://www.metallistar.com

12-22-2006, 10:08 AM	#4
GT2000 Playing God @ Your Xpense Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Va Beach, Va Posts: 2,040	Yeah, this makes my..5th RMA in 4 years with them. A couple of them were crapshoots with refurbed/open box mobos..you know how those go. __________________ Hop in, strap down, and hold on tight.

12-24-2006, 09:02 AM	#5
Metallistar Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wakeman, OH Posts: 320	been down that road, remember when epox mobos had a bad habbit of poping caps? Had to rma a few of them refurb mobos. __________________ 1997 GTP & 1998 GTX http://www.metallistar.com

12-24-2006, 09:38 PM	#6
GT2000 Playing God @ Your Xpense Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Va Beach, Va Posts: 2,040	Yeah, I posted about one here a year or two ago.. and just recently I rebuilt a friends machine that I built a long time ago with an Epox, cracked that bitch open and what did I see, yep, ruptured caps. __________________ Hop in, strap down, and hold on tight.

01-12-2007, 04:41 PM	#7
GT2000 Playing God @ Your Xpense Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Va Beach, Va Posts: 2,040	I might have to recommend staying away from EVGA cards at this point, as my 2nd 7800gt out of the two purchased just over a year ago has started to exhibit the exact same problem. Started playing the Vanguard open beta today after a horribly long download/install lastnight.. (the download is 6.5gb, and the game to install takes around a mere 17gb..) Playing the game with my lone 7800gt I started to get artifacting, I minimized the game and opened up the nvidia control panel only to see +100c temps again.. Getting a zalman cooler in a bit, hopefully it does the trick.. __________________ Hop in, strap down, and hold on tight.

01-12-2007, 07:48 PM	#8
GT2000 Playing God @ Your Xpense Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Va Beach, Va Posts: 2,040	Got the vf700 cu (zalman) and installed it, plus the ram sinks that it came with.. booted up to an idle of 44-46c as opposed to a high 50s c before. __________________ Hop in, strap down, and hold on tight.

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