9800GT Death Throes?

[theWanderer8]

I would just like some input by all you knowledgable ppls.

 

Yesterday my 9800GT 512MB video card started to output distorted/fuzzy screens. I know it is the video card at fault because when I changed the card for another everything went back to normal. And when I installed the 9800GT in another system it caused the same artifacts on that system.

 

Here are the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52894520@N06/with/4878917356/

 

Notice how "Fuzzy Screen_2" which is supposed to be a simple post boot black screen with basic DOS-like writing seems to be the worstly distorted?

 

Has anyone encountered these sorts of artifacts? Is it an easy fix? My idea of an easy fix was to replace it with a HD5770 which I've done but it would be great if I could salvage it so that I can upgrade an older system which currently has a crappy 8400GS. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Vindekarr]

I got a similar effect from my trusty Radeon HD 4870, which though not of the same level of power, is only slightly older than the 9800. I havent used an Nvidia in about three years (this one faithful radeon just keeps on chugging away) but my radeon after moving house went crackly and staticy on screen, I cleaned the cables and the interior of my pc with a mini-vacuum and removed all the dust and the small bits of fluf from the HDMI plugs and that cleared it up.

[theWanderer8]

Thanks for the quick response! Will give it a try and let you know how it goes. Fingers Crossed!

[Illiad86]

If that doesn't work, it's dying :( Similar thing happened to my friend's 4870...screen looked exactly like that :( It made it to one more boot then he got no display. I told him to try it in a different motherboard and he got the same result...just a black screen. That thing ran crazy hot...I told him to put new thermal paste on it, they always put this crappy stuff on them...but he never did. Finally cooked itself :(

[Vindekarr]

Just a general computing tip, it may seem crazy, but the Vacuum Cleaner is the PC's best freind. Every weekend I use a mini vac to clean out the fans, and then the interior fans the nooks and crannies.

 

I have quite long hair which is very think, and that means that even well taken care of, I do get a little bit of hair that builds up in the same paces as dust over the years. it really pays to keep your PC's air shafts clean, fans as balanced as can be and running a litle overspeed for your needs, and the casing wiped down.

 

It can add years to the life of the parts, keeping them so well maintained. Just like you can keep a really old car on the road by keeping the internals immaculate, the same applies to PCs and almost all high tech devices.

[Illiad86]

oh yes :) Don't use a regular vacuum though :P Nothing like sucking a jumper out of the motherboard :P Also, 91-100% rubbing alcohol is your best friend :) Great for cleaning out the slots, the pins on the RAM, and it takes off thermal compound. Also great for cleaning off your fans :) Mama in law works at a circuit board factory and they got huge 50 gallon drums of the stuff for cleaning parts haha.

 

I have to clean mine at least twice a month. We live in a tiny apartment, I have long hair, we both smoke, and we have a cat...so I get 'nicocatdust' :P Nicotine is evil...don't smoke people mmmmkay? It's bad for your health and it stains everything a wonderful puke yellow...*sigh* More and more reason I should quit...

 

There have been a few times I got a BSOD and all that fixed it was a cleaning and a re-seat of my components. Amazing what dust can do...