Hi there, does anyone know whats going on with my Graphics card. I have started getting distorted scenary and projecting lines across my screen. Its now to the point where I cant play any games. I have uninstalled the driver and re-installe but it still happens.

I have the Nvidia Ge Force 79000 GS

Any Help would be appreciated

C.

Possible heat issue, or bad GPU core / Memory. I would start with cleaning HSF, as if dust build up, it may cause these issues, then re-apply thermal paste (AS5 recommended).

If still it doesn't work, I guess you'll have to purchase a new GPU.

Edit:

Is it overclocked? You may also try lowering down GPU/Memory speed by 15MHz respectively.

Agreed. Definite Artifacts which is overheating, and/or flawed hardware or even
on its way out. Who's the manufacturer of the graphic card? BFG? EVGA? If you're
lucky enough to have the BFG, then they do a lifetime warranty. They will replace
the card for you. Not sure which other companies lifetime warranties.

It could be the display itself, but more likely the graphics card.

What happens if you let your system cool down for a few hours and then power it up? Do the artifacts start right away while it's going through POST and booting, or does it take awhile?

Does it happen even if you don't play any games during that power-up session? (in other words, turn it on and let it sit for a few hours...does it still occur)

Do you have a way to measure the temps? (e.g. have you tried any system, GPU, or video card monitoring software? If so, what do they report when these artifacts first appear?

You can also try using a video card memory test program. e.g. BTW, this test must be run from its own boot disk...and .iso is provided with the download.

Something else you might be able to try, is to change your graphic card's fan speed profile. At the very least get your fan to spin faster at lower temperatures.

There are utilities for some cards that let you set the fan to higher speeds at lower temperatures. Or, if you can't do that, connect the fan to a manual controller and set it to maximum rpms when you are playing games.

Example of fan speed control program:
I use an ATI tool program to set up a fan speed profile for my ATI graphic card like this. Note that it's non-linear, and that as the temp crosses the 52C threshold, I ramp-up the speeds quickly

above..%of top
degC...fan speed

0.........35
43.......37
48.......41
52.......46
58.......65
62.......80
67.......89
70.....100

The idea is to provide optimum protection to the GPU while minimizing wear on the fan. The optimizing profile will be unique for a given video card.