Driver stopped responding - Issues with 2 different cards

[Synex]

About 2 years ago a build a PC:

i7 920
ASUS P6T
6GB DDR3 Ram (Can't remember the brand for the life of me)
Gainward GTX295
Corsair Tx850w PSU
Antec 1200

Right from the start I had issues with the video card; the driver would apparently reset, causing the screen to go black then return giving a message that the kernel mode driver (nddvlkm or something, I don't really remember) has stopped responding and has recovered. I would often get artifacts too. It would sometimes give a BSOD too. I took the card out and replaced it with my HD4850, which works fine with no issues.

I figured the issue with the GTX295 was a driver issue so I left it out for a while. Now what I need it's extra power to be able to play any recent games, I put it back in. I got the same issues. I've tried it in different PCIE slots (both x16). It worked better in a different PCIE slot. I didn't notice the driver resting, but I did get artifacts at one point so I decided that the issue wasn't solved. It seemed to work perfectly with multi-GPU disabled though I didn't test it for all that long.

Now I have my HD4850 back in, and it works perfectly for the most part. However, last night I had the display driver reset with a similar message to what my GTX295 gave. It also BSOD'd, though I don't remember the code.

I've RMA'd the GTX295, assuming it's a component breaking down or faulty or something, but now I'm worried that it's a PSU issue or something else.

Any help is appreciated, but I'm not willing to format and reinstall Windows at the moment (I can't afford to right now, I need the PC). My knowledge of computers is relatively basic, please keep that in mind.

 

[rolli59]

Card clean? Sometimes temp issues especially after 2 years of use and no problems!

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Removed old drivers ?

 

[Synex]

I dusted the open case with compressed air about 2 weeks ago, so things are clean as far as I know. I didn't spray directly into the card or anything for fear or damaging it, but it doesn't look dusty.

I ran driver sweeper in safe-mode when I put the GTX295 in, so drivers should be cleared.

 

[rolli59]

I dusted the open case with compressed air about 2 weeks ago, so things are clean as far as I know. I didn't spray directly into the card or anything for fear or damaging it, but it doesn't look dusty.

I ran driver sweeper in safe-mode when I put the GTX295 in, so drivers should be cleared.

Does not look dusty! The fins can be full of dust and lint although nothing is visible on the outside!

 

[Synex]

Does not look dusty! The fins can be full of dust and lint although nothing is visible on the outside!

I had this issue right from the start (2 years ago), so I don't think it's because of dust. I did attempt to clean the card with the compressed air, but I didn't want to spray it too much for fear or damaging it. How can I go about cleaning it safely?

Any other ideas? Could this be caused by any other component being faulty/otherwise damaged? It's happened to both cards so I'm worried that it's not an issue with the actual cards.

 

[rolli59]

I had this issue right from the start (2 years ago), so I don't think it's because of dust. I did attempt to clean the card with the compressed air, but I didn't want to spray it too much for fear or damaging it. How can I go about cleaning it safely?

Any other ideas? Could this be caused by any other component being faulty/otherwise damaged? It's happened to both cards so I'm worried that it's not an issue with the actual cards.

I was referring to the HD4850!
The GTX295 I would have RMA'd two years ago.
I take the cards out of the case so I can get direct blow through the fins! There is always a change the card is failing I had this happen with a X1900GT (18months old had 24 month warranty) ones and it was traced to failing Vram.