How do I finish off my 8800GTS without physically destroying it?

[razztastic]

Hey guys,

So I have an old 8800GTS SC 320mb in my work computer. I noticed it started to be real flakey when gaming for a few hours. I checked the temps and to my surprise they were 100+ after gaming. So I realized I had a problem. Cleaned out the fan, got everything so it was idling around 60 degrees, not great but it works, under load with games it gets to around 85-90 degrees, still no TOOO bad, BUT my games will freeze & blue screen after about 2 hours of gaming or so, just before that I artifact up like crazy and my screen goes real weird(sorta like if you had a bad vga cable and you were wiggling it around while active).

Anyway, If I run ATI tool bench, it gets up to 104 degrees and stays there - no errors for hours on end, I had it running for a max 6 hours straight at 104 degrees not getting any errors.

I have reinstalled the drivers a few times, I triple boot this PC and checked in XP 32bit and Vista 32bit, main OS is Vista 64bit.. So I don't think it is any driver issue.


I am really afraid that I will waste time if I send it in for an RMA because the benches in ATI tool all look fine, how can I finish this card off once and for all and get it replaced?

 

[soundefx]

As you yourself said, Ati tools did not show any errors on the card. So maybe it is NOT the card.
Have you tried testing the RAM the same way you tested the card?
Does the case have good air flow.

There are other causes of your problem, so only testing the card and wanting to get rid of it doesn't make much sense.

Try testing the card on another computer at least.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Run Furmark for a couple of hours.

 

[jay2tall]

What brand card is it? If it is still under warranty, simply call their support and let them know it is starting to have issues.You may have to work through "their" steps to troubleshoot it. But once they allow you to return it under warranty they will replace it, fix it, or possibly replace it with an updated version of your card if it is no longer in stock or manufactured. I've seen that before to.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

If you're outta warranty, stick the base plate in the oven for 6-7 minutes and see if it does any good...I've heard it actually works in some cases

 

[Mousemonkey]

If you're outta warranty, stick the base plate in the oven for 6-7 minutes and see if it does any good...I've heard it actually works in some cases

Even more so for any 9800GX2 owners out there who are having problems and may be reading this thread. [:mousemonkey]

 

[jaguarskx]

Run Furmark overnight.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Run Furmark overnight.

So long as the smoke detectors are working, I presume is what you meant to say. :lol:

 

[razztastic]

I am still in warranty, its EVGA so I have lifetime warranty. This is my old backup card too, I have a 9800GTX+, so not having my 8800gts for a bit is not a big deal.

I ran "scan for artifacts" for a long time and it was at 104 degrees for hours, that did not kill it I dont know what running furmark will do differently.

and as per troubleshooting:
I did do a memetest and swapped the 8800gts for an 8600gt that my work had for a day, the 8600gt didnt have any issues at all when playing games... shoulda said that earlier.

 

[coozie7]

BlueScreenDeath: In the oven like this?

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1421792.

Razztastic: Just stick a match into the fan to stop it working and let nature take its course.
Or you could remove and clean the HSF, replacing the thermal paste at the same time.

 

[razztastic]

If i remember correctly there was a wire coming out of the fan connected to the PCB board, is that the connection for the fan? Maybe i
ll just give that an old unpluggin and let it die.


I have a picture of it here:

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

This thread is bordering on Fraud, take the info you have and run with it.

Just as a heads'-up, if you unplug the fan it will register on the card that it had been unplugged. Something like that would be fraud, however running a Benchmark like FurMark for a long period of time would be something more consistent with 'normal' use.

 

[razztastic]

Hah, there is nothing wrong with wanting a video card that works properly. With some video card RMA experience in the past, I know they they will not thoroughly test the card - They will just send it back to me saying there is no issue.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

BlueScreenDeath: In the oven like this?

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1421792.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Hah, there is nothing wrong with wanting a video card that works properly. With some video card RMA experience in the past, I know they they will not thoroughly test the card - They will just send it back to me saying there is no issue.

Yes, however doing things like unplugging the fan to cause failure of the card through your doing, because you can't troubleshoot the source of the issue which may be outside of the card is not the same as simply 'wanting a video card that works properly' now is it?

That's the extent of my warning, take it as you will, but that's the end of my warnings in this thread.

 

[razztastic]

Yeah I understand that, I don't want to screw over evga or anything either cause they are a great company and has TRIED and has helped in the past with other difficult video cards.

As for troubleshooting, I am open to any suggestions that I have not already tried. I worked as a "Tier 2" tech agent for a computer company for years and I think I troubleshot everything correctly.