Potentially defective new graphics card (GTX 860)?

[idsuge]

I just bought a new MSI GS60 Ghost laptop, which was delivered this afternoon. The computer was working flawlessly, until I decided to test out the card by playing Skyrim. Every time I have tried to play it, I get these graphical glitches:

Thinking it was perhaps something with my Skyrim install, I tried out another game. Same thing. All programs I have tested using the card have done similar things, smearing the image to the left. Even the test image on the NVIDIA Control Panel is doing the same thing.

I have tried so far:
- updating the graphics drivers; trying both an upgrade, then later uninstalling and reinstalling
- only using one monitor instead of the dual monitor set-up I had initially.
- making sure the computer was the only thing plugged into the outlet to see if it was the GPU not getting enough power
- turning off vsync as I had seen suggested for more minor graphical tearing.
- the old fashioned turning the computer off/on.

This is leading me to assume it is a hardware defect, but before I return it, I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do software-wise that might fix it. I need it for school, which is starting this week, so I would like to avoid a return if I do not have to. Thank you for any assistance.

 

[Thelps]

I just bought a new MSI GS60 Ghost laptop, which was delivered this afternoon. The computer was working flawlessly, until I decided to test out the card by playing Skyrim. Every time I have tried to play it, I get these graphical glitches:

Thinking it was perhaps something with my Skyrim install, I tried out another game. Same thing. All programs I have tested using the card have done similar things, smearing the image to the left. Even the test image on the NVIDIA Control Panel is doing the same thing.

I have tried so far:
- updating the graphics drivers; trying both an upgrade, then later uninstalling and reinstalling
- only using one monitor instead of the dual monitor set-up I had initially.
- making sure the computer was the only thing plugged into the outlet to see if it was the GPU not getting enough power
- turning off vsync as I had seen suggested for more minor graphical tearing.
- the old fashioned turning the computer off/on.

This is leading me to assume it is a hardware defect, but before I return it, I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do software-wise that might fix it. I need it for school, which is starting this week, so I would like to avoid a return if I do not have to. Thank you for any assistance.

Download GPU-Z and alt-tab directly from a game to your GPU's temperature reading.

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

Cards often display artifacts such as those pictured when they're overheating.

This can be due to a poorly installed card, or fans failing to spin at the correct speed or at all.