Video card running with faulty RAM?

[sl68]

I tried searching for an answer to my question before posting but I didn't find anything,so here goes.I have a Leadtek Geforce 2 Pro 64 MB video card.I was planning on making it the video card in my second computer when I get an AIW 9800 Pro.The original fan failed,so I installed a Thermaltake Crystal Orb on it.That worked for a while,but I ended up having to replace it.This time I installed a Zalman passive heatpipe cooler on it.That seemed to work fine,but a couple of weeks ago my video card started acting up.I would get artifacts on the screen,games wouldn't run,and the video drivers seemed to become corrupted.The rest of my computer is relatively new and I have updated drivers installed.I have had to reinstall the video drivers a couple of times.Meanwhile Windows only shows my card as a 32 MB card,whereas it used to show the correct 64.My question is can a video card run with part of the RAM malfunctioning?I definitely see a difference in performance in games like GTA Vice city.It's slow and choppy compared to how it used to run.Sorry if I got long-winded,just thought I would give a proper background on the card's history.

 

[jonnyurso]

If there is a faulty ram in your video card the system would simply hang in the applications. If you really had a faulty ram in the video card the system would boot up normally and while running an application, for example, the system would simply hang as if it had gone into suspend mode.
The artefacts you are telling us about is clearly a GPU problem.

 

[coolsquirtle]

well if u have fault ram, replace it like what GW tried to do LOL~~
anyways i dont think it's just the ram, try reinstalling your windows and try reinstalling the drivers after that

Proud Owner the Block Heater
120% nVidia Fanboy
I'd get a nVidia GeForce FX 5900Ultra... if i had the money and if THEY WOULD CHANGE THAT #()#@ HSF

 

[Flinx]

Read some other posts in here.

As I recall (no personal experience btw), heat dissapation or rather the lack of can create artifacts.

Do you have more than the power supply fan in your case?

If not try installing two and try to get a good airflow.

Check you internal (mobo/case) temperature in the BIOS or with a utility (bios is more sure)

The loving are the daring!

 

[Crashman]

Yes, you CAN burn out some of the RAM and end up with a card that shows up with less. I saw a guy overclock a Pro like yours and after it overheated, end up with a perfectly operational 16MB card!

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[Crashman]

I should also note that if the GPU cooler sits over the RAM without touching it, it can prevent the RAM from getting the airflow it needs to cool down!

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