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General discussionHelp! I think my graphics card has died :((54 posts)(54 posts)
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Posted January 12, 2016
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korell: Well, during a gaming session last night my PC froze up. No keyboard input was registering so I had no option but to use the manual reset button. It booted back up okay, but on trying to play again it froze up again, but much faster this time, and on having to use the manual reset button again I noticed that this time my BIOS screens were covered in lines of dots, and the only way I can get Windows to boot is in safe mode. So, I think my graphics card is pretty much dead.

Now this is an old PC. It was 7 years old in December and this has been its first failure. It is an old architecture, however.

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 @3.16GHz
4GB DDR2 RAM
XFX GTX260 Black Edition
1TB Seagate Barracuda hard drive (approx. 70% full)
Windows Vista Ultimate x64

Now, firstly, it is likely that I'm correct in my assumption that the graphics card has had it? Secondly, considering how old the PC is, should I look at getting a cheap graphics card to keep it ticking over for now to give me time to research a new PC build, or go straight in for a new PC?

I've heard that there are new PC technologies coming in that are worth waiting for, but I'm also conscious that I've not kept myself up to date on the current PC architecture so I'm at a bit of a loss as to which components go well together.

If I go with the cheap graphics card option to keep it going, what would be suggested for my other PC specs?

And lastly, if and when I get a new PC (as I will have to get a new PC at some point anyway, whether it be sooner due to this issue or later if I can keep it ticking over a little while longer) I have concerns that my printer/scanner won't work. It is a Canon PIXMA MP630, and the official Canon site only has drivers for up to Windows 8.1, nothing for Windows 10. Anyone know if this printer/scanner works with Windows 10?
I had wavy lines and dots when my GPU died.
I got a MSI GTX 750 ti 2GB that works great. There were other cheaper options than the MSI version
Get win 7 pro if you can I had Vista 32 bit home premium and had a heap GOG games I couldn't get to work but are now fine after get win 7.
My specs are:

MB= P35 Platinum (MS-7345)
CPU= INtel core 2 duo E6750@2.66GHz
OS= Win 7 pro
RAM=8GB

If you can find a GTX 750 cheap go for that
Post edited January 12, 2016 by HG1995
Posted January 12, 2016
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HG1995: Get win 7 pro if you can I had Vista 32 bit home premium and had a heap GOG games I couldn't get to work but are now fine after get win 7.
For some reason Vista 64-bit is way better than 32-bit. Had them both running on the same PC at the time (for work reasons).
Posted January 12, 2016
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HG1995: Get win 7 pro if you can I had Vista 32 bit home premium and had a heap GOG games I couldn't get to work but are now fine after get win 7.
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ET3D: For some reason Vista 64-bit is way better than 32-bit. Had them both running on the same PC at the time (for work reasons).
I agree, Vista 64, although bloated and with a few little niggles here and there, has actually served me quite well, and games in general have been fine, not just GOG ones. Win7 is better, of course, but if I end up getting a new PC then I daresay it'll be Win10, which I know very little about at the moment.
Posted January 13, 2016
Just added some photos showing the dots I'm getting on the various screens.
Posted January 13, 2016
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ET3D: Vista is fine. 7 is lightly better, but I've used Vista for years after I had a copy of 7 to install because it functioned fine. (That said, I had 8GB of RAM.)
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nightcraw1er.488: Vista is dreadful, I would revert to XP rather than use that, hell I would revert to DOS rather than use that. 7 is better, even 8 with metro interface is better. Anyway, we digress.
Vista isn't that bad, it's not as good as 7, but it's a hell of a lot better than 10.

Provided that you've got proper drivers for the hardware and you're running software that's actually meant for versions of windows post XP. A lot of the older software doesn't understand that it shouldn't be doing a lot of shit with the system folders.
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korell: Just added some photos showing the dots I'm getting on the various screens.
Those definitely look like either the video card or the motherboard. If possible, I'd recommend just borrowing a video card to see as there's no point in buying a new GPU only to realize that you need to replace the rest of the system.

I suppose it could also be a cabling issue, but I don't think that's as likely.

The other thing to do is to open the case up and look around to see if there's anything obviously wrong, like bad caps.
Post edited January 13, 2016 by hedwards
Posted January 13, 2016
Have you tried groping it's chest and sticking your tongue down it's mouth ? That usually works.
Posted January 13, 2016
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hedwards: The other thing to do is to open the case up and look around to see if there's anything obviously wrong, like bad caps.
Bad caps?

Thing that gets me is how it just happened out of the blue. No warning signs really.

I'd been playing Killing Floor 2 with friends for about 2 hours and all was fine. Then I did about an hour of web browsing, checking emails, etc. Then I started up Rocket League and it was about 2 minutes in (after getting to menu, inviting friend, searching for a server and then a short playing time - it crashed immediately after I scored, too). Couldn't do anything except press the reset button. After getting back to Windows and all looking fine I loaded up Rocket League again. Crashed much faster this time as I didn't even get into a game server, but this time on resetting I got all those artifact dots and now it won't boot into Windows unless it is safe mode.

If only I had another GPU around to test with.

Might try and take a look inside at the weekend, clean it out, check cables, maybe try the other PCI-e slot. Not holding out much hope, though.


Out of interest, being as I know very little about Windows 10, what is it about it that you dislike? I've used Vista and 7. Never used 8.1. My best mate has 10 and I got to look at it the other weekend, but not in depth. Main thing I took away from it was how I didn't know where things were, like the Control Panel. All hidden away in a right click on the Windows Start Menu icon.
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Licurg: Have you tried groping it's chest and sticking your tongue down it's mouth ? That usually works.
Think it's probably gone beyond needing some love and attention.
Post edited January 13, 2016 by korell
Posted January 13, 2016
Didn't read the whole thread.
What kind of PSU do you have ?
Posted January 13, 2016
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Potzato: Didn't read the whole thread.
What kind of PSU do you have ?
Zalman ZM850-HP. Modular 850W PSU. Should be more than enough power for the components I'm running. It is 7 years old, though, along with the rest of the components. Wouldn't a PSU issue mean that it wouldn't do anything at all, though?
Posted January 13, 2016
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Potzato: Didn't read the whole thread.
What kind of PSU do you have ?
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korell: Zalman ZM850-HP. Modular 850W PSU. Should be more than enough power for the components I'm running. It is 7 years old, though, along with the rest of the components. Wouldn't a PSU issue mean that it wouldn't do anything at all, though?
First thing first. Check that the video cable isn't loose...
Second, check your GPU temps, make sure it looks okay.
Posted January 13, 2016
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korell: Wouldn't a PSU issue mean that it wouldn't do anything at all, though?
No, but I don't think it will result in these symptoms. It could be part of a deeper problem though. It may be that the graphics card is dead but the reason is the motherboard or PSU failing to supply the right current, and in that case replacing the graphics card may not be a solution.
Posted January 13, 2016
How about cleaning the slots?
Posted January 13, 2016
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hedwards: Vista isn't that bad, it's not as good as 7, but it's a hell of a lot better than 10.
...snip
Ah, by comparison. I suppose a needle in the eye is better than a pair of scissors, however neither option is good.
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amrit9037: How about cleaning the slots?
Why did that sound downright dirty to me?
Post edited January 13, 2016 by nightcraw1er.488
Posted January 13, 2016
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nightcraw1er.488: Funnily enough, I get that on my PS3 when playing GOW, haven't been able to fix as yet. Probably its the graphics cards - could be HDD going also. I assume you have thoroughly vacuumed inside the machine and made sure the vents are clear of obstruction, heat is one big problem for computers. I would check cpu and gpu temperatures whilst operating, there is software out there to do it, if you have Nvidia I think they have a toolkit to check it. I would check all that first, and if you have a spare HDD try that. However 7 years old, you may be better off just buying a new one.

Oh, and get rid of Vista too, awful operating system. You can pick 7 up for peanuts.
Agreed. This is the perfect time for the OP to upgrade. I had a HDD failure a couple of months back. Bought a Win 7 disk online from a vendor (boot disk version cost me about 15 dollars.) I bought a new Western Digital HDD, installed Win 7 on it, and had all my drivers updated and was back in business in under 2 hours.

I'd also recommend Speedfan for monitoring GPU temps. It's a very low impact background program that will help you monitor core temps and fan speeds. And it's also free.

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
Posted January 13, 2016
With a 7 year old system you can expect more issues to pop up soon. The power supply may be next if it hasn't been replaced already.
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korell: I've heard that there are new PC technologies coming in that are worth waiting for,
Keep in mind this is always the case with the PC. Waiting on new technology is like watching your mother playing Frogger. She’s just indecisively waiting by the side of the road hoping the cars will stop.
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Community
General discussionHelp! I think my graphics card has died :((54 posts)(54 posts)
(54 posts)