Major artifact problem and pc lockup.

[Heyaa]

Just about an hour ago, a lot of artifacts appeared on my screen while playing WoW and the whole computer froze.
Tried reinstalling WoW now and reinstall + update all drivers.
Still, I get the same problem and as far as I know it only happens while playing WoW now. Tried with HL2 with every setting at highest and went just fine, so maybe something with WoW.
Could also be that WoW just presses more out of the PC than HL2 does regarding RAM usage, but I tried Memtest and that went just fine too.

Pc spec:
CPU: AMD 3200+ (512 cache, old version)
GFX: PoW 6800GT
RAM: 2x Kingston 1024 mb

So if anyone knows any information about this problem I have, I would really appretiate it.
The possibility of formating the computer is there, but I won't do that unless it's inevitable.

Thanks.

Heyaa :)

[Phyx]

Some ideas...

1. Try to "clean" youre PC from dust inside the chassi (might give more heat).

2. If u have overclocked your GFX card try to lower it some.

3. Maybe try to lower the settings some for the memory.

4. Any new installed software that fucks up?

5. Try to use 3Dmark05 and see if u get some artifacts then.

[Heyaa]

Thanks for the input mate :)
Just checked for dust and I cleaned out all that was in there, but still no improvement, same artifact and PC-freezeup.
Used to overclock a lot before, but the PC has been on standard settings since before the summer, so.
Haven't installed any new programs (as far as I know anyway).

Will download 3Dmark 05 now and have a check ;)

Again, thanks for the help, really want to get this fixed fast :)

[Peete]

What do you call artifact btw ?

[Heyaa]

Because just before the PC freezes, the whole screen is filled with artifacts. Then, some seconds later, the PC freezes and I just have to slap the restart button.

[Hovis]

Have you updated to new drivers recently? Word is the 8 series Nvidia drivers have a few issues.

[Heyaa]

Yup!
Used DriverCleaner and removed the mobo and GFX card drivers and updated to the newest Nvidia drivers.
3D mark 05 is soon downloaded so I'll report back here if I get artifacts there or not ;)
If artifacts appear in 3Dmark 05, I think I'll remount the VGA Silencer on the graphics card to check for heatdistribution problems.

[Defiance]

Heyaa:

Check if your GFX fan is still working, your card is overheating, therefor you're getting those symptoms, and pray it's your fan only.

You got 2 possibilities:

Busted cooling (pray you have this one because it's relatively easily fixable).

or

Busted GFX card (in essence, the chips are "burnt out" due to a variety of possibilities, like sustained overheating etc.).

Seen it so many times, and usually it's not a pretty sight.

[Heyaa]

Ok, yesterday I tried to run 3dmark05 after removing the fan, putting on new coolingpaste and checked the RAM chips.
Everything looked just fine and standby temp in Windows was 50°C.
Ran 3Dmark 05 and just as it loaded, I got the artifactthing and the computer froze.
Tried to restart it, but no picture on the screen and if I pressed the start-button it turned off immeaditely (meaning the PC isn't loading the HDD).
Got the bootsound, but again just a black screen.

Gonna deliver it to a PC-repairshop after school today, so he can check which component is fubar.

I have the feeling it's the RAM since when I tried to take out one RAM chip and leave 1 in there, the PC started making alarmsounds.

Anyway, I hope the repairshop is fast (usually takes 2-3 days depending on which component is destroyed) so I can get back online as fast as possible.

Thanks.

Heyaa :)

[Toparsokker]

artifacts + no screen = defect ram on the gfx card.

[Heyaa]

I see, then I have a feeling this is gonna be expensive :(

[One Armed Scissor]

hmm you have a bollocked PC and it happened by playing WoW too... i see a pattern! sue blizzard!

[Heyaa]

hmm you have a bollocked PC and it happened by playing WoW too... i see a pattern! sue blizzard!

Hehe yeah!

Anyway, my screencard is broken, so I'm gonna remount the old cooler and send it back. Hopefully they will send me a new one for free, but it's gonna take a couple of days before they have 6800GT AGP in stock, unfortunately :(

[Fusion]

:(

Get back soon m8!

[Hovis]

Did you say you tried to run 3d apps on a graphics card with no cooler?!?!?!

I would be amazed if it ever works again. They stick those things on for a reason you know. :eek:

[Volw]

you tried to remove RAM with PC turned on ?!? :eek:

oh, and when you are at part 'experimenting with coolers', don't even think about removing CPU cooler :)