Erm, weird pixels part 2.

[Mobius]

I posted this thread a while back, and have noticed something since then... Read on!

A while ago I posted about a problem I had when playing games for a long period, such as strange colours/pixels flickering on my monitor, and occasionally a strange smell emitting from my computer area.

Well, this problem occured with any game I played, aside from 1 game which I run in windowed mode (Dark Age of Camelot) ... after this problem I didn't play any other game but DAOC for months, because it was so infuriating having to reboot every 5 minutes.

A couple of days ago I reinstalled WoW and after a while, the old problem returned. I had graphics bugs ingame, and a strange smell (I don't know whether its from the monitor, computer, or what.) I decided to try WoW in windowed mode, and its been fine ever since. I've been playing Battle For Middle Earth in windowed mode lately and had no problems either.

It sound strange, but it appears as if running games in full screen mode is the problem (Perhaps it uses more cpu, or something? I'm unsure) but basically I was wondering whether this is a problem that can be fixed. Have I got some conflicting issues with hardware or drivers, or a setting, that makes my pc have problems running games in full screen mode?

I've tried to use google, but its not an easy thing to search for.

My specs are ... AMD 64 3700+ 2.21ghz, 2gb of ram, Radeon x850 256mb gfx card.

I use windows XP pro, SP2, and I also have a Samsung Syncmaster 913N monitor.

When it occurs, I usually don't recieve an error message. The graphics bug will appear (it differs from game to game, with how it looks) I've tried continuing to play, but it worsens, until my pc locks up, and then when I switch it back on immediately, there will be odd pixels on my monitor.

If anyones got any ideas, I'd appreciate it. I'm slightly mystified.

 

[SheepCow]

Sounds a lot like an overheating problem, probably your graphics card (GPU or the RAM on the gfx card) as you're getting corruption. You could try taking the side of your case off and setting up a big fan.

I think the newer ATI cards have temperature sensors on them so you could find an app that will show you the temperature. You can get the same thing (MBM) for CPUs.

 

[smurkin]

I remember the post - you could try taking a picture of the screen and trying and in-game screenshot. That way you can post the piccies here and send them to the shop that sold you the kit. This is pretty valuable if you have an intermittant fault. You might like to see if you can get piccies of the fault in different games - that way the shop cant easily blame the software. The other thing is to borrow a graphics card.

 

[strangely brown]

It sounds more like a timing issue with the monitor to me. This can be caused by a number of things:-

1. Faulty graphics card is not setting the correct horizontal and/or vertical frequency ranges requested by the driver.

2. Graphics driver specifying frequency timings not supported by your monitor.

3. Your monitor has a fault that only happens in specific screen modes.


Regards
SB

 

[Mobius]

It sounds more like a timing issue with the monitor to me. This can be caused by a number of things:-

1. Faulty graphics card is not setting the correct horizontal and/or vertical frequency ranges requested by the driver.

2. Graphics driver specifying frequency timings not supported by your monitor.

3. Your monitor has a fault that only happens in specific screen modes.


Regards
SB

What can I do to check/fix these problems? I am extremely dense.

 

[SheepCow]

A screenshot from ingame where there is corruption and a photograph taken of the monitor when there is corruption would be good. Checking temperatures would also be good.

strangly brown's number 1+2 is very unlikely, the monitor would probably just turn off or display a message saying the freq. is out of range.

 

[Gat_Decor]

If you look at my reply on the original thread, I bought a new Card and everything is fine

 

[Mobius]

Well, I found ATItool, and ran did a "scan for artifacts" ... after around 7 minutes of finding no errors, the small 3d graphic began to get the exact type of graphic bugs I get ingame, and they became more and more frequent until my monitor switched off and I had to reboot (the smell was there too)

So obviously my gfx card is overheating. I've taken both sides of my case off and its not having enough effect to keep it cool. I'm going to try and get a fan to blow into the side, but is there any way I can alter the speed or memory of my graphics card (underclock?) it so that it won't go to a point where it begins overheating?

 

[Mobius]

My friend recommends I buy this

Would it help me somewhat?

 

[Ch3tan]

Is your card under warrenty still?

 

[Mobius]

My friend recommends I buy this

Would it help me somewhat?

Okay so I bought this and the fan moves fine. I put thermal paste on, etc. For some reason the temperature is EVEN HIGHER now. Idle it is at like 110. I don't understand, how it can be worse? I put my hand in and I can feel cold air being blown out. Its meant to be a good cooler, and my friend helped me connect it and everything seems fine. What can possibly be the problem?

 

[SheepCow]

Is your card under warrenty still?

...

 

[Mobius]

Yeah but like I say I'm moving to Australia in 9 days. I won't be able to get it back in time. (I've got to send everything off to be shipped in 6 days)

Plus its an online company. It took them 14 days just to send a new hard drive.

 

[smurkin]

Is your card under warrenty still?

Not now you put a new cooler on

Its not going well this story. Did you make sure you carefully removed the old gunk from the cpu and RAM?

Tbh, if you fitted it correctly and its still really hot - your card is borked (of course the temp sensor might be wrong). I'd clean up, put the old cooler back on and send it back to the retailler (the card that is) - they will maybe test it - find it to be forked, replace it - send the naff card back to the factory where hopefully it will go straight into the bin. I mean what is there to lose...its really only good for desktop work.......

 

[smurkin]

by the way...australia? that must be marvelous.. very cool.

 

[Moo]

totally unrelated but...

buy an xbox 360 before you leave for austrailia!!! they're not out there for ages yet and you'll prolly be able to sell it for a packet!

 

[Mobius]

Well my mate came round and fixed it. I'm not sure how he did it but its working fine now, except for 1 small problem... (You knew it was coming)

I'm not getting any sound anymore! I've tried my speakers in every available socket, and have double checked every setting twice over, and I'm hearing nothing. I've also tried my brothers older speakers (the socket is a weird one that sort of connects to where the psu goes, with the psu plugged into it) and that one doesn't work either (I think thats due to me not having a soundcard though...as I used onboard realtek audio thingy)

Do you think the problem is internal, or are my speakers just shit? (They cost 15 quid from Dixons)

Can I get my own tech subforum please?