New video card advice...

DeaconX

Well, it's a sad day.  It seems my GTX 670 is dying.

this issue just started yesterday while I was playing Fallout: New Vegas - it goes far beyond gaming however as I get 'flashing pixels' out of games as well. Especially while trying to watch a video in full screen mode.

VIDEO OF THE ISSUE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGKNXp2f2iQ&feature=youtu.be

Unfortunately you can't see the little pixels that occur so here is a screenshot:


I just opened up a jpg on my pc and the pixels appeared on it. They usually flash randomly depending on what's on the screen.

Some specs:

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System Information
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Time of this report: 8/10/2013, 00:43:31
       Machine name: X-WATCHTOWER
   Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
       System Model: System Product Name
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 10/29/10 22:06:58 Ver: 08.00.15
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU         960  @ 3.20GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
             Memory: 12288MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 12280MB RAM
          Page File: 2806MB used, 21750MB available
        Windows Dir: C:Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11

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Display Devices
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          Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
       Manufacturer: NVIDIA
          Chip type: GeForce GTX 670
           DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
         Device Key: EnumPCIVEN_10DE&DEV_1189&SUBSYS_28401462&REV_A1
     Display Memory: 4042 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1994 MB
      Shared Memory: 2048 MB
       Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: 273ELH
         Monitor Id: PHLC07D
        Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
        Output Type: DVI
        Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.2049 (English)
     Driver Version: 9.18.13.2049
        DDI Version: 11


-I've disconnected/reconnected the video card from the motherboard, the cable between the video card and the monitor
-I've CLEAN INSTALLED the very latest display drivers
-Temperatures for my GPU and CPU haven't risen beyond 50c
-I tried running 3dmark11 - got a message after it crashed: Display driver stopped responding and has recovered

Seems it's a VRAM issue... so I've resolved that I will have to purchase a new video card.

 

These are the ones I'm currently looking at - I welcome any thoughts/suggestions:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130921

EVGA SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling 02G-P4-2774-KR GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card

$419^.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127741
MSI Gaming N770 TF 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card
$399.99


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500301
ZOTAC ZT-70301-10P GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 Video Card
$389.99

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423
GIGABYTE GV-N670OC-2GD GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$374.99

Reizla

Don't you have any warranty left on it? The card can't be that old...

Anyway, if you have to buy a new one, I'd say go for the MSI, or check the EVGA site for a 770. Both MSI and EVGA are the best nVidia builders IMO and give the best service. Also wroth to note that when you buy an EVGA GTX770 you'll get the new Rise of the Triad game ;-) And at certain stockists you also get the new Splinter Cell game too...

DeaconX

Originally posted by Reizla

Don't you have any warranty left on it? The card can't be that old...

Anyway, if you have to buy a new one, I'd say go for the MSI, or check the EVGA site for a 770. Both MSI and EVGA are the best nVidia builders IMO and give the best service. Also wroth to note that when you buy an EVGA GTX770 you'll get the new Rise of the Triad game ;-) And at certain stockists you also get the new Splinter Cell game too...

Unfortunately no, I don't have the warranty - I'd much rather get the new Splinter Cell game I think

Anyhoo, added another option:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130921

EVGA SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling 02G-P4-2774-KR GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card

$419^.99

Dihoru

Get a Radeon Sapphire (7950 if you wanna go for the cheapo: http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11196-16-20G/dp/B0098HW1HG/ref=dp_ob_title_ce )

Ridelynn

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Originally posted by DeaconX

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Originally posted by Reizla Don't you have any warranty left on it? The card can't be that old... Anyway, if you have to buy a new one, I'd say go for the MSI, or check the EVGA site for a 770. Both MSI and EVGA are the best nVidia builders IMO and give the best service. Also wroth to note that when you buy an EVGA GTX770 you'll get the new Rise of the Triad game ;-) And at certain stockists you also get the new Splinter Cell game too...

---

Unfortunately no, I don't have the warranty - I'd much rather get the new Splinter Cell game I think

Anyhoo, added another option:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130921

EVGA SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling 02G-P4-2774-KR GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card

$419^.99

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Why not get the normal ACX cooling version, save yourself $20 or whatever, and do that 60Mhz overclock yourself?

Also, keep in mind that's an internal exhaust version. Not necessarily a bad thing, unless you weren't aware.

Quizzical

While your symptoms are certainly consistent with a video card frying, I'd also like to know what case and power supply you have, as those can sometimes cause problems--or contribute to a video card frying.  You certainly don't want your new card to die for the same reasons as the old one.  And there's also a chance that your card isn't permanently dying, but only overheating or some such.

Iselin

First things first... have you looked at your GPU temps when it's artifacting?

Download MSI Afterburner: http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm It works with all brands of cards based on both nVidia and ATI chipsets. It will give you an accurate real time log of important factors like GPU voltage, core and memory speeds and most relevant to your problem, temperature. It can also take over controlling your GPU fan according to your user parameters. For testing purposes, set the GPU fan to manual and 100%.

 

There is an included stress testing utility in the package, Kombustor, that will stress your video card in a window while you monitor all the relevant info. Run that.

 

That will tell you right away if the most likely cause of your problem, the cooling fan on the card, is working or not. if it's the fan that's wonky, you'll see the temperature spike up to 90+. A visual look at the fan while it's operating wouldn't hurt either. But if you set the fan to 100% like I suggested above, if it's working you should be able to hear the noisy little thing. If the fan is faulty or dead, replacing it is not too hard.

 

Another thing to try...depending on who your video card mfg is, your card may have been slightly overclocked from the factory--it's something many do to try to compete. If you have one of those, "underclock" it back down to the default for that GPU (915 MHz  / 980 Turbo, memory 1.5 GHz)