Screen Coruption

[BioBen 3]

Turned on the family computer today and bam! Annoying green and pink coruptions.

The coruptions start from the moment the BIOS starts

 

5 year old computer

Intel Pentium 4, 3000 MHz

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

512 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)

MEDION RADEON 9800XL

Tevion monitor (works fine, just tested it on my laptop)

 

Here's a screenie:

I'm thinking it's the graphics card crapping out, and time to get a new one. But i thought i'd get some other opinions first.

[Fiesta 0]

That does sound like the video card, actually. Unplug and reseat it (clean it while you're at it), and use a different cable. Then Google around to see what the newest Catalyst set you can get for the card is, install it, and see if all that fixes it. If it's still doing it, then the card is probably screwed.

Edited March 23, 2009 by Fiesta

[Julbri 0]

haha thats funny, bet Mrs B was happy.

 

[Malevolence 6]

Ouch. That's terrible. Here's some options for replacing your Graphics card.

 

Nvidia

8500 GT

8600 GT

 

ATI

HD 4670

HD 4830

 

 

Don't bother trying with Nvidia GTX 200 series or Radeon ATI HD 4870s and beyond because they will be bottlenecked by the slow processing power of the almighty pentium 4.

[Fiesta 0]

Let's not go as far as suggesting replacing just yet. It's best to see if it can be fixed first. Although you actually posted fully accurate information, which is good.

[BioBen 3]

I'll try those tomorrow fiesta thanks.

Keep in mind with your new Graphics card suggestions that this is just the family pc, no gaming at all. so a good standard one is all we need.

[Sonic 296]

The coruptions start from the moment the BIOS starts

 

Tevion monitor (works fine, just tested it on my laptop)

What you said their basically points to the video card being the culprit. Try what Fiesta said. Remove, clean contacts, reseat card.

 

If that doesn't help you will need a replacement card.

[Fiesta 0]

Keep in mind with your new Graphics card suggestions that this is just the family pc, no gaming at all. so a good standard one is all we need.

 

The 8500GT is a perfectly good "standard" video card, really. Very cheap and does everything you need in a family system without gaming.

[Luk3us 63]

Get an 8800GTX.

 

[Malevolence 6]

The 8500GT is a perfectly good "standard" video card, really. Very cheap and does everything you need in a family system without gaming.

 

Yes it is an awesome card for family use. But i must correct your statement on "without gaming". I own one of these for free, I tested it out and I was amazed that it still runs on all C&C games up to RA3 pretty smoothly. :lol:

[Fiesta 0]

Yes it is an awesome card for family use. But i must correct your statement on "without gaming". I own one of these for free, I tested it out and I was amazed that it still runs on all C&C games up to RA3 pretty smoothly. :lol:

 

It's not really meant for high-end gaming, though, that's what I mean. It'll handle everything you said, but he won't be doing that. That's the point.

 

Get an 8800GTX.

 

Good luck finding one. It's a very old card that's been effectively discontinued. In the last couple weeks, though, the GeForce GTS 250 was introduced; it's simply a GeForce 9800GTX+ with a shorter PCB and better power management (which means only one 6-pin connector is needed). These new cards run between 120 and 160 dollars, awesome deal. Paired in SLI they'll go against a single GeForce GTX 285 and win; though you'll have to deal with microstuttering in a few games.

[Malevolence 6]

It's not really meant for high-end gaming, though, that's what I mean. It'll handle everything you said, but he won't be doing that. That's the point.

 

I'm sure he'll be aware of it too. Actually my point was to debunk the statement that 8500GT can't play games. Which isn't true. It can play games, by at low settings.

 

 

Good luck finding one. It's a very old card that's been effectively discontinued. In the last couple weeks, though, the GeForce GTS 250 was introduced; it's simply a GeForce 9800GTX+ with a shorter PCB and better power management (which means only one 6-pin connector is needed). These new cards run between 120 and 160 dollars, awesome deal. Paired in SLI they'll go against a single GeForce GTX 285 and win; though you'll have to deal with microstuttering in a few games.

 

If he uses GTS250, his old PSU may not have the 6 pin connectors, or worse case scenario, not enough watts to power up the GPU.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

If that starts when the computer is booting, it's probably the controller or the slot. The BIOS doesn't initialize any graphics drivers so how can that be the problem? I've seen this before and it ended up being more than just the video card itself.

[Fiesta 0]

I'm sure he'll be aware of it too. Actually my point was to debunk the statement that 8500GT can't play games. Which isn't true. It can play games, by at low settings.

 

Huh? That's not what I said.

 

 

If he uses GTS250, his old PSU may not have the 6 pin connectors, or worse case scenario, not enough watts to power up the GPU.

 

I'm replying to the statement, I'm not making a suggestion. A GTS 250 would be so far beyond overkill for his needs... plus it would be bottlenecked, as you said, by the CPU.

[Luk3us 63]

There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to computer components.

[Fiesta 0]

That's very true but there ARE bottlenecks and it's best not to touch them.

[Malevolence 6]

Touch what? I'm lost for a moment there.

 

So have you cleaned the contact points?

[BioBen 3]

Grrr, This computer is a bitch to open up... I'm busy. maybe later tonight.

[Malevolence 6]

You'll be amazed by the dust collected and the aging messy IDE cables. Prepare a cloth when you open up the rig.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Be better to use canned air to clean out the inside. Never ever use anything wet to clean any computer component.

[Malevolence 6]

To add on to what DD said, do not use vacuum cleaners because of static interferences.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Not true. I use a small vacuum cleaner to suck out big chunks of dust and the caked on dust at the bottom of cases all the time.

[Fiesta 0]

I just pick out the big chunks by hand and air-blast the layers out. Not that I have to do that much if at all anymore, since every fan intake is filtered.

[BioBen 3]

Update: It's just doing it on left half of the screen now.

And no i haven't opened her up and had a clean yet, I'll do it tonight...promise.

[Malevolence 6]

Not true. I use a small vacuum cleaner to suck out big chunks of dust and the caked on dust at the bottom of cases all the time.

 

Actually I was refering to those normal/big vacuum cleaners we have at home.

 

 

 

 

Bioben, do take snapshots of your work! I want to see whats going on in there!!!