Broken videocard ?

[GMtheBest]

I have a BFG 6600GT and I started to recieve artifacts in several games after about 15 min of gaming (they got progressivley worse). The video card is not being overclocked, fan is working and no dust anywhere. AC is on and the case lid is off. I am assuming it is overheating. I checked the temps 1 min after quitting my game and it was at over 100 degrees celcius. Right now it is idling at 62 degrees. Should I RMA it ? Has anyone gone though an RMA procedure with BFG ? Do you think they will send me the same video card, or a newer version 7600GT ?

 

[GMtheBest]

Anyone ?

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Why would they send you a 7600GT?

 

[fire400]

check the video game first and then make sure it's not software for sure. test it on everything, once you come to the conclusion that it's not the graphics drivers and OS operability coping, you can say it's the gfx card.

there have been cases of bad 6600's, where most techs wouldn't even attempt to power a machine on with it to test it. 100c is terrible. a prescott runs at 60 on idle. your card is trashed.

the rma will not likely give you an upgrade unless you pay extra (but I doubt it).

 

[GMtheBest]

Yeh, its beeng doing it on several games, tried different drivers, etc I figured they would give me a newer card since the 6600GT is discontinued

 

[jimmyj68]

Depending on how old your card is, it might be a good idea to remove your card heatsink and fan, clean up the contact surfaces and reinstall the heatsink fan with some AS5 or equivalent. The thermal grease used on OEM cards can dry out after time and be doing nothing to help cool the GPU. Again, I'm saying this on the assumption you have had the card for about a year.

 

[Sniper82]

I had the exact card and the exact problem when I had mine. Turned out there was dust inbetween the heatsink fins which you can't really see unless you take the card out and look in them. I was about to package my card for RMA till I seen it. I cleaned it off and all was well.

 

[GMtheBest]

Well i guess i could clean it myself, but then wouldn't I void my lifetime warranty ? I will speak to BFG and see what they have to say.

 

[Sniper82]

You can clean the heatsink off while its on if there is any dust on it. I mean look inbetween the fins on the heatsink good. If there is just a little bit of dust clean it good. Taking the heatsink off could void your warranty. If cleaning the heatsink off doesn't fix it I would just RMA it. Not sure if the 6600GT's have thermal controlled fans but if they do, do you happen to have Rivatuner installed?

 

[0roo0roo]

no thermal paste? or not enough? i have a pny 6600gt, in the clockspeed area thers a setting for fan always on, so i guess it may throttle, i've never tried to look, kinda hard to do with a video card.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: GMtheBest
Yeh, its beeng doing it on several games, tried different drivers, etc I figured they would give me a newer card since the 6600GT is discontinued

the 6600 isn't old enough for them to send you a new card, I'm sure there are plenty in stock?

you should ask them and see if you could just upgrade and pay the difference?

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: fire400

Originally posted by: GMtheBest
Yeh, its beeng doing it on several games, tried different drivers, etc I figured they would give me a newer card since the 6600GT is discontinued

the 6600 isn't old enough for them to send you a new card, I'm sure there are plenty in stock?

you should ask them and see if you could just upgrade and pay the difference?

Wouldn't matter because I think BFG fixes yours or sends you a refurb.

 

[GMtheBest]

Well it seems that the newest drivers are causing the problem. Others are having issues as well

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=17536

I tried downgrading to a 80 series driver and my temps were fine. I tried contacting Nvdia about this and got the usual generic response.