- Sep 22, 2004
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Okay - this is a pretty long and drawn out ordeal, so before I get started, let it be known that I appreciate anyones' help regarding this issue.
I had a EVGA 8800GT SC for two years until the 196.75 drivers were released. I had been using the drivers for a few days and then I received artifacts in World of Warcraft and my computer threw up a blue screen. When I booted back up, the artifacts were permanently present in the POST, BIOS, and I could not load video drivers in Windows 7 any longer.
So I sent the card into EVGA for RMA replacement. I receive a new (well, refurbished) 8800GT from EVGA and it worked fine for 5 days using the 196.21 drivers from EVGA's website. After a 5 hour session of Bad Company 2, I start receiving artifacts again and my computer crashes. I restart it and once again I have artifacts at POST, BIOS, and once again can no longer load any video drivers.
So then I file another RMA with EVGA and they send me the second replacement. I just received it today. This time, to make sure nothing software or hardware related was causing the issue I took apart my computer, cleaned it out, rerouted all of the wires, and put everything back together like new. I threw in the new (another refurbished one) 8800GT and fired it up. I did a reformat and fresh install of Windows 7. I installed the 197.13 beta drivers from Nvidia's website (they were linked in an email from Nvidia). It was running great for about an hour in BC2 and then I received artifacts once again. My game shutdown and the Nvidia kernel crashed. I restarted the computer and there are now artifacts in the POST and in BIOS.
I called EVGA's tech support line and asked the guy what it could be. He had me check my power supply but it is putting out the correct voltages and it does not vary whatsoever. He said the best thing for me to do now is to wait until EVGA receives my first 8800GT so they can test it to find out what happened to it, then they can relay the message to me. With all three of these video cards I never reached above 75 degrees Celsius so I do not believe it to be an overheating issue.
What else could it be in my PC? Everything else works absolutely fine, so it is hard for me to believe it is something else. Am I just getting a bunch of junk 8800GTs?
Any and all help would be appreciated. Unfortunately I do not have access to another computer that has a PCI-E slot so I cannot try it in another system.
I had a EVGA 8800GT SC for two years until the 196.75 drivers were released. I had been using the drivers for a few days and then I received artifacts in World of Warcraft and my computer threw up a blue screen. When I booted back up, the artifacts were permanently present in the POST, BIOS, and I could not load video drivers in Windows 7 any longer.
So I sent the card into EVGA for RMA replacement. I receive a new (well, refurbished) 8800GT from EVGA and it worked fine for 5 days using the 196.21 drivers from EVGA's website. After a 5 hour session of Bad Company 2, I start receiving artifacts again and my computer crashes. I restart it and once again I have artifacts at POST, BIOS, and once again can no longer load any video drivers.
So then I file another RMA with EVGA and they send me the second replacement. I just received it today. This time, to make sure nothing software or hardware related was causing the issue I took apart my computer, cleaned it out, rerouted all of the wires, and put everything back together like new. I threw in the new (another refurbished one) 8800GT and fired it up. I did a reformat and fresh install of Windows 7. I installed the 197.13 beta drivers from Nvidia's website (they were linked in an email from Nvidia). It was running great for about an hour in BC2 and then I received artifacts once again. My game shutdown and the Nvidia kernel crashed. I restarted the computer and there are now artifacts in the POST and in BIOS.
I called EVGA's tech support line and asked the guy what it could be. He had me check my power supply but it is putting out the correct voltages and it does not vary whatsoever. He said the best thing for me to do now is to wait until EVGA receives my first 8800GT so they can test it to find out what happened to it, then they can relay the message to me. With all three of these video cards I never reached above 75 degrees Celsius so I do not believe it to be an overheating issue.
What else could it be in my PC? Everything else works absolutely fine, so it is hard for me to believe it is something else. Am I just getting a bunch of junk 8800GTs?
Any and all help would be appreciated. Unfortunately I do not have access to another computer that has a PCI-E slot so I cannot try it in another system.