Graphics Card Problems.

[Alan]

Well, I was having some probs with my computer which I thought were due to bad RAM. But I think I have now ruled that out by using various RAM tests. The problem is the same in both Windows and Ubuntu Linux and happened at the same time, meaning that it is a hardware problem and it is not due to software or drivers. Soooo I think it's my graphics card.

I have an nVidia GeForce FX 5500 if that means anything to anyone. I want to get something to replace it. My comp specs are 3.4GHz Pentium IV HT, with 1GB DDR400 RAM (I could add more).

Of course, I would fix it if possible, but I think it's knacked. Anyone know anything about them?

[Brian]

Well, I was having some probs with my computer which I thought were due to bad RAM. But I think I have now ruled that out by using various RAM tests. The problem is the same in both Windows and Ubuntu Linux and happened at the same time, meaning that it is a hardware problem and it is not due to software or drivers. Soooo I think it's my graphics card.

I have an nVidia GeForce FX 5500 if that means anything to anyone. I want to get something to replace it. My comp specs are 3.4GHz Pentium IV HT, with 1GB DDR400 RAM (I could add more).

Of course, I would fix it if possible, but I think it's knacked. Anyone know anything about them?

Hey, Listo.

There are 2 ways to test if it's your card, one of them in Windows. Hit this website (http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35246)and follow the directions to analyze the appropriate minidump that gets generated when Windows is crashing.

The second way is to actually test a different video card. If you have an old one lying around, stick it in to test and make sure that it isn't a motherboard problem.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for ya.

Brian

[greytop]

Load of info here (http://www.tweakguides.com/NVFORCE_1.html)including typical faults

[ValenciaSon]

Well, I was having some probs with my computer which I thought were due to bad RAM. But I think I have now ruled that out by using various RAM tests. The problem is the same in both Windows and Ubuntu Linux and happened at the same time, meaning that it is a hardware problem and it is not due to software or drivers. Soooo I think it's my graphics card.

I have an nVidia GeForce FX 5500 if that means anything to anyone. I want to get something to replace it. My comp specs are 3.4GHz Pentium IV HT, with 1GB DDR400 RAM (I could add more).

Of course, I would fix it if possible, but I think it's knacked. Anyone know anything about them?

How about the 6800 or the 7200, if you want to spend some cash? It's pretty fast and handles most of its processing independently with little burden on the CPU?

[Alan]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I ended up ordering a new one. The GeForce 7900GT 470M XTREME 256MB GDDR3 256bit PCI-E if that means anything to you :D

. . . should arrive today.

[Alan]

Urm. The new one I got didn't fit. I didn't know about PCI and PCI-express and all that stuff. A bit embarrassing :blush:

. . . anyway, they're accepting it back.

So I put the old one back in, and it seems to work :o

[Brian]

Urm. The new one I got didn't fit. I didn't know about PCI and PCI-express and all that stuff. A bit embarrassing :blush:

. . . anyway, they're accepting it back.

So I put the old one back in, and it seems to work :o

DOH! Well, stranger things have certainly happened. I've re-seated RAM on a flaky machine, and it started working flawlessly for years on end.

[ValenciaSon]

As my colleagues in software are found of saying: "when in doubt, re-boot". It drives my hardware colleagues nuts!

[greytop]

When I first got into engineering we used to say it takes an engineer to know where to kick it. Now it takes an IT specialist to know when to boot it!
There's progress ;D