think0rz

I recently had a random video card go bad. At first i couldn't figure out what was wrong since the pc would start for like 2-3 seconds & cut off. i checked everything figured maybe the psu. i tried another psu (cheap one) just to see if there was any difference. Well there wasn't still same cut out. At this point i figured the next thing to try is another vid card.
I didnt have any spare vid cards to try, so I checked craigslist & found someone locally with a bfg 8800 gts for sale. Picked up the card went home & like magic pc boots up just fine.
I formatted my pc, installed windows xp updated everything & then more problems I opened nvidia control panel & tried to run a system stability test. Instantly the system like froze & had some really weird like neon green, red/pink lines & was completely unstable. Powered it down, tried to run a game (css) same result.

System Specs:
DFI lanparty nf4 ultra-d
AMD x2 3800
OCZ Platinum edition rev2 pc3200 1gb x 2
Evga 7800 gtx (random card that went bad?)
BFG Tech 8800GTS
2 x wd raptor 39gb raid 0
1 x wd caviar 500gb
BFG Tech 650w psu (has gone bad once before )
2 x Asus dvdrw

I'm really thinking its the psu, i know its not the best & has gone bad in the past. I'm considering picking up the corsair ts750w psu. Thanks in advance for read/helping with my problem.

manic

What kind of voltages are you getting? In bios theres usually a hardware
monitor that will give you a idea of what the volts are like at idle.
Everest free edition will give you voltages also. What about the temps?
Is it getting super hot real quick? 2 to 3 minutes is more the enough
time for a cpu/gpu/northbridge to heatup. Are chipset drivers installed?
Any yellow or red flags in device manager? How does your ram test
out, have you ran memtest. Does it crash in safe mode? All valid
questions,,lol Ive had a similar situation, as far as freeze up and funky
colors on the screen, was indeed psu, but the bad news for me was
after a new psu, board died with old psu, it happens more often then
not.

think0rz

12v was 11.88
cpu is wc at 27c
gpu was 55c
nb was 47c
All drivers up to date, windows up to date. No yellow flags in device manager. Ram test checks out just fine i ran memtest. system wont crash unless you try to run a 3d app or tweak vid card settings. Once or twice it crashed during web browsing trying to research the problem. Every time the system goes down you see neon green/red lines scattered all over & the system must be powered down. Prior to my 7800 gtx going bad the system ran top notch. This card requires a minimum of +12v 28a & this psu is only 20a. I've also found many people speak about how unstable bfg tech psu's can be. I'm really baffled by this

mattlock

Hello and welcome to TSF.

I just wanted to make a couple of recommendations. First off, your EVGA 7800GTX is covered by a lifetime warranty so you should do an RMA to get it replaced.

Secondly, even if your PSU is not the problem right now, you should go with your instincts and replace it with the TS750. The BFG 650w is a terrible psu. There have been several issues with them posted here and a friend of mine had one take out his motherboard and RAM when it died. In fact, I had bought the same unit, but after seeing a couple of threads here involving that power supply and reading JonnyGuru's review on the unit I replaced mine with a Trio 650. I also informed my friend (who had recommended the PSU to me) of my findings about the quality of this overpriced, Topower built unit. About two weeks was when he called to say his system was dead.

Anyway, enough scary stories....

Just thought I would throw in my two cents worth and now I'll leave you in Manic's capable hands.

manic

Looks like a big thumbs down to the bfg 650. Good info to remember,
avoid that puppy, to many failures to be a coincidence.

think0rz

Well i guess since theres nothing else to check I'm going to order the corsair tx750. Does anyone know if evga will rma the card without original heat sink? mine was wc straight out he box & worked fine up until a few days ago.

mattlock

If it was factory watercooled (from EVGA) then your ok. If not they most likely won't RMA without the original heatsink and fan. What you need to do is contact EVGA with your serial# and they can tell you all you need to know.

Let us know how it goes.

BTW, you do need a copy of the original receipt or invoice for the RMA.

think0rz

might as well consider it gone then. I dont have the original heat sink nor do i have the original receipt.