Graphics card issue?

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 05:48 AM

While playing a game my friends monitor suddenly broke. The image comes through but its fragmented and hardly legible. I tried it on another monitor and it has the same problem. Can someone suggest how to fix this? I'm assuming its a gfx card problem.

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 05:56 AM

Hi,

What video card and power supply does he have? How old are they?
Is it only happening while gaming?

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 05:58 AM

I'll have to find out the video card info. It happens all the time, even in safe mode.

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 06:00 AM

What does the BIOS screen look like? Is there another video card you can try?

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 06:20 AM

The video card and power supply are about 4 years old, I'll find out the rest.

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 06:31 AM

Its a Radeon 9800XL. How can I find out the power supply?

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 06:40 AM

You have to open the case. There's a label on the PSU with all the info you need.
Isn't it a Radeon9800XT? That's a rather power hungry card (60W).

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 07:48 AM

Sorry, Radeon9800XT. The BIOS screen is also affected.

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 07:59 AM

It's probably the PSU. Try another +450W.
Also - reseat the video card (take it out and put it back).

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 08:22 AM

The current PSU is 350W

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 08:28 AM

I'm surprised the system worked with that. It's not only about the wattage - you need to look at the Amperes on the +12V rail(s) too (at least 18A for AGP, more for PCI-E).

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 08:56 AM

Reseating the graphics card got it working, does the PSU still need to be replaced to stop it happening again?

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 09:04 AM

That's good news!

It would be a good idea to replace the PSU. I think the card is too power hungry and if the PSU goes down it might take other parts with it.

18seconds · 10-02-2007, 09:31 AM

The fragmented screen came back. What specifications of PSU do I need to know about when purchasing? Is 450W+ just enough to go by?

**Deleted090308** · 10-02-2007, 09:33 AM

What other parts are in the computer?

Try the PSU calculator (link in my signature). Add 30% to the result.

18seconds · 10-05-2007, 09:53 AM

Replacing the PSU didn't work, nor did updating the graphics card drivers. Do you think the graphics card needs replacing?

**Deleted090308** · 10-05-2007, 10:05 AM

What PSU did you put in? It should be a quality 450W.

Are you sure the card is correctly seated (there should be a "click" when you mount the card) and the monitor plug is OK?

Try the card in another computer.

10-02-2007, 05:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Graphics card issue? While playing a game my friends monitor suddenly broke. The image comes through but its fragmented and hardly legible. I tried it on another monitor and it has the same problem. Can someone suggest how to fix this? I'm assuming its a gfx card problem.

10-02-2007, 05:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? Hi, What video card and power supply does he have? How old are they? Is it only happening while gaming?

10-02-2007, 05:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? I'll have to find out the video card info. It happens all the time, even in safe mode.

10-02-2007, 06:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? What does the BIOS screen look like? Is there another video card you can try?

10-02-2007, 06:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? The video card and power supply are about 4 years old, I'll find out the rest.

10-02-2007, 06:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? Its a Radeon 9800XL. How can I find out the power supply?

10-02-2007, 06:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? You have to open the case. There's a label on the PSU with all the info you need. Isn't it a Radeon9800XT? That's a rather power hungry card (60W).

10-02-2007, 07:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? Sorry, Radeon9800XT. The BIOS screen is also affected.

10-02-2007, 07:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? It's probably the PSU. Try another +450W. Also - reseat the video card (take it out and put it back).

10-02-2007, 08:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? The current PSU is 350W

10-02-2007, 08:28 AM	#11 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? I'm surprised the system worked with that. It's not only about the wattage - you need to look at the Amperes on the +12V rail(s) too (at least 18A for AGP, more for PCI-E).

10-02-2007, 08:56 AM	#12 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? Reseating the graphics card got it working, does the PSU still need to be replaced to stop it happening again?

10-02-2007, 09:04 AM	#13 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? That's good news! It would be a good idea to replace the PSU. I think the card is too power hungry and if the PSU goes down it might take other parts with it.

10-02-2007, 09:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? The fragmented screen came back. What specifications of PSU do I need to know about when purchasing? Is 450W+ just enough to go by?

10-02-2007, 09:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? What other parts are in the computer? Try the PSU calculator (link in my signature). Add 30% to the result.

10-05-2007, 09:53 AM	#16 (permalink)
18seconds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP	Re: Graphics card issue? Replacing the PSU didn't work, nor did updating the graphics card drivers. Do you think the graphics card needs replacing?

10-05-2007, 10:05 AM	#17 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Graphics card issue? What PSU did you put in? It should be a quality 450W. Are you sure the card is correctly seated (there should be a "click" when you mount the card) and the monitor plug is OK? Try the card in another computer.