Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen)

w0mbraider · 06-01-2009, 02:22 PM

Hello everyone!

I have this problem I'm experiencing lately, and here goes:

So, there I am, playing a game and after a while suddenly, instantly my screen gets filled with artifacts and after a few seconds screen goes black with monitor LED blinking, computer not crashed because I can restart with a key sequence.

After restart, everything works fine and I can instantly launch a game and it works like nothing happened.
Sometimes days can pass without problem occuring, and sometimes happens few times in a day.

Happens in all games.
Happens only while playing games (3D activity).

Video card worked fine before, but lately this problem is getting more frequent than ever. Is the card overheating or is it a driver problem?

Hope someone can help me with this.
Thanks!

System:
- Q6600 (stock speed)
- Peak Radeon HD3850, 256 MB (stock speed)
- 4 GB of RAM
- LC 350 W PSU (it was pretty cheap, maybe that's the problem?)

**emosun** · 06-01-2009, 02:31 PM

That power supply is nowhere near good enough for that card. You need a quality 550w or higher with 26 amps on the 12v rail and to be 80+ certified.

dai · 06-01-2009, 02:57 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...air%2b550w

w0mbraider · 06-14-2009, 04:47 AM

Thanks for the replies, ppl.

I wonder, can an insufficient psu cause any damage to the gpu?

dai · 06-14-2009, 10:53 AM

yes it can cause overheating and destroy the ram on the card as it struggles for power as well as other problems

w0mbraider · 06-14-2009, 11:31 AM

Correction:

Looked at the specs and the psu is:
- LC POWER, 420W, ATX2, 120mm.
- 15 A / 12 V

Guess it's still way too low...?

Also, there are
- 2 x 2 GB RAM sticks
- 2 HDDs (1st IDE, 2nd SATA)

Are you guys 100 % that it can damage/fry the gpu?
Can it damage cpu/mbo/hdd?

Found some test claiming 3850 256 MB uses only 60-70 W at full load.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd3870-hd3850_13.html

dai · 06-14-2009, 11:39 AM

this is the min in quality and power required

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...air%2b550w

steveb1234 · 06-14-2009, 11:52 AM

Check that the colling fan on the graphics card is not full of fluff - blow it out if it is.

Riskyone101 · 06-15-2009, 01:18 AM

What is "fluff" ?

steveb1234 · 06-16-2009, 03:39 AM

Fluff is household dust and fibers that accumulate on the inside of a computer case and concentrates on cooling fans of the PSU, graphics cards and CPU heatsink. This causes the heatsinks to be ineffective.

Riskyone101 · 06-16-2009, 03:50 PM

TY steveb1234.

w0mbraider · 06-29-2009, 08:10 AM

Bought OCZ 500 W StealthXStream.
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/power_management/ocz_500w_stealthxstream_power_supply

Whaddya think? Will it be able to hold up?

Will see if the problem still persists.

Riskyone101 · 06-29-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

this is the min in quality and power required

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w

You need atleast min. 550 watt psu, as stated above by dai.

06-01-2009, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
w0mbraider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP SP3	Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) Hello everyone! I have this problem I'm experiencing lately, and here goes: So, there I am, playing a game and after a while suddenly, instantly my screen gets filled with artifacts and after a few seconds screen goes black with monitor LED blinking, computer not crashed because I can restart with a key sequence. After restart, everything works fine and I can instantly launch a game and it works like nothing happened. Sometimes days can pass without problem occuring, and sometimes happens few times in a day. Happens in all games. Happens only while playing games (3D activity). Video card worked fine before, but lately this problem is getting more frequent than ever. Is the card overheating or is it a driver problem? Hope someone can help me with this. Thanks! System: - Q6600 (stock speed) - Peak Radeon HD3850, 256 MB (stock speed) - 4 GB of RAM - LC 350 W PSU (it was pretty cheap, maybe that's the problem?)

06-01-2009, 02:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,958 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) That power supply is nowhere near good enough for that card. You need a quality 550w or higher with 26 amps on the 12v rail and to be 80+ certified. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

06-01-2009, 02:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,593 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...air%2b550w __________________

06-14-2009, 04:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
w0mbraider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP SP3	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) Thanks for the replies, ppl. I wonder, can an insufficient psu cause any damage to the gpu?

06-14-2009, 10:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,593 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) yes it can cause overheating and destroy the ram on the card as it struggles for power as well as other problems __________________

06-14-2009, 11:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
w0mbraider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP SP3	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) Correction: Looked at the specs and the psu is: - LC POWER, 420W, ATX2, 120mm. - 15 A / 12 V Guess it's still way too low...? Also, there are - 2 x 2 GB RAM sticks - 2 HDDs (1st IDE, 2nd SATA) Are you guys 100 % that it can damage/fry the gpu? Can it damage cpu/mbo/hdd? Found some test claiming 3850 256 MB uses only 60-70 W at full load. http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd3870-hd3850_13.html Last edited by w0mbraider; 06-14-2009 at 12:00 PM.

06-14-2009, 11:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,593 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) this is the min in quality and power required http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...air%2b550w __________________

06-14-2009, 11:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
steveb1234 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 372 OS: xp, windows 7	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) Check that the colling fan on the graphics card is not full of fluff - blow it out if it is.

06-15-2009, 01:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,697 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) What is "fluff" ? __________________

06-16-2009, 03:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
steveb1234 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 372 OS: xp, windows 7	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) Fluff is household dust and fibers that accumulate on the inside of a computer case and concentrates on cooling fans of the PSU, graphics cards and CPU heatsink. This causes the heatsinks to be ineffective. Last edited by steveb1234; 06-16-2009 at 03:42 AM.

06-16-2009, 03:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,697 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) TY steveb1234. __________________

06-29-2009, 08:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
w0mbraider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP SP3	Re: Annoying GPU problem (artifacts -> black screen) Bought OCZ 500 W StealthXStream. http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/power_management/ocz_500w_stealthxstream_power_supply Whaddya think? Will it be able to hold up? Will see if the problem still persists. Last edited by w0mbraider; 06-29-2009 at 08:15 AM.