Video Card Help

AznDragon · 11-06-2009, 07:23 PM

Hi, so my graphic card (at least I think it's a problem with the graphic card) just crapped out yesterday, after trying to play Dragon Age for a bit. It some how started working the day after, but now it crapped out again after trying to watch a movie.

Details of problems:
In the middle of playing dragon age, my computer suddenly crashes, but not before getting some weird graphical error. When I try to turn on my computer again this happens:

http://img193.imageshack.us/i/dsc00046zp.jpg/

This would be at what I assumed would be at the "Dell" boot up screen.

After that the screen looks like this:

http://img5.imageshack.us/i/dsc00047df.jpg/

I assumed that this is the "Windows shut down improperly..." because when I press the up arrow three times it goes to this screen, which has the colors of the vista login screen, and when I do input my password it goes to another screen:

http://img195.imageshack.us/i/dsc00048ns.jpg/

http://img195.imageshack.us/i/dsc00049jt.jpg/

Also if I try just pressing enter in the second screen my computer just locks up. The number lock light that is usually lit up, doesn't.

I would post my specs, but I can't exactly use my computer and this is all I can remember:
- OS: Vista Home Premium Sp1
- Dell Inspiron 1420
- 2 GB RAM
- 1.8 GHz Intel Core Duo
- Some Nvidia graphic card that I can't remember

I would greatly appreciate it if someone can help me remedy this problem (hopefully not "get a new graphic card" though).

**emosun** · 11-06-2009, 08:54 PM

Unfortunately it looks that way. When video cards artifact in the bios it's a direct hardware malfunction. Try to find out the model nvidia card it is using. Is it the stock card that came with the machine?

AznDragon · 11-06-2009, 09:48 PM

Damn... Well I honestly can't remember the specific model of my Nvidia card, but it was one of the options that I had when I "built" my laptop three years ago (I know old). I'd have to find a screw driver or something to actually open my laptop for me to find out.

Anyways, what do you think might have caused my graphic card to die (if it is indeed dead)? I mean I know my computer's kind of out-dated, but playing dragon age couldn't have destroyed it, could it?

Phædrus2401 · 11-06-2009, 09:52 PM

If you play a lot of games on your laptop then it could have been overheating cumulatively damaging your card. People think that because the card won't shut off the computer until it hits 119C that anything under that is safe, but long term exposure to 85C or higher can damage the card over time. It could also be that your laptop's voltage regulation circuits aren't up to spec, which can cause the graphics card VRAM to die over time.

AznDragon · 11-07-2009, 09:03 AM

So apparently this is/was a "common" occurrence for my laptop model.

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2008/07/25/nvidia-gpu-update-for-dell-laptop-owners.aspx

I guess this is what I get for getting a Dell. Anyways, is there a way were I can fix this problem myself, and not go through Dell, because I've heard horror stories about their customer service.

Also for future references, how would you recommend I keep my graphics card healthy so I don't go through this again?

*edit* Forgot to mention, I'm pretty sure my graphics card is the Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS if this matters.

11-06-2009, 07:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
AznDragon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows Vista Sp1	Video Card Help Hi, so my graphic card (at least I think it's a problem with the graphic card) just crapped out yesterday, after trying to play Dragon Age for a bit. It some how started working the day after, but now it crapped out again after trying to watch a movie. Details of problems: In the middle of playing dragon age, my computer suddenly crashes, but not before getting some weird graphical error. When I try to turn on my computer again this happens: http://img193.imageshack.us/i/dsc00046zp.jpg/ This would be at what I assumed would be at the "Dell" boot up screen. After that the screen looks like this: http://img5.imageshack.us/i/dsc00047df.jpg/ I assumed that this is the "Windows shut down improperly..." because when I press the up arrow three times it goes to this screen, which has the colors of the vista login screen, and when I do input my password it goes to another screen: http://img195.imageshack.us/i/dsc00048ns.jpg/ http://img195.imageshack.us/i/dsc00049jt.jpg/ Also if I try just pressing enter in the second screen my computer just locks up. The number lock light that is usually lit up, doesn't. I would post my specs, but I can't exactly use my computer and this is all I can remember: - OS: Vista Home Premium Sp1 - Dell Inspiron 1420 - 2 GB RAM - 1.8 GHz Intel Core Duo - Some Nvidia graphic card that I can't remember I would greatly appreciate it if someone can help me remedy this problem (hopefully not "get a new graphic card" though).

11-06-2009, 08:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,887 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Video Card Help Unfortunately it looks that way. When video cards artifact in the bios it's a direct hardware malfunction. Try to find out the model nvidia card it is using. Is it the stock card that came with the machine? __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

11-06-2009, 09:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
AznDragon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows Vista Sp1	Re: Video Card Help Damn... Well I honestly can't remember the specific model of my Nvidia card, but it was one of the options that I had when I "built" my laptop three years ago (I know old). I'd have to find a screw driver or something to actually open my laptop for me to find out. Anyways, what do you think might have caused my graphic card to die (if it is indeed dead)? I mean I know my computer's kind of out-dated, but playing dragon age couldn't have destroyed it, could it?

11-06-2009, 09:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,663 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Video Card Help If you play a lot of games on your laptop then it could have been overheating cumulatively damaging your card. People think that because the card won't shut off the computer until it hits 119C that anything under that is safe, but long term exposure to 85C or higher can damage the card over time. It could also be that your laptop's voltage regulation circuits aren't up to spec, which can cause the graphics card VRAM to die over time. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

11-07-2009, 09:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
AznDragon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows Vista Sp1	Re: Video Card Help So apparently this is/was a "common" occurrence for my laptop model. http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2008/07/25/nvidia-gpu-update-for-dell-laptop-owners.aspx I guess this is what I get for getting a Dell. Anyways, is there a way were I can fix this problem myself, and not go through Dell, because I've heard horror stories about their customer service. Also for future references, how would you recommend I keep my graphics card healthy so I don't go through this again? edit Forgot to mention, I'm pretty sure my graphics card is the Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS if this matters. Last edited by AznDragon; 11-07-2009 at 09:13 AM.