Video Issues

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Not sure if this is a monitor issue (hope not, its less than 5 months old) or a video card issue (hope not, its expensive barring a driver), but my desktop is having issues.  When I first power it up the display looks all jumbled and has random green lines.  By the time windows loads I can't even see anything on the screen.  I've already tried switching the ports on the vid card with no luck.  I updated the driver last night, but it was working fine this morning prior to leaving for work.  Any ideas?

Video card:  BFG 8800GT
Monitor:  Samsung 2333 23" LCD

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

VID CARD ALERT!

Well, thats what my card looked like when it died on me... like the matrix sort of. 

Hope thats not it.  Do you have anything you can plug the monitor into in order to rule it out as a culprit?

-- JT

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

I have my laptop, I just need to see if I have a cable that will work for it.

[Hoffa]

BFG has a lifetime warranty (10 years).  I've burnt mine up twice so far, and they send me a new (refurbished) one in about 7 days.  Contact their RMA - it is located in North America and is open 24/7.

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Contacted them and will be sending it in shortly.  In the meantime I picked up a pair of 9800GT from Best Buy since I'll be building a new rig come next spring.  Might as well get a start on some of the parts now.  As for the old 8800, I'll send the refurbished one I'll get to my nephew for his birthday.  He's been bugging NoSocks for a new card for some time.

[Hoffa]

You will have to send them the old card, to get a new one.  And unfortunately they do not cross ship. 

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

You will have to send them the old card, to get a new one.  And unfortunately they do not cross ship. 

I'm putting it in the mail tomorrow morning.

Another issue cropped up with the new cards; linked in an SLI config.  My rig keeps crashing while in game.  I've updated all of my drivers (mobo, video, audio).  It would be nice to even see a BSOD so I could see what the error is, but my rig just looses power leaving me in the dark.  I can browse the web, watch flash/h264/xvid videos, and do other basic applications.   Any ideas?

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

Any ideas?

http://www.apple.com/macpro/specs.html     

Or did you sell your boat?

-- JT

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

http://www.apple.com/macpro/specs.html     

Or did you sell your boat?

-- JT

Ideas JT!  Not overpriced anchors.

[=JHF= Smoke]

2 ideas:

turn off auto shutdown after an error:
1.  Push the windows key + pause (break) key together to bring up the system properties window

2. Click the Advanced tab.  (in windows 7 choose advanced system settings on the left pane)

3.  Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings to open the Startup and Recovery dialog box.

4.  Clear the Automatically restart check box, and click OK the necessary number of times.

5.  Restart your computer for the settings to take effect.

this will show you the BSOD if there is one

Option 2:
somewhat related to option 1
Uninstall your nvidia drivers from the control panel.
run driver sweeper to remove any nvidia/ati video drivers
http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/
keep in mind that you might have nvidia/ati drivers that are not video related, like chipset, lan, etc.

reboot, and run driver sweeper again just to make sure it got everything, reboot.

double check that you have the correct drivers and reinstall them.  check your mobo manual to make sure there aren't any special tips on getting sli running.

Option 3:
What power supply do you have?  how many watts, rails, etc.
make sure you use the pci express power from 2 different rails.  If you're not sure, check your psu manual to get it sorted out.  you could be under powered (Let the star trek references begin)

[=JHF= Smoke]

a little more info on the last option

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

under the specs for this psu, it has 2 +12V rails.  a little further down it shows +12V1@25A, +12V2@25A
25 amps on each rail.  some newer ones have gone back to single rails with, like, 50+ amps on it.  but in this first case, it's good to have at least 2, so that you can run one vid card off 1 rail, and the 2nd off the 2nd rail.

one concern that i've been looking at, is the 9800gt uses 26A.  while this would be fine for 1 card (a power supply can bridge the 2 rails together, if needed)
adding a second 9800 to that psu i linked to,  would put it over the limit.

[=JHF= BONE!!!]

Power definitely sounds like the suspect to me.  BFG makes modular (3.5" bay) power supplies, if you need to add (may cost less than replacing).

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

under the specs for this psu, it has 2 +12V rails.  a little further down it shows +12V1@25A, +12V2@25A
25 amps on each rail.  some newer ones have gone back to single rails with, like, 50+ amps on it.  but in this first case, it's good to have at least 2, so that you can run one vid card off 1 rail, and the 2nd off the 2nd rail.

one concern that i've been looking at, is the 9800gt uses 26A.  while this would be fine for 1 card (a power supply can bridge the 2 rails together, if needed)
adding a second 9800 to that psu i linked to,  would put it over the limit.

Looks like you hit it on the head.  I'm pulling to much amperage.  Makes sense with the quick power downs.

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Another issue that I discovered was that my mobo was failing.  Tried plugging my camera in to download some shots and found 4 of the 6 ports were not working.  Took it into a repair shop they ran some tests and confirmed what I was suspecting.  Got a new mobo and processor (sorry Hoffa, the Intel chips were out of my price range) and suddenly my computer is working correctly.  Plus it is substantially quieter.

[=JHF= Astromarmot]

Whatcha get?