The Long, Slow Limp to the End

[dragonfire9000]

Right, I've figured something out. I've made several posts about my computer and its infuriating habit of killing me IG. However, I have realized that the problem is my video card. My processor/RAM are adequate, if not excellent, but my video card is failing. It was good when I bought it, but it has overheated many times, sometimes repeatedly, and is on its last legs. What suggestions do you, my brethren (sistren? Is that a word?), have to offer to help me nurse my video card along until I get a new computer in college?

I thank you in advance.

[Semli]

It sounds like the card might have sustained damage overheating. There are various equipment installations you can use to cool down a PC.

As someone without a lot of hardware know-how and also working under the assumption that purchasing more parts is probably out of the question if you're not really considering just grabbing a newer card, the first thing you should do is open up the case and blow out the dust with compressed air.  The best thing you can probably do is leave the case open and put one of the house fans next to it. It won't be pretty, but your computer should stay pretty cool as a result.

If any cash comes your way, first order of business is buying a better video card.

[Listen in Silence]

Please don't tell me you died again. :/

[IxTheSpeedy]

Getting rid of the dust is a good idea.  I don't know what your financial situation is but you can get a card that will rock with NWN for probably around 30 bucks.  Maybe 50, tops.  Not sure what other games you play though, you might need more horsepower.

[I can has fun?]

In the meantime, the key is to maintain a constant temperature in the environment where the card is located. Most intermittent hardware faults are caused by microfractures in the circuitry, and the change in temperature causes those fissures to expand or contract, eventually opening the circuit and causing the error.

[dragonfire9000]

Thanks ICHF. Yes LiS, I did die again, due entirely to my-side lag. I did not lose everything though, as I was with my blessed and amazing faction and they saved my rear. No, I'm not perma-ing, just trying to cause this to happen less in the future. I'm afraid my video card has sustained serious damage, and that overheating is no longer the problem. It will run movies, RTS games from early 2000, but will not display large amounts of spawns at one time. Thus, no Wild Orcs, very high risk on Beastmen, generally very hard to do anything at all as a level 5+. *sigh* I may have to spend money...

[meow-mix]

clean your card's fan and run the PC without the side cover on.  That should do the trick.  At least for solving heat issues that are only your  video card.

Meow-mix!

[Loonayaa]

dusting the interior, removing any clutter around the computer that could block proper air flow, move your comp if its anywhere near a source of heat (sunlight included, hey never know). check where your comp takes air in and make sure your monitor or anything else isnt throwing heat that way.. running with that panel open might work but then you got to be sure its far far away from any source of heat. If you can afford it, maybe adding a fan?

basically keep it away from heat and clutter or anything that can block air flow or throw heat at it. mostly what i can think of until you can fix your card or get more cool air in there.

[Sternhund]

Get a program called SpeedFan and monitor your GPU heat, dust out your fans, and if your vid card is always overheating even at idle, then otherwise buy a new external fan for it (it would go in an adjacent PCI port and blow onto your vid card), or buy a new vid card entirely. You can get a new one for cheap. I saw an NVIDIA 8800 GT selling for $80, and I saw a $9800 going for $60 after rebate. Check them out on Newegg.com. I would not recommend buying anything that is not on this chart unless you're a light gamer, in which case buy a budget card (9500).

[bloodynose21]

I say give the computer a good, hard punch. Always seems to work for me?

[dragonfire9000]

'fraid not. Insulting its origins works occasionally...

"Stupid Amish piece-o-spam junkheap!"

[ishtharo]

Speedfan is an excellent program. I use it myself on my laptop that is prone to over heating (yay for Raedon graphics and ATI processor, boo for a laptop). Speed fan keeps it all in check and running right.

[dragonfire9000]

Right, downloading, I'll check back later to tell you guys if it helped.

Thanks!

EDIT: Right, it's installed, but I'm really not certain what I am supposed to do with it. Changing the three listed fan speeds does nothing that I can either see or hear, and only one actual RPM detail is listen, and it nears 5000.

"I require assistance!"