Failing Video Card?

[X'an Shin]

Yeah, heat sinks are almost never a permanent sodder. You always want to be able to change/modify them if something better comes along.

The newest cards usually have fans screwed to the top of the heat sink, and the newest cases even have fans that blow IN directly across from the main CPU and the video card CPU(s).

[X'an Shin]

Okay computer gurus, diagnose MY problem:

I don't even know if it's a vid card issue or not.

It seems to be happening most when I'm using Firefox (I can use IE almost completely problem free now):

When I'm surfing HTML code, my machine seemingly randomly just core-dumps memory (the new and improved unreadable blue-screen) and restarts. Sometimes I'm clicking a link, but other times I'm just mouse-wheeling my way down a page, not clicking on anything.

The machine never re-starts this way when I'm playing a game online, or any other non HTML related online activity.

It even used to lock up frequently when I was typing up emails (html based) in Outlook.

If I was able to send a report back to MS, I would get responses back that it was a "problem with a driver on your machine" but then state that it couldn't determine which one it was.

WTF?

[Jotun]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that...it goes in the AGP slot.

Should I look for a 256 or a 128mb...the 128 has runs galaxies fine with the effects and shite turned down a tad...biggest jump in performance is when you turn off volumetric shadows...I don't if there are limitations to the kind of card I can run...is there any other information I would need to know?

If you can afford it go with the GeForce 6800 GT 256MB...I have one and love it, I run SWG with everything maxed out...Shadows also are turned on and it runs really well. SWG is still a CPU hog even w/ a hot vid card...Get more RAM if you can.

[Isleh]

Okay computer gurus, diagnose MY problem:

I don't even know if it's a vid card issue or not.

It seems to be happening most when I'm using Firefox (I can use IE almost completely problem free now):

When I'm surfing HTML code, my machine seemingly randomly just core-dumps memory (the new and improved unreadable blue-screen) and restarts. Sometimes I'm clicking a link, but other times I'm just mouse-wheeling my way down a page, not clicking on anything.

The machine never re-starts this way when I'm playing a game online, or any other non HTML related online activity.

It even used to lock up frequently when I was typing up emails (html based) in Outlook.

If I was able to send a report back to MS, I would get responses back that it was a "problem with a driver on your machine" but then state that it couldn't determine which one it was.

WTF?

Maybe the problem is with Firefox?

[Krusshyk]

I thought heat sinks were usually made of some kind of metal. This one was just flimsy plastic...it was big though. Just under half the surface area of the card I would guess.

Jotun, I have a gig of RAM already, would that be enough for one of these cards? And how much does the card you are talking about run?

[Lok'i Vidaar]

It supports it, I used to have one right before my recent upgrade...

You WILL Notice a drop in performance :P

I highley reccomend reading this article:

http://www.ocia.net/articles/6800/6800.shtml

And getting yourself one of dem deir Gforce 6800 AGP 128MB Dealios...

Not the GT the regular one... as in the article.

I am going to get one soon, as I currently run a GF FX 5900 U with a firmware flash which makes it a 5950 U.

[Krusshyk]

It supports it, I used to have one right before my recent upgrade...

You WILL Notice a drop in performance :P

I highley reccomend reading this article:

http://www.ocia.net/articles/6800/6800.shtml

And getting yourself one of dem deir Gforce 6800 AGP 128MB Dealios...

Not the GT the regular one... as in the article.

I am going to get one soon, as I currently run a GF FX 5900 U with a firmware flash which makes it a 5950 U.

Well, that doesn't sound too hard...I don't know if I want to attempt overclocking it, but "unlocking" it like that guy said doesn't seem too hard...so long as you don't screw up the text of that file. I suppose I will see if I can find a GeForce 6800 for an affordable price.

[Jotun]

It supports it, I used to have one right before my recent upgrade...

You WILL Notice a drop in performance :P

I highley reccomend reading this article:

http://www.ocia.net/articles/6800/6800.shtml

And getting yourself one of dem deir Gforce 6800 AGP 128MB Dealios...

Not the GT the regular one... as in the article.

I am going to get one soon, as I currently run a GF FX 5900 U with a firmware flash which makes it a 5950 U.

Crazy! I got mine right when it came out and paid full price

THats cool that people are able to unlock 'em!

Kruss...You have plenty of system RAM to run one of those cards and SWG for that matter...

[Jabe Adaks]

X'an do you have Netscape 8 installed as well?

Jabe

[Krusshyk]

I looked on Pricewatch.com and they had a boat load of the 6800 agp cards...is there any particular manufacturer brand I should be looking for or is it pretty much the same for all of them? Some of them looked like they had better cooling systems already in place than others...

[X'an Shin]

X'an do you have Netscape 8 installed as well?

Jabe

No, but the damn thing DOES keep installing and trying to use that damn Netscape Quality Assurance program. That usually crashes me when it pops up.

[Lok'i Vidaar]

I looked on Pricewatch.com and they had a boat load of the 6800 agp cards...is there any particular manufacturer brand I should be looking for or is it pretty much the same for all of them? Some of them looked like they had better cooling systems already in place than others...

Unless you'd like to purchase that aftermarket cooler or another one to replace it with I'd get one that looks like it has a good cooling setup...

if you're thinking about doing like the guy in that article did, just get the cheapest one you can find, okay companies to look for that sell cheap are XFX, Apollo, and Leadtek. ASUS, and MSI are your High Gunners...

If you want to get the cheaper one twith an aftermarket cooling solution...

the same cooler the guy had in that article can be found here:
http://www.frozencpu.com/vid-43.html
or you can find it on pricewatch...

But I think that cooler might be one of the best for that card I mean it dropped his temps about 20C

[Jabe Adaks]

X'an do you have Netscape 8 installed as well?

Jabe

No, but the damn thing DOES keep installing and trying to use that damn Netscape Quality Assurance program. That usually crashes me when it pops up.

All I know is that there is a problem with Netscape 8 completely hosing the XML rendering capabilities of IE and other installed browsers. You might want to make sure you rip out all of your alternate browsers, make sure IE is patched up and then re-install Firefox with the latest version.

Jabe

[Krusshyk]

I looked on Pricewatch.com and they had a boat load of the 6800 agp cards...is there any particular manufacturer brand I should be looking for or is it pretty much the same for all of them? Some of them looked like they had better cooling systems already in place than others...

Unless you'd like to purchase that aftermarket cooler or another one to replace it with I'd get one that looks like it has a good cooling setup...

if you're thinking about doing like the guy in that article did, just get the cheapest one you can find, okay companies to look for that sell cheap are XFX, Apollo, and Leadtek. ASUS, and MSI are your High Gunners...

If you want to get the cheaper one twith an aftermarket cooling solution...

the same cooler the guy had in that article can be found here:
http://www.frozencpu.com/vid-43.html
or you can find it on pricewatch...

But I think that cooler might be one of the best for that card I mean it dropped his temps about 20C

I considered doing what that guy did, but I always get the heebie jeebies when I have to touch my computer components. I am always afraid that I didn't ground myself properly and I am gonna static fry something important, so If I don't over clock and buy the one I am talking about (you could see the copper plates on it and it was pretty big) I think I should be just fine...pricewatch had it at 212 plus 5.35 to ship. I think that is a pretty decent deal, no?

[Lok'i Vidaar]

Don't go and buy this one yet,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... ideo+Cards

But it is a good deal check and make sure this one can be unlocked I'm about to leave work, won't be home til' tonight to check it out for you... I'm gonna try and find out before I go...