Topic: Video card blown

[ober]

So Knuck knows my story because I called him for advice last night.  I walked into my office last night to start working and moved my mouse and my monitor didn't come out of standby.  The light was blinking and my second monitor didn't come up either so I ruled those out.

So I did a hard reboot thinking maybe a driver kicked out or something.  Computer booted back up and everything seemed ok (mouse lit up, normal activity on the HD, etc.), but still no video.  So I popped open the tower and noticed that the video card was kicking the fan on at full speed.  Talking to knuck, I think the video card is blown.

So I ordered this last night: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127551

We shall see.  Hopefully that's the only thing that bit the dust.   

[KnuckleBuckett]

Benny, I really think it is just the video card.  You should be okay. 

That said, right now and for the next year or so, (depends upon the AMD Bulldozer platform) building a PC is a real bargain when you look at bang for buck and overall cost.  Also....hell you already have the video card, case, DVD burner, and maybe HDD.  If you like the case and keep it put new fans in it.

Keep us updated.

When you install the new card's drivers, be sure to use CUSTOM and use the Nvidia utility to clean out the old video drivers for a nice clean installation.

[ober]

Will do on the install.

I would probably get a new HD if I rebuilt.  I'm running out of space quickly (I only have a half TB drive at the moment and most new games are eating up about 8-10GB a piece.  Although if this new video card is smaller (they say it is), I can probably stick my other 250GB drive back in, which would be nice.

Thanks for the help last night by the way! 

[KnuckleBuckett]

Any time. 

HDD prices along with memory are at an all time low.  See links.

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Memory:
4GB (DDR3):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313100

Memory:
8GB (DDR3):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

[ober]

Yeah, I glanced at a few other things last night when I was looking around.  I hope I can get by on my other existing hardware for a while.  I have 8GB of DDR3 now, although it is nearly 3 years old.  Is there much advantage in upgrading that?

[Steve]

How do you guys here always blow out video cards so damn fast? I can honestly say I have never managed to do that. My volt modified voodoo 5 is still kicking in my buddies file server lol.

Maybe you should pop the heatsink off before you put it in. Give it a quick 30-50 pass lapping and put some artic silver on there.

[KnuckleBuckett]

I haven't blown a video card in forever.  Ober however is like a skilled video card assassin.  He bad.

I upgrade my video solution roughly every other year and typically replace my PC every third year entirely.  My upgrade cycle has had a huge boost lately due to unforeseen circumstances.  Mainly family.

Friday I expect to build a new PC so that I can give my brother my current gaming PC.

Specs below...

[KnuckleBuckett]

PS:  Corsair 850 Watt, Modular
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Case:  Corsair Mid-tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139003&Tpk=corsair%20graphite

Memory:  Corsair, 8GB, DDR3 (sensing a theme here...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145324

Mobo:  Asus-Pro, Micro-ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131707

CPU:  Intel, Core i5, 1155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072&Tpk=2500k

HDD:  Samsung, 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

CPU Cooler:  Noctua (I always get an aftermarket cooler)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608014R

Video Card:  Gigabyte-Nvidia, GTX570, 1.25GB
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KM0E7I

I have yet to decide on a separate sound card.  For years I used my Creative X-Fi without a single issue.  However this mobo doesn't have a PCI slot I need to find another solution.  I hope that onboard audio is acceptable, but I doubt it will be.  Failing that I may switch to a headset with integrated audio.  I am thinking one of these with the SteelSeries as the strong front runner.

Anybody use any of these three?

Logitech G35:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104281

Corsair HS1:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826816001

SteelSeries 5H v2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826249016

[ober]

Yeah, this is the second video card I've blown.  Not sure how my luck is so bad.  But then again this card is 3 years old.  I can't really complain.

[Steve]

Seems like it hadn't been that long

[ober]

Shit, I guess it's only a little over 2 years old.  My bad.  I ordered the parts at the end of 2008 (so pushing almost 2.5 years).

[Steve]

I didn't click the link, but i always buy BFG because they have a killer lifetime warranty. They swap it out no argument every time for free.

[KnuckleBuckett]

I didn't click the link, but i always buy BFG because they have a killer lifetime warranty. They swap it out no argument every time for free.

For video?  Not anymore.  They quit the video card business.  Sad.

[ober]

Umm... http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/bfg-tech-winding-down-lifetime-warranty-no-longer-being-honored/9315

Dammit, Knuck beat me to it.

[KnuckleBuckett]

Generally all other things being the same (reviews, performance, etc)....

I use the same manufacturer that makes the mobo.

If that is a no go, I go with EVGA.

Otherwise avoid PNY.

I picked the Gigabyte due to the tri-fan cooling solution.  Generally speaking more fans and no overclocking means slower fans and thus a nice quiet cooler.