[AngelRuse]

Hello. I'm having issues other than the usual ones in life.

Problem is this. Artifacts due to overheating. I've been monitoring my video card's processor temps at load on various games like Sims 3, Fallout 3, NWN2. These are reasonably aged games, yes. Fallout 3 runs wonderfully.

The other two, on the other hand, send my video card upwards of 80C, even up to 105C once. My friend built my machine, I trust him. He said my power supply was more than able to handle the GeForce 9800 GTX+ (EVGA brand). (Thermaltake Purepower W0121RU 600W ATX12V V2.0 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply)

As of right now I have my side open with a floor fan sitting right beside it, and even tonight as winter draws near I just hit 80+ playing Sims 3, getting artifacts. The games RUN smoothly, I have no real lagging issues. It's just that darned overheating/artifacting.

I have my video card's fan on 100%, I have 7 or so fans in total in the machine overall. I have the card set at below the factory default overclock. I have no idea what to do about this issue. I could get a new card, but I see overheating mentioned here and there (though nowhere near as much as I've seen people with 9800's complain). I have no experience with ATI cards. I do not have the means to get into expensive water cooling methods.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

General Specs:
Win XP Pro SP3
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5E3 Deluxe Rev 1.xx

[BG-0]

Good excuse to upgrade to a Radeon HD 5750 or 5770
You could probably just have the heatsink full of dust though... (if this is not built recently and always have had the overheating problem). Take a can of compressed air or an air compressor and go outside to blow the card, and preferably the whole computer clean...
Still, with that kind of an outrageous overheating (and artifacts already at ~80-90 C, shouldn't be happening), there's something wrong with the card...

[crjdriver]

I agree the card is failing. 90C should not cause a problem.

When you open the case to clean the system, pull the card out and give the heatsink a close inspection. See if it is loose on the card.

FWIW the only video card I have actually had fail was an nvidia card. Did the same thing yours is doing ie artifacts, errors, etc. That was back when the 7800s were the "Hot" setup. I have to say evga warranted the card and sent out an 8800 as a replacement.

[AngelRuse]

Thanls, I'll take a look at that heatsink and mind the dust. It's seeming more and more like I'm gonna have to get a new card though, if this situation persists. Maybe contact EVGA if my warrenty is still good, that's a decent replacement part, crjdriver.

I was looking at those Radeon 5750's last night. Lookin' mighty interesting. I've never breached the deeping wall between NVidia and Radeon...might be interesting to try.