10 replies to this topic

[Dave]

Weird stuff. As I mentioned, artifacts all over the place. Disastrous. I'm posting via a different computer.

Part of my problem is it's an oldish computer and the motherboard only takes AGP cards. A replacement card off ebay (same model, no longer sold in stores) costs almost $60 with shipping, and because I'm loathe to buy consumer electronics off ebay (because 9 times out of 10 it's some douche selling stuff he just stole off a truck), I'm not adverse to spending a few more bucks for a slightly better card sold in an actual store (peace of mind).

Before I do that, I've pulled the card (it was hot as hell), checked the fan (it works) and dusted it. The heatsink was nicely clogged with dust. I've got it looking spiffy now. I'll give it a good 12 hours of rest and try again. If it's still artifacting, to the trash it goes.

I've heard about this stuff called Arctic Silver Ceramique (sp? I mean I know how to spell 'ceramic,' but they did it some french way). It's some kind of thermal paste that aids the transfer of heat from the video card's gpu to the heatsink. Not sure I want to geek out on this route. On the other hand, $5 of thermal paste beats $100 graphics card any day. (For a moment I worried I would break the fan while taking it off, then I realized the damn thing's useless as it stands now.)

[Deb]

I hate it when computers shit themselves.

Mine did that a few weeks back and I was internetless and computerless for two freaken weeks.

Horrifying

[Dave]

Crap. It didn't work. I think it's shot.

edit: Now it does work. A friend suggested that my jiggering may have discharged some static within the card itself. I guess I'll leave it alone if it works. I really don't want to throw good money after bad. It's an old motherboard. It's gotta hit the trash heap sometime. Spending cash on a new card when I could buy a $400 desktop that could outperform it, may not be worth it.

Edited by Dave, 01 September 2009 - 05:57 PM.
fixed?

[monogodo]

You could do what I did with Cynthia's desktop when the fan on her graphic card was dying: I replaced it with a better fan, then added one of these:

[Dave]

Only 6 bucks? That's a winner.

[monogodo]

MicroCenter also sells AGP graphics cards.

[Dave]

Thanks for the links. My card started frying again. It's not dissipating enough heat through the sink. I couldn't find cracks in the heat sink, but maybe the thermal glue is done. Who knows.

I ended up buying a $30 ATI card. There weren't a lot of options because a lot of cards require more wattage than my power supply can...supply. New card works fine. I can once again resume my Europa Universalis campaign.

[mango]

Want me to mail you my PC that is just sitting in storage? I think it's a dual 1.8 Ghz with 4gb ram and 1TB HD, but I'll have to go dig it out and check.

[jeckles]

I'm surprised you're not trying to sell him a Mac...

[Dave]

mango, on 11 September 2009 - 11:17 PM, said:

Want me to mail you my PC that is just sitting in storage? I think it's a dual 1.8 Ghz with 4gb ram and 1TB HD, but I'll have to go dig it out and check.

There'd be several free t-shirts in it for you if you did. I'm running an old Pentium 4 that's been an absolute workhorse, but it's...it's time.

[mango]

Dave, on 12 September 2009 - 02:40 PM, said:

There'd be several free t-shirts in it for you if you did. I'm running an old Pentium 4 that's been an absolute workhorse, but it's...it's time.

Email me your address, after the game tonight I'll get it in working order and ship it out on monday.