Is my Graphics Card Overheating?

[gravy]

I have to apologise in advance, I am a reformed technophobe with no real hands on knowledge of hardware, so I may not describe this accurately.

 

I was gaming earlier in the week, when both monitors (I was dual monitoring on one system) seemed to cut out. neither were receiving any signal from the actual computer, but the system was still running. it then started to omit some kind of little beeping noise, which I'm told is something to do with BIOS and voltage? I powered it down, gave it 5 minutes and rebooted. again, the system started and I could hear the fan and the processor (sic?) but the monitor (I had taken the second screen out at this point) was still receiving no signal. the fans seemed to be going extra hard and were very, very loud in comparison to how they usually run. I gave up, assuming I would need to seek assitance.

 

the next day, I booted up again in the morning before work, and all appeared normal. I went to work, came home, and it was still working. I played some games and surfed the web for a while, until the monitor once again, randomly lost any signal from the PC. again, if I rebooted I would get no signal, and a noise from the fans. this time, I took the back off and cleaned the insides of the PC with a cloth and some compressed air. the fan above the heatsink and the heatsink itself were caked with dust, as was the fan on my graphics card. I removed the card, cleaned it up, checked for any connections that had become frazzled that might require soldering, and I couldn't see anything. plugged the card back in, and the system booted up fine.

 

next day, same story, after a couple of hours the signal died to the monitor, if I tried to reboot the little fans went crazy, and here I am now.

 

the reason I am wondering if the issue is being caused by my graphics card, is that I read online somewhere if your card was overrheating, you can disconnect the CD-ROM drive to resolve the issue. my CD-ROM drive continues to work when there is no output from the graphics card. I have tested multiple monitors and inputs on the graphics card to make sure there is nothing simple causing it.

 

any advice on where I can take this? if you need to know the model of GFX card, motherboard etc then you'll need to direct me to where I can find that, because I haven't got a clue!

 

hope to hear from someone soon :(

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hello Gravy

 

Welcome to FPCH

 

Do you have onboard graphics because if so you could try hooking to that and pulling the card temporarily to see if the box will continue to run.

 

This also sounds like the PSU is starting to get flakey.

 

Our resident hardware expert is offline at the moment but he will offer advice asap.

[gravy]

thanks, glad to be here :)

 

I'm not sure if I have an onboard graphics card or not, nor would I know how hook up to it if I needed to, I will certainly try it next time I have a problem though, system is running okay right now but was unstable earlier in the day.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

The onboard graphics connector is shown here as the blue connector to the left of the pink parallel printer connector.

 

As you can see the bottom card slots are empty apart from the modem.

 

http://www.mattcutts.com/images/gpc-back.jpg

[gravy]

well in that case I don't have an onboard graphics card. if it is the PSU, how much would it cost me to replace, and are there any diagnostics I can perform to confirm that's the problematic piece of hardware here?

[gravy]

well, problem has reccured, and I've also just noted for the first time that when the monitor loses signal, the keyboard and the mouse also lose all power. I'm assuming it is the PSU causing the problem for sure. I'm currently using a Bestec ATX 300-127, been looking online and I'm advised to avoid cheap PSUs, but I've seen some ranging up to £300, and my current PSU has lasted just under 3 years despite being cheap.

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

I dont know which shops are good in the UK but have a look here:

 

Maplin

[Dalo Harkin]

Better to look at scan.co.uk - and the OCZ range is VERY good and not overpriced

[sean2390]

I'd personally go for the Corsair range. They tend to be decently priced and have a good watt and ampage. this is decently priced aswell as having a good spec: Corsair 450W VX 450W PSU - ATX12V v2.2 - Ebuyer

[Dalo Harkin]

Corsair PSU's are good but they are made by Seasonic and you dont hear of them anymore - Corsair PSU's are more for 1000W + machines to really make a difference.

between 400W and 600W go for the OCZ

[sean2390]

I had 3 OCZs once and they all burned out on me. Very annoying. It was like having the trotters van inside my PC smokin all day. O.o

[Dalo Harkin]

3 PSU's what were you doing they have only been making them for around a year

[sean2390]

In the space of 2 months I may add! Honestly I dont know why they kept going.

[Dalo Harkin]

Must have been a bad batch :D

 

I fitted one the other week £50 for 600W and has braided cables etc - not modular but hey what do you want for £50 :D

I find them extremely well made and the RAILS actually put out what they are rated to put out - *cough, cough* unlike some others ;)

[sean2390]

I love the corsair ones myself. Decent price, braided cables aswell and decent AMPs.