video output troubles.

[MortifiedocAlot]

I've had this problem for a short while now (I think it's happened like 3 times total, but it's been consistent enough to worry me). I'll be in the middle of a game, and then suddenly I will lose all video output and my screen will give me the message "no video output detected" and then go into standby. I hit my power button, which should go through the processes of turning my PC off, but that won't work, so I'm assuming it's not JUST my graphics card. I've also had texture issues while playing TF2 and SF4 (a giant, 2D sprite will fill the screen, in SF4 is was Abel's skin texture). So, are these signs my card is dying? The screen going black has only started recently, and the texture problems have only happened twice and within a rather large time slot.

[Bobbias]

Without knowing more, I'd say that does sound like your card is dieing. Are you sure your computer isn't just overheating though? Because overheating can cause issues like that (including causing your computer to bluescreen and such.)

[NewF]

Also with the whole no input detected thing, I had a monitor that did that, and it was the cord going from the monitor to the PC that was dying out. After I replaced the cord, it started working fine again, but then the problem started again. It'd work for a bit, but then go blank randomly. So I decided to bring the monitor in to my friends shop, and when he checked it out, all the little bulb thingies in the monitor were fried. So it could be 1 of 4 things so far. A - The gfx card is giving out, B - the cords are starting to give out, C - stuff is overheating, or D - Your monitors bulbs are slowly getting fried. I'd say try to narrow it down by trying a different monitor to see if the problem still persists, and replacing cords, then go from there.

[MortifiedocAlot]

I really doubt I'm overheating now, my room temperature is rather cool now and I keep my fan speeds at 100% at all times. I mean, when I got the first 2D sprite it was probably from overheating issues, but now my GPU will rarely get over 60 (just cleaned the dust out of it as well). Also the monitor I'm using is fairly new (it's a Hannspree, if that tells anything) and my GPU is also not that old, but it's taken a lot of stress in the past so I believe that it's what's the problem here.

I'll try and check the wiring/monitor, but this problem rarely occurs so it would be rather hard to get that to work.

[NewF]

Another thing could be, Ive had this problem too...Clean out your gfx card. There might be alot of dust collecting in it. I've had it where my PC randomly shut down while gaming, so I cleaned out my gfx card of all the dust, then it was fine.

[MortifiedocAlot]

I recently cleaned it, but maybe some dust guy in the connector for the wire/back of the GPU. It only started after I cleaned it anyways.

[Bobbias]

Another thing could be, Ive had this problem too...Clean out your gfx card. There might be alot of dust collecting in it. I've had it where my PC randomly shut down while gaming, so I cleaned out my gfx card of all the dust, then it was fine.

Yeah, dust can cause it to overheat :/ Never a good thing when dust is causing overheating.

[Sneaky]

Do you have an adequate power supply in there for any/all upgrades you've done? Only other thing I can think of

[Spectere]

To add to what Sneaky suggested, power supplies do degrade over time.  If your power supply was just barely making it and it's getting up there in age, it could be too weak to handle the card at this point.

Of course, the card itself can very well be bad.  If there is a hardware fault, computers can and will hard lock in such a way.

I recently cleaned it, but maybe some dust guy in the connector for the wire/back of the GPU. It only started after I cleaned it anyways.

You would have to have a lot of dust in the connector for that to happen.  Also, both NVIDIA and ATI cards will give you an alert if the card isn't receiving enough power.  If the system crashes because of the card shutting itself down, it'll yell at you on the next boot.  Some cards -- certain ATI models in particular -- halt the system with an alert when the video BIOS is initialized if the power connector isn't plugged in (as in, before your system even POSTs).

What did you use to clean the card?  If it started after the card was cleaned, the card might have taken a hit of static.

[MortifiedocAlot]

I've yet to have any trouble with it, but I still want an upgrade as, from what I can see, my card is going to be scraping by as a minimum spec in upcoming games.

So, any recommendations as to where to go form an 8800 GTS?

[Spectere]

If you're on an 8800 GTS, don't bother going with a GTS 250 or under, as you'd basically be trading in that card for one that's marginally better.

The HD58xx and GTX 460 lines both offer similar performance, IIRC, and are relatively inexpensive.  I can typically push my HD5830 to 1920x1200 in newer games without much of an issue.  It smokes my old 9800 GTX (which, I should add, is basically a refresh of the 8800 line).

Here's an HD5830 from XFX (which is actually the card that I'm using right now): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150497

...and here's an overclocked GTX 460 from EVGA, which is slightly more expensive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130597

The HD 5830 will drive three displays, if that's important to you.  I think the GTX 460 can only handle two.  I seem to remember the two of those cards being roughly the same in terms of performance, so pick which one you're more comfortable with.

[Ulti]

I've been pretty damn happy with my 460, I upgraded from my 8800GTS after it having similar problems. And yeah the performance on a 5830 vs a 460 is basically the same, it's pretty much just a matter of which ever you can find a better deal on or brand preference.

[MortifiedocAlot]

I'll more then likely go with the HD 5830 and upgrade to windows 7.

Also sort of off topic, but I'm not starting a new thread for this. When I go to forward a port for something, the old information is still there and I'm forced to over right it in order to get more ports forwarded. Does this delete my prior ports or what?

[Spectere]

I'll more then likely go with the HD 5830 and upgrade to windows 7.

Good man.  We can be ATI brothers!

Damn, that sounded gay.  Let's make out.

Also sort of off topic, but I'm not starting a new thread for this. When I go to forward a port for something, the old information is still there and I'm forced to over right it in order to get more ports forwarded. Does this delete my prior ports or what?

Yeah, if you overwrite the information then it deletes whichever forward you replaced.

If you absolutely need a large amount of ports forwarded, you might want to see if your router can run DD-WRT.  There is a tiny chance that it could cause your router not to run 100% correct and an even smaller chance of bricking it, but it can really make a crusty Linksys router sing if it supports the hardware.

[MortifiedocAlot]

I shouldn't, but fuck the law I am upset.

I'm trying to install the specialists, and it downloaded and installed the folders right into the Half Life folder on steam. I can't figure out how to run the game, there's a file called specialists that I'm assuming is a WAD file because skulltag wants to launch it, and I've tried opening it with Half Life and HLDS launcher (whatever that is) and I get some error saying it couldn't find download.dll (I got several errors, that one was most common).

So, anyone here install any half life mods?

and NOW I can't get STALKER SoC with super mod to run right. I click on the game, steam says I'm in game and I can see the engine running in my processes, but nothing else changes.