ARGH MY GAMING PC IS SCREWED! Help please!

[dfcrackhead]

A few days back I was playing a game and all of a sudden shit when haywire, game froze, graphics spazzed out and eventually the entire screen went black, so I turned it off via mashing the power off button.
Next day, I decide to play a different(much less graphically intense) game, and it froze up on the server selection screen and then everything went black so I turned it off again.
This morning I went to turn it on, logged into my account on my desktop, and everything went black, so I decide to wait it out. After a few minutes it comes up and the resolution is as low as possible, the colors are all fucked up and it says "Nv4_disp display drivers have stopped working" and tells me to reboot, so I do. Same thing happens, so I update my drivers and restart the comp. This time it loads my desktop and takes a little longer to crash, but still crashes. I'm fairly sure my graphics card is fried, but I'm looking for hope here, because I can't afford a new card, so please escapists, what could be other things causing this problem and how can they be fixed(aside from buying a new graphics card)

(I am running windows XP, with an Nvidia geforce 6800)

 

[Brnin8]

What games were you playing?

With the info provided it seems like the video card is toast...

 

[Luke5515]

Sounds like you cooked your video card.

 

[NoseDigger]

Yea, sounds like a vid card problem. Probably burnt out somewhere.

 

[Skizle]

What games were you playing?

With the info provided it seems like the video card is toast...

This, check the fan on the video card to see if its just working. It could just be overheating. Check the connections and pray this is the problem. Otherwise you will have to shell out for a new video card.

 

[Raijha]

Dead video card is dead. Sorry to hear that this happened to you!

 

[unacomn]

Same thing happened to me with an 8800 Ultra. The video card has overheated and has likely suffered damage. There isn't a lot you can do. Although, I'm surprised an 6800 can cook like that. I used to have a 6600 a few years ago, and even at the highest load, it's temperature was under what my current X1950 has on idle.

Your best bet would be to try the video card on a friends PC, to make sure that it is malfunctioning. Then buy a new one.

 

[Souplex]

Buy a console and never look back? It's what I did.

 

[Brnin8]

Buy a console and never look back? It's what I did.

A new console is more expensive than a new video card.

 

[CACAVILLE]

if you want a good videocard heres one this owuld be cheaper than buying a console http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

 

[CACAVILLE]

thats why i have an ATI radeon 5770 hd because my geforce 9800 burned out

 

[Worgen]

Buy a console and never look back? It's what I did.

yeah cause those NEEEEEEEEEEEVER break *cough rrod*

 

[Dark Sup3rn0va]

Buy a console and never look back? It's what I did.

yeah cause those NEEEEEEEEEEEVER break *cough rrod*

*cough yellow light*

Yeah your video card got toasted, the only way to go is to buy another one.

 

[Redworld13]

Maybe its jesus telling you that gaming is for the devil and you should avoid it unless you want to join his army in hell. ie console gamers!!!!!! ahhhh the lols!!!!!

 

[jasoncyrus]

A few days back I was playing a game and all of a sudden shit when haywire, game froze, graphics spazzed out and eventually the entire screen went black, so I turned it off via mashing the power off button.
Next day, I decide to play a different(much less graphically intense) game, and it froze up on the server selection screen and then everything went black so I turned it off again.
This morning I went to turn it on, logged into my account on my desktop, and everything went black, so I decide to wait it out. After a few minutes it comes up and the resolution is as low as possible, the colors are all fucked up and it says "Nv4_disp display drivers have stopped working" and tells me to reboot, so I do. Same thing happens, so I update my drivers and restart the comp. This time it loads my desktop and takes a little longer to crash, but still crashes. I'm fairly sure my graphics card is fried, but I'm looking for hope here, because I can't afford a new card, so please escapists, what could be other things causing this problem and how can they be fixed(aside from buying a new graphics card)

(I am running windows XP, with an Nvidia geforce 6800)

Nope sorry, no hope.

Your-card-is-toasted. If it has a fan check to see it's still working because thewn it might simply be an overheating issue (take an air compressor to it and watch the giant dust cloud emerge). Also, try having a desk fan blowing into it to see if that helps.

But yeah...it's likely to be toast.

 

[lacktheknack]

It can't be fixed. Sorry.

Take out a second mortgage on your home, and buy a new graphics card AND A BETTER COOLING SYSTEM. It will save you money.

Actually, don't take out a mortgage. A decent graphics card can be found for $50, if you look in the right places.

 

[Phoenix09215]

hmmmm If you were playing Starcraft 2 then you might be in trouble... I heard that leaving it on the menu screen for too long can damage you graphics card and such :S But if its not that then I have no idea :/ I'm not too good when it comes to computers!

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Looks like someone didn't clean out the dust.

Cooling systems, air around the machine and a semi-regular dust clean out are essential.

 

[Vilcus]

Owch, the same things happened to me a few years back. Luckily my dad had a spare (albeit crappy) video card lying around, so he gave that to me. It always sucks when the machine you loved, the one that brought you so much joy, just suddenly ups and dies. Although I can't complain, I had that thing working like a slave for over 6 months, so it was only natural it 'sploded.

 

[RobCoxxy]

Time to buy a shiny new card!