9800 pro possibly broken

[rkowalk]

I have a dell 8300 with a 9800 pro on the agp port, and recently the screen became distorted, with random collored lines about 100 pixels wide itermittently across the display. I have checked the troubleshooting lights on the dell mobo and all seems well. So my question is how can i determine for sure it is the video card, and does anyone know a way to possibly fix this card if it did just overheat(because i found out the heatsync was full of dust and jammed up)

 

[pauldh]

I would try the card in another system with a different power supply before saying for sure it's the card. But if you don't have access to another system and PSU, then:

Make sure the monitor is connected well, remove and reconnect.

Trying a different monitor would eliminate that as a possibility.

Try installing new drivers.

In all honesty, it does sound like the 9800 pro. Besides carefully blowing out/cleaning the fan and making sure it spins, there is not much else you can do. You can reseat the gpu cooler with a new/ better thermal compound. You can underclock the card to see if it is overheating. But if there is permanent damage, no you can't repair it.

Honestly got a friend who can test it for you in his/her system?

 

[evongugg]

Make sure you have the floppy type power connector on the 9800 Pro connected to the power supply.