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Question

Nvidia GeForce 9800 GX2 and Story of Distortion and Blue Scr

Jan 9, 2015 4:52AM PST

Ladies and Gentlemen. I need your desperate help.

First the setup I have (it's some 6-7 year old rig though)
Windows 7
Motherboard: Biostar TP43D2-A7
Display: Nvidia GeForce 9800 Gx2, Driver Version 9.18.13.3523 - (Hooked up to Samsung 65 Incher through Dennon 2809-CI AV Receiver via HDMI output on the Graphics card)
Processor: Intel Quad Core 2.6 GHZ
RAM: 4 Gig
Sound: Razer Barracuda AC-1
Bios : American Megatrend

So the problem is that the display gets distorted as if the display drivers have stopped working. I am attaching the pictures of the symptoms to show how it really looks.

Initially, when I would unhook the AV Receiver HDMI Cable, attach a DVI cabled Monitor and the distortions would go away after a few restarts and I will then hook the HDMI Back up to the Graphic card. However, for last 2 days, the distortions just won't go away no matter what I do. Its gotten to a point where the Win7 won't even start in normal mode, it will give me a blue screen of death while starting up (Picture link attached)

http://imgur.com/pOv40n1
http://imgur.com/JLnI71j
http://imgur.com/fJI16pE
http://imgur.com/5PEBut7
http://imgur.com/oFjHrC9

I have done the following

- Unhooked HDMI and started the rig in safe mode using DVI cable/Dell Monitor
- Used Air compressor can on the whole rig for any dust thinking that may be dust is creating connection issue in PCI Slots
- Uninstalled and installed drivers - Microsoft version. When I download the Nvidia 9000 series driver pack, it won't recognize the Gx2 card at all :/. However MS one install the Drivers correctly with all the Nvidia tools

I have not reinstalled the Windows 7 yet because the distortion starts as soon as I switch on the computer (See picture of the Bios). Which means that the issue starts before Win7 even kicks in? Am I Wrong?

I am completely stumped and have no idea what to do next to diagnose and fix this issue. What I am thinking to do next is
- Check the power supply - But how ? I don't have an extra power supply or rig to swap the power supply
- Check the Ram ?
- Wipe off Win7 and reinstall ?
- Burn the whole thing and just cry myself to sleep ?

I am attaching as many pictures as I can for you to see the distortion during bios, bootup, booted up (before the blue screen problem started happening) mode and also the blue screen of death.

http://imgur.com/pOv40n1
http://imgur.com/JLnI71j
http://imgur.com/fJI16pE
http://imgur.com/5PEBut7
http://imgur.com/oFjHrC9

Any help that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Almost always the video card.
Jan 9, 2015 6:08AM PST

Since it's such an old rig did you try replacing ALL heatsink compounds on both GPU and CPU?
It's cheap and worth a last shot.

There is a risk it's the PSU but I don't see that listed (size, age, etc.)
Bob

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Answer
I'd try Bob's suggestion and while doing that, I'd take a
Jan 10, 2015 12:13AM PST

soft eraser and lightly clean the contacts on the GPU.

If that doesn't resolve it ...maybe it's just time for a new GPU and there's plenty of good, reasonably priced cards to choose from.

Let us know.

VAPCMD