My videocard is dying? No?

Windows x64
AMD64 3500+
ATI x850xt 256meg AGP. Cat 7.4 drivers
500W powersupply

So I have been having this issue with my graphics card for quiet some time. I kinda forgot about it because I just accepted the fact that my card was busted.

The issue only happens in a 3d environment, and only in newer games. I have never had this happen in tribes or t2. Everything starts out okay, but within 30seconds of starting a game the polygons decide to stretch to infinity. I'm pretty sure it isn't heat, although I can't say if heat caused a physical problem on the card itself before this issue ever arose.

I have updated drivers, reinstalled drivers, hell even went through a full windows reinstall. The problem persists.
this picture is from Age of Empires3. The artifacts start showing up on the menu screen, before I can ever get a chance to play. Other games that I can remember it happening in : Civ4, that BSG demo, Prey, Call of Duty 2, etc
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8628/arghix5ew0.th.png (http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=arghix5ew0.p ng)
So what would the common opinion be? Can a busted card really not show any problems outside of a 3d environment (ie desktop)?

have you checked the temps while/right after playing a game? since you said it takes 30~ seconds for it to appear, it may be overheating, causing artifacts to occur.

if you can't rma/warranty it you're prob out of luck

could try dif. drivers

check the fan to see if its spinning. every ati card i've ever owned had its fan died. If that's the case just rma it.

I recently just sent in my old 9800pro because of the fan. they fixed it up and sent it back np.

If it's not the fan they'll prolly still take care of you.

It isn't the fan. And since I got the card from a Chinese man via ebay, I don't think I can get a free replacement.

Again, did you check temps while ingame?

Again, did you check temps while ingame?
I checked the temp right as the artifacts started to show themselves. Took about 1 minute in the campaign mode. temp was at 70c.

take off side of the case, put fan next to it, see if it still happens


if yes, it's overheating, if not, it's probably video RAM or pipeline failure

I just don't know. According to atitools the card isn't even breaking 70c. I took out the card to inspect for physical damage, didn't find any. But there was a large amount of caked on dust on the heat sink. I removed it, and it did drop the average temp by about 3-4 degrees, but no overall change in the artifacts.

I'm not sure if this specifically means anything, but the artifacts go away if I alt-tab out of Age3. They do return, but not immediately.

I just don't know, fuckin pissed. And too poor to afford anything atm (hence the pissed part). [/rant]

take off side of the case, put fan next to it, see if it still happens


if yes, it's overheating, if not, it's probably video RAM or pipeline failure

take off side of the case, put fan next to it, see if it still happens


if yes, it's overheating, if not, it's probably video RAM or pipeline failure
1. I don't have a fan.
2. That logic is stupid.

If yes, well then I still don't know wtf is wrong. It could still be overheating, but even with a fan next to it.
If no, then it is probably over heating.

You don't have a table fan in the entire household?

You don't have a table fan in the entire household?
dorm, no.