Video Card Problems?

[Its_asdf]

So I've decided to awaken from my deep nba-live forums slumber and have a question for all of you computer experts out there.

So every time I play a video game (NBA 2k9, Day of Defeat, Some random Korean MMORPG one of my friends forced me to play) The screen becomes discoloured with weird lines running down the screen after a minute or so and my computer crashes. Sometimes I'll get the blue screen of death (the one that says dumping physical memory and there's a percentage counter that increases near the bottom of the screen. I apologize I can't really give a better description of it since my discoloured screen screws up all of the text). If anyone can give me of an idea of what's wrong with my computer it would be greatly appreciated. I'm quite the computer caveman, so hopefully this isn't too big of a problem out of my reach.

Thanks in advance from your not-so-well-known long time member.

[Andrew]

If it's not a software (driver) issue, then perhaps your card is overheating. How old is your computer/video card and how long has the problem been going on?

[tee-pane]

I've had the same kind of problem and it turned out that my video card died out. After my first attempt with 2k9, i've had my the messed screen. The screens got worse and worse each time when rebooted, can never get to the users login screen. It could be the death of your video card or hopefully something else, good luck!

[Its_asdf]

If it's not a software (driver) issue, then perhaps your card is overheating. How old is your computer/video card and how long has the problem been going on?

My laptop is less than a year old and my video card is a GeForce 8400...

Well I tried turning the computer on again and now i cant even get the Dell screen to appear. I guess it's pretty much an issue with my computer internally.... My biggest fear come true.

[NovU]

If it's less than a year old, it's likely to be still under warranty.

It definitely sounds one of the worse problems. Blue screen of death usually means some parts internally is fucked up. In many cases, it's video card since of heat problem. CPU also can generate much heat. Rams also could give you blue screen in some cases. It's always advised to use a notebook cooler especially for gaming laptops. I got Antec one which I always use no matter what I do on laptop. It extends life of the laptops.

[Lean]

My laptop is less than a year old and my video card is a GeForce 8400

I have the 8500GT, think we have the same problem.

[Andrew]

My laptop is less than a year old and my video card is a GeForce 8400...

Well I tried turning the computer on again and now i cant even get the Dell screen to appear. I guess it's pretty much an issue with my computer internally.... My biggest fear come true.

As zanshadow said, it's probably still under warranty so you should definitely take advantage of that while you can. It certainly does sound like something's amiss with the video card (at the very least). Easy enough to replace, but needless to say don't pay for a new one while it's still under warranty.

[Lean]

I dusted off the insides of my rig, plus a new driver is up for the 8500GT, that might solve the problem.

[Its_asdf]

Well I'm sending the thing back tomorrow to have it replaced, so I'll be going through video game withdrawal for a good while.

Anyone know how fast Dell works on replacing/fixing their laptops?

[NovU]

With HP, the UPS kind of guy came to my house to pick up the laptop and after 2 weeks, I got it back all fixed. And of course everything was covered by warranty.

[Andrew]

With HP, the UPS kind of guy came to my house to pick up the laptop and after 2 weeks, I got it back all fixed. And of course everything was covered by warranty.

I'd say you'll probably be looking at a similar turnaround, Its_adsf.

[el badman]

Its_asdf, this sorta happened to me a few years ago with a 6600GT, turns out that the fan on the video card actually melted and it was obviously causing weird glitches, artifacts and crashes.
Either way, 99% sure that it's an overheating issue.