i just got this and have been using it for less than a week: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121265

it's starting to give me artifacts and locking up my system

after booting up, the video card temps are around 53 celsius and the fan speed is 35%

I tried the latest drivers off guru3d.com and the latest WHQL candidate from nvidia.com - both sets of drivers are giving me the same problems. they say the drivers automatically regulate fan speed as well. the first time it happened i was playing cod4 but then it has happened since that while playing a video in VLC, and while just doing nothing on the desktop.

the newegg page says the core clock is at 738 MHz and the memory clock is at 2200 MHz
but GPU-Z reports the core clock is 740 MHz (no big difference) and the memory clock is at 1100 MHz

I tried getting ntune to un-overclock the card back to 9800gtx standards but nvoclk64.sys keeps throwing system exceptions and giving me the BSOD every time I go to launch that part of the control panel

here are the options i'm considering:
1) RMA - if so, should I get a replacement or a refund? and if I get a refund, suggest a better card in the same price range.
2) get better software to overclock/underclock - give suggestions
3) better cooling?

opinions/suggestions?

[Edited on September 13, 2008 at 12:02 AM. Reason : .]

9/13/2008 12:02:00 AM

Return it for a new one. Probably just came with some bad RAM or something. I had a 6800GS do that to me and I was fucking pissed that it was defective.

It's a hassle, but it's better than wasting money/time on a dead card (which is what options #2 and #3 are).

9/13/2008 12:17:19 AM

did you ever get a better power supply? and don't worry about the clock speeds, they're correct. (1100x2 -> 2200)

9/13/2008 12:20:04 AM

yeah i got the corsair 750 suggested in that thread

everything in this system is good, on its own - i think it's been a nightmare when i put it all together though lol

9/13/2008 12:20:58 AM

I've got the EVGA model of the same card in the computer I just built, and it runs Crysis great. I'm using the newest driver set for Vista x64, from EVGA's website. I think my card runs at the same specs you reported, mem at 2200MHz, and even the temp at ~51C. Sounds like an odd problem to have though. Other than being able to say I've got a similar card that runs fine, I don't have much help to offer.

Looks like I've got the same power supply as you too.

[Edited on September 13, 2008 at 12:24 AM. Reason : (1100x2 -> 2200)]

9/13/2008 12:23:34 AM

hmm, k

i'll RMA then

thanks

/thread until i need it again

9/13/2008 12:25:44 AM

As said before, the artifacts are probably caused by the RAM modules. Replacing the card probably isn't going to fix your driver / nTune issue though.

9/13/2008 12:59:57 AM

the RAM in the system right now is good - it passed memtest86 with flying colors

9/13/2008 1:13:05 AM

he's talking about the VRAM on the card.

9/13/2008 1:33:11 AM

oh ok, was wondering why he would be talking about RAM

but anyways, i don't really have a driver/ntune issue - if it doesn't artifact/freeze up, i'm good - i don't really care how fast it runs or whatever.

9/13/2008 1:55:16 AM

There are some problems on the GTX260,280 and the 9800GX2 that the automatic fan controller is not correctly throttling the fan up when playing games or videos. The newest beta drivers fix this from what I have heard. I don't know if this affects the 9800GTX+ or not.

[Edited on September 13, 2008 at 12:01 PM. Reason : :]

9/13/2008 11:59:56 AM

that's funny though because the latest beta on nvidia's site is 177.92

and the thing i installed from guru3d.com is 177.98

i'd assume it would be in .98 too wouldn't it?

9/13/2008 12:40:16 PM

Yes, they would have fixed the problem if you had it. I don't recommend any drivers other than the ones obtained from nvidia. Most of the other drivers like that tend to be unstable. They usually are from Nvidia, but they come before nvidia has tested them and are usually leaked by a tester.

It seems like the GPU ram has died... I would RMA it.

[Edited on September 13, 2008 at 3:56 PM. Reason : :]

9/13/2008 3:55:27 PM