"Sparkles" with GeForce Ti4200... Help?

[HockeyTownUSA]

I have a PC with a GeForce Ti4200 that I use with a KVM DVI/USB switch to
share an LCD monitor, USB keyboard and mouse that I use with another PC with
an ATI X800 XT Platinum.

With my PC with the GeForce (call it my "work" PC) I get "sparkles" in
graphic images. Essentially they almost look like LCD spots that are always
on (white). However, when I switch to my PC with my ATI card (call it my
"game" PC) everything looks fine when viewing the same image. The ATI
control panel has an option for "Alternate DVI mode" and "Reduce frequency
for DVI" which has eliminated any corruption that might have existed (next
to none).

I have tried swapping cables between the two PC's and to the monitor, and
tried all new cables altogether with no success. Same thing happens with
another KVM switch for DVI and PS/2 devices. So I feel it has to do with the
GeForce video card.

Has anyone had any issues like this and/or how to fix it?

If I can't eliminate it I may have to go with an ATI card since it seems to
work fine on my other PC. I hate to spend the money however, and my Ti4200
works just fine otherwise.

Thanks for any assistance!

 

[Mike]

Overclocking too far will cause that, if it's overclocked back it off a bit.
It could have been pushed too far and permanently damaged. Overheating
might also cause that. Or the card could just be getting bad.

Mike

 

[HockeyTownUSA]

No, no overclocking. It has good cooling too. This card hardly gets pushed,
as it is used mainly for personal finance, web browsing, some photo imaging
work, and occasional DVD watching. I realized that the sparkles go away if I
just bump down the resolution, but I want and need 1600x1200.

 

[DrWho]

No, no overclocking. It has good cooling too. This card hardly gets pushed,
as it is used mainly for personal finance, web browsing, some photo imaging
work, and occasional DVD watching. I realized that the sparkles go away if I
just bump down the resolution, but I want and need 1600x1200.

The GPU is overheating. Sparkles are a SURE sign of a HOT GPU. Bumping
down the resolution cools the GPU down, so the sparkles go away.

If you're good with your hands, I recommend removing the heatsink from
the GPU, clean up both surfaces, apply new compound, and re-attach the
heat sink. It is very common for the heatsink to not be properly seated
on the GPU, so that the heat from the GPU does not transfer to the sink.


--
DrWho

Abit KX7-333R
XP2700/333
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200 CAS 2.0
ATI 9700non-pro
Two 80GB WD 7200/8MB in a RAID0
Windows XP (SP2)

 

[HockeyTownUSA]

The GPU is overheating. Sparkles are a SURE sign of a HOT GPU. Bumping
down the resolution cools the GPU down, so the sparkles go away.

If you're good with your hands, I recommend removing the heatsink from
the GPU, clean up both surfaces, apply new compound, and re-attach the
heat sink. It is very common for the heatsink to not be properly seated
on the GPU, so that the heat from the GPU does not transfer to the sink.


--
DrWho

Abit KX7-333R
XP2700/333
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200 CAS 2.0
ATI 9700non-pro
Two 80GB WD 7200/8MB in a RAID0
Windows XP (SP2)

Could it be from a bad DVI cable?

 

[HockeyTownUSA]

Could it be from a bad DVI cable?

here's what the "sparkles" look like (taken from the nzone.com website)

http://home.comcast.net/~fighterpilot/temp/displaysparkle-nzone.jpg

 

[HockeyTownUSA]

here's what the "sparkles" look like (taken from the nzone.com website)

http://home.comcast.net/~fighterpilot/temp/displaysparkle-nzone.jpg

Forgot to say look at the "chrome" around the nvidia logo.

 

[Geoff]

Forgot to say look at the "chrome" around the nvidia logo.

ya looks like overheating, give the heatsink a clean to get rid of dust? (a
paint brush works best)

 

[HockeyTownUSA]

ya looks like overheating, give the heatsink a clean to get rid of dust?
(a paint brush works best)

Thing is, it looks just fine using my DVI / PS/2 KVM switch. Must be the KVM
switch as far as I'm concerned. Will be returning the DVI/USB KVM switch
this week and reverting back to PS/2. Oh well. Guess will have to wait for
technology to catch up! DVI and USB is pretty predominant in new monitors
and peripherals, so I am surprised that these DVI / USB KVM switches aren't
more available, cheaper, and higher quality.