Re Problem with Graphics card overheating comp crashing in zzz mod

[Guest]

Hi I wonder if any of you nice fold can help me.
Approx a year ago I boght a computer, up to the eighth months it was working
fine ( except for a very noisy motherboard) my computer crashed in a zzz mode
, I have spoken to a technitian whom told me it was a graphics card problem
A techitian came out to put a new graphics card in my computer, approx two
weeks later the same problem happened and the technitian came to install
another graphics card, again approx a month later the same thing happened and
the technitian came out to install another card, I asked him wether my
computer was overheating because of the noise and wether this was affecting
the graphics card but was told this was not the problem.
I do feel that it cannot be a graphics card problem asthey all 3 could not
be faulty, and feel it might have to do with the computer overheating and
damaging the graphics card.
Has anyone had a similiar problem or can help me.
Thanks

 

[Chris Barnes]

Hi I wonder if any of you nice fold can help me.
Approx a year ago I boght a computer, up to the eighth months it was working
fine ( except for a very noisy motherboard) my computer crashed in a zzz mode
, I have spoken to a technitian whom told me it was a graphics card problem
A techitian came out to put a new graphics card in my computer, approx two
weeks later the same problem happened and the technitian came to install
another graphics card, again approx a month later the same thing happened and
the technitian came out to install another card, I asked him wether my
computer was overheating because of the noise and wether this was affecting
the graphics card but was told this was not the problem.
I do feel that it cannot be a graphics card problem asthey all 3 could not
be faulty, and feel it might have to do with the computer overheating and
damaging the graphics card.

Look at the capacitors on the motherboard and see if the tops of any of
them are bulging (upward). It does sound like the power supply/mobo is
allowing too much power through - and the graphics card happens to be
rather sensitive to it.

My guess is that you're right - what you really need is either a new
power supply or mobo.

 

[Guest]

Hi Chris, Just want to thank you for your advice, what is a capacitor and
mobo? I cant start my computer and am using another one as my new one crashed.
If the computer is overheating could it damage more than just the graphics
card?
The motherboard is very narrow and is made of plastic and has a very small
fan and a small outlet, could this cause an overheating problem.
I am sorry to ask so many questions, its just that I would like to
understand better before I take my computer back to the store I bought it
from.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi I wonder if any of you nice fold can help me.
Approx a year ago I boght a computer, up to the eighth months it was
working
fine ( except for a very noisy motherboard) my computer crashed in a zzz
mode
, I have spoken to a technitian whom told me it was a graphics card
problem
A techitian came out to put a new graphics card in my computer, approx two
weeks later the same problem happened and the technitian came to install
another graphics card, again approx a month later the same thing happened
and
the technitian came out to install another card, I asked him wether my
computer was overheating because of the noise and wether this was
affecting
the graphics card but was told this was not the problem.
I do feel that it cannot be a graphics card problem asthey all 3 could not
be faulty, and feel it might have to do with the computer overheating and
damaging the graphics card.
Has anyone had a similiar problem or can help me.
Thanks

What is "zzz mode"?

The only time motherboards make any sound is when components explode. It's
ususally a pop, or a small bang. They then make no further sounds.

*Fans*, on the other hand, can be noisy, but are essential and critical.
So are the largish, finned metal blocks mounted between the fan and the CPU.
There will also be a fan or two in the power supply. More expensive
power supplies can be significantly quieter, and that can be a very good
purchase. These normally come with better-quality cases. Cheaper fans
are noisier.


There must be adequate airflow and dust must periodically be removed, but
*never* with a vacuum. Use compressed air cans instead.

It would help if you could post more precise and descriptive details of the
problem and exact error messages. For example, if you get a blue screen
with white text, there's a STOP message with a number right after it, a
somewhat cryptic term like "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR EQUAL" and then the name of
some file, usually a DLL. Those are details needed.

You're probably right that it isn't the video card failing; if it's heat,
the CPU itself or other componets will have cooked by now. However without
having a better idea of what you've actually seen, it's very difficult to
say.

mobo = motherboard.

Capacitors are electrical components that store charge, in essence a type of
battery. Not to sound disparaging in any way, but if you don't know what
one is, you aren't likely to recognise if they are bulging (an indication of
failure). There have been problems with some motherboards that used
capacitors that bulged on their way to failure and vented or burst. At
that point, the system becomes seriously unstable or fails to start at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Hi Patrick, thanks for your advice.

My Pc is a philips free event LS1400 Intel pentium 4
640 3.2 ghz 2mb
1024 mb ddr
ATI radeon x550 256mb

The first time my computer shut down is when I was playing a game the screen
went fuzzy and then black and shut down, I never saw anymessages before it
crashed.
The first time the I had a problem and spoke to the tech guys, they took me
through all the steps, F5 F8 delete, removing all the cables etc, couldent
get the computer to start, tech guy said it was a graphics problem and came
out to install it.
The first time he came out I asked wether it could be an overheating problem
as since I had the computer 8 months, it had always made a loud noise, he
said it had nothing to do with overheating.

The tech guys had to come out three times in a space of two months to put in
new graphics cards.

The first time the tech guys service report said: swap tested VGA- post boot
( swap VGA faulty but gives screen o/put) D/Top x550 256mg, low profile Pci
express. VgH required rebooted via A/L RTNR approx 10 minutes.

The second time tech guy came to replace the graphics card the service
report said: Replaced faulty VGA installed drivers, Device manager all ok,
Radion x1300, display ok,checked advanced settings- adapter- showing correct
VGA card.

Third time tech guy came to replace graphics card the service report said:
graphics corrupt changed VGA card ok, thats all it said.

I bought my computer in febraury lasy year, in October lasy year the
problems started, although from the first day I bought the computer it has
always made a loud noise, like an engine, the noise has been owrse when
paying a game or loading rogramms.

I have dusted the inside of motherboard very carefull, all clean.

I will look at the capacitors and gwet back to you.
Thanks