Graphics go boom?

WaldoJeffers · 12-03-08, 06:17 PM

Hello all

One of the reasons I have been relatively inactive in WoW for the past 6 months is because I have been to stubborn to even attempt to relieve an issue which bugs me. Everywhere I go in the game world, I am accompanied by these wonderful "screen tear" images.

Whilst it makes for interesting gameplay, running around blindly with no direction, It's gone on for too long now :/ This all started after I reformatted my computer in May this year. What would your "plan of attack" be?

Cralor · 12-03-08, 06:34 PM

Try updating your drivers first.

Petrah · 12-03-08, 06:47 PM

What you're seeing is called video artifacting. The first thing you should check is weather or not your video card is overheating. Be sure it's cleared of dustbunnies, and then check the temps. If your card has temp sensors on it, you can read those temps using GPU-Z. Visit the video card manufacturers web site and find out what the normal temps for your card should be.

If your video card checks out fine and is not overheating, the next thing you should be checking is your power supply and make sure your video card is getting enough power.

WaldoJeffers · 12-03-08, 07:45 PM

Thanks

I have updated my graphics driver so far. Not sure what other drivers to update, and how to.
I have checked the inside of the computer, there is a mild layer of dust over everything. I'm not sure how I should get this all off. I will look for a can of compressed air in the shops again. Last time I looked for compressed air I had no luck. Maybe the product is more popular in the US and such, I'm in Australia. I looked at the GPU-Z - The gpu temperature at idle is 63 and when I tried opening WoW to see how the temps were, my screen froze and my speakers sounded like a boat motor

Cralor · 12-03-08, 08:22 PM

What is the model of your video card?

Wimpface · 12-03-08, 08:41 PM

This exact problem happened to me the other day, and my friend. My friend is now stuck with no graphics card, updating drivers haven't helped. He has reformatted his computer but to no avail.

When this happened to me though, i just rebooted my computer and then it worked again.

EDIT: Should probably say, that me and my friend are trying everything mentioned in this thread as soon as he wakes up in the morning

Petrah · 12-04-08, 01:44 AM

Originally Posted by WaldoJeffers

Thanks

I have updated my graphics driver so far. Not sure what other drivers to update, and how to.
I have checked the inside of the computer, there is a mild layer of dust over everything. I'm not sure how I should get this all off. I will look for a can of compressed air in the shops again. Last time I looked for compressed air I had no luck. Maybe the product is more popular in the US and such, I'm in Australia. I looked at the GPU-Z - The gpu temperature at idle is 63 and when I tried opening WoW to see how the temps were, my screen froze and my speakers sounded like a boat motor

It's good that you've updated your drivers. Yes, see if you can find a can of air somewhere (probably at stores that sell office supplies). You should be able to take the card out and get the dust out of there fairly easy. I checked on the idle temps for your card and they are said to be around 60c, so that's not too bad. And I did read somewhere that the ATI software (if you have that extra stuff installed) should have a log of your temps. Not sure where that would be located though. Keep an eye on those temps when you can.

What power supply do you have?

Psoewish · 12-04-08, 02:43 AM

If you really can't find any compressed air, most vacuum cleaners have a blow function. Just be careful and keep some distance if you use that.

A very soft brush can do wonders too.

WaldoJeffers · 12-04-08, 02:52 AM

Did you update the drivers from the link you gave to your graphics card ??

I have gone through a lot of graphics drivers in the past, that sites included. Right now, because on the instructions to uninstall all drivers, I just have the option 2 display driver from http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_ca...=xp/radeonx-xp that's all I have.

makes sure you get the right bit too either 32 or 64 bit OS

I know I have xp home, excuse the ignorance, but how do I tell If I have 32 or 64 bit?

Also you could try to re-seat the graphics card

I'll probably blow myself up but i'll try

Try updating Windows using Windows Update

I've tried this in the past, I think I have them all, they used to put up in my icon tray saying I needed to update, they no longer appear.

Finally it could be a faulty/dying card. Does it act up in other games??

I'll try and find a game lying around in my cupboard or something

should have a log of your temps

I will try and find it. This is a rough call but I *think* I have noticed on cold temperatured days that this issue is less frequent.

What power supply do you have?

It's a psu that came with my CoolerMaster CAC-T05 case, I think it is a 460 w. If there is a way to better check this I will have a check