Resolution and gfx issues

**radCAT** · 30-06-2009 09:44 AM

hey guys i just have a query regarding some resolution issues.

Basically here's what's happening:

I installed the newest nvidia drivers for my 8800gt.
Now, when i restart my pc it changes the resolution to 1600x1200 instead of what i use: 1680x1050

This change also rearranges all my desktop icons and generally makes the display look fairly terrible.

I believe there is some link with the drivers that were recently updated. The reason i updated, and here's another problem, is because just randomly my pc would freeze up. Whatever i was doing at the time remains on the screen but many pixels freeze into a pinky colour (usually). The sound continues functioning except skips fairly badly.

As im sure all of you would I updated the drivers but it has happened once again even after updating the drivers. Any suggestions and/or help for the above 2 issues?

**Jam0864** · 30-06-2009 09:50 AM

Check the temperature of the card when it's running

**radCAT** · 30-06-2009 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Jam0864

Check the temperature of the card when it's running

should be fine considering i haven't had a problem until recently

**Jam0864** · 30-06-2009 10:34 AM

It could easily be clogged up with dust or the fan might be starting to wear out, temperature's the first thing I'd check before performing more difficult (or expensive) diagnosis's.

***fury*** · 30-06-2009 10:56 AM

Its all to do with not having Monitor drivers installed. So use windows update to install Monitor drivers or go to the Manufactures site and download them. This will then allow your GFX card to know what your default RES is.

Tho it could be dieing like mentioned, uninstall your drivers and try some other ones. There are heaps of different versions of Nvidia drivers out.

**radCAT** · 30-06-2009 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by fury

Its all to do with not having Monitor drivers installed. So use windows update to install Monitor drivers or go to the Manufactures site and download them. This will then allow your GFX card to know what your default RES is.

Tho it could be dieing like mentioned, uninstall your drivers and try some other ones. There are heaps of different versions of Nvidia drivers out.

yeah ill update via windows update and see how i go. never thought of monitor drivers, i woulda thought it would just stop displaying altogether.

cheers

**xr6_turbo** · 30-06-2009 06:39 PM

Nvidia has one set of drivers and they are from their site...use them.

**radCAT** · 03-07-2009 03:47 PM

soz for late reply was camping for a few days.

downloaded monitor drivers but that made absolutely 0 difference to everything.

downloading different set of drivers from nvidia, as suggested by shawn. Will let you know if it worked.

EDIT: downloaded drivers are older than previously installed and shitty drivers but hopefully they're more stable. installing now... please wait...

EDIT2: well the drivers seemed to have worked. after reorganizing my desktop and resetting the digital vibrance (muchlove digital vibrance) i think im pretty happy with it.

Thanks y'all. also haven't experienced another graphical pc freeze in a while but if i ever am encountered with one again i shall bump this thread :P

thanks again

**xr6_turbo** · 03-07-2009 04:25 PM

Yeah

Pain in the arse.

**radCAT** · 05-07-2009 10:00 AM

ok so i've done everything....

ive taken out the gfx card ive cleaned it, ive cleaned everything, i've done everything in the software side but i'm still getting freezes. And they're becoming more and more common.

I just have no idea what is causing this but am confident it's a hardware issue.

I recently bought some more RAM but i believe the problem was occurring before i got the RAM.

Is RAM a likely cause for this sort of problem?

FYI i have 6gb ram:
slot 1: 1gb kingston
slot 2: 2gb kingston
slot 3: 1gb kingston
slot 4: 2gb kingston

all running at the same speed from the same supplier (MSY). However, the sticks are different sizes (heights). But i don't see that as being any problem. Just thought id mention it.

EDIT: wow its freezing like every 5-10 minutes now. it's getting reallll fkin annoying. please help asap

EDIT2: Memory Tools Diagnostics Encountered Zero Memory Errors

EDIT3: it seems to be when im in-game. I suppose that brings us back to the gfx card pooing itself

**Jam0864** · 05-07-2009 11:06 AM

check temperature.

**radCAT** · 05-07-2009 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Jam0864

check temperature.

how to

**radCAT** · 05-07-2009 11:31 AM

this is fucking so annoying. what if it is temperature then what?

**Jam0864** · 05-07-2009 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Raditz

this is fucking so annoying. what if it is temperature then what?

If it's temperature clean out dust, replace/get more fans, or set the fans to a higher rpm.
Check temperature using realtemp or speedfan.

**f0oster** · 05-07-2009 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Raditz

hey guys i just have a query regarding some resolution issues.

Basically here's what's happening:

I installed the newest nvidia drivers for my 8800gt.
Now, when i restart my pc it changes the resolution to 1600x1200 instead of what i use: 1680x1050

This change also rearranges all my desktop icons and generally makes the display look fairly terrible.

I believe there is some link with the drivers that were recently updated. The reason i updated, and here's another problem, is because just randomly my pc would freeze up. Whatever i was doing at the time remains on the screen but many pixels freeze into a pinky colour (usually). The sound continues functioning except skips fairly badly.

As im sure all of you would I updated the drivers but it has happened once again even after updating the drivers. Any suggestions and/or help for the above 2 issues?

Heat issue maybe? Sounds like artifacts.

On another note:
Do you ever have trouble booting/turning your computer on?... If so, I've actually experienced the same problem on my old Gigabyte motherboard and it died soon after (freezing, very dodgey sound, etc.)

**xr6_turbo** · 05-07-2009 01:53 PM

I'd say the card could of shit itself or the slot on the board...

Lack of power causes this exact thing too

**radCAT** · 05-07-2009 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by studiosoundguy

I'd say the card could of shit itself or the slot on the board...

Lack of power causes this exact thing too

i dont think so considering it plays for a while before shitting itself.

i don't have another slot on the board but what are the odds of that being the problem

Shouldn't be a lack of power considering its been working fine for a year now...

**Jam0864** · 05-07-2009 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Raditz

i dont think so considering it plays for a while before shitting itself.

i don't have another slot on the board but what are the odds of that being the problem

Shouldn't be a lack of power considering its been working fine for a year now...

Power supplies lose efficiency as they age. I'm betting on lack of power or temperature. Use rivatuner to check the temperature when the graphics card is under a heavy load, and give us your power supply model.

**radCAT** · 05-07-2009 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Jam0864

Power supplies lose efficiency as they age. I'm betting on lack of power or temperature. Use rivatuner to check the temperature when the graphics card is under a heavy load, and give us your power supply model.

I think i figured out how to use rivatuner...

i got a graph to appear, screenshot as follows, with a maximum temp of ~50 degrees in a full css server (24 people). That is core temperature.

Its average between 3 and 5 degrees difference when not under stress. (ie.~47 degrees when not playing a game).

I have the powersupply that came with my coolermaster centurion 5 and was told that it had ample power to run everything.

**Jam0864** · 05-07-2009 04:25 PM

Temperatures are fine, so it's your power or your motherboard most likely. Do you have another PC you can borrow a motherboard or PSU from?

**radCAT** · 05-07-2009 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Jam0864

Temperatures are fine, so it's your power or your motherboard most likely. Do you have another PC you can borrow a motherboard or PSU from?

i might be able to borrow a PSU but not a mobo that has a pci-e.

Is there a different way i can check if it's the PSU?

**xr6_turbo** · 05-07-2009 04:59 PM

I would try another PSU...

Full Stop...

**radCAT** · 06-07-2009 02:05 PM

pretty sure it was a ram issue. doing a test atm.
took out old ram and kept the new ram. No issues so far.

**radCAT** · 06-07-2009 03:36 PM

its not the ram

EDIT: would a 350W psu be able to easily power all of my gear?

ie. 8800gt
ep45 ds3l mobo
some shitty cpu

?

***fury*** · 06-07-2009 03:51 PM

It would be borderline. as long as it is a decent PSU, like a Antec 350W i would say yes it could. But a generic POS 350W would be very doubtfull.

**xr6_turbo** · 06-07-2009 04:48 PM

POS.....

**radCAT** · 07-07-2009 11:42 AM

so you guys think i should just buy like a 450W psu and see if it works? even if it doesn't solve the problem ill have a better PSU

**Jam0864** · 07-07-2009 01:33 PM

Probably a good idea.

**radCAT** · 07-07-2009 02:29 PM

ok this is getting more and more serious.
i actually don't believe its the psu any more. i just opened it up to clean the cpu fan (which was a laborious process *hates reconnecting the stupid cpu fan clip peices of shit*)

and i also realized that we never even took into consideration if it could be the cpu. so... could it be?

and while it was open noticed that the psu had a big 460 on the side. could this be it's wattage? i could check in the manuals for some extra info but atm that's all ive got.

finally, i tried to play css and i got a bsod! holy crap i finally got something! however, i hadn't disabled automatic restart ( i have now) so i couldnt get any details on it. Plus the screen goes all fked up so it's hard to read what it has to say anyway.

is there like a log of the bsod's that have come up that i can see to finally pinpoint the error?

Note: im currently typing from my laptop because i can't even open up firefox or anything now... WTF

EDIT: currently running a system restore just in case it is a driver error (taking into consideration a bsod is caused by hardware or hardware processing errors - ie. drivers). I'm restoring from a month or 2 ago back when there were absolutely no problems with my pc.

**Jam0864** · 07-07-2009 03:23 PM

CPU won't cause video defect's like that... lack of power or overheating, and you've checked the temperatures.

**radCAT** · 07-07-2009 03:54 PM

I GOT IT! OMFG I FIXED IT!

simple system restore to restore registry and system32 have done it for me!
This indicates to me that it was a driver issue! WINWINWINWINWIN

I'd also like to thank you Jam, Shawn, Fury and Fooster for contributing to the solving of this issue and many others that people have faced in this community. Thanks so much guys!