Did my GPU finally die?

Recently, about a day ago, i walked into my room to see my computer monitor looking very odd and funny; There was various spots on the screen with obvious discoloration. I went to move the mouse, but i saw nothing budge. I restart my computer, load it up again, expecting nothing of it and then after loading up Aion, BAM! the same thing happens. Now i go on and do this over and over, only to be met with the same problem and even orange screens of nothingness.

I really didn't know what was wrong at the time but i tried various steps to see what the problem was; running virus scanners, diagnostic tests, various startup types, and still nothing. Until I realized that it only happened when i launched something either 3-d or graphic intensive.

I don't know why, but from the looks of it my almost 1 year old XFX 9600GT has seemed to start malfunctioning. idk if it is because of overheating, the latest two drivers, or just sheer time itself, but it is driving me insane. I really don't know what to do with it. I am still trying to get it to work, but it just doesn't want to stop crashing. can anybody help me with this problem?

specs:

Windows Vista: Home Premium
Pentium Dual CPU E2200 2.20Ghz
250W Power Supply
(XfX) Nvidia Geforce 9600GT 512MB DDR3 650Mhz
3Gb DDR2 SDRAM

note: I am using the computer that is messing up currently

His PSU is under powered for any video card.

You really need to try and get a 400w PSU for your PC if you want to actually use a decent GPU.

So there is a possibility that it is not my GPU, but my Power supply? anyway to be sure of this?

and yes, i have tested it on Resident evil 5's Benchmark and MW2; it crashes on both of them.

Get a different power supply and put it in there.

I know with my PC from a couple years back I had a 550w RaidMax PSU in it paired with a 8800 GTX when it first came out. After a couple months I started getting artifacts all over my screen when playing games.

Got some money a week later and purchased a new PSU and that fixed the problem.

I have to agree with the other posters. A 250-watt power supply isn't enough for a 9600GT.. not even close. Make sure to replace it with at least a 400-watt+ Corsair, Antec, Cooler Master, PC Power+Cooling, OCZ, or Thermaltake power supply. There are a couple of other decent brands, but these are ones you can generally trust.

My big concern is that the underpowered PSU you've been running may have actually damaged the video card. This is very possible, but I hope that just upgrading the PSU will set things right. Good luck!

Even if PSU is not the problem you need a new one. How long does it take to crash or whatever it does?Captain__Tripps

It takes within 3 minutes to crash while in-game.

So the PSU is mostly likely a buy right now... what Company should i buy from tho? Antec? Thermaltake? best bang for buck?

Whats your budget?

Whats your budget?

kilerchese

not much during the holiday season due to my boss wanting bonuses, so i can only give out atleast $150

Grad this then. Be quick though it is on sale.

This is probably the best option for you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

LOL Dang Duckman, we think a like. I just looked though. It's only $60, not $30 since the MIR for the PSU ended on the 1st. It's 12:13 am EST.

Thanks guys. I will try and order it by tonight, but if i don't i hope that the sale will still be up tommorrow morning (well, nevermind, cause its already the 2nd)

Hopefully it will be here soon as today i get Borderlands and Dragonage Origins...

Also, are there any other recommended upgrades for me? my spending limit on PSU is $150 but i have a christmas upgrade limit of $250.

CPU - AMD Athlon II X3 425

Mobo - ASUS M4A78 AM3/AM2+/AM2 770 ATX

PSU - OCZ ModXStream 600w

Triple core CPU + future upgrade room to a quad core later on. You can reuse your ram on it.

You would have to reinstall your OS though.