I'm pretty sure my graphics card just died....

I literally just purchased l4d2 (because it was $20 on steam) and I hopped in and boom! graphical errors, colored dots, strips, then crashed....I assume it died because if i plug it into the monitor, it boots up (but with a black screen, or severe colored strips. But when I use my onboard things run great. So what would be an upgrade from a xfx 9800gt 512mb, for around $150, but now more than $170 with tax.

XFX HD 5770 at Newegg - $154.99 if you are in the U.S. Your GPU should be covered under XFX's lifetime warranty (it you registered it).

XFX HD 5770 at Newegg - $154.99 if you are in the U.S. Your GPU should be covered under XFX's lifetime warranty (it you registered it).

jtcraft

I'd second a 5770 - it's a good card for the price. I'm more of a Sapphire man, though. I've had a few cards from them over the years, and they've never let me down.

(Never had anything from XFX, so can't comment!)

Before you go spring for a new one, try baking your dead weight. I'm serious. BAKE it. Look up video card baking on google, since it's dead you have nothing to lose anyway. Could actually get it working again until you can afford something better. Otherwise, yea, the 5770 is a good suggestion for your price range.

If you decide to go with the baking idea, go the full mile and open er up and apply some new thermal goop too.

EDIT: Don't do the baking if your card is still under warranty!