Graphics Card causes BSOD - Replace or Fix?

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|tera|

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I have a AMD 4650 HD PCIE card.

It used to run fine and I actually underclocked it (power saving and only overclocked when gaming).
Until about a week or so ago when my PC started BSOD'ing.

It's not a driver issue. The BSOD occurs before boot, even in Safe Mode, so it's definitely the hardware.
I run fine on my motherboard's onboard, but I'd prefer an HD Card, since the onboard is VGA only and my monitor needs a DVI port for optimum display.

I've done all the troubleshooting I could. Reset my BIOS, Cleaned my Case, Removed drivers, installed new drivers, cleaned the card (except added new thermal paste).

Should I just replace it, or pay R75 for new thermal paste and watch it BSOD again?

Your opinions?
 
if i may ask what is thermal paste going to do?

If it BSODing in safe mode i would say the card is done. Safe mode removes driver issues, you could as a last resort test it in another pc before deciding. Just be sure it isn't perhaps the port that on the motherboard that has issues.
 
killadoob said:
if i may ask what is thermal paste going to do?

If it BSODing in safe mode i would say the card is done. Safe mode removes driver issues, you could as a last resort test it in another pc before deciding. Just be sure it isn't perhaps the port that on the motherboard that has issues.
Click to expand...

Yep, the port on the mobo will be the last test.

I will take the card to a friend and ask him to test in his machine. It works fine if I am in the BIOS Setup, as soon as I load Windows, it starts and goes to BSOD or sometimes allows me to login and then BSOD.

My concern regarding the Thermal Paste is that it might be getting hot. When I removed it last night after testing again it was really hot. I can't view temps on it now, since I can't boot into anything.
 
You don't know that it is the hardware. Your windows may have become corrupted my a virus or something.

If your card is overheating, you would probably get a buggy image on your monitor before you get a bsod. Thermal paste would be a waste until you know exactly what the problem is.

Repartition your boot drive and reinstall windows before you spend any money. Also clean the contacts on your ram with an eraser and reseat it.

Edit: My old 4850X2 was generally too hot to touch during gaming. Even at idle, I couldn't keep my finger on the back of the gpu for very long

You also can't rule out the psu.
 
Last edited:
Thanks,

Will check with my friends on Monday :)

I have no viruses/malware and I am too lazy to format/reload now. I am due for a PSU upgrade, but this PC is ancient, so I don't want to spend too much money on it, I want to give it to my nephews soon and get myself a new box.
 
That's a pretty old card, perhaps try reflowing it in the oven. Failing that, you could still use your onboard and just use a vga-dvi converter which you can pick up for 30 bucks.
 
mike156 said:
That's a pretty old card, perhaps try reflowing it in the oven. Failing that, you could still use your onboard and just use a vga-dvi converter which you can pick up for 30 bucks.
Click to expand...

No thanks.

Onboard sucks beyond words. My eyes want to bleed. The colours are horrendous. I miss my HD card so much :(
 
Remove the harddrive and boot with something like a Parted Magic CD.
 
dabbler said:
Remove the harddrive and boot with something like a Parted Magic CD.
Click to expand...

No, I'm done with it now. I'll take it to work on Monday and have the techies put in their machines and test it. If it does the same I know it's stuffed.
 
Just want to post a closure to the topic.

Got a new PSU and new card and everything is running as it should.

I can expand in a long lenghtly post as to the whole events that transpired, but stuff it, it's working and the wheel turns, so that's that.

Ciao.
 
teraside said:
Just want to post a closure to the topic.

Got a new PSU and new card and everything is running as it should.

I can expand in a long lenghtly post as to the whole events that transpired, but stuff it, it's working and the wheel turns, so that's that.

Ciao.
Click to expand...

Hopefully this time you won't mess around with the cards clocks as expect all to be well.
 
Chevron said:
Hopefully this time you won't mess around with the cards clocks as expect all to be well.
Click to expand...

amd 4650, released 2008. LOL chevron sometimes i don't know bro. You come up with the most unreal things to say. That card is around 5 years old.

Guys don't mess around with clocks!!!!!! you might find your 5 year old gpu's suddenly dying due to playing with the clock settings, trust chevron. Time does not play a role in it.
 
killadoob said:
amd 4650, released 2008. LOL chevron sometimes i don't know bro. You come up with the most unreal things to say. That card is around 5 years old.

Guys don't mess around with clocks!!!!!! you might find your 5 year old gpu's suddenly dying due to playing with the clock settings, trust chevron. Time does not play a role in it.
Click to expand...

I agree. The fact that I inserted my card into a busted motherboard to test whether the other card was toast didn't fry my card either (sarcasm)... I only remembered it after a while...

I'm happy with the new card. Not what I wanted, but it will do the job for now.
 
teraside said:
I have no viruses/malware and I am too lazy to format/reload now. I am due for a PSU upgrade, but this PC is ancient, so I don't want to spend too much money on it, I want to give it to my nephews soon and get myself a new box.
Click to expand...

Boot from a linux livecd/usb.
 
teraside said:
It used to run fine and I actually underclocked it (power saving and only overclocked when gaming).
Click to expand...

I dont know about AMD but nvidia has this feature that automatically down clocks the GPU when is not in a game EG movies, desktop. Then it ramps up when a 3D application is detected, EG my GPU is at 405MHZ on desktop but in a game its 765MHZ
 
Rickster said:
I dont know about AMD but nvidia has this feature that automatically down clocks the GPU when is not in a game EG movies, desktop. Then it ramps up when a 3D application is detected, EG my GPU is at 405MHZ on desktop but in a game its 765MHZ
Click to expand...

I didn't realize that was a feature, i figured if the gpu was not being used it would not run at full speed, similar to your cpu not going 100% when you idle.
 
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