Nvidia GEFORCE 8800GT Graphics card

rattyjack

My graphics card is not working properly. I am getting a screen full of dots, the colour is out of sync (cartoonish like!) and the text is hard to read and much larger.

The monitor is an LG W228F
The computer is a Dell XPS420
PSU-375

Is there anything we can do to sort the problem out, or do we need a new graphic card? If so, can anyone suggest which one to buy?

Thank you.

Notmyrealname

Surprised its lasted this long. There was a manufacturing defect in the materials every single 8000 series GPU nVidia made including yours. nVidia did a press release stating they would all fail and put aside serious money for compensation claims.

Technically under SOGA you have a claim as it is a manufacturing defect and probably one of the biggest ever advertised in the IT sector. Realistically, easier to buy a new one.

You need a new graphics card. Unless you're gaming, the cheapest you can find will do - a second hand 9800GT on Ebay would do the job and be faster.

If you want a gaming one, we need to know what the wattage rating of your PSU is first.

rattyjack

Thanks for such an informative reply, I had no idea about this fault.

As Dell knew about the fault, would it be worth contacting them for a new graphics card?

The computer was bought in January 2008.

Thanks

Minority_2

I would say it's always worth a shot asking companies for things, you just never know. Even if they need to take it in for repair and give you second hand parts it's something.

Take me, I've still got my Sony laptop from roughly 2002, it had a serious fault in that the cooling system wasn't working properly and as such it kept cutting out and smoking. I called them up and complained (this, after having the laptop for almost 8 years!) and they reacted quickly, repaired it for free and gave me a brand new £100 digital camera as compensation.

So, it's always worth asking!!

Notmyrealname

rattyjack wrote: »

Thanks for such an informative reply, I had no idea about this fault.

As Dell knew about the fault, would it be worth contacting them for a new graphics card?

The computer was bought in January 2008.

Thanks

Absolutely.

rattyjack

Just been on the phone to Dell and they are sending out a new graphics card on Monday.

So thanks for all your advice.:j

Gavin57

Have they said what card they are sending?

rattyjack

No they haven't, hopefully not the same one again!

It was a long telephone call, kept being put on hold. Had to email them pictures of the screen. They told us to keep tapping F2 whilst it was booting up, and that seemed to do the trick. But straight after that he said they were sending out a new card!!

We'll let you know what we get on Monday.

Notmyrealname

A result then. There are thousands of people with laptops and desktops with the G84/86 series GPUs in who had a valid claim under SOGA but never claimed.

I refuse to repair them, instead giving the advice as I did above.

rattyjack

Just to let you know they have given us a GTS 240 1 GB card.