Which graphics card can I use with my PC?

gr1340

I have the exact same PC/GPU as you and got this error just a few days ago.

I believe I had just finished watching a video on YouTube when it happened.
It has been used a few times since then without issue although there was a Windows update the other night (I'm running Win 10) so don't know if that had anything to do with it.

almillar

A very simple question - is there a fan on the graphics card, and is it actually spinning? If the card overheats it could crash. A new fan could be v. cheap.

poppellerant

How old is the machine? I'm going to guess it was made in about 2007 and you bought it in 2008, so that's 8 years old. At 8 years old, the power supply could well be ageing and tired. Putting a new graphic card in might just stress the PSU enough for it stop working - it could stop working either with dignity or pop then a blue flash.

The very first thing I would do is measure the voltages, with a multimeter if you have one. Ideally the voltages shouldn't exceed +/-5% of their stated voltage. Test the voltages both when the computer is idle and under labour.

gr1340

Not sure about the OP but those dates are correct. It has had a new PSU which is a higher wattage than the original (can't remember what though) but not sure if the fan on the GPU is spinning, I haven't checked that yet.

It it happens to me again I will just put a new card in there as they are less than £30 and will be fine for my needs.

mwddrwg

poppellerant wrote: »

How old is the machine? I'm going to guess it was made in about 2007 and you bought it in 2008, so that's 8 years old. At 8 years old, the power supply could well be ageing and tired. Putting a new graphic card in might just stress the PSU enough for it stop working - it could stop working either with dignity or pop then a blue flash.

The very first thing I would do is measure the voltages, with a multimeter if you have one. Ideally the voltages shouldn't exceed +/-5% of their stated voltage. Test the voltages both when the computer is idle and under labour.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I bought it around 2008 as an ex-display model from PC World so it's done well considering


I installed a new 500W power supply around 18 months ago so it's probably not that which is the problem. The fan on the GPU is definitely spinning when it's on but keeps crashing. Will have to see how the new card fares when it arrives

mwddrwg

Good morning all,


Thanks for all your advice so far. Have fitted the 'new' graphics card, installed latest drivers and all seemed well but the PC is still randomly crashing. Don't think it's the GPU's fault now as I don't get the blue screen with the video error any more when it crashes.


Now it grinds to a halt over a period of around 30 seconds by becoming unresponsive to the mouse, screen freezes, and the tower switches itself with no error message at all this time. All fans are working so can't be overheating as far as I can tell.


Diagnosis is my main problem... do you think it could be faulty RAM? Any ideas much appreciated. Thanks

pappa_golf

I refer you back to post 6 , however you have now wasted possibly £30 of the repair fund now .


please tell us the spec of the machine , which CPU is fitted to it

mwddrwg

pappa_golf wrote: »

I refer you back to post 6 , however you have now wasted possibly £30 of the repair fund now .


please tell us the spec of the machine , which CPU is fitted to it

Indeed, your advice had been noted. But I thougt it was worth a punt at the GPU being the culprit as it was displaying the VIDEO_TDR_ERROR on the blue screen before crashing. Turns out I may have been wrong but had no way of knowing for sure beforehand. C'est la vie


It's this one (but with a different GPU):


https://www.reevoo.com/p/packard-bell-x9610-q8200

pappa_golf

yes I had a link to that or a similar one earlier on , however that machine was made with a few CPU variant's , some good , some bad , I was trying to establish what your present machine standard was , before offering an alternative.


I could suggest m/board+CPU+memory setups from as little as £80 , but would it be worse or better than your present setup?

mwddrwg

Ah, OK, will get the spec right sometime today as at work at the moment. Will get back to you Thanks!