Cold Boot Graphic Corruption

[Cyberdemon]

So I built a new system around February, and about a month ago (maybe longer, I've just learned to deal with it) I started getting these artifacts on startup. Windows won't load properly. If I let it boot to Windows from this, Windows will be completely corrupted. I get a wonderful array of colored splotches with an occasional mask of an icon. When I reset and get it working I get the "Windows has recovered from a Serious Error" message and all is well.

If I reset the system as soon as the Bios loading screen comes up (it used to only need 1 reboot, lately it's needed several to get it working) it boots into Windows and runs fine. I can play Oblivion with the detail cranked for 8 hours and it won't even hiccup. It only occurs on cold boots. I've never reset my system from working and had the problem occur. Since I only turn my system on once a day I haven't paid much attention to it until recently when its started to take 4 or 5 reboots to get going.

I'm trying to get an idea of what people think it might be. My first thought was the video card/video memory, but I'm wondering how the card can work great as soon as it "warms up" so to speak if that was the case. My only other thoughts are possibly the power supply, ram, or Mobo.

Normally I'd start swapping components but I don't have anything to swap with at this point. The specs are below:

Athlon X2 4200+
DFI Mobo
2gb Corsair Valueram
EVGA 7800GT
Generic Newegg Brand (Rosewill I think) 480Watt PSU

The machine had been working fine for a while, so I'm trying to narrow this down. At this rate I don't have the time to start RMA'ing parts that are working fine. Any ideas?

 

[spine]

I'd have to guess it's your cheap generic PSU that's letting you down. You've got a beefy cpu and graphics card there but with a crappy psu.

It probably just wacks out when it hasn't warmed up enough.

 

[Cyberdemon]

Well today for the first time it corrupted in Windows after booting up normally. Whats strange is only one screen (I run dual LCDs) was corrupted, the other was fine. After refreshing the screen it went back to normal as well.

I tried looking at the voltages in the Bios when I first corrupted and just about everything seemed to be ok from what I could tell. The 12v was at 11.77 though. Does that seem too low?

I don't mind dropping money on a new PSU (well....I do because I'm broke) but I'd hate to replace it and then find out the video card was borked all along.

 

[spine]

My first thought is the graphics card, but I can't explain why it'd get better later on. The corruption looks very reminiscent of bad video memory.

I'd have to guess that if it were the card, maybe the heatsink isn't touching properly and only does so when things have warmed up/expanded a little. It might be worth removing the graphics card heatsink, checking it over, cleaning it, re-applying some thermal paste and putting it back on.

If it were me, that'd be the first thing I'd do.

 

[Cyberdemon]

If I yank the heat sink and then theres still a problem with the card, would they deny my RMA?

Since it's all brand new hardware I'd almost rather just have them ship me a new one and send mine back before I start messing with it. If it was a 3 year old card I wouldn't have any hesitations in yanking it apart.

I'll pull the card out and check it out visually. I have a friend with the same card so maybe I'll try and swap them and see if I still get the same problem or if he starts having it. I know it's such a big card I thought it could be a problem with not having it seat properly.

I guess now that its "spreading" I'll have to look into it more instead of just resetting everytime. Just haven't had the time recently.

 

[Tigerbiten]

As above.....^

Or maybe the vid card fan is a little sticky.
Sometime on first boot it does not spin up.
Once its spinning then its ok.

Luck........

 

[spine]

If I yank the heat sink and then theres still a problem with the card, would they deny my RMA?

Yeah, it'd be RMA over, though frankly, they wouldn't know you'd removed it unless they removed it themselves.

As I said, it's what I personally would do 'cos I couldn't stand having to wait for an RMA (30 days) unless I was 100% sure the card was physically broken.