GPU Artifacts

[3vil]

I encountered a weird artifacting problem with my 8800 Ultra (MSI NX8800 Ultra T20768E-HD-OC). I went to play fallout 3 this morning and the game froze and red artifacts popped up all over my screen. I restarted, and then the artifacts were there during the mobo initialization/boot info. I've ran my computer in safe mode, and it worked fine. It seems that as long as my computer is not online, the artifacting does not show up. (In other words, it runs fine in normal safe mode, but gets messed up while networking is enabled. EDIT: I was using it in safemode, to update the drivers/get removal tools to make sure its not messed up drivers, and now the artifacting is everywhere.)

I've checked the normal operating temp, and it was at around 65c, which is normal. I've ran the computer with the side off, and the artifacts still appeared. (Either that, or the windows would randomly turn black, and the screen would flicker...) I have also done a spybot check, (I realized when it was done that it was pointless...) hijack this check, reinstalled the latest drivers (GeForce Release 180, 180.48), and even took the card out of my machine, and re-seated it.

EDIT: I uninstalled the old drivers, and it seemed to remove the artifacts. But, when I installed an older set of drivers (Release 178, 178.24) and restarted, the artifacts came back.

I haven't overclocked any part of my system, although my graphics card was overclocked by MSI out of the box.

Anyone have any idea what could be wrong, short of my card dying? (Could it possibly the DVI cord?)

My system specs are:
Windows XP
Evga 122-CK-NF68 (nForce 680i SLI)
2gb Ram (Crucial Ballistix)
Intel E6750 (stock @ 2.66 GHz)
MSI NX8800Ultra T20768E-HD-OC (stock overclocked)
Corsair HX620 PSU

 

[Kazappin]

I'm actually having the same problem as you, except with a 9800 GT in assassin's creed and green artifacting. It seems if I can keep my FPS up, the inevitable crash is delayed for a while longer, but as soon as I stop moving and let the screen stand, about 2 minutes and I've just gotten the BSOD.

 

[Cooney]

Hmm, I think I would rule out the monitor 1rst and the DVI cord and go from their....

 

[Dangman]

- Use ATI Tool or Furmark to stress test the video card again. See if any artifacts show up then.
- Use another video card
- Downclock the video card to the default GTX speeds (575Mhz Core, 1800Mhz (900Mhz actual) RAM, and 1350Mhz Shader clock). Yes I know that card is factory OC'd but that OC might have become unstable over the years.