Green artifacts encountered with Leadtek WinFast PX6600 GT TDH Extreme

[sandy_thelead]

I have this PX6600 GT TDH Extreme, it is SLI compatible but I don't use SLI, the mobo doesn't support it either.
I'm getting green artifacts, especially a lot of them in Brothers in Arms 16x anisotropy 1024x768, and my card is going up to 80-84 degrees Celsius even in Counter-Strike: Source ('new server' window ...transparent).
I have some photos of the artifacts in Brothers in Arms attached, just after 2 minutes play.

I think it is much too high for it, and the idle temperature is 50 degrees with my case opened, and around 55-60 with it closed (I only have one intake fan on the side , no PSU exhaust fan, only one from outside).
I have a 400W PSU,and my mobo is Gigabyte GA-K8VT890-9 with a 3000+ Athlon64 Winchester on sck 939, 512 DDR PC3200 Kingston 400MHz in Dual Channel. Anything else I have .. one hard-disk WD 120G P-ATA 7200RPM and one HDD Maxtor S-ATA133 80G 7200RPM.

What should i do ? Is it a memory problem or is it overheated?

Thanks in advance,
Sandy

[duckhunter-deux]

Are you overclocking your card? If so cut back on the clock. I don't know what the temps on a 6600Gt should be, but 80-84 seems hot, especially on a Leadtek. If you aren't OCing you card then I think it's overheating and you should contact Leadtek.

[njolakoski]

its overheating 80C, I dont think thats good for a Card at all, like the person above me said

[sandy_thelead]

Yes, it isn't OCed at all. 550/1120 MHz are the clocks, and they're by default that way.
Is is really a matter of contacting Leadtek? (anyway I live in Romania I should contact the store where I bought it from) I saw in another post here someone with two PX6600GT linked in SLI who had the same temperature problems and he installed more coolers on the case.
I bought it anyway from a store almost a week ago, and I thought about asking them about it, but they only told me to show them the graphics card .. and I don't want them testing it for a couple of weeks ...

Could the VRAM be damaged? I don't know what to do with it, and I wondered wether warranty could solve my problem.. ( but I don't want them testing it so I could get another back in one month or so )

[njolakoski]

Yes, it isn't OCed at all. 550/1120 MHz are the clocks, and they're by default that way.
Is is really a matter of contacting Leadtek? (anyway I live in Romania I should contact the store where I bought it from) I saw in another post here someone with two PX6600GT linked in SLI who had the same temperature problems and he installed more coolers on the case.
I bought it anyway from a store almost a week ago, and I thought about asking them about it, but they only told me to show them the graphics card .. and I don't want them testing it for a couple of weeks ...

Could the VRAM be damaged? I don't know what to do with it, and I wondered wether warranty could solve my problem.. ( but I don't want them testing it so I could get another back in one month or so )

Using a new cooler wont hurt trying of course.

[rrcn]

Installing a new heatsink on the card WILL void your warranty. That's up to you to decide.

Do you have any chassis fans in your case? If so, how many and how are they oriented?

[sandy_thelead]

Installing a new heatsink on the card WILL void your warranty. That's up to you to decide.

Do you have any chassis fans in your case? If so, how many and how are they oriented?

that's the probl I only have one intake from the side, no rear or front fans.
I say artifacts appear because the extreme overheating.. but I don't know for sure I'll send an email to Leadtek with the pics and see what they have to say about it..

[duckhunter-deux]

Of course installing more cooling won't hurt, but it sounds like it could be a problem that you shouldn't have to solve by spending more money.

You're right, you shouldn't have to talk to Leadtek, but you should see if the store will give you a replacement. And if they want to test for months and that's too much hassle, I'm sure more cooling will fix the problem. You can probably get one of those gpu fans, but they void the warranty.

Aw, rrcn already beat me too it.

You should definatley get more case fans, regardless of what you do with the card.

[rrcn]

First off, take care of your case cooling issue. Install at least another intake and exhaust fan. That could very well help your artifact problem.

What you could try is open the case and place a box fan next to it blowing into the case. Run the game and see how that works for ya. Let us know.

[sandy_thelead]

yes I though as much, I need much more cooling, I'll get a new case some time soon and install lots of coolers. I will go and ask them if they could give me a replacement on Saturday, and if not, I should create a good airflow inside the case.
But it surprises me very much, I never knew a graphics card,even as good as this one, could make such problems and not be able to work smooth using only its cooler!..

Btw is the PSU good enough (400W) ? (just asking..)

[rrcn]

What brand and model number is the PSU?

The number of amps on the 12v rail would be great too.

[sandy_thelead]

What brand and model number is the PSU?

I don't really know, I bought it along with the case which is very poor..
I can see on it written ATX12V*EPS12V*PFC, made in China, ... nothing more

[#43 fan]

Welcome to TechIMO!!
How many fan slots do you have? (Pictures will help). Also, those pictures are very dark, can't see much.

[sandy_thelead]

here's some photos(http://www.informatrix.ro/case1.jpg - 1.3M, slow loading, sorry)

[sandy_thelead]

reather, can you load the picture of my case ? (my server is really not so fast)

[duckhunter-deux]

I saw the picture but couldn't tell what kind of psu it is. Right now I'm thinking it's a generic no name. What kind of case do you have? That might help us find out.

[njolakoski]

I looked at it, its pretty messy, and it looks like there use to be a fan where the black brackets are?

[sandy_thelead]

nope, there wasn't a fan there.. it's just this messy case
I will buy one soon enough with exhausting PSU and some side and rear coolers.. that should help right ?

[duckhunter-deux]

I looked at it, its pretty messy, and it looks like there use to be a fan where the black brackets are?

I was wondering what that was.

[duckhunter-deux]

Yes a quality case, psu, and the presence of cooling fans will most definatley help you out.