Think I might have the first blown gtx260m

I'm running on the newegg g51vx x1a, and lately, I've been getting crazy artifacts. For example, in Fallout3, I have these bright red dots going across my screen, that when I take a SS, are not there in the picture, which leads me to believe they are indeed gpu malfunctions. It happens in IL-2 1946 which is a very old flight sim, and it happens in WoW occasionally, albeit not as bright of dots, just little squares of dots, if that makes sense. I can't really explain it. I am downloading new drivers right now, hopefully that will fix it, but I think I might be screwed. I am still under warranty. Also, I might want to mention that my gpu regularly hit 97ish degrees in all games, maxing out at one point I saw in HWmonitor at 101C. Also, I recently upgraded to win7 with my upgrade disc that came in the mail, though it worked fine for about 3 weeks before these artifacts started showing up. I'm not really familiar with computers as this is my first "good" computer that could run games well. I'm not sure what to do about it really other than call Asus support if the drivers don't fix it. Do you guys have any words of wisdom for me?


UPDATE: I turned off AA and AF in Fallout3, which got rid of the dots, though the "squares of dots" are still showing up on my desktop occasionally.

 

if its on the display and not the screenshots, then it almost certainly is a failing GPU. at this point, there isn't much else you can do other than sending it in.

 

+100C >.> wth
Try to post a screen? since you say you toke a screenshots with the effect.

 

No, I said the effect doesn't come up on the SS. I'm not lying but my little session from when I posted to when this is posted, the gpu topped at 98C. Just playing Fallout3.

 

101C is enough to blow the card. 95C is considered the "safe" threshold, but even then you should try to avoid hitting it. I hope you had a warranty.

Were you overclocking?

 

No, wasn't overclocking, and have an NC-2000 cooler sitting underneath it at all times full blast. I didn't do a copper mod or remove the grill from the backplate though. Damn that sucks. Yeah, I registered it on the website so I'm pretty sure I'm covered under the 2year warranty, only bought the damn thing back in August though, thought it would've lasted longer than this.

 

Hardware failures happen (gpu, hdd, everything) - it's the nature of manufacturing. It's unfortunate when it happens to anyone, and you got it this time (I had a hdd burn out a couple of months ago).

Stop fiddling around with it, just call Asus for RMA and get it fixed.

 

It might be one of the VRAM chips rather than the GPU itself.. Of course it's the same end result for you. Sorry for your troubles.

 

What's the timetable on an RMA? I might just buy a new laptop, get it, RMA this one and sell this one. Don't like overheating laptops. Might switch to the darkside that is Sager.

 

depending on where you are, every other time besides now that i've dropped mine off at Asus Markham (Canada), it's been ready the next day. +2days for shipping i assume. atm my g51j had a DOA sensor, dropped it off a little over a week ago after christmas and still in service. i'm holding off on calling in hopes that maybe they're waiting for a g51jx

asus US is also reportedly good, europe not so much (turnaround in the weeks).

 

Yeah, I'm an American living in New Zealand so its probably going to be terrible haha.