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    8400GT dying?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by mpicco, Oct 24, 2008.

  1. mpicco

    mpicco Newbie

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    So I got this Vaio a year ago, model FZ21M, and it has a 8400GT fitted into it...
    Just yesterday I was watching a movie and picked it up and suddenly it went all "scratched CD" on me (the movie was in my hard drive, nothing to do with the CD drive), image froze, sound froze, and I just had to restart it.
    When I did, I saw these artifacts like vertical lines all over the VAIO logo in the boot up (before windows starts even) and I knew something was wrong.

    Temperature was hot but normal, I got used to this laptop getting hotter than most, but then Windows wouldnt start, or only would start after letting it rest a while. Tried a scandisk, the Vista startup recovery option thing (cos it was suggested in the start up menu, kinda menu where you use to see "Safe mode"), but none helped.

    Installed RivaTuner to monitor the GPU temp... And on idle its at 64, and when I play a video it starts to rise to 70... Then it blacks out on me, or windows says something like "The display device failed but recovered successfully", although my screen freezes.

    Does it seem like a normal case of overheating? Im pretty sure it heats up but not above 80º... Ive been using the laptop for a year and gaming with it at times, its not the hottest I've seen it go, so did the GFX card die?
     
    mpicco, Oct 24, 2008
    #1
  2. Burning Balls

    Burning Balls Notebook Evangelist

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    Exact same thing happened to me when I was watching a DVD.


    It's a faulty video card. Get your manufacturer to replace it.


    Do a hardware diagnostic first. I'm not sure how to do it with a VAIO but a quick internet search will tell you (go to the Sony website). Do a specific test on the graphics card.

    You will fail the test, so write down the error number. Then call up Sony and tell them to replace your graphics card.
     
    Burning Balls, Oct 24, 2008
    #2
  3. mpicco

    mpicco Newbie

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    Also RivaTuner is showing something weird...
    As I opened up a 3d application, the Core clock (both values) and the Memory clock jumped up and down as much as 300 MHz?

    Im calling Sony right now see where that test is at
     
    mpicco, Oct 24, 2008
    #3
  4. Jstn7477

    Jstn7477 Sam I Am

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    If you have artifacts at POST (the Vaio logo animation) then your video card is about to die.

    -J.B.
     
    Jstn7477, Oct 24, 2008
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  5. Jstn7477

    Jstn7477 Sam I Am

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    It is supposed to do this. The core and memory speeds are lower on 2D to conserve power/battery life.

    -J.B.
     
    Jstn7477, Oct 24, 2008
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