GPU Failure?? nooooo...

So lately my P-6860 has been acting up. I hadn't gamed much on it recently, but started up again due to the influx of new games coming out (Borderlands, MW2, etc.) And now it seems to be dying. Essentially, it goes like this. I power my computer on, get into a match in MW2. The game runs flawlessly at max settings. No worries. But then the next map loads. As soon as the game starts on the new map, the computer freezes for a second, then shows a bunch of funny colors. I have to ctrl-alt-delete to get it to fix itself. And then my frames drop into the low 20's, and it will stay like that until I reboot, then the process repeats. So far I've noticed this in MW2 and L4D2. The computer just had a reformat. It's running an upgraded T9300 CPU @ 2.5 Ghz. I've tried four different nvidia drivers. I opened up the case and cleaned the dust out. I applied more thermal paste. I did a system restore. None of this has fixed it. So it leads me to believe that I'm looking at a total GPU failure. I should also note that I ran my GPU with a ~20% overclock for quite a while, stupid me. Basically my only options at this point are a full reformat, or hopefully a solution from you all. I hope I can fix it. If my good old FX bites the dust I won't be playing any more games for a while
Thanks!

 

What GPU is it?

 

It's the 8800M GTS. The clocks are back to stock now, btw.

 

I think that is a faulty GPU.

You might want to read this:
http://gizmodo.com/5035980/inquirer...8800-9600-and-9800-graphics-card-is-defective


Is your GPU removable?

 

Try using some utilities to log/monitor the temperatures of your 8800mGTS before and after playing some games.... might just need to clean out your fan or internals with compressed air

 

GPU is not removable. As far as I know the temperatures are fine. I'm using a Coolermaster cooling pad that works wonders. The exhaust is barely even warm. If it's not fixable, how much would it cost for Gateway to repair it?

 

What are your temps though?

If you can play the game fine until the second map then something is wrong but i dont think it is the GPU dieing.

When you are installing the new drivers are you using driver sweeper to get rid of all of nVidias trash that doesnt get removed with an uninstall?

 

Yep, whenever I change drivers I follow everythning in the driver upgrde sticky. I'll have to check my temps when I get home tonight.

 

If Gateway is anything like HP, it will cost around $300 to get the computer fixed since they would have to replace the entire motherboard. You may get lucky and Gateway will fix it for free, but don't get your hopes up.

 

What if the map never changes?

When you ctrl+alt+delete are you ending the process? Or what are you doing that makes it "fix itself"?

When the frames drop you should check the GPU clocks to see if it has been downclocked.

You should always monitor temperatures, especially with problems like this.

 

The stuff above sounds like a bunch of garbage to me.

If you were running 20 percent overclock all this time its amazing it lasted this long. Please take the time to try this process one more time with hwmonitor loaded and running and please report back here what your max temp on your gpu was.

 

What about other games?

It might not be a hardware problem.

 

Take a look at this .. sound familiar
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5501933#post5501933

 

He should troubleshoot the easy stuff first.

Thanks for sharing though, you never know if it may come to that.