Is it my gpu or cpu?

Well I just made a thread asking about whether the dell 8800m gtx is compatible with other chassis' and I'm wondering if it's not my gpu but my cpu. The symptoms are random gray screens (doesn't recover back, just stays gray and requires a restart), black screen then after about 5 seconds my screen recovers and I get an error saying "[insert random file] just recovered from an error."

This happens both on my xp and vista installations. One time I ran Crysis and made it to the main menu where I was able to start up a saved game, but when the saved game started loading, I got a gray screen. Also, after watching videos for a bit (just a regular avi), another gray screen or random "[random file]" glitch.

Are these symptoms that of a faulty gpu or cpu? Or something else? I've done some research and most of what I found leans towards the video card but I want to make sure before I put the money down for a 280m (I may as well upgrade).

Thanks in advance folks

EDIT: before anyone asks: yes, the fans are all working.

EDIT2: Actually, it says "display driver stopped working but successfully recovered"

 

Looks like GPU. Check temperature at all system.

nVidia have a huge problem with mobile vc of 8-th version. A lot of returns back due video cards burns. It was a huge case at the end 2008 and beginning of 2009.

 

I agree it sounds like your GPU, especially if you get a display driver stopped working message. However I got this message : "nv4_disp display stopped working", and similar symptoms to you about two years ago. I didn't replace the GPU to fix it though. I think I tried several things that resolved the problem, but in the end I couldn't figure out which one actually fixed it.

I either/and: reinstalled the same graphics driver, updated to a new driver, and possibly did a clean windows install. I believe I was having some sort of driver conflict with something that caused it to become unstable.

You said you are having this problem across two operating systems (Dual booting?). Are you using the same graphics driver on both and the same software?

It probably isn't the LCD, but have you plugged the laptop into an external monitor just to make sure?

Also try uninstalling the graphics driver and rebooting the machine to that OS. It should automatically load a standard OS VGA driver at start up, and see if the problem persists.

I remember contacting Sager about this issue and they also thought it was the GPU card, but it wasn't in the end.

 

Nope. I'm using a modded one for vista and stock for xp.

I will try that asap when I have access to one.

 

I uninstalled the driver but it's not VGA. I still have my native resolution set (using vista). The basic theme is being used, though. I also tried playing crysis now twice with xp and it won't even go to the main menu anymore. It's just a black screen.

When trying to play videos without the driver the video is slower than the audio playback.

Maybe my gpu is overheating regardless of my fan being on full power? According to what h0w1er says that's probably the case. I think I'm going to go for the gusto and just buy the 280m. It's not too difficult to install is it?

Thanks!

 

I know this is an old thread, but I didn't want to start a new one because my question applies to this same issue that I've been having.

So my question is, with the symptoms described in this thread that I've mentioned, is it worth trying the "bake" method? In other words, will the bake method ruin the GPU or no? I still have a functioning gpu, but I it's neither fully functional nor crapped out. So should I try it?

Thank you!

dp

 

GPU seems to be idling at about 29-30 degrees celcius. I don't seem to have mentioned that.

EDIT: With fans on full blast.

 

Could be a faulty 8800. They seem to have some dying problems after a year or so. Some came out "not so good."

Check this forum for "baking" solutions, etc.

 

As in, using the baking method? So I shouldn't try it?

 

No he's saying some 8800's produced by nVidia didn't some out so good.

Then he said look up the baking method.
I know there's some in the Dell forum since a lot of Dell users experienced the joys of the 8800

 

I've already looked up the baking method. I was asking if I had anything to lose or not by using the baking method. I've searched and I've seen many success stories and many stories of people who had non-working cards (as in, not functional whatsoever) and they still hadn't worked after baking.

However, I've yet to see any "baking" experiences that apply to my situation, which is that I have a functioning video card that isn't fully-100%-working functional. That's why I'm asking if it's worth trying the "bake" method or not because I don't want to risk losing the little function my video card DOES have. The answer may be obvious to others, but not me. I think it may work because it would only re-solder separated circuits, not un-solder already good circuits. That's my reasoning, but I'm humble enough to say I don't know, lol.

So, shall or shan't I?

Thanks