Graphics card failing?

[cbergm7210]

Hey guys,

Here is a screenshot of wanky things happening on my screens. Finder windows leaving trails, etc., Firefox screen going black, etc. etc.

Is this what happens when a graphics card is failing?

Thanks for the 2 cents.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Test your RAM.

[cbergm7210]

Will do, Mike.

Just realized it's doing it across 4 monitors split between two graphics cards, so unless they are both going that is probably not the cause.

Here's another shot:

[James Steele]

I don't know what's causing it, but I have a newer Radeon HD5770 card in my older MacPro 1,1. It's not recommended but it works. Sometimes I get "snow" on my monitors and they way I solve it is to sleep the monitors with Ctrl+Shift+Eject, and then wake them up again. You might try that procedure to "clear" the problem and go back to work like I do. It happens rarely for me.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Kind of classic RAM fail, but maybe not. Reset your PRAM, check your disks and repair permissions (which perhaps you've done) but if I had to bet on it, I'd say (Ooo eee ooo ahh ahh...bing, bang) RAM-A-LAM-A-DING-DONG.

[mikehalloran]

If you bought it with AppleCare, you can boot from the included TechTool disk to check memory and VRAM.

[cbergm7210]

I don't know what's causing it, but I have a newer Radeon HD5770 card in my older MacPro 1,1. It's not recommended but it works. Sometimes I get "snow" on my monitors and they way I solve it is to sleep the monitors with Ctrl+Shift+Eject, and then wake them up again. You might try that procedure to "clear" the problem and go back to work like I do. It happens rarely for me.

Thanks, JS. I'll try that today when it happens. It's weird, as it does not occur every day.

Rember is on pass 8 with no RAM errors...

[cbergm7210]

Kind of classic RAM fail, but maybe not. Reset your PRAM, check your disks and repair permissions (which perhaps you've done) but if I had to bet on it, I'd say (Ooo eee ooo ahh ahh...bing, bang) RAM-A-LAM-A-DING-DONG.

Dude, you crack me up.

BTW, how does one reset PRAM?

[mikehalloran]

Did you run a check on the VRAM?

To reset the PRAM, shut down. Press the Control, Option, P and R keys. Hit the start button. Let the chimes sound three times. Release the keyboard and let it boot.

Do you know how to clean the video card? These often get a thick layer of dust on the heat sink that acts as a blanket. It's not easy to see unless you are looking for the problem. There's a thread on this somewhere.

[cbergm7210]

Did you run a check on the VRAM?

To reset the PRAM, shut down. Press the Control, Option, P and R keys. Hit the start button. Let the chimes sound three times. Release the keyboard and let it boot.

Do you know how to clean the video card? These often get a thick layer of dust on the heat sink that acts as a blanket. It's not easy to see unless you are looking for the problem. There's a thread on this somewhere.

Cool. Will do both, thanks.

And...how does one check the VRAM?

[mikehalloran]

I use the graphics test in TechTool. No doubt there is freeware somewhere that can test it.

Since the heat sink problem is a known issue, I'd check it first. These clog up. It could be something that simple.

[James Steele]

I don't know what's causing it, but I have a newer Radeon HD5770 card in my older MacPro 1,1. It's not recommended but it works. Sometimes I get "snow" on my monitors and they way I solve it is to sleep the monitors with Ctrl+Shift+Eject, and then wake them up again. You might try that procedure to "clear" the problem and go back to work like I do. It happens rarely for me.

Thanks, JS. I'll try that today when it happens. It's weird, as it does not occur every day.

Rember is on pass 8 with no RAM errors...

Yep... as I said... it's not a solution. Obviously something else is afoot, but it might just clear things up and let you continue working without having to reboot (if that's what you're having to do currently).

Also, Mike made some really good suggestions. I'm not an expert, but if RAM was the problem it seems logical it would be with the VRAM on the graphics card and not RAM on the motherboard. And actually the "tearing" like we're seeing seems like something that could be more from heat affecting some sort of output component, perhaps. All speculation on my part. I assume you've done a Google search on your model of graphics card to see if others have reported this issue.

[Frodo]

Also, Mike made some really good suggestions. I'm not an expert, but if RAM was the problem it seems logical it would be with the VRAM on the graphics card and not RAM on the motherboard.

That is a very astute observation that should not taken lightly.

RAM and VRAM: not always buds.

[James Steele]

Also, Mike made some really good suggestions. I'm not an expert, but if RAM was the problem it seems logical it would be with the VRAM on the graphics card and not RAM on the motherboard.

That is a very astute observation that should not taken lightly.

RAM and VRAM: not always buds.

Like I said, I'm no expert. I know that years ago in budget Windows machines there was some sort of weird "shared RAM" situation with integrated graphics, etc? Not sure. But yeah... two different things altogether. Bad VRAM that's installed on the card isn't user replaceable as far as I know and you'd have to perhaps return it to the manufacturer?

[mikehalloran]

I know that years ago in budget Windows machines there was some sort of weird "shared RAM" situation with integrated graphics, etc

I don't know about the Mac Books but of the desktop Macs, only the Minis have this shared RAM for graphics.

I found the thread - you need to read this:
http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... eo#p436897