Is my graphics card broken?

I have purchased a new desktop system and installed Windows XP on it, but am having a strange problem. At random intervals, the monitor will turn off momentarily and come straight back on. I am unsure if the graphics card is crashing or if the driver is faulty. If there is a fault, I can request a new machine but I want to be sure (especially as I've already gone through the hassle of installing windows!).

I am running an AMD A6 3500 with Radeon integrated APU HD 6530D, with a 300 watt power supply (which came with the system). My monitor (which is known good) is connected via VGA (and the cable is also known good).

I've done the following and have noticed the following issues - it is beyond my ability to figure out what is causing this issue and I would appreciate some help, especially tips as to what else I can do to troubleshoot.

- I ran MSI Kombuster stress test - the GPU seems to run at a stable temperature (although ocasionally the temperature is shown as plummeting for a fraction of a second and then rocketing back to what it was - I wonder if this is a momentary crash similar to those causing the monitor to turn off?)

- Updated drivers . I've updated the graphics card drivers using the AMD website, and have updated my ASUS motherboard with the latest BIOS drivers from the ASUS website.

- AMD VPU Recover - occasionally when testing with games the screen flashes and the "AMD VPU Recover" screen appears and says that the graphics card became unresponsive but has been restarted. I don't have to restart windows when this happens, but the game crashes out.

- Resolution - if I change the resolution to anything other than 1280x1024 my monitor becomes blank (even though the monitor itself has a native resolution of 1024x768 and works fine with other resolutions with other computers). The monitor also doesn't show the BIOS boot up screen or anything until Windows has loaded and set the resolution to 1280x1024. I have tested with a different monitor and then any resolution works, and I can see the BIOS loading screen, but the "flickering" issue still recurs.

- I tested the card with DIRT 2 - the game seems to crash once it gets to the main menu screen. This may be totally unrelated. I can successfully run a different game called "Amnesia Dark Descent" so the graphics card is not totally fubarred.

 

Check to see how big your PSU is and if you are able too give us your temp readings.If you say that you have a 300watt supply i am thinking you don't have enough power.

Use Speccy to scan your system
http://majorgeeks.com/Speccy_d6358.html

 

When you say "check to see how big your PSU is", do you mean physically? It is marked with a 300 watt sticker on the outside. I've installed the speccy program - awesome! - it shows the temps as follows:

CPU - 14 degrees Celsius
graphics card - 11 degree Celsius
Motherboard - 29 degrees Celsius
Hard drives - 34 degrees Celsius

CPU and Graphics card seem surprisingly chilly (room temperature...). Do they self-report or could the thermometer have fallen off? I ran a stress test program and the graphics card got up to 39 degrees celsius so I hope not.

 

OK - slight progress. For some unknown reason my monitor has suddenly started working with other resolutions than 1280x1024 - the "flickering" problem is still present however!

Also, my computer crashed once - is there any way of interpreting the "minidump" file which Windows XP stores in the "minidump" folder?

 

Hmmm . . . have you checked the connection between the PC and the monitor? I've had odd issues with cables, and in one incident, a bad adapter (DVI to VGA). I did see where you said the cable was good - but a recheck never hurts.

Also, when you mean your monitor "turns off" do you mean it shuts down like you pushed its power button, or just the screen goes blank?

For your mini-dump files, download blue Screen View from here http://majorgeeks.com/BlueScreenView_d6200.html and that should get you going with a more in-depth diagnosis of the crash.

 

Yes - I have used two different VGA cables, each tested as working on a different PC.

The screen goes momentarily blank - the monitor itself stays switched on. It's very similar to the effect you get when you change resolution.

 

Here are the dumps as assessed by "BlueScreenView"


Mini061812-01.dmp 18/06/2012 04:36:03 ATTEMPTED_WRITE_TO_READONLY_MEMORY 0x100000be 0xbf2b40e4 0x27d08021 0xa9c6f7a4 0x0000000c atiok3x2.dll atiok3x2.dll+137e3 Ring 0 x2 component Ring 0 x2 Component Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 6.14.10.11631 32-bit atiok3x2.dll+137e3 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061812-01.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061612-01.dmp 16/06/2012 04:46:30 BAD_POOL_HEADER 0x00000019 0x00000020 0x8a4016d8 0x8a4017f0 0x0a230002 ntoskrnl.exe ntoskrnl.exe+22e0b NT Kernel & System Microsoft® Windows® Operating System Microsoft Corporation 5.1.2600.5755 (xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234) 32-bit ntoskrnl.exe+22e0b ntoskrnl.exe+73583 ntoskrnl.exe+e562 ntoskrnl.exe+ec27 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061612-01.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-23.dmp 15/06/2012 14:14:19 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa3bf800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-23.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-22.dmp 15/06/2012 14:07:47 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xf76e6800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-22.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-21.dmp 15/06/2012 14:05:09 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa49e800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-21.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-20.dmp 15/06/2012 14:03:08 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa376800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-20.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-19.dmp 15/06/2012 14:01:21 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa687800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-19.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-18.dmp 15/06/2012 13:51:26 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa29e800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-18.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-17.dmp 15/06/2012 13:49:09 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa426800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-17.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-16.dmp 15/06/2012 13:47:22 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa7c7800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-16.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-15.dmp 15/06/2012 13:45:25 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa657800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-15.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-14.dmp 15/06/2012 13:43:40 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa42e800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-14.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-13.dmp 15/06/2012 13:41:52 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa4b6800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-13.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-12.dmp 15/06/2012 13:40:04 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa2ce800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-12.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-11.dmp 15/06/2012 13:38:13 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa3e6800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-11.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-10.dmp 15/06/2012 04:34:33 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa3f7800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-10.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-09.dmp 15/06/2012 04:32:08 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaad56800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-09.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-08.dmp 15/06/2012 04:30:04 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xae0da800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-08.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-07.dmp 15/06/2012 04:28:18 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa3b7800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-07.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-06.dmp 15/06/2012 04:26:28 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa29f800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-06.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-05.dmp 15/06/2012 04:14:01 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa477800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-05.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-04.dmp 15/06/2012 04:12:17 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xf7586800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-04.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-03.dmp 15/06/2012 04:10:25 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xab168800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-03.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-02.dmp 15/06/2012 04:08:31 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4b93158 0xaa528800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-02.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208
Mini061512-01.dmp 15/06/2012 04:06:26 KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED 0x1000008e 0xc0000005 0xf4c1e158 0xaa5bf800 0x00000000 ati2mtag.sys ati2mtag.sys+761158 ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Radeon WindowsNT Miniport Driver ATI Technologies Inc. 6.14.10.7261 32-bit ati2mtag.sys+761158 ati2mtag.sys+761388 ati2dvag.dll+44c01 ati2dvag.dll+44c98 C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\Mini061512-01.dmp 3 15 2600 94,208

 

lol wish my video card was that cold

 

I'd rather have a warm, fully working, system

 

Yes, bad drivers was my first thought - but I've updated to Windows XP SP3 and downloaded all other Windows updates, I've updated the BIOS drivers and all other motherboard drivers using the ASUS website and I've updated the drivers (for both the CPU and the integrated GPU) using the AMD website. The AMD autocheck tool now says I have the most recent drivers installed. I did try uninstalling and reinstalling the graphics card drivers and it didn't really help.

I think it must be either (i) a bad graphics card-related driver or (ii) something physically wrong inside the computer. I have noticed the VGA socket on the back of the motherboard has a very small amount of play - it moves by a few millimetres when rocked back and forth, whereas all the other motherboard connections are rock solid. Could this be the cause?

 

Are these the drivers you installed?

http://driverscollection.com/?H=A6-3500&By=AMD&SS=Windows XP

Can you run at a lower screen resolution without getting a black screen? You may be too underpowered given that chips graphic capabilities to run at a high rez.

Is this happening at your native resolution in all of your pc games?

 

I didn't install those drivers but will give them a go, thanks. I used the ones from the AMD (CPU + GPU) and ASUS (motherboard) websites.

The "flicker" is happening in all resolutions, at any time (even during the bios boot sequence) which is why I'm worried it's a hardware problem. I can play some 3D games without any problems at all (ie Amnesia Dark Descent) other than the flickering issue.

 

OK, the drivers on the link you provided said "your system is already up to date" so this is not the solution unfortunately.

 

If you are getting flickering and/ or black screens in all resolutions the psu in the system is most likely b the culprit.

If you bought this system locally I'd have the shop make good on it. ( Hoping you keep receipts.)

 

I think that's probably correct. No problems with returning it, other than the time wasted setting it up.

Just to be clear regarding the symptoms, the screen suddenly goes black for about 1 to 2 seconds and then everything reappears. Nothing else stops working. When I load certain games (ie Dirt 2) the graphics card blue screens of death, but this may be a game specific issue as it doesn't happen with the only other 3D game I have (Amnesia Dark Descent).

 

Its a good possibility that its might be game related

 

I've now tried installing Batman Arkham Asylum and I get a BSOD shortly after the initial logos have vanished. I'm starting to think it's more likely to be a hardware fault, but is there anything else I can try?