State of graphics card

[BillyDa59]

How do I check if my graphics card is okay? It's been acting up a little bit lately. I only get the problem occasionally, usually on VERY hot days, like today. Basically it just causes a game to freeze up. This happens after playing for extended periods of time too. The most consistent symptom is freezing at menus. IE: When I first start a game and it brings me to the main menu or I hit Escape to quit out, change server, or the like.

So here's the main questions:
Do you think I've caused any lasting damage to the card?
How do I check if I've done any lasting damage?
Any quick tips on how to keep the inside of my computer cooler?

Edit* Tried to play Far Cry 2 after giving my computer a break. Had to restart because it froze up real good. Upon rebooting, my computer leads me to this: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=293078

[xoqolatl]

Best way is to put the card in a known software- and hardware-stable computer, then loop 3DMark or a game benchmark (Far Cry 2 has one) for a long time. I assume you have access to one PC only, so I recommend:
1) checking the drivers - what version are you using?
2) checking RAM and CPU stability with OCCT or Orthos
3) checking your PC stability with another video card

[zombie@computer]

an overheating graphics card usually gives artifacts, which doesnt seem the case for you. However, that error looks scary.

[vcool]

Well, I know that in hot weather my computer gives a BSOD with a device error and then I reboot and it works fine. Sounds like overheating to me. Although the error is not the same one as I get.

I still haven't quite figured out whether it is the proc or the card that overheating...

[BillyDa59]

Well I just did a thorough inspection of my PC's innards. Didn't find much... except that I could probably fry an egg on my gfx card, even though the fan seems fine. Pretty sure it's not the CPU because of that error, and the fact that everything else seemed to be in-order, and cool. I did an extra-thorough dust removal on my gfx card just now. I vacuumed out my PC earlier today, and the card doesn't really sit snug so perhaps I nudged it...

Anyways, I downloaded OCCT and I have the wrong driver version I found out. Odd since Steam games usually let you know but perhaps I shouldn't rely on games to check for driver update. Thanks for all your help, everyone. I'm fairly confident my gfx card will be okay now.

[BillyDa59]

I'VE ANOTHER QUESTION

I've heard other people have similar issues with similar setups to mine. I've also heard that it's likely due to 'damaged drivers.' The notion of damaged drivers seems absurd to me but why not try it if I'm still experiencing some issues. Anyways, I've heard the solution is to fully uninstall my drivers (I'll try just the video ones first, then the rest if I'm still having issues). So my question, now, is; How do I "fully and totally" uninstall drivers? Are people just feeding me bags of crap?

[Elv02]

Wouldn't installing your Graphics card driver remove your display? As in, black monitor with no picture of anything... I wouldn't suggest doing that.

However, for fully uninstalling any driver for a hardware pieece, look into the control panel and search for hard manager or something similiar (based on os).

Sorry if this anwser has grammar mistakes and seems short, it's 12am here...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

[BillyDa59]

Wouldn't installing your Graphics card driver remove your display? As in, black monitor with no picture of anything... I wouldn't suggest doing that.

However, for fully uninstalling any driver for a hardware pieece, look into the control panel and search for hard manager or something similiar (based on os).

Sorry if this anwser has grammar mistakes and seems short, it's 12am here...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Well when you first fire up a brand new, freshly assembled computer it doesn't have display drivers.

[zombie@computer]

you use a driver cleaner (google for that, i think its payed, but theres free versions around). Esp with videodrivers this is an essential step, as uninstalling the drivers themselves doesnt clear half of their files.

And no, you dont need graphics card drivers for basic displays like textmode. (=dos screens)

[coder0xff]

A number of graphics modes/resolutions are still supported without a specific driver. Most video cards for the longest time implement the VESA BIOS Extensions ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions ) which lets any generic piece of software (the default graphics driver in windows) switch to other graphics modes and such. Even bitblt is supported by some. However, any 3D acceleration features/special capabilities require a driver.

I think artifacts are pretty rare on an over heating card these days. It does still happen, but the most common signs are BSOD or crash and recover of the GPU and software - which sometimes actually works.