Computer dying. Time to replace? Or repair.

[Justicar]

Hi all, seems my computer is facing serious issues, and I need your aid once more.

Computer is 4 years old. Specs are i7-860 2.80 GHZ 8MB, 1TB harddisk, Windows 7, 4GB RAM, Palit GTX465

Once every 1.5 years, my computer will face overheating issues, and I would have to replace the thermal paste.

2 days ago, my computer had graphical distortions (e.g. pixels appearing on desktop, internet having many green squares, windows start-up showing many zig-zag lines). An hour later, my computer froze. I restarted it, used it for 20 mins, then it froze again. Restarted, used for 5 mins, froze again. This restart-freeze happens when my computer overheats, so I reapplied the thermal paste, and everything seemed okay for the rest of the night.

Yesterday night, after 6 hours of usage, my computer froze once again. This time I couldn't start it up anymore. It goes to the 'Windows Loading' screen, then it blacks out. My monitor does NOT do the HDMI > Digital > Analog switching.

This morning, it still couldn't get past windows loading, and simply blacked out. I tried a system restore but it didn't help. My comp can go into Safe Mode. The random lines and pixels are still appearing now in safe mode. I tried unplugging my graphics card and tightening the wires then slotting it back in, but it didn't help.

Is it appropriate for me to just get a new computer entirely. Or should I send it to a repair shop?

Thanks.

 

[User-name]

get a new computer...

 

[Lethal]

ur GPU is faulty, get a replacement?

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Hi all, seems my computer is facing serious issues, and I need your aid once more.

Computer is 4 years old. Specs are i7-860 2.80 GHZ 8MB, 1TB harddisk, Windows 7, 4GB RAM, Palit GTX465

Once every 1.5 years, my computer will face overheating issues, and I would have to replace the thermal paste.

2 days ago, my computer had graphical distortions (e.g. pixels appearing on desktop, internet having many green squares, windows start-up showing many zig-zag lines). An hour later, my computer froze. I restarted it, used it for 20 mins, then it froze again. Restarted, used for 5 mins, froze again. This restart-freeze happens when my computer overheats, so I reapplied the thermal paste, and everything seemed okay for the rest of the night.

Yesterday night, after 6 hours of usage, my computer froze once again. This time I couldn't start it up anymore. It goes to the 'Windows Loading' screen, then it blacks out. My monitor does NOT do the HDMI > Digital > Analog switching.

This morning, it still couldn't get past windows loading, and simply blacked out. I tried a system restore but it didn't help. My comp can go into Safe Mode. The random lines and pixels are still appearing now in safe mode. I tried unplugging my graphics card and tightening the wires then slotting it back in, but it didn't help.

Is it appropriate for me to just get a new computer entirely. Or should I send it to a repair shop?

Thanks.

Reapplying thermal paste wouldn't exactly solve CPU overheating issue if your chassis, heatsink and fans are dusty.

And your graphics issue will most likely be overheated GPU. GTX 465 itself is a super power hungry and hot beast to dealt with, and i wouldn't rule out Palit cooler's incapability to cool your graphics chip properly.

If you just want to remedy these critical issues, you should remove the graphics card and give its cooler a good springcleaning - washing the fan, heatsink and reapply thermal paste. But IMO the hot Fermi GTX 465 do not justify any good revival treatment anymore, you should perhaps hoot a 2nd hand HD 7850 (best with some warranty) for a good performance boost and energy savings..

But if you are feeling rich, there's no stopping you from doing an overhaul.

 

[MicroTommy]

Sorry to hijack this thread...but it seems like my com also facing some sort of similar issues...just that it does not frozen n restart...it just show me a green screen...my spec is i5 CPU, palit GTX 650...time to chg a graphic card???

 

[Lethal]

Sorry to hijack this thread...but it seems like my com also facing some sort of similar issues...just that it does not frozen n restart...it just show me a green screen...my spec is i5 CPU, palit GTX 650...time to chg a graphic card???

Usually distortion and artifact is an indication of graphics card going to spoil

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Sorry to hijack this thread...but it seems like my com also facing some sort of similar issues...just that it does not frozen n restart...it just show me a green screen...my spec is i5 CPU, palit GTX 650...time to chg a graphic card???

RMA your graphics card if there's still warranty (there should)...

 

[MicroTommy]

Latest update...after powering off for 1/2 hr...I try to startup and everything went back to normal...looks like I might need to RMA the card...or just upgrade the graphic card

 

[Justicar]

So a graphic card problem could actually cause my CPU to fail to load into windows?

 

[MicroTommy]

Now my com really dead...keep on restart...sometimes just a back screen...cannot take it...went to sim lim n get a gtx 750...

 

[Justicar]

I wanted to test out if it was GPU-related by plugging out my graphics card. Turns out my motherboard does not have dedicated graphics slot.

I lack a spare graphics card to test my system on.

Do I have any alternatives to confirm if this is a GPU problem? (even as I type, artifacts are appearing all over my screen even in safemode)

 

[skjh7`]

I wanted to test out if it was GPU-related by plugging out my graphics card. Turns out my motherboard does not have dedicated graphics slot.

I lack a spare graphics card to test my system on.

Do I have any alternatives to confirm if this is a GPU problem? (even as I type, artifacts are appearing all over my screen even in safemode)

Where you staying? if you are staying near Yishun I can lend you my low end graphics card.

 

[Justicar]

Where you staying? if you are staying near Yishun I can lend you my low end graphics card.

Thank you for your offer mate.

I just acquired an old graphic cards today. Will test out later.

 

[DeenzX]

Hmm, if you do have the financial capability, and your computer is over 5 years old, yes do an overhaul. You need to do yourself a good deed. If it is less than 5 years old.. Then just replace the parts. In this case, your GPU.

 

[Justicar]

Update. Now my computer can' even start up for a few seconds, not even in safe mode.

Basically I used an old graphic card borrowed from a friend and plugged it into my computer. 2 things I noticed: 1) The borrowed GPU has no power cords, unlike my old GTX465 which has to be plugged into my Power Supply unit. 2) My fans are now very loud (or it may just be the new GPU fan)

The computer could now boot up normally (not Safe Mode), but was taking a very long time. There are no longer any artifacts or jagged lines on my screen. It reached windows for 2 minutes, then there was a soft *pom* sound, and my computer auto-shut down. I tried to on again, it starts up for 10 secs, then auto-shut down.

I switched back to my old GPU and plugged in the power cords again. I got to the screen where it asks me to choose how I want to start up my comp, but it shut down again.

Any ideas on what I should do next?

 

[Lethal]

seems like ur processor overheated too. try to reseat ur cpu and apply new thermal paste.

 

[Justicar]

seems like ur processor overheated too. try to reseat ur cpu and apply new thermal paste.

Before I switched GPU, I went into BIOS to see the temperature.

My CPU was at 72 deg C.

 

[Lethal]

Before I switched GPU, I went into BIOS to see the temperature.

My CPU was at 72 deg C.

It's very high temp if it's at 72 degrees celsius on idling.

 

[Phen8210]

Disassemble everything, clean the dust up
I have to clean mine every 4-6 mnths.

 

[Justicar]

Really is CPU temperature error.

I just on again to check, instantly it jumped to 100 deg C.