Windows 7: nVIDIA 9800GT, is this a dead card?

So I have this 9800GT. It's a fair card, not that great, but not bad either. From what I've heard at least. In all honesty, I couldn't even get a chance to try this bad boy out. When I put it in, plug in cables and then seat it in where it's supposed to be, everything seems to be just fine. When you turn it on, well, it constantly bleeds red everywhere. Like, it would be totally blue-green, which is the cable's fault, it's like that with the integrated card, and then all of a sudden, it would shake the screen totally red, and then go back. On occasion, it stops sending signal for five minutes or so, and then comes back, but not for long. Doesn't do that with the Integrated card. All signs are leading to it being dead, but you guys are the gurus, and all help would be appreciated.

HELP MEH.

Have you experimented with any drivers? Sometimes with NVidia the latest driver is not the best for a particular system.

Well, Windows says it's the latest, and it also says it's "working correctly" which annoys me because clearly it's not. At the moment, I can't actually see if it's driver related, since i can't get to Windows Desktop right now. From your experience, guys, what do you think?

By not being able to 'get to the desktop' - does that mean it's showing odd colours during POST, in the BIOS etc (anything outside of Windows basically)

Just some ideas:

►Do you have a spare cable to test?

If you were having strange colours with the integrated card and are still using the same cable - that's one thing that could be faulty.

►How old / what PSU do you have?

I've had a failing PSU that has given similar-ish colour problems in the past.

► The monitor itself could be flaky.

If it's a new cable, the monitor is perfectly fine and the PSU is good - it may be a dodgy card. But the fact that you had similar-ish issues with the integrated points to something else other than the card.

The only thing I can think of to add to post above is to physically check the card for any rounded capacitor tops. This would show possible blow capacitor on the card. but I'm with smartyeyeball on this it sounds like something else since the integrated is not functioning properly either. Fabe

Yes, I do. I used a DVI connection, and then used the VGA connection on the integrated. I already know the DVI cable's bad. It's just worse on the card. On VGA, it's got perfect colors.

It's not that old, it's a 700W one. It's been discontinued, so I can't provide any links.

Nope, it displays a laptop through VGA and the computer itself through VGA perfectly, just like it did with the old computer it used to be hooked up with.

I'd try it with another DVI cable, or the DVI>VGA cable adapter. I'd also try the other port as well.

It just sounds like a dud cable, rather than any serious h/ware issue.

Also, when you installed the card, did you disable the integrated chip in the BIOS?

I'm pretty sure the cable sucks at displaying color, but it can maintain signal when it's plugged into the integrated card. I'll see what happens if you de-activate integrated. Either way, I'm not gonna have some red.

So, how exactly DO you disable the integrated card?