Dying/overheating graphics card??

[untouchablejen]

I have a Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT, its idle temp is around 65-68C. When I start playing a game it shoots up to 71C within a minute of playing, continuing to play it shoots up to 80-84C. But its always run hot like this even when I got the computer.

I downloaded the desktop gadget "GPU Meter", it gives me all the correct information but in the Fan Speed its always saying 0rpm. I'm not sure if its just not picking up on the fan or if the fan is not running, it tells me the usage is a constant 30% and it goes up while playing games.

But playing any game full screen causes my computer to freeze up completely, the sound is clipping, and weird pixeled lines appear right when it freezes.

This is a picture of what it does while playing a full screen game, the computer is frozen, I can't exit I have to shut it off my holding the power button. During this the sound is clipping (stuck on whatever the sound was when it froze).


Is my graphics card dying? Over heating? Fan isn't working? I've noticed my computer isn't as loud as it normally is while playing this game.

I have the latest drivers, but recently had computer problems. My disc drive died, and now my graphics card to? I do remember before all these issues my screen would go pixeled in some areas and it would jump all over, but it seemed like a loose cord on the back of the monitor because when I'd move it a bit everything would go back to normal.

 

[Maguscreed]

8800's didn't have a 'low power mode' like the newer cards do. I have an 8800gtx in a drawer here from my old system.

Those temps shouldn't be high enough to kill it, but they are pushing things.
Checking the fan shouldn't be a problem just open the case and fire it up.

the picture you are showing there looks like a result of cooked graphic's ram though.
It's likely the card can't be saved at this point.
That is a hell of a lot of artifacting.

 

[untouchablejen]

So why is it it only happens during full screen play? If I play windowed it doesn't happen.

Cooked graphics ram? Does that happen over time? Or what could have triggered it?

 

[Maguscreed]

enough heat over a long enough period of time and the chips actually become brittle. I have actually pulled apart old graphics cards to find the ram literally crumbles under direct pressure.

It should be happening whether you play windowed or not.
I only have one other thing to try for you though.
That is using driver sweeper to wipe the current display driver out then installing a freshly downloaded copy of the latest.
That artifacting doesn't really look like a driver problem, but I suppose we should rule it out.
driver sweeper can be found here.
Phyxion.net - Driver Sweeper
(only remove the display driver)

...as I'm sure you know the driver can be found on nvidia's site
World Leader in Visual Computing Technologies | NVIDIA

 

[untouchablejen]

The fan on the card is working.....so i guess theres no saving it at this point?