Computer Issues....

[doronjosama]

I've been having some issues with my computer graphics for a month or so now; it's been throwing lots of texture errors in Warcraft, having odd pixel problems in the Sims 2. But I updated my drivers, and everything seemed to be working fine.

Finally this week, when playing Sims 2, I got blue/black screen errors. Since I have an nVidia video card and there are known errors with nVidia cards (especially any cards before the 9000 series, which I have), I thought it might be that and took the appropriate steps to try to fix the errors. (Playing in windowed mode, turning down certain shaders, etc.) It *appeared* to work.

Unfortunately, last night the fan on the card started making a horrific grinding noise, and then it crashed my PC with a nasty blue screen- a blue screen that told me some of my hardware was not working properly. (Crashed the PC when it was doing *nothing*, I might add- no programs open, just sitting there.) Sure enough, it was the card. It's just crapped out completely. It's not too surprising, since it was used (one of my co-workers gave it to me when he upgraded). The only issue now is that I need to get a new video card, but I'm still paying off Dito's last vet stay. -_-; So, the new card will have to wait a bit. And wouldn't you know it, NewEgg had a video card sale that ended *yesterday*. Doh!

Until I can get a new card, I won't likely be able to play any games on my PC. My PC is working fine with the onboard video it came with, so I can still do work (thank goodness!). But I seriously doubt I will be able to play WoW: Cataclysm with the onboard video, and I know I definitely can't play the Sims 2 (I have too much custom content and all the expansions).

Now, back to making complete backups of everything on my hard drive, just in case, and then it's work time.

Comments

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

I have a e-GeForce 8800 GTS sitting around- would that be an upgrade for you? It's a PCI-E slot card, so I don't know if it would fit in your motherboard. It was working fine for me when I last used it over a year ago, but then I got an entirely new computer system.

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Whoa! That would be so awesome! The card I had in there was a e-GeForce 8600 GTS, so I'm pretty sure I have a PCI-E x16 card slot. (Seems to be so, looking at everything inside the case and comparing it to pictures online... also found my motherboard specs and it says that yes, I have a PCI-E x 16 slot. Hooray!)

Are you sure you don't need it? I hate to seem like a beggar, but it would be an upgrade and would definitely save me a bunch of money. Let me know how much it would be to ship, and I can at least PayPal you for the postage!

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

Woot! The card has been sitting around after I got my new machine, and I kept meaning to take the card out and ebay it but *laziness*. I'd be glad to send it to you for postage! I'll get it out tonight (it's still in the old machine) and mail it off tomorrow. I even still have its box and instruction manual all together.

Yay! I'm glad someone can get use out of it.

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you! :D :D :D!!!!

Seriously, you don't know how awesome this is. (Also, jeezum crow, it must be near Fabulous Girl Time again, because this is making me get all verklempt. And I am not one to get verklempt easily!)

Send me a note on LJ with your PayPal address and I'll send the money off asap, with my address! OH BOY COMPUTING! With the graphics and the video and everything! XD

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

I have to run off to school now but I'll get the card packaged up tonight and send it out tomorrow. Can you note me your address? I'll let you know tomorrow how much it was to send it (I'll probably do it priority, if you want.)

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Priority is fine, that should be only a few days. (We ship priority all the time.) I just ask that you get Delivery Confirmation on it, because sometimes the San Antonio postal workers suck. :P Sending the note!

[hecatemahadevi.livejournal.com]

Bleh! I wish I could buy you a new card :(

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks. We need to win the lottery or something, so we could just do whatever we wanted and never worry about money again.

[zorichan.livejournal.com]

I had a video card die once. I had someone "move" my computer and they smacked something around and pretty soon I had these strange characters on my screen and weird french words in random places. I lucked out too and got someone's old card but soon after I was lucky to just get a better computer. No video card pretty much makes a computer a paperweight. X_X

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Yeah, thank god my motherboard has an onboard video card built into it- it's pretty crappy, but it at least lets me do basic computing. Otherwise, I'd never get anything done today!

[smudge-dragon.livejournal.com]

so - meeting on lj tonight, yes? lol!

Glad okojosan could help out there. It's awesome! ^.^

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

I'm going to test and see if I can log in to WoW, just because I am stubborn! If I play lowbies, I should probably be okay...

Will probably not be able to log in until after 8pm-8:30pm my time (6pm-6:30pm your time), since I have to try to get a grocery store run in today. (If possible... I don't want to gooooo, but we need food and toilet paper...)