Memtest86+ burnt out graphics card.

[randomFDsdfPea]

Hi,
I have a friend with a PC that bluescreens regularly (Windows 7, 32bit). This has been going on a very long time (years) despite gradually upgrading components one at a time (most have now been replaced but the problem persists).

So I decided to run Memtest86+ on it to test the RAM. It started fine and we left it running over night. We come back to it in the morning and not only is the computer off, the computer won't even power on. Turns out the discrete graphics card (an old NVIDIA) has now blown. We get a new card (new AMD/ATI),install it and the machine works again.
Except its still bluescreening doing the same sort of stuff (i.e. games).

So the big question is: How does running Memtest86+ blow the graphics card? What is actually wrong?
The fact I'm posting to the Motherboard forum should kind of indicate where my suspicions lie.
Obviously my friend won't let me run Memtest86+ on their computer ever again. ;-)

[uddarts]

put an itemized list of the hardware for his pc in your sig area. makes, model and specs will be of great help. i don't want to see psu 600w!



ud

[randomFDsdfPea]

I didn't add specifics because I'm only talking in generalities. The graphics cards (old and new) are low-end affairs, the CPU is a Phenom X4 965 3.4Ghz

600w should be more than enough to handle it (I think its 600-700w): I have a slightly weaker CPU but significantly more power hungry GPU plus a SSD on top of the HDD and my good 380w PSU is having no problems.
Of course, maybe the PSU is bad, but that's a different issue. No low-mid-end PC should ever need more than 500w these days.

[uddarts]

did mem86 complete a pass while you were there?

have you tried a fresh install of windows to correct the bsod?


ud

[alex666]

Hi,
I have a friend with a PC that bluescreens regularly (Windows 7, 32bit). This has been going on a very long time (years) despite gradually upgrading components one at a time (most have now been replaced but the problem persists).

So I decided to run Memtest86+ on it to test the RAM. It started fine and we left it running over night. We come back to it in the morning and not only is the computer off, the computer won't even power on. Turns out the discrete graphics card (an old NVIDIA) has now blown. We get a new card (new AMD/ATI),install it and the machine works again.
Except its still bluescreening doing the same sort of stuff (i.e. games).

So the big question is: How does running Memtest86+ blow the graphics card? What is actually wrong?
The fact I'm posting to the Motherboard forum should kind of indicate where my suspicions lie.
Obviously my friend won't let me run Memtest86+ on their computer ever again. ;-)

memtest places minimal demands on any vid card. It probably even works with an old Hercule card. I cannot imagine that memtest had anything to do with that vid card dying.

marty

[Lenny]

memtest places minimal demands on any vid card. It probably even works with an old Hercule card. I cannot imagine that memtest had anything to do with that vid card dying.

marty

Agree. Probably nothing more than a coincidence.

[hoxlund]

I would say buy/borrow/scavenge a new/different power supply from somewhere. I'm suspecting bad power supply. What is the power supply thats in there? Make and model would be very helpful

like the comment before thought, memtest had nothing to do with video card going out. I've been using memtest for hmmm. over a decade. And I cringe when i say this, we used it in geek squad all day everyday on all customers computers to test their memory. only because i hated everything about geek squad as a company, worthless people. It's really hard to work for a computer repair store when your 1 of maybe 2 people that understands computer repair/diagnostics.

wow i digress, give that power supply a go

also which motherboard/cpu/memory u running?

test the memory in another mobo if possible