green random pixels

[awaj]

So, I'm in windows 7, and I'm seeing odd pixels that shouldn't be my lCD Monitors. I'm not sure where to start because I don't see both monitor cables being loose and having the same problem, nor do I think they both are going bad at the same time. I can also cover them with the mouse. Any ideas on where to start?

[123456]

Try reinstalling video card drivers?

[awaj]

I had gone away for the week end, and the problem seems to have vanished. Should I bother doing anything, or waiting till the problem comes back again?

[kiosk]

That may be because the ambient temperature is colder in your room than before. Your graphics card (or something!) may be overheating.

[123456]

Or maybe it was just feeling a little green (sick) on that particular day. :P

[awaj]

they actually came back. I related it to a game that I've been playing, but the game was gotten by questionable means... I formatted the drive that the game was on, and I'm going to try updating the drivers and running Malewarebytes anti-maleware.

[awaj]

I forgot to mention that my computer earlier today had 2 blue screen of deaths... One was for a page file error, and the other was for memory. I ran Microsoft's diagnostics and it came up clean

[123456]

Let's see the CPU and gfx temps.

[awaj]

that's actually what I was thinking... When I was trying to play Just Cause 2 via Steam, I got partway through the opening intro scene and then it crashed.

CP temps are 54.4 C (core 4 was.2 instead of .4)

the graphics card 1 temp is
Temperature: 82.5 C
Temperature Diode: 83

Graphics card 2:
temperature: 83 C
Temperature Diode: 78 C

Hard Disk 1: 39 C
Hard disk 2: 44 C

[awaj]

I guess tomorrow I'll try blowing out the air vents and seeing if that makes a difference.

What would be a good brand to buy for computer fans?

[123456]

Yeow! What card do you have? Those look pretty high, even for a video card.

[awaj]

AMD Phenom II X4 940 for both cards

[123456]

That's the CPU. What video card do you have?

[awaj]

sorry, I miss read pcwizard... I'm going a bit crazy since I got home...

2 ATI HD 4800 series

[123456]

Which HD4800? There's quite a difference between a 4830 and 4890

[awaj]

I didn't build the computer myself, so I'm not entirely sure... Everywhere I look on the computer, it just gives me the 4800 series, when I blow out my computer later today, I'll look at the graphics cards themselves...

[awaj]

so, I blew out my computer today, the screen seems brighter then before... While the case was open, I found that the cards are HD 4870s and I also upgraded a fan. there didn't seem to be that many options for adding more fans if needed. I looked into a fan for between the two cards, but there isn't enough space. Nor are there places towards the back. I'll post back probably tomorrow if things really are improved or not.

[123456]

Check the gfx temps again.

[awaj]

Card 1:
Temp: 81 C
Temp (Diode): 81 C
Card 2:
Temp: 81 C
Temp (Diode) 77 C

there doesn't seem to be that much difference

CPU temps droped about 10 degrees though, they are all at 44 C.
The hard disks also droped about 10 degrees
Disk 1: 28 C
Disk 2: 37 C

[awaj]

when I checked the temps this morning, they ranged from 79.5 to 78.

[jlreich]

Sounds like you are going to have to pull the video cards and clean them out properly. You really can't get the dust out very well with them still in the slots.

I have to do it every once in awhile. Couple months ago my 4870 was running about 10c hotter than usual, so I pulled it out and actually had to loosen the shroud to get all the heavy dust out. Thought for a minute I was actually going to have to pull the heatsink and shroud off entirely to get it cleaned out properly, but manage to get it all without doing that. When I turned the system back on temps were back to normal. :)

[awaj]

I'll be doing that if my computer acts up again... my computer's case is one of those monstrous cases that are about 3 feet high, 8 inches wide (might be a couple inches off...) and really long, so it's a pain to pull it out. Not only that but where it's at (in my room) there's no space to work on it... so I need to lug the entire thing around...

Any idea if water cooling would be something to look into? also, is there any decent site which gives good pictures on how to take care of water cooling if I need to go that route?

[awaj]

so, I just got around to blowing out the graphics cards today. My computer froze while playing Just Cause 2 though. Is there any other things I can do to cool down my computer?

[awaj]

I'm also guessing that my room going up to about 90 degrees during the day doesn't help either...

[awaj]

so, does anyone have any suggestions?

[FTT]

What are the graphics temps now?

Not only that but where it's at (in my room) there's no space to work on it...

so, does anyone have any suggestions?

You need a bigger room... ;)

Or put the tower in a better place to allow better circulation of ambient air so the fans can do their job. Make sure there is clearance enough all around the case and DO NOT put it in a desk with a door on the front of the tower compartment. Common sense will go a long way. Use your noggin', and experiment until you see favorable results.

[awaj]

there's a decent amount of circulation, there's about 6 inches on the right side away from anything, and on the left, it's kind of close to a desk for computers but there's a bunch of open space on that side.

The temps are this:
CPU is at 57.5 C on all processor cores (AMD Phenom II X4 940)
graphics cards 1 is at 84 C for both temp and temp diode.
graphics card 2 is 85 C and 81 C.

[jlreich]

Sounds like the room may just be too hot.

My computer room sits on the southeast corner of the house on the second floor. So it gets all the sun from morning to late afternoon and heats up hotter than any other room in the house. Even though I have central air I had to put a window AC unit in the room. On days when it is cool enough outside to turn the air off for the rest of the house I still have to turn the AC on in the computer room and shut the door.

If the room is getting 90+ degrees even the best cooler is going to have a real hard time keeping the system cool. If an AC unit is out of the question then do whatever you can to cool down the room. You may even have to take the side of the case off and have a house fan blowing right into the system. My oldest had to do this sometimes in her room after she turned 18 and took her computer into her bedroom.

Another option is to move the system to a cooler part of the house. Basements are usually quite a bit cooler all year round, if you have one.

[awaj]

I would think about moving to the basement, but it's extremely humid down there (and there's even less space for my computer then my room...) I was also thinking of moving it to the living room, but because my sister is getting ankle surgery, there aren't any rooms downstairs that are open for me to take over. I guess I'm stuck playing video games at night...

I'm thinking of getting a floor unit air conditioner but that might not be for some time (hopefully I will be moved out before then...) as they are at least 200 dollars online.

[jlreich]

Make sure you keep the system cleaned out regularly, something like once a week or two at most. Any little bit of dust buildup is going to compound the issue.

[awaj]

thanks for the advice, it's a shame I don't live somewhere with central air or something like that...