Video card driver issues?

[BobWango]

hey guys just a quick question.

previously, im not sure on the exact date but i was able to play l42 and tf2 with no issues as far as graphics. the driver version i dont even know. but just recently that i reformatted my pc and updated to the last video drivers, i started to get graphic errors, like i get this dot in the middle of the screen and random rainbow colors seem to come off the center point and the pc totaly locks up and i have to restart it. i didnt know what the issue was. just last night i purchased l4d2 off steam with the sale they have going on and i tried it out. after i had it installed there was no problems or issues at all so i said oh cool the new drivers fixed my problem. but this morning, same stuff with the graphics error and it locked up. i dont even know what the issue is at all, maybe my card is going out and its about time to upgrade? its a relatively old video card (XFX 8800 GT Alpha Dog Edition) i honestly dont even know where to go from here

 

[Ric]

I'm not sure about specific models, but I know nVidia warned it's members NOT to upgrade to the latest driver version but the version before due to significant errors.

This resembles a max cache too much.

Please refer to nVidia's site in regards to the latest driver problem.

After you have read what models the warning refers to, let me know!

Thanks,
Ric.

EDIT: I have supplied a link to make it easier.

 

[shadows5631]

Yeah, if you used 196.75 you could have hurt your card a lot.

 

[BobWango]

Yeah, if you used 196.75 you could have hurt your card a lot.

honestly not sure if i did, but i downloaded the 196.21 last night and it did the same issue. BUT i didnt delete my old driver first so ill have to do it again

 

[shadows5631]

Try the new drivers 197.13. http://www.nvidia.com/object/196.75_customer_support.html

If the problem consists, then contact Nvidia or your manufacturer (XFX), because they are accepting returns for people that did have defective cards after using those drivers, and they are sending them a newer card(s) with equal performance. In your case would be a GTS 250, or 9800gt.

 

[Toasteddude]

Visual errors followed by a lockup sounds like video card failure. I can confirm 196.21 drivers work fine in L4D2. Try uninstalling all current drivers and using those, see if you still get the errors. If you do, play some other games and see if it happens in other games.

 

[Fear Feathers]

I'm not sure about specific models, but I know nVidia warned it's members NOT to upgrade to the latest driver version but the version before due to significant errors.

This resembles a max cache too much.

Please refer to nVidia's site in regards to the latest driver problem.

After you have read what models the warning refers to, let me know!

Thanks,
Ric.

EDIT: I have supplied a link to make it easier.

NVIDIA took off the bad drivers weeks ago.

 

[BobWango]

anyone know where i can go in order to contact support (via email) ? i cant find it on the nvidia website... nor the XFX website. i want to see if i am able to send my card in and get replaced

 

[Toasteddude]

anyone know where i can go in order to contact support (via email) ? i cant find it on the nvidia website... nor the XFX website. i want to see if i am able to send my card in and get replaced

You have to get support from XFX's website, I believe it's called a support ticket. Then you wait a really long time for someone to respond.....