Random Characters after POST

[Keywork]

Quick specs: i7 920, x58a-ud3r, 8800GTS 512

So I was playing BC2 earlier today (and pwning!!) when my screen suddenly froze, sound started looping, and moments later, my nvidia driver crashed and recovered. About 10 seconds later, I get a BSOD, it crashes, and reboots. Upon bootup, the gigabyte splash screen is littered with artifacts and random hex characters or whatever. Same thing within the BIOS. I can get to the W7 splash screen but then it just goes black and hangs. Windows repair did nothing.

I've narrowed it down to the motherboard or the aging graphics card finally shitting the bed. Any thoughts or suggestions people?! Every second this thing is down, I lose PPD!! haha

[Keywork]

Update: Swapping out the 8800 for my brothers 9800 to see what's up... will update soon...

[_dangtx_]

its either video card(if it shows at boot) or you need to reseat it.

sometimes it can be the slot,but quite rarely.

time for a new 6950? :)

[Keywork]

Just finished tossing in my brothers 9800 and it's as smooth as butter. The 8800GTS is officially pooched I believe. UPGRADEEE!!!!!!! Muahahahahaha

Buy yea, just came upon this baby: Buy ZOTAC GeForce GTX 570 GDDR5 at Vuugo. Speak to one of our Customer Service Representatives for more information!

$270 for a 570 and the Zotac's now have a lifetime warranty!

[_dangtx_]

stock clocks

[Keywork]

Mmmmm...111%...haha. While i'm sure the 6950 is a good choice, I have no need for eyefinity since I only use 2 monitors, and the fact that I fold makes me not even consider the ATI card lol. And I just added the 570 to my cart. ~$310 shipped and taxes in is a pretty solid deal. Not to mention that Lifetime warranty I mentioned!

[_dangtx_]

hmm..ok. but i wouldnt pay that much for a 570 when you can find 580's close to that in the bst(chose the oenswith great warranty of course)