Should I RMA my 8800GTS 512mb AlphaDog ?

[Lordy]

Ok, so I've posted a while back a post about weird artifacts when playing Assassin's Creed and 3-5 seconds afterwards I was getting a BSOD with the "nvlddmkm.sys" error.
The only thing that helped is to underclock the card from core/shader/mem @ 678/1700/986 to 600/1600/900
But then I'm asking where's the point in paying for an overclocked card when it's can't actually function as one ?

Now I'm getting the same problem in Mass Effect.
for references, I've googled me problem and found pictures that some dude took that show exactly what I'm having:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j13/cspohr/Mass%20Effect%20Error%20Screenshots/05-29-08_1719.jpg (http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j13/cspohr/Mass%20Effect%20Error%20Screenshots/05-29-08_1719.jpg)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j13/cspohr/Mass%20Effect%20Error%20Screenshots/05-29-08_1720.jpg

And again, when I underclock the card it seems to work nice ... but I payed the extra money for the OCed edition.

My specs are:
Vista Ultimate
Q6600 + Tuniq Tower 120mm
4GB Corsair XMS2 6400 CL4
Gigabyte X48-DS5
CoolerMaster CM690
XFX 8800GTS 512mb AlphaDog Edition
ThermalTake 500w Thoughpower QFan

The strangest thing here is that when I was played games like Crysis, Bioshock, Gears of War and Race Driver GRID, the card was at it's factory OC speeds and everything worked great.
Didn't played any of the games ever since the artifacting began with Mass Effect though.

My ticket number is 163231

[XFX Tech]

Can you make a ticket at http://www.xfxforce.com/web/support/supportCentral.jspa and PM me the ticket number? Can you grab a couple screenshots of what yours looks like? Have you been able to try the card in another system?

[Lordy]

Sent you a PM.

The pictures that I've posted above show in the most accurate way the problem that I'm getting.
3-5 seconds after the screen gets filled with artifacts, I'm getting a BSOD with the nvlddmkm.sys driver error.

[XFX Tech]

I don't have any control over Israel. We are from the North American support team. I left notes in your ticket for that team.

[Lordy]

oh yes, I know that you don't give any support in Israel.
I've bought the card using a relative who lives in New Jersey, and the card was orderd from Newegg.com. So in case that the card turns out to be faulty, I'll send the card to him, and he'll RMA it.

I'm asking the question from the "vista-drivers" point of view, that maybe if I'm to install Windows XP it will solve the issues.
More over, I'd like to know what the "nvlddmkm.sys" driver mean ... if it's from overheating and such, because when I'm stressing the card with 3Dmark06 and PCmark Vantage - it won't go over 65c degrees.
Could it be the PSU, or the MOBO ... or, frankly anything else that might be causing the situation ?

[Methious]

If your down clocking it and it works it's usually the card. Some cards after a while won't run as fast as out of the box.

Given your RMA situation I'd down clock it to say 650 and run it at a little lower speed. Other wise it might be a few months to get an RMA.

[Lordy]

A few monthes ? really ?
that sucks.

It's not an issue to get the card over the US because I'm flying to NY every 2-3 weeks for 2-3 days (depands on my job requirements)

But from the start of the RMA process to it's end sums up about monthes ? that's lame.

[Miker]

XFX North America is the best, but other places are lacking. You can't bring the card to RMA it here, you need to RMA it in your Country.

[tyle6]

If he bought it to an american address from an american site theres no reason he would have to RMA it in isreal. IF your coming to the states that often I would suggest going that route then!

[Lordy]

♦If he bought it to an american address from an american site theres no reason he would have to RMA it in isreal. IF your coming to the states that often I would suggest going that route then!

The card was bought from newegg.com to an American address using an American credit card.
The reason that I did that horribly lone route, is because the prices on the hardware over here are way too expensive.
It might not be that much when you're buying one item, but I managed to save on CPU+mems+graphic card around 300$ if you compare the price to that it was over here in the date of purchase.

Anyways, I might not have to RMA it at all, due to a quick respond to my ticket that suggested that I'll try to run the card on manual fan control, it seems that when I use it with it's original OC speeds but the fan control is on something around 65% all seems to work fine.
I'll have to test it more to be sure of that, will update if it succeed.

Edit: when the fan is over 85% all the problems stop. but the noise ...

[Methious]

You can increase the air flow in the case to help cool the card that should let you decrease the fan speed.

Or you can go after market cooler. Since it's American purchased, and delivered it's covered by their modder friendly warranty.

I buy XFX partially for that reason, I after market cool all my good video cards. You can drive them harder and they last longer with the better cooling.

[Lordy]

You can increase the air flow in the case to help cool the card that should let you decrease the fan speed.


Tried that, I even set up a big ass fan to flow air into my case just to see if it helps ... and it was a no go.
Unless the card's fan is on 100% (and noisy as hell) there's this annoying BSOD while gaming.

In my ticket they suggested that I RMA the card the next time I'll be in the US, can anyone help me out about what/where/how this process goes ?

[Lordy]

anyone ?

[XFX Tech]

I just replied back to your ticket. Let us know what address you would like us to use for return shipping in the US in your ticket and then PM me. I will issue an RMA for you and you can just send it in when you are available and the replacement will be sent to that address.