Video card or software?

[trainguy77]

I am having some problems with my computer randomly both my monitors will lose signal and shut off. Putting my computer to sleep then out again fixes this. Would this be my video card?

I also get random lines across my screen when the card warms up. I know thats the card.

I get random freezes every so often.

Would the first and third problems be the video card?

O and its a notorious x1900

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Sounds almost certainly like video card failure.

 

[trainguy77]

Thought so. Which is a better card in most peoples opinions the 8800gt or one of the ATI cards?

 

[nanofrog]

Thought so. Which is a better card in most peoples opinions the 8800gt or one of the ATI cards?

This is arguable, and has created a few threads. The ATI HD 3870 seems to be a good all-rounder. It performs better at Core Image than the 8800, according to BareFeats. The 8800 has a slight advantage in Windows gaming also on BareFeats.
Other reviews available, IIRC.

Hope this helps.

 

[trainguy77]

O and my graphics card now only supports one monitor at a time through DVI, So one DVI one VGA.

I like the numbers on the 3870 how is it sound wise compared to the fan on the x1900?

The price between a 3870 and the 8800 would be about the same for me here. Well the 8800 would be a little cheaper(flashing one)

Do you guys think the 8800s drivers will be updated to give it better performance?

 

[nanofrog]

I like the numbers on the 3870 how is it sound wise compared to the fan on the x1900?

This has been discussed elsewhere on the forum. From what I've gathered, the HD 3870 isn't that noisy, but louder than the X1900.

Do you guys think the 8800s drivers will be updated to give it better performance?

Hard to say. Apple develops the OS X drivers for the NVIDIA 8800. As far as future updates, I don't know.

ATI develops their own drivers, and does a decent job.