Weird graphics card problem

[Lazarus]

I've been having problems with my ATI Radeon All-In-Wonder 9800 lately, and its become even more annoying recently. Basically, I'll load up a game (not all games, but by no means highly demanding ones only-the problem occurs on Freespace 2 as well as HL2:E1) and after a seemingly random period of time the screen will suddenly and instantly go...fizzy? Its hard to describe really. The image is completely masked by some form of multicoloured pixelated interference, like static on a TV, but more ordered, and set in lines and boxes. The system otherwise remains entirely operational, but shutting down the monitor has no effect. Rebooting seems to solve the problem temporarily, but within a short time having restarted the game it will have recurred-it even sometimes happens on the desktop.

Fearing overheating, I have taken my computer apart, cleaned it, and removed the side panel in an attempt to cool the card. This has had no effect, and the problem remains. I've been forced to switch to my old GeForce 4 MX 440, which means I can't play more up to date games.

Originally it seemed that be removing the card, replacing it with the 440, rebooting, and then swapping them round again stopped the problem for a while, however it is only lately that this has ceased to work. Does anyone have any ideas, because I'm really not enamoured with the idea of shelling out for a new card.

[Jaepheth]

It sounds like something is overheating. try underclocking the video card a bit, try lowering the voltage to your RAM from your BIOS settings.

Also check the video connections, make sure the soldering looks good on the board, make sure they aren't loose.

I'm kind of grasping at straws here, I'm not too good at remote troubleshooting.

[Ace Pace]

Had the exact same issue. In my case it was a combination of overheating and one of the electrical thingies nearly disconnecting from the board.