8800 GTS 640 problem

Just 3 weeks ago, I got myself a new desktop rig.

These are the specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750, BOX, LGA775
Asus P5N32-E/SLI, Nforce 680I SLI, Socke
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4, 2x1024MB
Corsair CMPSU-520HXEU, 520Watt 1
Seagate 7200.10 160GB, 8MB, SATAII
XFX GeForce 8800GTS, 500M, PCI-E

So anyway, after about 2 weeks, it's been running fine, but then I inserted my previous 120GB IDE/ATA harddisk, for some old files and more space. When I turned on my computer again, a high-pitched sound started. At first I guessed it was the harddisk, so I turned it off, but the sound was still there.
I've traced the problem to the GFX card.
Now, at first, I thought it didn't really matter, seeing as I've experienced similar stuff, so I turned on my computer, and started a game of Bioshock. Within 20 seconds of gaming, the game locked up. The sound keept running in the same track, and changed every 4th second like "Bo-bo-bo-bo-bo-bo-bo-om-om-om-om-om-om".
So, I've tried reinstalling my GeForce driver, didn't change anything. I've tried older drivers, didn't help either.

What do you people suggest, and is this a typical problem? If it's a card problem, there is a warranty, and I can probably just go and return the card, though I don't want to be without my desktop for that long.

I really need some help here, I'm completely blank myself :(

Thanks in advance!

Oh christ, there's way to many variables in here...

First thing to do is make sure all cards are squarely in their slots
harddisks are big and heavy, and there's generally not a lot of space inside a case - just make sure you haven't knocked something

- what's your OS?

- Did you build the machine yourself, or was it pre-built?

- what type of soundcard do you have (onboard or separate card)?

- If soundcard is separate, is it PCI, or what?

- Do you have any free slots to move your soundcard to a different slot if it becomes necessary?

- Do you have any other ATA/IDE devices on your machine (cd / dvd drive, etc.), or was the second harddisk the first time you've used the IDE?

I'm running on Windows XP, updated to Service Pack 2.

I built the machine myself.

I have a SoundMAX HD Audio card, it came with the motherboard.

The soundcard is in small PCI port, which from what I've gathered, claims to be an HD audio PCI port.

The second HD audio port is blocked by the cooling on the GFX card.

I have a DVD/CD rom drive, which was in the computer before the harddisk. Right now, all IDE units are disabled.

could you move the soundcard to another PCI slot, and see if that changes anything?

I'll get you a picture, just a second.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3...ohdportmo9.jpg

This is the port needed.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9...ehdportuq9.jpg

My graphicscard is blocking that port (can't see the port, but the heatsink and all that is there, blocking it)

Gonna try and reset the C-MOS.

Seen this happen before.

Download a Linux Live CD and load that by itself (no Windows,) does the sound card work correctly under that?

Ubuntu would probably be best, it has it's own sound card drivers so if it works correctly under Linux then it's the driver, if it still doesn't work then it might be the hardware (it could also be that the Live CD didn't have a driver for that particular card.) I was hesitant to suggest using Linux Live because you built the computer yourself, but might dismiss some possibilities.

I don't really think it has anything to do with the soundcard. Afterall, it is the gfx that's screwing up.

Well, you said you "traced the problem to the GFX card". Can you elaborate on how you did that?

Linux has it's own gfx drivers too, I would still try Linux Live.

If I remove the GFX card, the sound disappears, and if I listen to the different components, by putting my ear next to them, it's clearly coming from the GFX. I've tried removing both case fans, harddisks and audio card. I've positive, that it's coming from the GFX.

Anyway, I think the problem is the PSU, I pushed the power limit, and now it's broken. I checked in SpeedFan what the voltage on the 12V rail was, and it was 11,78Volt, which, according to some people I know, could cause problems like this.

First off, don't skimp on the PSU. Overkill is good, because a 700W PSU will only use 300W if that's all your system needs, so it doesn't waste power (actually saves some usually, since higher quality PSU's are more efficient), and you have a good deal of cushion. No-name brands are BAD.

Though, FYI, 8800's run hot, upwards of 70' idle. If the fan is even slightly defective it could lock up, and since the fan's the only moving part on the card I'm assuming that's what's making the noise. When it locks up, do you ever see green triangles on screen? That's a tell-tale sign of graphics overheating. I'd say RMA the graphics card if you ever see them. You aren't OC'ing it, are you?

And those are PCI-Express x1 slots, not audio slots. They can be used for virtually anything, not just sound.

I see okay.

Anyway, I don't think the fan is defect, since the sound goes away the second I turn of the computer, while the fan is still running, and when I scroll in browsers, the sound changes a little bit. Also, I've found out that when the computer is turned of, with power plugged in though, if I remove the audio-card a very weak version of the high-pitched sound disappears, and if I reinsert it, the noise comes back.
Right now, I'd actually say the mobo is at fault, though I do experience something like what you report. When the game is about to crash in say, Bioshock, I get these squares on my screen, that are green and red and black and other colours, and then the game crashes a few seconds afterwards, OR, it freezes for a few seconds, then I can continue playing, but all the textures are corrupted. I'll just give you a screeny from Unreal Tournament 2004
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6...ypoopoork3.jpg

Guess that suggests either a fuckty GFX which is overheating or not getting enough power? What I don't get though, is that the problem didn't occure when I got the computer, but after I used my ATA harddisk.

Artifacts=bad.
If you can, try the same computer with another graphics card and see if you have any of the same problems. If you do, it isn't the graphics card, but I'm fairly sure at this point that it's at least part of the problem. Either pick up a third party heatsink for the card or RMA it and get a new one.
Does your case have good airflow?

I have no other PCI-E graphicscard around, and the only PCI card I have, doesn't work :(

I could ask my friend's father, he has a PCI-E card, but that would be weird :p

Well, it's not required, but it would help trace the problem.
I'd still recommend exchanging the graphics card for a new one, though. It should still be under warranty if it's just a few weeks old.