Extremely odd "graphics / 3D-game" problem

[valkatal]

I'm not sure how to categorise this issue. It's stumped me completely:

Some time ago my PC display began pixelating and tearing during playing a game (World of Warcraft) - None of the hardware had changed and no operating system configurations had changed - it just started doing it. It would get progressively worse whilst playing.

I tried with other games and the same happened. I continued for some while as it was still playable. I then stopped playing for several months and forgot about the problem as it only happened during playing 3D games.

I then wanted to play a game again and the same problem was happening, and it had got worse, and sometimes the PC completely crashed.

I reinstalled the operating system and all drivers, tried Windows 2000 and Windows XP and the issue still occurred.

I put it down to a hardware fault. I tried about 4-5 different graphics cards (ATI and NVidia) and the problem occurred on all graphics cards that were above 64mb - But obviously a lot of games were not playable on 64mb graphics cards.

Even though it used to work, and no hardware had changed, I thought more power might help. So I got a 500W power supply recently.

This helped a little bit perhaps but still complete crashes during games along with screen tearing and random blocks of pixels.

So I purchased a new motherboard and processor.

There was still crashing so I reinstalled Windows XP and reinstalled all drivers and also used a new hard drive, since I hadn't replaced that yet.

The crashing seems to have stopped but I still see some screen tearing and pixelating which just shouldn't be there. It's definately decreased, but seems to be back to where it was when it first started perhaps. So may just get progressively worse again.

The thing that confuses me is that I have replaced Motherboard, Processor, RAM, Hard Drive and Power Supply. I'm using a graphics card (Radeon 9700) which I got after all this began.

Any ideas as to what may have / be causing this?

Thank you.

 

[Wildcard]

It sounds like you have replaced just about all of your hardware. Maybe it is getting to hot inside your case? You could try to play with the case open for a bit, and maybe blow a regular fan on it to see if does the tearing again? Not really sure what else it might be at this point :O

 

[Dwarfer]

you havent checked your ram? try individual sticks of ram on the game. if it still comes up with the pixel problems then it must be that the ram or gpu is causing the problem (and logic says its also damaging your mobo at the same time)

i presume you didnt use the old psu on the new motherboard as this would make better sense, if you DID use the psu on the new mobo i would suspect that before anything else

otherwise have a good look at the gpu and ram for burnt marks or illegal 'bridged contacts' on the pins. i would NOT test the gpu or ram on another machine as its possible either of the two devices are the problem that damaged your old and new mobo

TROUBLESHOOTING (ONLY IF YOU DONT WANT TO UPGRADE)
my suggestion is to replace the mobo and buy the cheapest ram possible compatible with the mobo and the game (for troubleshooting) install the new mobo and insert AN OLD GRAPHICS CARD (ie, not the one that started the problem) and insert the new cheap ram.. boot up and check the games, there should be NO problems.

next its time to find the faulty hardware, insert either the ram or gpu and boot, check the games.

if it works ok insert the other device (if ram test a stick at a time)

if my logic is right the problem should appear between each of these tests revealing the faulty device :)