Is my graphics card dead?

[MotleyPete]

I use 3D modeling applications and do a lot of graphics malarkey on my Mac Pro (early 2008 model). The other day while doing just that my Mac appeared to freeze & the display showed lots of zig zagging, dotted, coloured artifacting.

I restarted the thing & it looked fine again, but after a few minutes, the same thing happened. Now I can't even boot up. It's stuck on the Apple boot screen with vertical, dotted, purple lines on the screen.

Oddly, by using the function keys I can invoke iTunes & hear tracks, so the system has actually loaded, I just can't see it. I can also shut down by using the ctr-alt-cmd-eject keystroke.

The graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
The Mac Pro is the early 2008 model

Can anyone confirm this is my graphics card before I attempt to replace it & if so, can anyone recommend any suitable replacement cards?

Thanks
PS, I have no apple care, warranty is out, have reset PRAM & SMC as first port of call.

 

[DeeEss]

I've had similar things happen, for me it wasn't good being the logic board (well at least that's what apple told me) of a macbook pro. Even out of warranty they were good enough to replace it as it had happenned a couple of times. Sorry to say it's a costly replacement.

In this case it could very well be the graphics card which wouldn't be so costly.

 

[donbach]

From your description and screen images, I experienced similar occurrences (herringbone artifacts/screen freeze/loss of display) twice with my late 2006 imac. In both instances the video card needed replacement, not the logic board.

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Def video card. Its happened twice to me.

 

[*45*]

I had this same problem on my 1st gen mac pro, and it got worse. Now the monitor doesn't recognize that it is hooked up to the computer. Figuring that it is the video card, any recommendations for replacing the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card with 256 MB of DDR2 SDRAM and dual-display support? Thanks!

 

[goMac]

I've had similar things happen, for me it wasn't good being the logic board (well at least that's what apple told me) of a macbook pro. Even out of warranty they were good enough to replace it as it had happenned a couple of times. Sorry to say it's a costly replacement.

In this case it could very well be the graphics card which wouldn't be so costly.

For the Macbook Pro, graphics card failure requires a replacement of the logic board.

So yes, it's likely the graphics card.

 

[walterwhite]

For the Macbook Pro, graphics card failure requires a replacement of the logic board.

So yes, it's likely the graphics card.

I thought it was a MacPro... not the portable.
If the card is the big red one with the curvy anime chick on it... I think its under warranty/recall

 

[goMac]

I thought it was a MacPro... not the portable.
If the card is the big red one with the curvy anime chick on it... I think its under warranty/recall

The person I was replying to was talking about his Macbook Pro.

The OP stated he has the GeForce 8800, which I don't think has an open recall exactly, but is known to be a bad card. He should get it exchanged.

Just be aware that when my 8800 died I had to bring the entire machine in. : grumble :