Worrying Thin Lines

[pdpfilms]

Howdy-

Started up my Quad G5 this morning to discover what appears to be some video card issue. At least that's what I'm guessing. Here's the deal- seemingly random processes (moving windows, opening windows, opening programs, etc.) create single-pixel width horizontal lines of varying lengths in seemingly random places of the screen (I'll try to grab a screenshot next time).

Any guess what this might be? I always thought video card failures occured on a much bigger scale- i.e. fully garbled screens, color casts, etc. It's pretty worrysome, and a permission repair didn't seem to solve it. Any way I can run a hardware test?

Thanks!

 

[diehardmacfan]

if programs are opening and windows are moving it wouldnt be a video card issue

the computer is getting some sort of mixed directions from some part of the comp

can you use your mouse and keyboard normally

 

[pdpfilms]

No, no- sorry for the confusion. The lines appear when I do these things.

EDIT: Here are some screengrabs.

 

[mustang_dvs]

Obviously, re-check your cable connections.

It could be an OS corruption issue -- I had similarly bizarre artifacts right before I had a hard disk chew up 10.4.8 and then fail spectacularly. Have you run TechTool on the machine, yet? At the least, dig out the hardware test DVD/CD and try that first.

 

[pdpfilms]

Cables OK.

That's what I'm worried about- A bunch of problems have been ocurring (likely due to a crappy SATA enclosure), and I'm fearing a failure. Any advice on what to do to prevent it? I've got it all backed up, I'd just rather get it before it goes than wait and commit my entire weekend to restoration.

 

[slughead]

It's the video card.

I had that problem with my NVidia GeForce 6800Ultra. I think it was a heat problem.

 

[Dreadnought]

Then you also should be getting red pixels all over your screen if it is a heat problem. Try playing a graphics intensive game, if the red dots appear, it's a heat problem. You can then get rid of this heat by cleaning the inside of your Mac. Get all the dust out and your temperature should go down, back to normal.

 

[pdpfilms]

Yeah, things sort of blew up yesterday and now, after a totally fresh install, the card is still acting up. No red dots with intense Motion 3 work, just those lines. I cleared out dust just in case but it persists. I sent in an RMA request with ATI, let's hope that goes through.