[Avetra]

My screen gets blue jagged lines, and computer freezes. I will need to restart computer, and then it happens again shortly after.

I ordered the computer from Alienware in November 2008, when I got it i was running dual 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT.

This past spring one of cards started having this problem, so I took it out and have just been using one since. I ordered an identical card and when I recieved it- it had similiar problems (red lines instead of blue?) so I sent it back.

So, I've just been using my single card that I originally had for past few months.. and it is starting to have the same problems now! Why are these cards having such short lifespans, what should I buy so that my computer runs well again!

Other spec:

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz 6MB Cache 1333MHz FSB
Power Supply: Alienware® 750 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply
Memory: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 2048MB
Motherboard: Alienware® Approved NVIDIA® nForce 750i SLI Motherboard

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Hi Avetra
When was the last time you cleaned the inside of the case out?
Try removing the gfx card, blowing out the slot and re-seating
the card securely then do the same with the RAM sticks.
If you are intent on purchasing a new gfx card can you provide
us with a budget so we can recommend the appropriate options, I
would however suggest that you check that another issue is not
damaging your gfx cards, heat or power instability for example.

[phillpower2]

Hi Avetra
When was the last time you cleaned the inside of the case out?
Try removing the gfx card, blowing out the slot and re-seating
the card securely then do the same with the RAM sticks.
If you are intent on purchasing a new gfx card can you provide
us with a budget so we can recommend the appropriate options, I
would however suggest that you check that another issue is not
damaging your gfx cards, heat or power instability for example.

[Avetra]

Before today I had not cleaned it out well since July. I've blown into sockets, used compressed air, and wiped down the case pretty thoroughly.

I'd be willing to spend no more than $300 on gfx card, and am willing to if it means my computer would run again. I play a lot of games, would be nice to run some of them with even higher performance than I did before.

I'm not sure how to check to see what else could be damaging my cards, and am paranoid that there is something.

[phillpower2]

Heat trapping dust and an unstable psu are the 2 most likely culprits a lot of the time.
See how it goes now that you have had a good clean out and if it happens again have a
look for driver updates for your video card, below is a video card for you to look at;
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130575
Keep us posted on any progress and best of luck.