GPU Problems?

[Wabba]

I recently built a new computer (first build for me) and everything went flawlessly for a while. After I started playing games on it regularly (after stress testing and such) I started experiencing some strange problems that I can only guess is with the GPU,

MoBo ASUS P7P55D Evo
CPU: Intel i7 860 2.80 Quad
GPU: EVGA GTS 250
Running 8gb of DDR3 ram
Win 7 x64
1100W PSU

I upgraded the CPU's heatsync and under full load it only get to about 41C but the GPU seems to be on fire after just a short time of playing games. While running WoW the GPU will get up to 56C. The problem I am having is under certain conditions during a game the screen will freeze and the colors will distort to look like the screen has its contrast on way too high and then it will either go black or just remain like that. I have uninstalled the drivers and updated them, rolled them back everything I could think of. I am trying to figure this out before FFXIV comes out because we have already pre-ordered our FFXIV SE and I really would like to play the game without interruption. Thank you for any help you guys can give me.

[Artemicon]

Sounds like your GPU to me. Probably bad if its only getting to 50-60c and its doing stupid shit like that.

[Olo401]

56C is lukewarm for a GPU. If you were running 85-90C or higher at load that might be something to get worried about.

As for the artifacting and screen freezes I'm not sure what could be causing it. Maybe bad seating in the socket, maybe a faulty card out of the box.

[fishstix]

The GTS250 is a weak card anyways, you'll probably want something better for ff14. the one you have could be a faulty card with the artifacts, but yeah 56C is nothing to worry about like Olo said

and that's a mighty big PSU you got there

[Crowort]

PSU might be big but I'm will to bet a cheap one that can't output that power really. Could be wrong but since he doesn't say the name my 'it is a shit psu' bump is itching.

[Jurgen]

Sounds like a bad GPU to me. I'd RMA it as soon as possible.

[Olo401]

Hmmmmm...

What PSU do you have in there? I want to take a look at the manual/UL sticker to see how the rails are set up..

[Furoris]

I have to agree that the PSU smells fishy, a 850w can handle SLIed GTX460s or lower more then fine with an i7.

IIRC the 250 is a rebrand of a GTX 9800 meaning it is ~2 generations behind, shouldn't be a problem just for running games, but I wouldn't expect anything spectacular for new games like 14.

At any rate evga's customer service is top notch and I would just go ahead and RMA the GPU, and go from there.