Screen tearing... or something, flashing too

[Boyiee]

So randomly while playing WoW, and sometimes BF2142, I get some graphics problems.

Nothing crazy, sometimes there will be some huge random triangle coming out of something... also sometimes if I play on full screen with shadows on full the screen shadows will all flash like crazy till I turn them back down.

Had a little pixelation going on in BF2142 at one point as well, problem solved by turning up the cards fan.

I don't understand why this is happening, I'm running a 4870X2, which is a 2GB card, and I have a 750W PSU. Im assuming it might be a heat issue since it shouldn't be power related or the card not being able to handle full settings - crysis ran great at full... the card right now is running at defaults cause the last time I tried to overclock it I couldn't, no OC was stable. If it's running at default I shouldn't be having heat issues, and I don't think the case could be any cooler really. The card doesn't usually push over 50c and if it does I just up the fan to 75%...

Any Ideas? Should I try OCing again even if I get this random issue sometimes? Should I consider a new card? Everything else running at defaults right now as well so I wouldn't imagine the problem being anything else but the card. I haven't tried to OC my system in a while cause I didn't want to deal with crashes.

Thanks for any help you can provide. I haven't tried getting the newest drivers in a while, several months now, I suppose I can do that next chance I get. The problem wasn't common enough or big enough for me to want to do that. I would just run WoW at full settings minus 1 or 2 clicks down on shadows and forget about it.

[Kohan]

I would try additional software troubleshooting at this point. Primarily, I'd uninstall the drivers (using an older, free version of Driver Cleaner Pro, if not another application you trust), and replace them with something newer, which you said you haven't done in some time. Though you are already using multiple applications, I would either try running some other 3D games you haven't in a while, or downloading some new demos and trying them.

If you still have the same issues, I'd wager one (or both, but probably just one) of your cards is dying, and would try taking one out and running the single for a while. If the problem persists, switch them out. If you still have an issue, further troubleshooting can be done, but to be quite honest, I'd be very surprised if you have two bum cards.

Overclocking definitely won't help, since if there's a physical problem here, that will only exacerbate it.

[Boyiee]

There is only one card, it's not SLI.

Haven't had any other problems with any other games, COD4 UT pretty much everything runs perfectly at full settings, including wow, except in wow I have to slide the shadow setting bar down 1 or 2 notches so they dont flash.

If you mean by one card is dying you mean one of the chips, then that's different. That would require me buying a new card. Which is a pain cause I've only had the card since like october.

I'll be honest, the GTX285 2gb looks awesome, higher rated too, but the 290 would probably be out soon. I just don't really feel like spending 400-500$ when I just bought a new 25.5inch monitor and love it so much I want a 2nd to replace my 22inch. So far the problem is avoidable, don't turn shadows to max, and if there is some tearing, turn the fan up... but the heat doesn't seem to affect the shadows in wow so I know it's something else.

Downloading the newest drivers will hopefully solve that, but we kinda just moved out sorta and I didn't pick up my PC yet so I can't test it.

[Kohan]

There is only one card, it's not SLI.

Oh, durf. The "X2" made me believe it was two 4870s in Crossfire. My mistake.

So far the problem is avoidable, don't turn shadows to max, and if there is some tearing, turn the fan up... but the heat doesn't seem to affect the shadows in wow so I know it's something else.

Downloading the newest drivers will hopefully solve that, but we kinda just moved out sorta and I didn't pick up my PC yet so I can't test it.

The exploding models -- which is what I believe you're referring to by the "random triangles" -- can be a sign of a dying card, but if it isn't happening in other applications, it could be entirely software-related. Of course, if the card is dying, then these problems will eventually show up in other programs. However, if it's not happening right now, there really isn't any reason to worry about physical issues.

You mentioned turning up the fan as a possible solution. I think it wouldn't hurt to open the thing up and use some compressed air (in short bursts) on the inside of the card. Naturally, make sure you keep the can upright, moving the computer/card instead.

Quickest and easiest thing to do now is the driver replacement. I'd do that before other stuff.