Hello! Recently I upgraded the video card in my Dell XPS 400 from its included ATI Radeon X600 to a new Galaxy Geforce GT240. I installed the 1 year old drivers included on the CD and all was going well... until i tried using the Unreal Development kit which i had been unable to use with my old card. Within 5-10 minutes of playing, hundreds of blurry horizontal lines started to appear. I installed a temperature monitoring program to see if the card was overheating, as the game was pushing it and causing FPS drops. The peak was 52 Celsius (125F) which is not bad at all, heck this room gets hotter than that sometimes. After i closed the game, the problem persisted for 2-3 minutes before being entirely gone. Playing World of Warcraft led to the same result after 20-30 minutes of playing. I downloaded the latest drivers from the nvidia website and installed those, but that caused most of the screen to be black at all times and led to many very strange and bad artifacts. I then proceeded to roll back to the year old drivers and am left with the line problem. The strange thing is, these lines do not appear on screen shots. I have a Samsung syncmaster flat screen monitor i have been using for just over a year. It only supports 1680x1050 resolution and only at 60hz. I used a nvidia tool to force 75hz to see if the refresh rate was the problem. This however only blurred the image including the strange lines. I can't seem to find anyone else with this problem and am hoping someone from this community can shed some light on my problem. Below is the info from dxdiag that may come in handy (irrelevant sections omitted as it is very long).
Thanks for your time, any help is appreciated.
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System Information
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Time of this report: 7/12/2010, 13:18:55
Machine name: XXXXX
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.100216-1514)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Dell DXP051
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A03
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 594MB used, 2697MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

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DxDiag Notes
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DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

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DirectX Debug Levels
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Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

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Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GT 240
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GT 240
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CA3&SUBSYS_069D10DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 1024.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: SyncMaster 2232BW/2232GW/2232GW Plus,SyncMaster Magic CX2232GW(Analog)
Monitor Max Res: 1680,1050
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.9562 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 6282752 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 10235968 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4FE3-11CF-3456-962603C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0CA3
SubSys ID: 0x069D10DE
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run
------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
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Drive: C:
Free Space: 11.1 GB
Total Space: 147.8 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: WDC WD1600JS-75NCB1

Drive: K:
Free Space: 478.1 GB
Total Space: 610.3 GB
File System: FAT32
Model: WD 6400AAV External USB Device

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System Devices
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Name: NVIDIA GeForce GT 240
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CA3&SUBSYS_069D10DE&REV_A2\4&1A646D2D&0&0008
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\nv4_mini.sys, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 10235968 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\OpenCL.dll, 1.00.0000.0000 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 69632 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nv4_disp.dll, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 6282752 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvapi.dll, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 1056768 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcompiler.dll, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 11374592 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcuda.dll, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 4038656 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcuvenc.dll, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 1989224 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcuvid.dll, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 2259560 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvdata.bin, 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 2293286 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvinfo.pb, 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 8743 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvoglnt.dll, 6.14.0011.9562 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 13602816 bytes
Driver: C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Uninstall\nvdisp.nvu, 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 25699 bytes
Driver: C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Uninstall\nvudisp.exe, 1.10.0052.0030 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 592488 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcod.dll, 1.07.0008.0073 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 182888 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcodins.dll, 1.07.0008.0073 (English), 11/20/2009 21:34:54, 182888 bytes

Uninstall whatever display drivers you currently have installed and then run Driver Sweeper to clean up the remaining associated files. This method helps to really scrub the existing installation and reduce the chance of driver conflicts further. Once you have this done, install the latest drivers for the card from www.nvidia.com or www.guru3d.com. You could also install drivers from Galaxy's site.

If you're still having issues, I would recommend returning the card and going with something else. Galaxy isn't really one of the top manufacturers for GeForce cards, but you may just have a defective unit. If you do decide to go with another brand, I would highly recommend EVGA or XFX.

I ran the driver sweeper and removed remnants of my old ATI driver. After i did that the computer would not boot. It would not even post. No beep codes, just a light code that was the only one not in the support book. I have removed the nvidia card and put back in my reliable but piece of crap radeon X600. I think i will just stay with that, upgrading has been too much of a hassle and has only created more problems.

You may need to upgrade your power supply... an underpowered video card may not work at all if the PSU doesn't provide enough juice. Do you know the specs of your current power supply and the power requirements for the video card?

The PSU is 375, the card i believe was 300, though i heard because its a PCI 1.0 slot, that it would not use close to that much. Power should not be an issue, the card worked fairly normally before i uninstalled old ATI drivers.

update: Old card reinserted and the comp booted. Reinstalled the most up to date drivers for my old card. I plan on taking back the Galaxy, and just sticking with the dinosaur card for a year. I will be buying a entire new computer in a year or 2 anyways. Thanks for your time anyways.