Stumped by low FPS problem in CS: Source

okay so basically i can get a new card, but would is there anyway my card can be repaired or something? :s

Do cards normally wear out after about 2 years or was it damaged some how?

You can't really say. The lifetime of a video card may vary from a day to over 5 years, just depends on what conditions affect the lifespan. Bad cards are not uncommon, since it's statistically and practically impossible to produce working cards all the time. Overheating, dust buildup and irregular power supply do affect video card lifetimes negatively though. IMO, get a new 7950GT or an 8800GTS if you can afford it. Both will be faster than that 7800GT, although the 7950GT will run a a lot cooler.

i bought the nvidia 8600gts and it should arrive within a few days.

is that a good choice?

also, i bought an intel core2duo 2.6ghz processor to replace my pentium d 3.0ghz from 2 years ago, hopefully that will reduce temperature too

The GeForce 8600 GTS should be a good enough card. As for the Core 2 Duo, are you sure that you have the right CPU socket for it?

i thought that the core2duo uses the same socket as the pentium D? :s

anyway, i think i read somewhere that it does. the mobo i have is an Asus P5nd2 SLi deluxe .. its two years old but i think it has the right socket

Then yes, I miss read the 7800 GT as a 7800 GS.

The mobo might need a BIOS upgrade for a Core 2 Duo if it's two years old. Check on ASUS's site to be sure.

ahh ive been getting lots of other issues like... ill start up my comp things will be fine for about 5 minutes and then it will either A) shut down B) just lock up or C) the screen will turn black

most of the time it will restart itself and it will get to the XP loading screen where it locks up and restarts again, prompting me to start up with either last known good configs, start normally or start in safe mode, which no matter which i select, it crashes at the xp loading screen again, ad infinitum. other times it will just shut down.

ive noticed that if i turn off the power in the back for a few hours it will allow me about 5 - 10 minutes of being on it then it repeats the process. im assuming its a heating issue, and right now i have the case side opened with a small personal fan blowing into it, directed mainly toward the processor.

i left it unpowered for about 12 hours now and im wondering if there is any difference in how long i leave it unpowered.

**update** after leaving off for 12 hours i was only able to be on for about 20 minutes. i dont think leaving it off for that extended amount of time really made much of a difference :s
**edit** i've noticed that when i'm just on my desktop and on aim my cpu usage is down to just about ~0-4%, running just aim and winamp music; whereas if i open an application such as firefox or the video utility in winamp, the cpu usage shoots up to about ~80-100%. if i run such applications, my computer will only last about 5 minutes or so and then crash.

**edit** i've noticed that when i'm just on my desktop and on aim my cpu usage is down to just about ~0-4%, running just aim and winamp music; whereas if i open an application such as firefox or the video utility in winamp, the cpu usage shoots up to about ~80-100%. if i run such applications, my computer will only last about 5 minutes or so and then crash.

Random restarting or reseting could be the sign of a bad power supply. Also since the CPU load goes so high perhaps it could be over heating.

Just wait until you get the new video card and CPU in it. If you're still having same problems, then it really might be a dieing PSU. My guess is that the video card is dieing and drawing excessive power and overheating PSU as soon as you run anything graphic.

Have you installed a CPU before? Make sure you use thermal compound on the top between the heatsink/fan and the CPU.