TheAbandonwareGuy wrote:I had the misfortune of getting a Gigabyte 7800GTX 256MB with a warped PCB (which I didn't notice until after I tested it) that worked long enough to get in game to Battlefield 2 before I got that "electronic smoke" smell. Oddly enough the card kept running the game for 15 minutes after I noticed that smell (which filled the room but I pretty much knew once I shut the system down that cars would never post again so I figured I may as well run it into the ground) and I was recording with FRAPS. The last frame in the video is a half rendered tank with red blocks all over the screen.
7800s are bitchs to get working. This is why Im cautious of cards that are "tested to bios only" and listed as is, no returns. This is an issue im pretty sure only occurs under load. People need to either test this equipment under load or offer returns.
I guess I need to explain further. What I actually did was put the 7800 under my x58 system I've had for years. (Note: pci-e clock locked to 100 Mhz and not overclocked, so that wasn't the issue). Loaded windows 7, loaded latest nvidia drivers listed for the 7800 gtx, and proceeded to watch youtube for a little while in chrome. Which did kick the 7800 GTX in to "3D Clocks" from 2D mode, and showed a little load from full screen video. Everything seemed fine.
Then I installed AquaMark3 benchmark. DirectX-6 (I think) benchmark. Should be suitable for a card of it's era. Clicked the Go button, and then screen switched in to full-screen mode and then never showed an image. I got "No Signal" from the LCD and waited a few minutes it never showed video. Turned it off at the power switch on the power supply. turned it back on a few mins later.. presented with that rainbow garbage in my above post.
So yep, issues under load.. dunno WTF happened but when I put it under full screen 3D-Clocks game load, it crapped all over it's self and died. I suspect it may be a case like you said there AbandonwareGuy, seller may of tested it to POST/BIOS only and nothing further.