Help! Buzzing noise and performance death with Connect3D X800 VIVO

[Fooshards]

Ok, first time post here, I need some serious help.

First off, I have had my computer for about a month now, and had this card installed and everythign was running awesome, even did the pipeline unlocking and everything was peachy with 16p, getting awesome fps in WoW on 1600x1200.

Then, 2 days ago, my performance crashed through the floor. 20fps at 1028x768.

And a strange buzzing noise started up inside my case whenever I was doing anything graphically intensive that required rendering. The sound seems like its almost coming from the north bridge / CPU area, but the vid card is real closeby to it.

I have stopped all fans individually and the noise is NOT coming from a fan.

Moreover, the buzzing intensifies when I hit a visual fps snag, and softens up after the frame is rendered.

Examples of when the buzzing intensifies, and performance decreases:

• Viewing a website with active banners / active content (Yes, even hits fps snags on these!)
• Playing any kind of game (WoW, CoV, CoH)
• Scrolling through pictures in folders
• Opening up a movie copied on the HD in DVD Shrink, when it does that pre-analyze (this makes it go NUTS)

The sound can best be described as a high pitch hiss with a buzz. Noticeable over case fans when Computer is across the desk.

I have no idea where to go now. WHat do I fix? How do I fix it? I can't live with 20fps on low res!
System Specs:

Prescott P4 HT 3.2gHz
1Gb OCZ DDR400 Dual Channel
160Gb WD HD
Connect3D X800 GTO VIVO (Unlocked to 16p)
MSI 915G Combo Mobo
Hercules 500W Power Supply

I have overclocked the system before, usually my core is running at 3.4gHz.

Per ATITool, my max core for the GPU was 545mhz but I kept it at 470mHz cuz at 500 it was pushing 70 degrees load. Mem was always set to 500mHz.

Please help

edit add: Also, it does the hiss/buzz thing when I try to install software. Maybe this isnt a VPU issue, maybe so... still any help is appreciated.

 

[noneed4me2]

i would RMA right away never heard this problem before and you may end with a card you can mod.

 

[Poisonsnak]

I know when I run ATITool my power supply makes a sort of a hiss/buzz noise but the card seems to work decently well.

Also my socket A DFI board makes a hiss/buzz from the motherboard (I can't figure out where, near the northbridge?) when the FSB is between about 220 and 250MHz.

Do you have another PSU / video card to test with?

 

[Fooshards]

Ok got some time this morning to test some stuff out with it. Thought it might be a power supply, swapped out a 450W and it still made same noise. Then I Downloaded a few utilities and now im pretty sure its not my vid card, but hoping you guys can help me diagnose the problem anyhow.

First, my CPU Idle temp is showing at 60!!! celsius! My heatsink is seated correctly. I have never had problems with CPU heat in the past. I'm using "Spectracool" thermal compound, with a stock LGA775 intel Heatsink.

When I try to run 3dmark03 my comp crashes midway through game3, most likely to the supposed overheat...

Is a sensor bad? Or is my CPU frying itself??

 

[Fooshards]

Holy hell just tested cpu temp with load, it starts pushing 90 celsius... wtf could be the problem here? (I'll be at work for the rest of the day so cant test but can respond)

 

[peta01]

Yes 90°C is a killing temperature for CPU. Try to put your finger on the passive while running to check if the sensor is OK. Dont hurt yourself temperatures over 60°C are pretty painfull.
Check your CPU fans RPM, if you have stock fan it should be over 2000 RPM.

 

[Fooshards]

Woot figured out the problem.

Inferior thermal compound basically liquefied at a high temp and went away, somewhere, (didnt find any runoff, maybe it just poofed?) and there was nothing making direct contact between my heatsink and CPU, so it was gettin pretty warm and overheating.

By the way - 3dmark03 score of 12274.

Prescott 3.2 OC to 3.4 w/HT on
X800 modded to 16p w/ X850XT Bios and 513/506 clocks.
1GB OCZ DDR400 DC