How To Tell If Graphics Card Is Aging (Updated)

[Ichigo]

So my absolute warrior of a graphics card runs TS3 very nicely, and TS2 was running picturesqely. Until recently. I switch from a TS3 play sesh to TS2, and I notice some rather jagged edges. Game still running great, but things have gotten a smooch blurry when zoomed out. Am I just paranoid, or is my old crusader losing momentum? If it is, does it hurt stuff?

EDIT: Alright, it got worse. I know it did. And since I still can't post a picture, this is an example of what I'm seeing.



Note the pointy arm of the lady and the crustiness of the dining chairs. I'm seeing that in my game, but worse. Holy fucking shit.

[J. M. Pescado]

Blurry when zoomed out is normal, the game intentionally renders things at lower quality when far away, and the "lot impostors" of neighboring lots other than your current lot is rendered at "Absolutely Shittastic" quality.

[Ichigo]

I'm still getting such subtle prickliness at closer distances, and even things like the loading screens are looking jaggedy. 

[MarinatedPleasure]

At some point, might you have reset the graphics to default? By default, everything is high except for smooth edges. If your graphics card is really fantastic, you probably thought to drag the slider for smooth edges all the way to 'more' at some point, but by default it's at 'less' (at least, that's how it is in my game). That would explain the subtle prickliness, as you put it.

[J. M. Pescado]

Don't smooth edges. That both increases the strain on your system and MAKES THINGS LOOK EVEN MORE BLURRY. Whoever came up with this idea utterly failed to understand the concept of "edges". Edges are supposed to be SHARP. This sign has SHARP EDGES. Do not touch the edges of this sign!

[MarinatedPleasure]

Is that so? I hadn't realised. I don't smooth edges (my old, feeble graphics card would never be able to handle it), however, back a few years ago when my graphics card was just new, I smoothed edges and thought it looked brilliant but I probably only thought so because OOH PURDY SHINY GRAPHICS OPTION etc.

[Ichigo]

And these things are all well and understandable, but it seems as if though these things have increased. I might just be seeing things because buying a new graphics card so close to boyfriend's birthday smacks of DO NOT WANT.

[Leticron]

One thing about graphics cards (and computers in general) that's easily overlooked by most:
they need to be cleaned once in a while (say once, better twice a year). Even more so if you have any kinds of furries in the house.
Increasing temperatures usually result in a slightly degraded picture quality at first.
Are you sure it's the graphics card tho? An aging CRT monitor for instance could be the culprit as well.

[jezzer]

they need to be cleaned once in a while (say once, better twice a year). Even more so if you have any kinds of furries in the house.

I would never allow furries in my house, but I could see where those retarded fursuits would lead to cleanliness issues.

[J. M. Pescado]

And these things are all well and understandable, but it seems as if though these things have increased. I might just be seeing things because buying a new graphics card so close to boyfriend's birthday smacks of DO NOT WANT.

Are you sure you just don't need your vision checked? Try posting a screenshot. True graphics card artifacts create visible marks in the screenshot that will be visible to outsiders. Things like bad monitors, loose cables, and your poor vision, won't. If we can't see it, it ain't there.

[Ichigo]

Since I'm not on shiny beautiful gaming rig, thusly unable to post TS2 pictchas, can anyone give an example of said artifacts?

[J. M. Pescado]

You know, green funny colored crap on your screen, etc. Things which indicate that the rendering logic has failed and genuine garbage is being generated, as opposed to stuff that doesn't actually really exist because the monitor is broken, your vision is bad, etc.

[Tarlia]

When my graphics card was dying, TS2 would frequently freeze and everything on the screen would explode in colourful crap. Actually, the whole machine froze and had to be rebooted. A couple of weeks later, the graphics card died. I could tell by the fact that Windows wouldn't start and my screen was covered in wonderful green and pink stripes.

If your graphics card is going, you'll know. It'll be more serious than slight bluriness. Are you sure you're not just remembering wrong because you're used to TS3 being more shiny?

[Strangel]

Ichigo - Graphics card seizure:

[Ichigo]

Alright, I'm officially just seeing things. When I start seeing a tidalwave of MS-Paint shaded vomit, I'll know. BAHHHHHH.