How to tell if my graphics card is fried?

[sumsaykra-z]

So recently I booted up my machine only to find it freezing on the gray screen with the apple logo (boot screen). I booted in verbose and was about to post the picture in the forum asking for help. I then realized while the computer was booting and still in bios that when the gigabyte logo came up there were white dots in a pattern all over it. I tried swaping hard drives with a backup SL OS and got the same results at the Apple boot screen. A bit perplexed, I decided to wipe this drive and install Windows. When the Windows disc loaded I had the same dot pattern but also the colors on the screen are blotchy and looks like something out of an old computer. That's the best way I can put it. Is this a symptom of a card going out or could it be something else?

 

[powerpcg5]

Consider it a great opportunity to buy a new video card.

 

[sumsaykra-z]

Consider it a great opportunity to buy a new video card.

haha...thanks. What's a good, low-end video card that works well with lion?

 

[powerpcg5]

GT240 works great.

 

[sumsaykra-z]

GT240 works great.

Looking on newegg.com and there's a Zotac ZT-20309-10L GeForce 210 for 14.99 after mail-in rebate. Is Zotac a good name brand, is the 210 good for basic and is it good for a Lion build?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500209

 

[powerpcg5]

Maybe other people can chime in if Zotac GT210 is good or not.

I'm just recommending to you stuff I have personal experience with and own, that I know works 100%.
Geforce GT240... worked OOB since 10.6.3 all the way to 10.7.2

 

[sumsaykra-z]

I just got my card in today. That done the trick and I'm back up and running. Thanks. Cards working great and is recognized correctly without a problem.