My 9800XT video card has artifacts when I put it under load. I tried putting on my nice after-market cooler but it didnt fix the artifacts. when a card overheats and is damaged do the artifacts look the same as over heating or do they look different?
Try a graphics card driver update. what is the gpu temp underload? what aftermarket cooler did you add on? waterblock or heatsink and fan?
zalman vg-900 i think is the name.. gpu temps little load are very reasonable 35 degrees or so. underload i dont know ive never looked. but that would be a good place to start. My psu just meets the power specs for the 9800xt if it was being underpowered would I get artifacts?
If the system was being underpowered it would most likely restart it self, or shut down. Your GPU temp 35C idle is excellent, Underload I would be expecting around 50 - 55C which is perfectly fine. I would think the problem it self could be driver issue, if not your most likely looking at a faulty graphics card.
i tried to make sure the driver was correct but it didnt help, no I am not overclocking the gpu, but the stock-fan failed and i had to replace it.. it might have become broken then.
