could anything else be causing artifacts?

I just got my ti4200 refurb in the mail today, when I run 3dmark 2k1, it has artifacts(cpu artifacts where part of the image is distorted, not memory artifacts)...at stock, I tried the 44.03 drivers and the latest drivers on nvidias website(forgot the release number) and they appear on both. Is this automatically caused by a bad card or is there some setting I need to change or something?

also, i just tried underclocking the gpu, no luck at all...i underclocked it 100mhz(gradually, 10-15 mhz each time) and still artifacts

Possibly a weak psu could cause it, or a bad agp slot. Have you tried bumping the voltage to the agp?

psu is 550 watts, it has worked for other agp cards...ill try voltage.

i tried bumping up the agp voltage to 1.7...no luck, also, i just noticed artifacts(a few dots) on the bios screen...i got a reply from my rma request at newegg...they want to charge me 11.25 restocking fee...WTF?!!?!