[RESOLVED] Is my new gfx card faulty? Look what it does...

[jollyjack]

Wotcha, folks.

Just bought my new gfx card, a Radeon X1600 512mb Pro, as featured here - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... SAP-X16P5+ (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?SAP-X16P5+)

It acted a little oddly when I booted up Windows, so I decided to reinstall everything.

Unfortunately, it's still doing it.

When I boot up, I get this screen as usual
http://www.tobyspage.com/temp/s1.JPG
After that, this happens for a few seconds...
http://www.tobyspage.com/temp/s2.JPG
This flases violently, and has loads of little coloured pixels all over it.

Then this screen appears and it carrys on as normal. The card seems to work fine after that.
http://www.tobyspage.com/temp/s3.JPG

Remember, this is a fresh install of Windows XP Pro, and drivers.

Is my card faulty?

T.

[Chewie]

Hmmm

That is definately not right. Your initial boot screen is ok, as we can see, and the final section before windows actually starts is ok.

SO i think we can rule out a faulty card, because if that was the main problem, you'd more than likely have problems all the way through from the moment it gets booted up (funny lines, dodgy pixels etc etc)

Have you checked the system menu to see if there is any conflicts or problems showing up?

Does this card need its own external power link, and if so, what sort of power is your PSU puting out (can you look at the +12v/+5v/+3.3v readings on the side of the PSU and tell us what it says in the Amps section under each voltage value)?

Is the card able to run something like 3Dmark03/05 or 06 and how did it score.

Does running the VGA test in DxDiag give any errors at all, can you see all the boxes/colours as required?

It could be a driver issue, but I'd lay money on a case of poorly situated in its socket or a case of the motherboard doesn't like the card.

ANy more info would be great please Jack.

[jollyjack]

Blimey!

Now that's what I call help.

* DxDiag runs fine. Pretty bouncing and rotating boxes everywhere.

* 3DMark03 reports 6500 (ish)

* +3.3v = 20A / +5v = 25A / +12v = 12A

* Conflicts - I'm not sure how to read the data it's displaying. But this is what it displays.

I/O Port 0x0000A000-0x0000AFFF VIA CPU to AGP Controller
I/O Port 0x0000A000-0x0000AFFF RADEON X1600 Series

I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7 PCI bus
I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7 Direct memory access controller

I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF VIA CPU to AGP Controller
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF RADEON X1600 Series

IRQ 21 VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller

IRQ 16 RADEON X1600 Series
IRQ 16 Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)

Memory Address 0xC0000000-0xDFFFFFFF VIA CPU to AGP Controller
Memory Address 0xC0000000-0xDFFFFFFF RADEON X1600 Series

Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF VIA CPU to AGP Controller
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF RADEON X1600 Series

I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB VIA CPU to AGP Controller
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB RADEON X1600 Series


I'm beginning to really dislike my Mobo.

T.

[jollyjack]

Whoah - update!

It just showed that pattern again while I was changing resolution in TeamFortressClassic!

It showed the pattern, then the game crashed out!

:?

[Chewie]

WOAh

That 12v rail is low, can you confirm if it is a dual +12v PSU (you'll have +12v1 and +12v2 on it) as it may be problematic in a small way if thats just a single +12v rail unit (eg, if your running a modern machine, its way too loowwwwww).

What I was actually after was to go to Start/Control Panel/System click on Hardware tab then device manager and see if there are any yellow warning triangles next to the Display Adaptors symbol (might need to click on the + to open it and see, though that normally will expand it to show the ATI X1600 card).

I'd love to make the leap of faith and say its the PSU not supplying enough power t the card, but none of the imgaes i can google for this show an external power connector. Nor do any ofthe specs i've found mention one :?

Jack can you provide a list of your machines major components (something similar to theone in my sig below).

[jollyjack]

Right, not sure how to check that dual +12v thingy, so here's a piccie of the power sticky.
http://www.tobyspage.com/temp/powersticker.JPG

No conflicts next to Graphic card list in Hardware tab of 'System'.

The card is definately powered externally.
http://www.tobyspage.com/temp/gfxcardpower.JPG

I think I have:-

CPU - Athlon XP 3000
Mobo - Kt600 8267 V600DAP (tho not sure - this is all I can find)
Ram - 1gb (made up of 2x256, 1x 512. 333 / pc2700)
HD - 2 of 'em. 1x 80gb / 1x 40gb
Sound - Sound Blaster Live
DVD Rom

Hope this helps.

T / J.

[Chewie]

Ok
Im gonna say it now, that PSU is not enough to supply that setup.

Its just a single 12v line psu, else it would have had 2 columns for the +12v line, which Looks like it came with your Case as standard.

I suggest you look at getting something with at least 25A on the +12v rail, although most PSU's nowadays come as dual rails so expect to find one that says between 12 and 15A on both +12v lines.

But before you buy something new, do you know anyone with a 400W+ rated PSU that you might borrow to test it in order to rule out a PSU that isn't supplying enough juice?

[jollyjack]

Thanks, Chewie.

Don't think I know anyone with a meaty power supply.

Can you supply a stock code no. for one on Novatech at all? I have a habit of buying incorrect parts.

Really appreciate your help, btw.

T / J.

[Taxation]

everyone knows what im gonna say, so i will let them say it :roll:

[jollyjack]

Would this one do me?

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... psu550&P=4 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?nov-psu550&P=4)

Would that suit my setup, as listed above?

T / J.

[Taxation]

dont youy dare get that one :D
it would be a complete waste of money

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... ?HYP-4M530 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?HYP-4M530)

i trust this manufacturer, and so do alot of people, they are good psu's and are ideal for what you need

[jollyjack]

Blimey - sorry, Dad :cry:

Any particular reason why the first one would be a waste of money?

[Taxation]

cheap, shiny, and very generic

even though it has alot of good reviews
for a good stable system, this power supply i suggested would be a very good choice

[jollyjack]

I think I'll risk it. I only need it to live another year or so before I upgrade my system to x64.

Thanks for all the help, guys.

T / J

[djgandy]

550 watt is the Peak rating.
The actual rating is usually a lot less.
The 350 watt hiper would probably give out more power.

[anthonygriff]

Have you checked all the other cards and memory on the motherboard in case you disturbed them when you fitted the new card?

I recently fitted a 6800gs on my comp and was getting similar problems to you, i.e. where you're saying you get multicoloured pixels etc, I was getting a white screen with colour flashes going across it. It would only last for a fraction of a second but was extremely annoying.

Turned out I'd loosened a memory stick. Pushed it back in and the white screen disappeared.

[jollyjack]

Thanks for the heads-up, Anthony. I must have had every card / stick in my mobo in and out about 20 times over the last week.

Just made sure on the memory sticks, and the coloured pixels seemed fewer. Wether that's a direct result or not - who knows!

T / J.

[Taxation]

have you got any spare sticks of RAM that will fit in your motherboard, raplace the sticks that are in there with some that you know definately work

[jollyjack]

Yep!

Tried a another stick I know works, same problem.

I have my new power pack coming tomorrow, or if UPS live up to their usual reliability - October, so hopefully that will solve it.

Will report back here will findings.

[Taxation]

good luck matey

[jollyjack]

I spoke too soon.

I should have realised my little UPS comment above, was based on fact.

UPS = Undelivered Parcel Service
UPS = Unsatisfactory Performance Specialists
UPS = Utter Pathetic ***heads

"UPS, where 'next day' means 'some day'"

That's 2 out of 3 times they've failed to deliver when stated. I suppose I am way out in the country, here in London. The UPS website said it was out for delivery at 05:20 from a town not 3 miles from me too !

Novatech customer service closed - arrghhhh ! arrggghhh !

arggh!

T / J

[jollyjack]

argghh !

[Taxation]

not as bad as one company i ordered from
ordered -monday
paid-monday
-email-sorry the item isnt in stock
-you wha?

--email-item will be in stock in a couple of days
-fair enough
-one week later emailed them-where is my stuff
-not in stock as of yet
-bye, i want my money back cos im going somewhere else

next shop
-ordered my parts
-got the very next day

[Nox]

one of my machines has a matrox card in it, and it does something very similar to that - never bothered to fix it though as its not causing any problems, as such. I second the comments about a better psu too, but not sure thats the problem, and i know its a bit late, but second all the comments about buying the hiper over the generic - its probably very similar inside to the one you allready have, but they tested it in antartica where you could gain an extra 200w on the label before it breaks!

I would probably start by getting the redistributable directx package, installing that, then installing gfx card drivers, particularly older versions.

but there

Nox

[jollyjack]

Me = sad.

New power pack (day late). No difference.

Will install latest directx, ati drivers, and report back here.

:cry:

[Nox]

could be missing the obvious here - does you monitor support whatever resolution it breifly flickers to? (ie can you try you machine on a mates monitor?)

Nox

[jollyjack]

Touch wood (ooer!), it never lasted for more than 1 reboot after installing the new power supply.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Sorted!