My Graphics Card
CoolCookieCooks
Pretty Girl Join Date: 2003-05-18 Member: 16446Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation
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<div class="IPBDescription">AAARRRGGHHH...</div> Hey guys, I have got so annoyed with my 9800 pro... I have returned it once before and got a replacement one, a month or two later it goes wrong again. Check these screenies for more info.
In ATI Tool scanning for artifacts
<img src='http://c3.woosah.org/stuff/artifacts.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Ingame of Dawn Of War (happens on all other games too)
You see those black hexagon shapes, theres about 400 onscreen every second, just that theres about 3 every frame, and i have a high framerate, so go figure <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://c3.woosah.org/stuff/error.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Even in the startup process of windows XP on the loading screen i get artifacts and weird lines appearing, so that rules out the possibility that its a driver problem.
Anyway, ill be returning this card and get a refund unless someone can give me a fixing cure for it <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
With this refunded money, I wish to buy an Nvidia based card, but ive been following the ATI trend so I dont know whats a good or bad card, so suggestions are wanted.
- C3
In ATI Tool scanning for artifacts
<img src='http://c3.woosah.org/stuff/artifacts.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Ingame of Dawn Of War (happens on all other games too)
You see those black hexagon shapes, theres about 400 onscreen every second, just that theres about 3 every frame, and i have a high framerate, so go figure <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://c3.woosah.org/stuff/error.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Even in the startup process of windows XP on the loading screen i get artifacts and weird lines appearing, so that rules out the possibility that its a driver problem.
Anyway, ill be returning this card and get a refund unless someone can give me a fixing cure for it <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
With this refunded money, I wish to buy an Nvidia based card, but ive been following the ATI trend so I dont know whats a good or bad card, so suggestions are wanted.
- C3
Comments
edit: <a href='http://www.digital-daily.com/video/fx5900-vs-radeon9800pro/index04.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.digital-daily.com/video/fx5900-...pro/index04.htm</a>
It seems that the radeon 9800 pro is better performance-wise, and the 5900 is poor in OpenGL
Have you looked into cooling? Maybe bad RAM? I'm no expert but I can't think of many things that would give you artifacts when it's not the 3d card. Maybe you just got <i>really</i> unlucky and the 3rd card will be fine.
Fx5900 vs 9800pro
<a href='http://www.digital-daily.com/video/fx5900-vs-radeon9800pro/' target='_blank'>http://www.digital-daily.com/video/fx5900-vs-radeon9800pro/</a>
[edit]
cool you found the same link, <3 google
What is your mobo?
For what it's worth, installing a Zalman cooler on my 9800pro caused permanent artifacts to appear everywhere. Reinstalling the card's standard cooler had no effect. Had to bin the card in the end (£160 down the toilet).
Damn....
Edit: by looking around the net for various different comparisons between the 9800 pro and a 6800 GT, the GT is only about a tenner more, and walks all over the 9800 pro. Looks like ill be turning into the darkside this time.
<a href='http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q4/geforce-6600gtagp/index.x?pg=15' target='_blank'>http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q4/gefor...p/index.x?pg=15</a>
<a href='http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q4/geforce-6600gtagp/index.x?pg=7' target='_blank'>http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q4/gefor...gp/index.x?pg=7</a>
Upgrade the Ati bios or the motherboard bios (or borth) to see if it has any effect. I had this once with my 9800XT (during overlocking) and a simple motherboard and 3dcard bios upgrade fixed it.
Your powersupply is also over 300+ or 350+ wattage?
And last but not least make sure the gpu core runs at 380MHz and the card memory runs at 340MHz. These are the standart speeds of the 9800pro. It can run faster with ocing and the knowhow on how to do it, maybe you oced it? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Damn.... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, it sounds identical. I had the corrupted Windows loading screen as well.
Except the Geforce one sucks
I believe a 6600GT, or a 6800 (non-GT) is around about equal to a 9800, but why would you want an Nvidia when you have an ATi card anyway?
[EDIT:]The card isn't Overclocked, is it?
Damn.... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, it sounds identical. I had the corrupted Windows loading screen as well. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
mkay. At the moment im following twoflows story.
Kouji San, if i upgrade the bios on my gfx card, itll definately void the warranty. My PSU is 420w Thermaltake one, so i doubt its that.
Obst, Ive had this card on 2 different mobos, both of which are Asus.
For a replacement gfx card, ive got my eyes on the Nvidia 6600GT. I heard asus were poor for graphics cards, so what make would be best for an nvidia card?
Edit: raz0r, this card isnt overclocked, just the same as I got it. except for the GPU cooler.
Check temperatures, and if you have overclocked even once before it can do this type of permanent damage. I'm not sure exactly the types of damage physical core damage can do, but in installing the cooler, there is significant risk of damaging the core if it is on too tightly or incorrectly.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I heard asus were poor for graphics cards<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
they dont make bad cards, their cards are usually just more expensive.
Also, not that its likely, but is there a large AC power source near your computer? In extreme cases it could be due to electrical interference....
Even I was wrong... it was a 5700
<a href='http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6985248&type=product&id=1099392657795' target='_blank'>Best Buy</a>
However the 6800 GT is really nice too.
Ill try my gfx card in the many other computers in my house to see if the problem occurs... it most likely will.
Edit: It seems i can play in OpenGL fine. no visual errors in it at all <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Edit number 2: It seems me and twoflow arent the only people to get this problem.
<a href='http://forum.osnn.net/archive/index.php/t-62956.html' target='_blank'>http://forum.osnn.net/archive/index.php/t-62956.html</a>
The guy on the link solved it by returning it <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
(dumb questions need to be asked)
if so, then it shouldnt be heat, and i'd say bad ram on it, and nothing you can do.
I bought a 9800 refurbished on newegg and it had a mis-soldered transistor on the backside. serisouly a tiny little black thing was not attached right, and it made horrible graphic problems, even in bios!
If i recall correctly, the 9800 pro before last also screwed up by putting a vantec cooler onto it. But those problems eventually came, rather than within 1 day.
<edit>god, by the way I type, you wouldnt know english is my first language</edit>
ALSO
Artifacting is caused by RAM overheating, while "snow" is caused by GPU overheating. Take out your card and make sure all the RAM sinks are on correctly, make sure each one has enough thermal paste attaching it to the chip to ensure good heat transfer. Also make sure these sinks aren't touching something hotter, like the sink for the GPU itself, because they may be absorbing its heat as well.
Just to further screw things up for the pasters.
Not enough paste, means that micro-imperfections are not filled properly, and chip over-heats.
Too much paste, chip gets thermally insulated, and over-heats.
Too much SILVER based paste, chip doesn't get as thermally insulated, but will still overheat (to a milder degree), but...
Way too much Silver based paste, and the lovely electrically conductior-rich paste spills over those vulnerable copper-based electrical pathways. ZAP!!! One dead card...
Just to really mess your day up...
Adn yes, i am going to get a 6600GT.
Also, the memory never had heatsyncs and was never supplied with any, so i dont presume it needs it. My case also has 5 fans with a decent airflow, so case temperature isnt affecting it (20 degrees C maximum)
...
Damn.... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, it sounds identical. I had the corrupted Windows loading screen as well. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
mkay. At the moment im following twoflows story.
Kouji San, if i upgrade the bios on my gfx card, itll definately void the warranty. My PSU is 420w Thermaltake one, so i doubt its that.
Obst, Ive had this card on 2 different mobos, both of which are Asus.
For a replacement gfx card, ive got my eyes on the Nvidia 6600GT. I heard asus were poor for graphics cards, so what make would be best for an nvidia card?
Edit: raz0r, this card isnt overclocked, just the same as I got it. except for the GPU cooler. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
You might have cracked your cards PCB when installing it. I have a 9800 PRO and <3 it. Also, Installing a 3rd party cooler voids your warranty. GL!
Now THAT is the most retarded advice I have seen regarding a graphics card all fx's are HORRIBLE cards.
FX cards are respectable, but ATi definitely owned nVidia in that generation with the 9800 pro.
Just remember that memory matters much less on mid range cards, its really only useful for loading very high resolution models and textures faster, and with midrange cards, you seldom run maximum settings in most games. Consider that the 9800 pro 256MB actually runs slightly slower than the 9800 pro 128MB, so doubling the memory really does not help all that much in general.
But if your going to upgrade, since ATi does not offer as much of the AGP midrange cards as nVidia, the 6600GT is probably your best bet. Its got the new DirectX specs, some extra memory, and about as much power (maybe even a little more) than the 9800 pro.