Vid card problems
- Thread starter Heater
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- Mar 27, 2008
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- 160
A 'hard crash' or BSOD is usually the sign of overheating, but it could also be driver problems. A DXDIAG report (Start->Run->DXDIAG->Save all info->copy-and-paste info from dumped text to here) can go a long way to help point out any obvious problems, though...
I spotted a pretty good driver guide around here that could be of help, for a clean driver reinstall, and you can find find my comparable guided I posted here. I don't know if a x1900 is any different, but ATI cards typically are picky with driver installs, and I would always do a clean reinstall. I wouldn't do the same with chipset drivers, though, as deleting them more often then not leaves you with an unbootable windows you need to fix up in the recovery console.
Edit: As far as gfx card cooling goes, I prefer artic cooling's accelero if you don't have a comparable one on already, plus some cheapie tape-on ramsinks. Other than that, try to cram a 80mm fan below your card for exhaust if you don't have many add-in cards, and if not get a decent sized slot-blower.
I spotted a pretty good driver guide around here that could be of help, for a clean driver reinstall, and you can find find my comparable guided I posted here. I don't know if a x1900 is any different, but ATI cards typically are picky with driver installs, and I would always do a clean reinstall. I wouldn't do the same with chipset drivers, though, as deleting them more often then not leaves you with an unbootable windows you need to fix up in the recovery console.
Edit: As far as gfx card cooling goes, I prefer artic cooling's accelero if you don't have a comparable one on already, plus some cheapie tape-on ramsinks. Other than that, try to cram a 80mm fan below your card for exhaust if you don't have many add-in cards, and if not get a decent sized slot-blower.
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- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 160
You can just pm it to me. 
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 160
Sry... got the dxdiag report in my inbox, but didn't notice it until today... anyways, I didn't see anything that would be a problem. From the looks of it, your PC is setup just fine. The temps may be a tad high, but there's not a lot you can do when it's 80deg in the room.
I'm still not convinced it's the card though -- millions are made, and seldom do you come across a 'bad one', but if that's the case I would see if you could still RMA/return it under warranty.
Have you tried a completely clean driver install? I've had several Radeons, and haven't seen one yet that wasn't picky about overwriting driver installs, resulting in artifacts and strange glitches like the ones you are experiencing.
You can check out the following guide I wrote and posted elsewhere, and I think lafinass as a great guide posted around here somewhere..
http://www.tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=10274
I'd also give Omega's modified drivers a try. He builds them with nothing but gaming compatibility and stability in mind, unlike the DH, DNA, or NGO modified drivers which strip out all multimedia/advanced support thinking it gains performance.
http://www.omegadrivers.net/ati_winxp.php
I'm still not convinced it's the card though -- millions are made, and seldom do you come across a 'bad one', but if that's the case I would see if you could still RMA/return it under warranty.
Have you tried a completely clean driver install? I've had several Radeons, and haven't seen one yet that wasn't picky about overwriting driver installs, resulting in artifacts and strange glitches like the ones you are experiencing.
You can check out the following guide I wrote and posted elsewhere, and I think lafinass as a great guide posted around here somewhere..
http://www.tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=10274
I'd also give Omega's modified drivers a try. He builds them with nothing but gaming compatibility and stability in mind, unlike the DH, DNA, or NGO modified drivers which strip out all multimedia/advanced support thinking it gains performance.
http://www.omegadrivers.net/ati_winxp.php
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2007
- Messages
- 126
I can try an absolute clean install I guess when I get home. Ill wipe all existing stuff out and try it again. Although, since I have added the intake fan and all the other steps, my problem isnt AS bad. Still minor glitches and stuff in maps but Ive been playing just fine last few nights.
Well enough to not even think about really. So maybe one of the steps or all has helped to the improved performance, still not perfect though so who knows.
Well enough to not even think about really. So maybe one of the steps or all has helped to the improved performance, still not perfect though so who knows.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 160
Well, if the intake fan helped that much, perhaps if you posted a pic of your case interior, we might have some advice that might help lower the temps a little more. With a room temp of 78 deg, you'd have 26deg C off the bat, so I'd say the max case temp you should shoot for would be low (if not sub) 40s.
Also, a clean driver reinstall can't hurt. Basically, you run the ati uninstall from the add/remove programs control panel applet, reboot into safe mode, remove adapter(s) from device manager, delete the driver files with a utility like Driver Cleaner (link), reboot, hit cancel when it says found new hardware, and then run the new driver's setup.
Also, a clean driver reinstall can't hurt. Basically, you run the ati uninstall from the add/remove programs control panel applet, reboot into safe mode, remove adapter(s) from device manager, delete the driver files with a utility like Driver Cleaner (link), reboot, hit cancel when it says found new hardware, and then run the new driver's setup.
