4870 - major graphics problem

[Spirit7]

Hi all,

Recently picked up one of the Sapphire 4870 512mbs. Having major graphical corruption problems with it. Difficult to describe, but there are flashing pixels and other minor bits of corruption in Vista generally, and in games, when running at 1680x1050 on my 22'' monitor. IF I lower the resolution, or change the colour from 32-bit to 16-bit, the problem sorts itself out (which kinda rules out a hardware problem with the card). Obviously, however, I want to be running at the correct colour settings and resolution.

I have tried the following drivers to no avail:

8.7
8.7 hotfix
8.6

Giving the 8.6 hotfixes a go now.

My system is: Vista x64, E6600, 4gb RAM, Gigabyte 965p-DS3, Antec Truepower 650w.

Has anyone else experienced similar graphics problems with this card? Any help at all would be much appreciated, because if I can't sort this I will have to go the Nvidia route!

Many thanks.

-C

 

[JaseUK]

Have you checked the temps on the card

on a side note where are the 8.7 hotfix drivers as the only ones I can find are not for the 48xx series cards

 

[Spirit7]

I doubt it would be a temp problem....the issue doesn't arise on my 19'' monitor, and if I lower the res/colour settings on this one it goes away.

WHY OH WHY CAN'T THIS JUST WORK.

 

[gareth170]

on a side note where are the 8.7 hotfix drivers as the only ones I can find are not for the 48xx series cards

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=35298

and

http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

ATI Radeon™ HD 4800 Series Hotfix

The information in this article applies to the following configurations:

• Radeon™ HD 4870 series
• Radeon™ HD 4850 series

This Hotfix improves overall performance and stability and includes the Display Driver and Catalyst Control Center.
Download the Hotfix Driver here

 

[Spirit7]

Fixed!

For anyone else having the same problem - ie an effect which looks like your TV trying to tune itself (interference) - when the monitor is in DVI mode, connect it with a VGA cable. It now works flawlessly!

 

[Banzai_Joe]

so you used a vga cable with a dvi convertor then?
Shame though.

 

[Spirit7]

Yes, no other choice.

Why is it a shame? I never notice the difference between VGA and DVI modes anyway!

 

[Banzai_Joe]

cos you can't use it the way you intended to that's all.
I hate the convertors purely for 'sticking out too far' reasons.

 

[Spirit7]

True, it is mildly irritating but I'm just relieved it does work!

 

[Spirit7]

Oh god this card is SWEET.

 

[Banzai_Joe]

I got mine last week, but haven't tested it yet. Am waiting to buy a 22" tft. Hope i don't the same problem.
Waiting to test it out on Crysis, fully loaded, fingers crossed.

 

[AWPC]

This sounds like an issue with your TFT. What brand it is?

I have seen this effect you describe before when the TFT is not syncing the correct refresh rate to your graphics card. No way should you keep the card if the DVI output is faulty as it is a much better connector than VGA (sharper clearer picture and you also get additional options like image scaling).

Try another DVI cable as well.

 

[Spirit7]

I haven't noticed the difference in picture quality, tbh. Used a VGA cable on my X1800XT back in the day and it didn't look any worse than my 8800GTS with a DVI cable.

I doubt it's the cable as it appeared to work fine with my previous card.