GPU problems - keeps freezing up!

[mishima]

Hi,

I have an Gecube X1950 Pro 512MB running the Catalyst 6.12 drivers. I only have 2 games installed at the moment and both I seem to be having problems with.

NFS Carbon

When I load up the game and go into options to alter the video options from default settings the screen goes blank and freezes. Nothing I do can solve the issue, I can't alt+tab or anything. I can't even hit the reset button on my tower that doesnt work. I have to switch off @ the back of the PSU.

Prey demo

I can actually play this one! When im so far into the game it freezes similar to NFS. I can't reset or alt tab. I have to switch off via PSU.

Can anyone offer me any help please?

 

[mishima]

No overclock at all - everything is stock. I have an Antec Truepower Trio 550W!

 

[mishima]

How do I give my memory a memtest?

I have uninstalled latest drivers and installed the retail ones I got with the card, the problem still remains...

Meanwhile I will get 3d Mark 06 and run that!

 

[mishima]

Thanks, just got memtest and going to run it all morning as I'm going out. I have opened up two copies and set each to test 1024MB is that the right thing to do?

It said something about me not being able to test the whole lot in one go under my version of windows!

 

[mishima]

Ok I have performed the following tests:

3DMark06
BurnIn It (full system test - mem, graphics etc)

Below are the results:

I noticed in the graphics tests on 3DMark06 I was getting very poor FPS - 5-15 when it was demanding. Is that acceptable?

Your thoughts, ideas please!

Thanks

 

[mishima]

I havent tried the 6.11's I will try though. Just installing Far Cry at the moment to see if I have the same issue in games as the others.

I have just visited Gecube website. They have drivers there - http://www.gecube.com/software-driver.php.

If I select the model of card and OS It requests me to download a display driver that is 110MB!! Do you guys use drivers from manufacturers or from ATI directly?

 

[mishima]

Ok, Far cry suffers the same problems. It freezes after so much gameplay. I tested that under Catalyst 6.11's and 6.12's.

This must be a hardware issue as it occurs under 3 different drivers, and on every game I have installed. It hasn't ever locked up in windows so the card causes lock ups when its under demand.

Anyone got any other suggestions?

 

[mishima]

It was awfully jerky, especially on the first graphics test were there is a big battle with soldiers.

Prey seemed to have artifacts in it, the screen had stretch marks and looked odd when I moved around.

 

[mishima]

I have connected the PCI-e power cable to the back of the card. I also have connected power to the Auxiliary 12V Power Connector which is by the PCI-e port. In my motherboard manual it says "this connector provides auxilary power source for devices added on PCI Express slots."

 

[mishima]

Just taken out that auxiliary power cable and plugged in a different PCI-e connector to my X1950. Ran Far Cry and no problems at all, played it for about 3 or 4 minutes, then thought I would try another game. So I loaded up NFS and it froze again and I had to reboot

At the moment I am running v1 of the BIOS for my board because I had problems booting up with the latest version. (I think it was corrupt). Could this be a BIOS problem? I could try updating it again.

 

[mishima]

Just updated my BIOS to the latest version. Ran Far Cry pc froze after around 3minutes and an error message appeard via windows:

I hit send report and it wants to send an email to [email protected] with a file attached - crash.dat (3KB).

 

[mishima]

I've sent an email to ATI using the send error report button. Do you have problems in game? Looks like im going to have to RMA!

 

[mishima]

ah right so you got an RMA too? What manufacturer/model did you have? I'm thinking of going for a HIS Turbo SILENT this time!

 

[mishima]

Just been reading some reviews on that, looks a very good card. Think I might go for one of those or a 512MB HIS!