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Graphics card gone mental!?!?

valve90210

valve90210

valve90210

Soldato
Joined
17 Jan 2006
Posts
4,329
I am having a bit of a problem with an old computer I am usng for music etc. It's an old P3 866MHz computer which is about 5 years or so old and was running fine.

At the weekend, I moved to a new flat and wanted to set up the computer with an old monitor (also about 5 years old) to use it as an MP3 jukebox kind of thing.

I set the computer up and booted it. The computer seemed to be doing something but the monitor remained in power saving mode rather than switching on. I restarted the computer and this time the monitor came on and all seemed ok.

Yesterday I went to switch the computer on and again, (as I wanted to change the graphics card for another I have which) the monitor didn't come on. After restarting a couple of times it came on but the display was going a bit mad. The memory test and IDE check came up but the text was much bigger than normal, then when it did the IRQ stuff, that was huge n screen and I could only see a small part of the list.

When it got into windows, the screen was not displaying right at all, and it was not refreshing correctly every time I moved the mouse pointer, the screen went all odd and I got a trail of the section of the screen etc etc.

After a few seconds the computer switched itself off.

I switched it back on and while it was doing the same, I managed to uninstall the video card via control panel and restart in the hope that it might boot at a nice low res which would display ok, and allow me to sort it out and put in the different graphics card, which was the whole point of me working on the computer in the first place.

This time however, the problems at start up were the same, ie massive text for the IRQ list etc, then when i got into windows, the display was refreshing correctly etc how it was only displaying the top left corrner of the desktop. I figured this was probably due to the lack of video card drivers so I tried to install the latest Nvidia drivers, however, I was unable to do this because I couldn't see enough of the drivers dialogues to be able to agree to the terms and conditions and hence be able to install the drivers.

I thought I might be able to start up in safe mode to try to install the drivers there. I started the comp and kept pressing F8, this got me to the startup menu, but I was unable to choose to boot into safe mode as the writing was huge like it had been in the memory test and IRQ list!!!

I am now a bit stuck with how to over come this problem. Can anyone offer any help with this???

The system is an old one but when working it does trhe job fine:
P3 866mhz
Aopen AX34 motherboard (possible revision 2 can't remember off top of my head
Aopen PA256 MXII graphics card

Running a stripped down version of XP Pro.

I wanted to replace the graphics card with a Geforce FX5200 (I know it's rubbish but it's more than capable of displaying my player software and it's passively cooled which is useful from a noise point of view.

Any help would be very much appreciated!!!

Valve
 
Firstly, I would attempt to reseat the graphics card. As you have just moved, it is possible that the graphics card has been knocked out of place in the move.

If you are getting basic picture problems like that in the BIOS, it can't be a driver problem as they aren't loaded yet. If the fan is spinning on the card and the card has been resteated and you still have problems, then it looks like it is time to replace the card. As you recognise, any cheap AGP will do. Just don't get the fx5200 out of principle ;) A old 9500 Pro or 9700 Pro (those were the days) would be good, and there are bound to be plenty second hand with zalman-like passive heat sinks fitted.
 
I shall give reseating the card a go this evening, as you say it is possible it's moved during the transporting of the computer. I did wonder if the problem was more card related than anythin else when the pre windows stuff was all wrong.

Only reason I was going to use the FX5200 was cos I have one spare which came from my main computer when I upgraded at the start of the year.... an FX5200 (which I might add I didn't ask for when I specced the computer) to a 7800GS OC was quite a leap!!! ;o)

Valve
 
I had a bit of a play last night. I checked the graphics card was seated correctly and that the monitor was correctly and firmly connected.

Then I booted the computer. Yet again it failed to make the monitor switch on first time, and when, after a few restarts it did make the monitor come on, it still had the same problem, the memory test stuff etc was still massive and when it got to the desktop, it was still only showing the top left section.

I decided to take the graphics card (an Aopen PA256 MX II) out and replaced it with a spare geforce FX5200. With this intalled, the memory test stuff etc all displayed correctly and when I got to windows, it was displaying correctly too. I installed the nvidia drivers and all seemed to be ok.

I did a few tests of shutting the computer down and restarting and each time it worked perfectly.

I then left it for about 3 hours or so, and then when I switched it on....nothing the monitor didn't turn on and even after a few restarts when the monitor finally did turn on, the computer was not happy about booting into windows.

I really am stumped by this computer, why would it be that after a bit of playing, it seems to work perfectly and is very stable, but then when it's left for a few hours it refuses to work??? Is there anything obvious that would cause this kind of behaviour???

I'm really hoping I can get to the bottom of this cos I really want to use this computer as a media centre and can't afford to buy a new one, and would be rather reluctant to even if I could as I'd have to buy something way more powerful than this one probably and I don't really need any more power for what I want to use it for!!!

Any help very much appreciated.

Valve
 
What happens if you swap the cards back?

Perhaps the way to diagnose the problem would be:-

1. Remove all non essential bits (including CD ROM). This reduces the risk of a power issue
2. Remove all but one stick of RAM
3. Boot PC and go into BIOS.
4. Leave it in BIOS looking at the temps for an hour or two. If the temps don't stablise, then you might have problems with fans or heatsinks.
5. Boot into windows safe mode.
6. Reboot into regular windows.
7. Get a mate to bring over a spare monitor to test.

I'm leaning towards a monitor or psu issue, as it now seems to be gfx card independant.
 
I've not tried swapping the cards back, but I suspect it'll do the same thing, ie when I switch on it, won't cause the monitor to switch on.

I guess it could be the power supply as it is rather getting on a bit now, though would that cause a problem with the monitor not coming on? It's as though the video card isn't giving the monitor a switch on signal...though as soon as a I disconnect the monitor lead from the tower, the monitor displays a No Signal detect message and when plugged back in this message goes, so it must be connecting ok.

WOuld drivers for the monitor make any difference would you think??? I have just downloaded some from the monitor makes website, thought I might give those a try.

I shall try taking everything out this eve and seeing if I can narrow down what the problem is, though it seems to be that when it's been played around with for a while, it become happier and begins working, it's almost like it needs to warm up before working...

Valve
 
I'm thinking power supply, as it might not be giving the graphics card enough power. But this could all be monitor problems as its not like it isn't booting.

Can you run an output to the TV, or another monitor?
 
I don't think it would be driver problems, as then you would only get problems in windows. You should always see output at POST, as no drivers are loaded then.
 
I have got a spare power supply which I can whack in there to test it with.

And I could drag the comp to a different room and check it with my TFT in there.

I really want to get this working!!!

Thanks for the thoughts, I'll have to do some more playing this evening!!!

Valve
 
You could be fighting a Lost battle on this one !

If the Mainboard is old You have the possibility of Capacitors Failing, If it was a Time ,Dell advent etc they can be Oddball Motherboards with very few bios settings and imfomation all of which makes fault finding harder

Logically You should Put the Thing in the Bin !

But if Your Sure it's not the Monitor, work through this list..

Harddrive
all connections including memory, Fans etc (old agp connections play up )
PSU
Try onboard Graphics or PCI GFX card
 
Hang on a Min !!

Did this PC ever work with this Monitor ??

Is it an old CRT?

Did it take a car Journey to Your new Home ?

Definatly the Bl**dy Monitor

GFX Cards cannot do the strange things You discribed.....
 
I shall try the comp with a different monitor, to see if that's the problem, if not, then I'm gonna have to take it one step at a time.

The motherboard is an Aopen AX34 IIRC.

I know it seems a bit daft to be trying to fix a system which is this old but I've just purchased a flat and what with bills, buying furniture etc etc, I don't have any spare cash to be buying a new comp just to use as a media PC in the bedroom.

If I was to upgrade I'd feel it was a waste of money to get anything lowish powered to run as a media centre, I'd want to replace my main computer which is now getting on for 3 years old but is pefectly capable still of running everything I want it to. And then I'd want to buy something as powerful as I could now so it too would last a few years, which would cost a fair bit!!!

Valve
 
Didn't have much time last night but I did have time to quickly test the comp with a different monitor which I know works perfectly. And I had the same problem, started the computer and although it was making good computery sounds, got nothing on the display at all. At one point, the screen did come on but it was blank.

Tonight I hope to have chance to swap the power supply but I'm not holding much hope of it sorting things out. Sadly it could be the end of my plans for a media computer in the bedroom.

Valve
 
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