OcUK X1950Pro 512mb - Artifacts / Errors - Help

[Puzzled]

Edit: Better pics / video further down.

Hi

I bought one of the OcUK ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 512MB PCI-E cards that were on special offer last week, and I'm having a few issues with it. I've tried several drivers - 7.9, 7.10 and 7.7 in XP and 7.9 in Vista 64bit.

At the moment I'm not sure if it's a hardware or software fault as it only shows in certain programs. For example I can 3dMark06 perfectly with no display errors, but in HL2 Lost Coast I keep getting lots of little squares popping up all over the place. They can be black, white or grey and tend to disappear when you get close to the object. I've attached some pics below but it only captured a couple of them. I also get a couple of squares on the Ati Toy Shop demo but couldn't capture it.

I know they look like bullet holes but they shouldn't be there. I also made a small video on my phone but it's quite hard to see them, for those who wish to try it can be found here

I've also tried ATI Tool "Scan For Artifacts" after reading it's good at pushing cards to the limit and get this:

The card is at stock speeds but I've heard it's not really compatible with 1950Pro cards though, so not sure if I can trust it or not.

The cards has no temperature sensor so I can't tell if it's a heat issue, but my old 6800GT worked fine.

PC Spec:
Core 2 Duo 6300
2GB OCZ PC2-6400 Platinum Revision 2
ASROCK 775 Dual-VSTA Mobo
1950pro
Creative X-fi
Seasonic 430w S12 PSU (Using the PCI Express power connector)
Win XP SP2 & Vista 64bit. (Same result in both)

The fact that 3D Mark 06 shows no errors is what confuses me as doesn't it stress the card just as much as Lost Coast?

I'll try to get some better pics, but any suggestions?

Cheers
Steve

 

[Puzzled]

I take it the recommended 12v is 30a on these cards but at a guess i would say the vru area is overheating like it did on my sapphire model.

Did you send yours back?

 

[Puzzled]

Hmm looks like I'll be sending it back then. First Item I've had go wrong from OcUK so I suppose it had to happen at some point.

The cooling really is poor, it just has a cheap zalman imitation fan on the core nothing on the memory chips.

I've also had a look at my PSU specs:
3.3v = 30A
5v = 30A
12v1 = 14A
12v2 = 15A

I'll try to get some better pics and try some different games.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Puzzled]

Sorry for the late reply, been a bit busy.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I've tried changing Bios setting, running driver cleaner and trying various drivers (I did do a clean install anyway, but thought it was worth a try) but it kept on messing up.

I then tried taking the side of the case off and having a desk fan blowing on the card. This delayed the sparklies but they still came up. The card itself is really hot, the amount of heat coming of it is incredible so I think the cooling is a bit messed up.

I've done a few fraps films (reduced file size) so you can get a better idea of whats happening.

Lost Coast
Call of Duty 4
3D Mark 03

It's weird how 3d Mark 06 runs fine, but 3D Mark 03 and all games I tried (HL2, COD4, Unreal 3) mess up.

Guess I better start the returns process.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Puzzled]

Sadly not, but reading around my PSU should be able to handle it fine.

Plus I tried running with just the essentials and it made no difference.

 

[Puzzled]

Sorry to bump this up, but I have now tried using a 500w Antec Earthwatts PSU and it still does exactly the same thing.

Does anyone have any other suggestions to fixing this issue?

Cheers

 

[Puzzled]

An Update.

The RMA failed, and I have been sent back the same card with a note saying no fault found.

What the hell am I suppose to do with it now?

It has done the same thing on two different spec machines, and I have videos showing the fault.

I've now been left with a £75 door stop.

I don't get what else I'm supposed to do here apart from going through the RMA process again?

 

[Puzzled]

Mines never worked since I had it, does the same thing can just about handle windows nevermind anything else.

Did you send yours back?

 

[Puzzled]

Well if they sent it back with no fault found then perhaps just an overheating issue. That halfmoon flower cooler is ok for the core but nothing else imo, memory was roasting hot on back of pcb and fairly warm on the front when i did checks. Have you tried putting a fan blowing accross the memory at all yet.

I've had a desk fan blowing on it and it made no difference. Might of delayed it a few seconds, but the same result none the less.

Wish I'd never bought the bloody thing now, serves me right for getting a cheap one.