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What is causing my graphics problems?

PeterT

PeterT

PeterT

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
835
Location
Solihull
Hi, one of my computers is playing up at random.
Spec is as follows:
Abit Nf7-S
Mobile XP 2500 @ 2500mhz
1G of Corsair XMS 3500
Hercules Radeon 9800XT with cat 7.7
etc

All of a sudden, without warning the graphics will turn into coloured blocks and vertical lines but it is still possible to see the normal screen under the weird shapes. This is normally when on the internet which is what I do mostly.
Pressing the reset button will not remove it, it needs the comp to be turned off properly for things to be returned to normal.
Interestingly you can see the strange patterns as you first start up the comp, long before XP starts loading.
I have tried reseating the graphics card and it is still the same.
All ideas welcomed!!
Cheers, PeterT
 
9800 gfx card i see. they are renoun for memory failures. ram usually overheats on those cards and ends up borked especially if its a ddr2 ram card.
 
The fact that it happens before XP loads means it must be a hardware problem. If you can try a different monitor, and a different VGA/DVI cable, just to erase them from the equation. Is it still under warranty?
 
I have tried it on a different monitor and still the same. Also tried it using the dvi output and atill the same.
It just went wrong again but this time there was the vertical flash of colour banding and then the screen went black. It needed turning off by pressing the start button before I could get it going again.
Keep your thoughts coming please.

PeterT
 
I had one of these and their good cards, never had a problem with overheating and it overclocked well too.
Testing is the same as anything, change every other factor but the card and see if the problem stays the same. No spare machine ?
Try underclocking it
Check the pcb for anything visual at all, clean the heatsink. If its out of warranty reseat the HSF, renew the paste.

Hardware failure is the most obvious answer, whats your case temp like. Is the fan on this card ok?
 
Fan reoiled ? :o Hope it didnt dribble :p

Nice case temp but try after an hour of orthos. I forgot the proper xt had a temp sensor, you never saw it particularly high then ?
 
Hi, I am still having problems with graphics corruption.
Today I tried installing another working Radeon card and the problems were still there.
In fact they seemed worse as the pc started shutting down and then rebooting but never getting into windows.
Once it went beeeeeeep and then shut down leaving the fans in the psu spinning and the motherboard lights on.
Could it be the cpu causing the probs.
I have noticed that as it plays up there is a slight clonk from the hard drives and the light on the graphics card faulters almost as if there is a slight interuption to the power supply.
I know it is not the graphics card as I have tried 3 in total, nor the hard drives as the corruption can happen before it gets into windows. Also if it has produced the strange graphics before getting into windows pulling the power supplies off the hard drives makes no difference.
I have just tried reseating the memory and at the moment it is still going!!

All thoughts most welcome!!

PeterT
 
i know the screen u mean.

I had it a few times with my 6800 GT, never solved it, even when i put it in other machines it still does that screen, but only after a few hours of hardcore Need for speed !

After it did it, i would have to take out the card, and then put it back in, then it would be good for a few more hours.

I now have it stuck to my wall, next to my GeForce4 MX 440 and my Cyrix 333 !!

Take it back !!
 
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