X1800XT Woes

M0T · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:13

I was building 2 identical specced pcs today and was looking forward to some gaming madness.

I built the first pc and couldn't get it to boot with one of my 2 X1800XTs, but swapped it out for the other and it booted fine.

I then built the next pc and the first card didn't work in this one either so I phoned OcUK for an RMA and got that sorted.

I have been installing things all day and finally got to test my new rig out and it froze halfway through the first test in 3d mark. But it wasn't a 'normal' freeze. My screen turned into a checkerboard of red blue green and brown squares with little sparkly dots everywhere

It seems to run fine in windows but anything 3d produces those results after a few minutes. So again I have had to call up for an RMA since its not anything driver related (does it on the post screen too).

I was so looking forward to my new rigs, I just can't believe that I got 2 duff cards!

Borden · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:20

Unlucky mate. It was probably just a bad batch. What models were they?

I hope the new ones turn out ok

M0T · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:26

They are Connect 3d X1800 XT 256mb. I think we found the reason they are so cheap...

LoadsaMoney · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:30

M0T said:
They are Connect 3d X1800 XT 256mb. I think we found the reason they are so cheap...

No, the reason they are so cheap is because they are not made anymore, they were stopped in January when the x1900's came out, id say thats just unlucky, and can't be blamed on a card because its cheap, they are cheap as they aint been made since January as i said, not because they are all borked as it sounds like you are saying.

M0T · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:35

Yeah I know, I'm just annoyed because of the time I have wasted today on it plus now I won't have my new rigs up until the end of the week.

LoadsaMoney · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:37

M0T said:
Yeah I know, I'm just annoyed because of the time I have wasted today on it plus now I won't have my new rigs up until the end of the week.

Yeah you must be gutted.

Darkwave · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:43

RMA.

Minstadave · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:47

Úlfhednar said:
RMA.

He's already arranged an RMA for both cards, it says so in the OP :confused:

Darkwave · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:49

Minstadave said:
He's already arranged an RMA for both cards, it says so in the OP

I know, I wasn't advising an RMA, just expressing how sad RMAs make me feel.

My X1800XT is stuck at Sapphire somewhere for the next two to four weeks, so I can seriously relate to this guy.

*Sniff.*

TheVoice · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:52

I've got an 1800XT coming on Monday, but won't be able to use it for 3 weeks yet. Hopefully it's not a dud...

Minstadave · 12 Aug 2006 at 17:53

Úlfhednar said:
I know, I wasn't advising an RMA, just expressing how sad RMAs make me feel.

My X1800XT is stuck at Sapphire somewhere for the next two to four weeks, so I can seriously relate to this guy. *Sniff.*

Gotcha

With any luck Sapphire won't have any X1800XTs left and send you something better.

M0T · 12 Aug 2006 at 18:05

Darkwave · 12 Aug 2006 at 18:22

Minstadave said:
Gotcha With any luck Sapphire won't have any X1800XTs left and send you something better.

I'm hoping that I will get an X1900XT back in that scenario, but it's more likely to me that they would send an X1900GT instead. Not that I would mind.

sablabra · 12 Aug 2006 at 18:25

Úlfhednar said:
I'm hoping that I will get an X1900XT back in that scenario, but it's more likely to me that they would send an X1900GT instead. Not that I would mind.

Are you swapping the x1800xt for x1900gt? I wouldn't do that...

Darkwave · 12 Aug 2006 at 18:26

sablabra said:
Are you swapping the x1800xt for x1900gt? I wouldn't do that...

I'm not, but Sapphire probably will if they have no X1800XTs left. Wouldn't really have a choice in the matter, but I am hoping to get an X1950XT or XT-X when they're out so I won't mind.

M0T · 12 Aug 2006 at 21:51

I have put the card in the other identical rig and not got any corruption issues at all. It also runs a lot cooler according to the Catalyst utility. The only thing that is different between the two is the hard drive (the one it doesnt work on had windows on it already whereas the other was a fresh install) surely that couldn't cause the kind of problem shown in the photo?

Darkwave · 12 Aug 2006 at 21:57

Could be a dodgy motherboard or PSU then? I don't know what else it could be really as I'm assuming the drivers are the same on both machines too.

M0T · 12 Aug 2006 at 21:59

Úlfhednar said:
Could be a dodgy motherboard or PSU then? I don't know what else it could be really as I'm assuming the drivers are the same on both machines too.

The corruption looks exactly the same as when I went too far on an overclock on my 9700pro plus it appeared after a few minutes of strenuous activity so it seemed as though it was overheating. But in both cases it is well ventilated so I don't get it.

Darkwave · 12 Aug 2006 at 22:08

M0T said:
The corruption looks exactly the same as when I went too far on an overclock on my 9700pro plus it appeared after a few minutes of strenuous activity so it seemed as though it was overheating. But in both cases it is well ventilated so I don't get it.

It can't be anything wrong with the card if it works fine in one system and not the other TBH, I would say it's something else to do with the system.

fish99 · 12 Aug 2006 at 23:12

PSU's not up to the job maybe, or overheating. That'd be my guess. Maybe there's nothing wrong with either card.