OT: In need of tech support

[Ducimus]

Processor: AMD64 3500
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 Nforce3 chipset
Video card: Saphire X1600Pro 512MB ram


Long story short, system works fine if i put in an older video card. currently typing this with radeon 9000 in the box, even stuck in an old TNT2 card, all work fine. But the instant i put in the video card ive been using, Not even so much as a POST. Monitor just stays in standby, hard drive whirls a bit, and nothing. No post, nada.

Now ordinarly id just assume the video card died, since how this whole issue started with the monitor suddenly recieving no signal while using the web browser, but the thing is, i remember having this issue before with a Radeon 9800 Pro. I have no idea how i got it to work, but i did, must have been plain dumb luck. That and ive never had a video card just suddenly NOT work. THey usually die a slow painful death with ghosts, horizontal lines and such, not a spontainious shutting down.

Its tempting to just give up and go plunk down 300 dollars for an Nvida card, but with my luck its not the card thats the problem.

So any known issues with the above listed hardware combination? Any ideas whats causing this? Ive tried setting the AGP port to X 4, X 8,. Setting the apature size to 64, and 128. Even reset the CMOS a couple times and disabeled all intergrated hardware and no dice.

I really didnt need this right now. If it wasnt for the fact that my system runs perfectly fine on any other video card, id be entertaining the idea of a fried Mobo, bios, ram or other hardware failure. I suppose i could always buy an Nvida card and bring it back if it doesnt work, but at that point im still back to where im at now. :lost:

edit: And no im not running Win Vista, i know about Nforce3 Mobo's and vista, this isnt that issue since im running XP

[switch.dota]

Excuse the off-topic, but why on earth would you get an ATi graphics card on a mb with an nForce chipset?

[gonzlor]

It doesen't matter!

[Ducimus]

Excuse the off-topic, but why on earth would you get an ATi graphics card on a mb with an nForce chipset?

I upgrade incrementally with whats available at the local PC stores. Its not like i go out and buy all my hardware at the exact same time. And it shouldnt matter anyway, ive had this graphics card working on this system for the last year without any problem. Then this problem decided to reoccur today, no idea why, or what it is. All i can think of is to buy a new graphics card and see if the problem persists, if it does, take the card back and keep on trying to figure out the problem.

[Capt. Shark Bait]

based on the above alone, i'ld say i think it might be a dead card...possibly. there's being noncommittal for ya:shifty: do you have another mobo that you can put the questionable card in to test it?

[switch.dota]

This just struck me: the issue could be related to either the video card overheating or some problem with the mobo. I've had similar issues with an ancient mb: at random times it would freeze my system and refuse to start (no POST, nothing). The warranty guys promptly replaced it and I've had no issues with it for about 3 years after that incident.

[Capt. Shark Bait]

yeah, could possibly might be a heat issue maybe:smug:

[SteveW1]

Form what you have written other cards work and run fine, I'd say your card has more than likely decided to die. Best idea is what you wrote buy another card,plug it in and see if it works,if it doesnt take it back and get a refund and try a different option.

[FooFighters]

My biggest bet would be that the graphic card died.. If it was a temperature problem, system would work even only for a few minutes..

Just like Steve says.. buy one, if it's not the problem try switching for another component.

If you do buy one, please let me know whick one and how the game runs with it..
(I am going to upgrade my card in 2 weeks)

[danlisa]

The 1600 has been a buggy card since the get go. A quick search with Google will tell you that many many other people have exactly the same problem as you. The general consensus is that the cooler/fan is no longer working (does the card fan startup?) as you know, the card will stop your system from even starting to prevent damage to your cards chip.

If you want to stay with ATI, the X1950 Pro is really a good choice, again the cooling fan is the weak point but it should maintain 50-55 degrees loaded. If that worries you, you can get an artic cooling fan which replaces the stock fan (£15 here in the UK). Much better.

End of the day, you current card is fried.:cry:

[AVGWarhawk]

Power supply is up to snuff for this card? They sometimes degrade over a period of time

[Rockin Robbins]

Since you have a motherboard optimized for nVidea cards, I'd recommend that you slide one of those in there. Don't know if your mobo has SLI available, but I'm running 2 EVGA nVidea 7600GT's in SLI configuration and it's not bad at all. I can run 1152x864 85mhz with graphics settings WFO very nicely. I bought both cards for about $210 from NewEgg and saved a cool $150 from an 8000 series card, getting most of the performance. Edit: Well, scratch that suggestion! You have a single AGP slot motherboard. Of course you could scrap your motherboard, buy an Asus A8N32-SLI (also socket 939) for about $125, two 7600GT's for $200 or thereabouts and have less graphics power for the same money as just buying an 8000 series card. Sound good? Didn't think so... :hmm:

nForce3 boards and Vista? Problems? Talk to me about that one! I have a copy of Vista on the shelf (got the free upgrade with Windows Media Edition) and have no plans to install any time soon, but I'd like to know what would happen with my Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe board, which is also an nForce3. I don't see anything compelling in Vista anyway for now.

OT: ever use MoBo? It's pretty cool for plotting intercept courses. It might not be totally ready for prime-time yet but it'll rock your navigation world just the same! Anybody using it?

[switch.dota]

For a video card, I'd recommend either an ATi X1950 Pro or a branded 7900GS (or better). The GS comes a bit cheaper and once overclocked is totally on par with the x1950pro.

SLi/Crossfire is a poor choice unless you want to hit really high resolutions like above 1600x1200. For the money it costs one to buy twin cards, the performance at normal resolutions is much better with a single higher tier card.

[SteamWake]

Power supply is up to snuff for this card? They sometimes degrade over a period of time

This is my guess as well espically since you mention no post.

That or the graphic card is a wreck and something is shorted.

[orangenee]

@ The OP:

What PSU are you using? I just want to eliminate any possibility of it being that.

[FAdmiral]

What is your power supply wattage output? These days, I would not use
anything less than 500 watts with fairly newer equipment.....

JIM

[Ducimus]

Thanks for the help all. The problem turned out to be... BOTH.

Both the PSU and the card. Talk about a double whammy.

On the bright side, it gave me a good excuse to try an Nvidia card again, cause all those nice screenshots with a real sun glare was making me jealous. Other then that, ive never had a problem with ATI. Good cards at reasonable prices. Picked up an Nvidia 7800 GS. Best i could find in a X8 AGP. From what i can tell, it should blow my old card right outta the water (saphire X1600 Pro) http://xtreview.com/review140.htm

So i guess we'll see, in either event, im not cracking the case open for awhle.

[SteamWake]

Thanks for the help all. The problem turned out to be... BOTH.

Both the PSU and the card. Talk about a double whammy.


That can make troubleshooting a bit tricky.

I leave my case open btw :p it sits adjacent an air conditioning vent and gets nice cool air.

[AVGWarhawk]

Thanks for the help all. The problem turned out to be... BOTH.

Both the PSU and the card. Talk about a double whammy.

That can make troubleshooting a bit tricky.

I leave my case open btw :p it sits adjacent an air conditioning vent and gets nice cool air.

Consider yourself lucky as a bad power supply can kill your motherboard as well. The AU31 board is bad for getting cooked by cheap power supply. The bright side is your computer is on the mend and will probably run like a dream!

[Ducimus]

My case is essentually made out the same kind of steel mesh you find on security screen doors. Whenever i want to see whats going on with the fans, all i have to do is shine a flashlight on the box. Any other case, id leave it open too, especially with an AMD.


edit:
Consider yourself lucky as a bad power supply can kill your motherboard as well. The AU31 board is bad for getting cooked by cheap power supply.

AU31 board? That in relation to my board? To answer the previous question, turned out i had a 350 watt PSU in it still. The Nvidia card said 350 Watt min.. so i was thinking, "ok we'll see". Swapped the cards, got a single Beep at post, "ok.. that answers that question". Put a new 400 watt PSU in it, fired right up, no problem. Swapped cards, put ATI back in, and i got a little bit of a light show and then monitor went to standby mode.. "ok that answers that question as well".