scapegoat

Hrrmmm... need some feedback here. Im having some wierd issues with my video card.

Ive been getting some weird artifacts on the screen......(see pic) THe only happned under the words or the icons( or under the mouse pointer) the rest of the screen appears to fine. NO issues there. And when i boot into safe mode they do not appear .

My first assumption was that it is heat related (good lord i hope not) ive reseated the HSF on the card twice just to be sure. anyone have any ideas on what could be causeing this? Im still leaning towards the heat , but i want to cover all my bases.

Card is a 9700 Pro.
AMD 2600+ and Soyo Kt400 Ultra Platinum

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scapegoat

also forgot to mention that it affects the windows start up screen as well..... blue dots everywhere LOL

scapegoat

Ok update..... I disabled the card , but it into VGA only mode, booted into windows, no artifacts. Deleted all drivers , and resinatlled, came back and the artifacts where back, tested out another card in the system works fine.

Im thinking its a damaged card, anyone else have anyother ideas

BigAkita

Those artifacts are common to Radeon cards. Let me find you a link.

Edit: I went to www.rage3d.com and found tons of threads discussing the same issue. A couple were hundreds of pages long. Just banging around in there, I found a few different suggestions. I recommend you take about 30 minutes and go through it yourself. I am going to check a couple other areas.

AntiM

I read somewhere a certain cards bios could cause something like that. Flashing back to ATI's original bios was the fix. But not having a visual sample, I don't know if it's relevant or not.

You could download "Power Toys" and rebuild all you desktop icons using TweakUI. That would eliminate at least one possiblility.

FUBAR

Goat are you using a W/C block on your video Card? I had the same problem when I put my W/C block on it. The reason: It was on to tight and was bending the card. If so try to loosen it up a bit. That worked for me.

scapegoat

Quote: Originally posted by FUBAR Goat are you using a W/C block on your video Card? I had the same problem when I put my W/C block on it. The reason: It was on to tight and was bending the card. If so try to loosen it up a bit. That worked for me.

Fubar, i was on W/C im using air cool now for the card.

Bigakita, looking though Rage 3D right now........found a couple of good suggestions, gonna try them tonight when i get home.


Anti M...i will see what happends.... good suggestions...

LOL - preparing the RMA forms just incase

n00bishLaggeR

On startup my screen has a grid of currupted picture like this: (see attached pic)
And then it clears right up, also another artifact common is dragging and dropping messing up and the file or shortcut you were moving gets stuck to a certain part of the screen, those icons you have are common, the way i fix them is rebooting then reinstating icon to the correct one on all effected icons.
Nothing to worry about, though I must say my Ti 4600 was completly glitchless...

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scapegoat

Thats what meh startup screen looks like too Lagger...... Im beginging to think this may not be heat related (thank goodness)

I have the same card ATI AIW 9700 pro..... did this issue just start happening to you? Seems to have started with the 3.1 catalyst drivers.

n00bishLaggeR

Same effect with 2.5, 3.0, and 3.1 Catylysts
Trust me, if your gaming experiance isnt effected, then I wouldnt worry.
Do get Tweak XP and get used to rebuilding icons, heres direct linkie:
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe
Run it and click the "Repair" branch for the total icon repair.
Any other problems LMK

As long as my games play well I'll stick with ATI:

scapegoat

Aye but their lies the Rub, the gameing performance IS effected..... Trying to run 3Dmark for example and it goes all to ****.

Ive read a few things regarding the AIW and possible issues with it.

With the Checkerboard pattern you are seeing, ive read that it could possible be corrupted RAM, A heat issue ( IE. the 9700pro cooler plainly sucks, the square standoff surrounding the core, doesnt always allow direct contact with the core... Which is why ATI using a THICK thermal pad )

What ive also noticed is that the pre applied thermal pad , had a bad effect of "drying out" and pulling away from the core. Me thinks ATI is going to be having some major problems with returns on this card in the short future

*pulls out RMA form and begins filling it out ( just in case )

n00bishLaggeR

Ok try this...I know it sounds lame and common but take out the card blow out agp port with compressed air, install again an also see for updated AGP Drivers.
The old AGP Drivers i had when i first installed it made my picture screwed up all the time and games and benhcmarks wouldnt run.
Remove the pad with acetone and thinly apply alumina (I dont trust AS3, conductive near two different circuits = bad IMO)
Download radeonator 2.0:
http://users.skynet.be/bk265512/Down..._2.0_Final.exe
And underclock your card to say... 300 core 290 memory, then try 3dmark.
If then still you have problems I would return it to the store u bought it from cause RMA takes forever (my aopen mobo is gone 2 weeks now, beginning to think they arent going to send it back )

scapegoat

Cool Noobish, i have the latest AGP drivers from Soyo..... and ive try underclocking the card to the lowest setting ( no dice) and its not an issue with dust in the AGP slot, board works fine with my Radeon 9000

As i posted up there, the issue could also be with the damn square block around the core..... i am going to 1) either go out and buy another damn thermal pad and use that to insure decent contact or 2) remove the spreader (can be done with an exacto knife *very carfully!*

Ill probably try the thermal pad first, and then if no dice, i will RMA the card( id return it but it came from California! LOL ) Damn ATI needs to learn how to make a decent cooling soloution!!