Ati AIW X800XT Image Quality

bcc335 · Jun 2, 2006, 08:22 AM

What is up with the ATI AIW X800XT image quality? Has anyone upgraded from a 9800 to the X800?

Below is a copy of a message I posted on another forum when I first got my ATI AIW X800XT. The card is fast and capable but the image quality absolutley sucks! As explained below I've tried about 5 or 6 of these cards and with one exception they all looked alike. The first thing I noticed when I got the card is that the bright dynamic colors and contrast were gone! I had to turn my monitors brightness and contrast to max and it still wasnt enough. Its as if the X800's bios signal level is set to low. The text is blurry and grainy and the white is dingy and dull. I still cant believe this is an ATI card. Coming from ATI 9800 AIW that had the best looking text and graphics Ive ever seen this card is so disappointing. I've seen some posts on other forums from people with the same problem. I've tried everthing I can think of to correct the problem but I've come realize that it is the card. Another thing that has puzzled me about this card is it takes twice as long for my computer to boot with the X800 as it did with my 9800 pro.

Does anyone have any info or ideas concerning this problem?

System specs are at the bottom of the page. I hand built my computer from scratch. Have worked on computers for quite a while.

Quote:
I am currently on my 4th ATI X800XT 256MB AIW video card. I have been attempting to upgrade from a Radeon 9800/128mb AIW to get some more gaming horsepower. The problem is the visual graphics quality 2d/3d. It sucks and I can't believe it! I keep getting low level flickering, fuzzy blurry unfocused text and graphics along with very weak contrast and brightness. 3d games are dark dull and washed out, Sometimes you can see the characters/graphics moving(jerking back and forth) on screen. I have owned 2 generations of the ATI AIW and loved them for their visual quality. They've been great up till now. Out of the four I tried, one had good visual graphics. The color was rich and dynamic with great contrast and satuaration 2d/3d. The problem was the video color baseline saturation was so high that when you would play a video you would have heavy color blooming and you would have to adjust the saturation every time you played video so I returned it.

I can pop my Radeon 9800 AIW back in and it looks great. I've tried different(6or7sets) catalyst drivers with no improvment.

Has anyone with a 865pe Neo2 Fis2r motherboard upgraded from a Radeon 9800 128mb AIW To a X800XT AIW? If so what was your experience with this card?

Is there any known issues with the X800XT Radeon and the 865pe Neo2 Fis2r boards?

ThermaltakeXaserIII/Antec550TrueControl PSU/WindowsXP PRO SP2
P4 3.4 800MHZ FSB
MSI 865PE Neo2-FIS2R. P/N 6728-030/Ver 100/Bios 1.90
DOT:CAPTAIN, MAT:ULTRA TURBO, Corecell off, FSB 200, HT on
2x512Mb/OCZ PC3500 433MHZ EL Platinum Limited Edition@2,2,2,5,8
2 x WD740GD SATA (74Gb ea) RAID@SATA 1/2 ICH5R Sys/Boot disk
2 x WD2500JB PATA (250Gb ea) RAID@IDE3 Promise20378
2 x WD2500JD SATA (250Gb ea) RAID@SATA3/4 Promise20378
1 x Lite-On 812S DVD 8X8 @ IDE0/Slave
1 x MSI CR52-M CD-R/RW @ IDE1/Slave
Radeon X800XT AIW/256Mb on Viewsonic 17GS CRT UNQUOTE

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jun 2, 2006, 04:10 PM

I upgraded from the AiW 9800 Pro to the X800XT AiW and it only got better. I think it may be your power supply feeding it low voltages or somesuch 'cause the only low quality is ATI's MMC software.

OldBuzzard · Jun 2, 2006, 06:44 PM

What Hex said. Especially about the PSU. With 8 HDDs, and 2 optical drives, you just might be marginal in the power area.

It's definately something OTHER than the X800XT. Especially if you have tried multiple cards and get the same result each time.

I'd also try reinstalling the mainboard drivers. And then reinstall the vid drivers after cleaning them out with Driver Cleaner.

bcc335 · Jun 3, 2006, 12:42 AM

Guys, Thank you for your replies! Just so you know this is my third card and third generation of the ATI AIW. The graphics on my 9800 AIW on this motherboard are stunning. As an ex-tech I bought and handbuilt this unit from the case up. Let me give you some idea of the things I've tried.

1. As far as power supply that was one of my first thoughts also. Im running an Antec 550 with adjustable control level, monitoring with Speedfan and verifying each rail with a digital volt meter. Needless to say they all check out.

2. I edited my post I'm only running six hard drives. Either way I can boot with only the Sys raid(2drives) connected and it has no impact on my X800xt aiw image quality and there is no difference on the power input to the card as measured with digital volt meter.

3. I have installed the latest board drivers/intel inf. I have tried proably 6 or 7 set of catalyst drivers using driver cleaner between each set. basically each set looks the same.

4. What blows my mind is I can stick my 9800Aiw in and its beautiful with stunning focus and graphics, then stick in the X800 AIW AND have to turn my contrast/brightness to max and even then its not enough. The color is all washed out and the white level is dingy and dull, text is blurry. Inaddition I can boot to any of my other raid setups and the card looks the same on all regardless of catalyst or drivers.

5. At this point I've just about run out of ideas. I'm wondering about the signal level thats coming out of the X800xt Aiw and whether it might be low.

OldBuzzard · Jun 3, 2006, 02:17 AM

Dunno about signal level. I run 2x monitors (both crts), and have no problem.

Have you tried putting the vid card on a power lead that isn't connected to any other component?

Spyre · Jun 3, 2006, 03:40 AM

I've got a X800 AIW card and noticed no difference in quality compared to my other cards.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jun 4, 2006, 06:06 PM

I think it may just be defective... there was no big stink over graphics quality (infact most people/sites I've seen with them/reviewing them raved over how good the quality was)

niceguyrichy · Jun 4, 2006, 08:42 PM

I've got that card (3 hdd's , 2 dvd's, Hiper type R 580w), and it's delicious to look at.

either you've had an abissmal run of luck getting faulty cards, or it's something else.

OldBuzzard · Jun 4, 2006, 10:42 PM

You gave us a lot of information, but I don't see what make and model monitor you are using.That information might be helpful.

bcc335 · Jun 5, 2006, 10:17 AM

OB, That would be a ViewSonic 17GS CRT. It has a beautiful picture using my Ati Aiw 9800 Pro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBuzzard

You gave us a lot of information, but I don't see what make and model monitor you are using.That information might be helpful.

Jun 2, 2006, 08:22 AM	#1
bcc335 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Ati AIW X800XT Image Quality What is up with the ATI AIW X800XT image quality? Has anyone upgraded from a 9800 to the X800? Below is a copy of a message I posted on another forum when I first got my ATI AIW X800XT. The card is fast and capable but the image quality absolutley sucks! As explained below I've tried about 5 or 6 of these cards and with one exception they all looked alike. The first thing I noticed when I got the card is that the bright dynamic colors and contrast were gone! I had to turn my monitors brightness and contrast to max and it still wasnt enough. Its as if the X800's bios signal level is set to low. The text is blurry and grainy and the white is dingy and dull. I still cant believe this is an ATI card. Coming from ATI 9800 AIW that had the best looking text and graphics Ive ever seen this card is so disappointing. I've seen some posts on other forums from people with the same problem. I've tried everthing I can think of to correct the problem but I've come realize that it is the card. Another thing that has puzzled me about this card is it takes twice as long for my computer to boot with the X800 as it did with my 9800 pro. Does anyone have any info or ideas concerning this problem? System specs are at the bottom of the page. I hand built my computer from scratch. Have worked on computers for quite a while. Quote: I am currently on my 4th ATI X800XT 256MB AIW video card. I have been attempting to upgrade from a Radeon 9800/128mb AIW to get some more gaming horsepower. The problem is the visual graphics quality 2d/3d. It sucks and I can't believe it! I keep getting low level flickering, fuzzy blurry unfocused text and graphics along with very weak contrast and brightness. 3d games are dark dull and washed out, Sometimes you can see the characters/graphics moving(jerking back and forth) on screen. I have owned 2 generations of the ATI AIW and loved them for their visual quality. They've been great up till now. Out of the four I tried, one had good visual graphics. The color was rich and dynamic with great contrast and satuaration 2d/3d. The problem was the video color baseline saturation was so high that when you would play a video you would have heavy color blooming and you would have to adjust the saturation every time you played video so I returned it. I can pop my Radeon 9800 AIW back in and it looks great. I've tried different(6or7sets) catalyst drivers with no improvment. Has anyone with a 865pe Neo2 Fis2r motherboard upgraded from a Radeon 9800 128mb AIW To a X800XT AIW? If so what was your experience with this card? Is there any known issues with the X800XT Radeon and the 865pe Neo2 Fis2r boards? ThermaltakeXaserIII/Antec550TrueControl PSU/WindowsXP PRO SP2 P4 3.4 800MHZ FSB MSI 865PE Neo2-FIS2R. P/N 6728-030/Ver 100/Bios 1.90 DOT:CAPTAIN, MAT:ULTRA TURBO, Corecell off, FSB 200, HT on 2x512Mb/OCZ PC3500 433MHZ EL Platinum Limited Edition@2,2,2,5,8 2 x WD740GD SATA (74Gb ea) RAID@SATA 1/2 ICH5R Sys/Boot disk 2 x WD2500JB PATA (250Gb ea) RAID@IDE3 Promise20378 2 x WD2500JD SATA (250Gb ea) RAID@SATA3/4 Promise20378 1 x Lite-On 812S DVD 8X8 @ IDE0/Slave 1 x MSI CR52-M CD-R/RW @ IDE1/Slave Radeon X800XT AIW/256Mb on Viewsonic 17GS CRT UNQUOTE Last edited by bcc335; Jun 5, 2006 at 10:14 AM.

Jun 2, 2006, 06:44 PM	#3
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,781 Rep Power: 141 System Specs	What Hex said. Especially about the PSU. With 8 HDDs, and 2 optical drives, you just might be marginal in the power area. It's definately something OTHER than the X800XT. Especially if you have tried multiple cards and get the same result each time. I'd also try reinstalling the mainboard drivers. And then reinstall the vid drivers after cleaning them out with Driver Cleaner. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Jun 3, 2006, 02:17 AM	#5
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,781 Rep Power: 141 System Specs	Dunno about signal level. I run 2x monitors (both crts), and have no problem. Have you tried putting the vid card on a power lead that isn't connected to any other component? __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Jun 3, 2006, 03:40 AM	#6
Spyre DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 240 Rep Power: 60	I've got a X800 AIW card and noticed no difference in quality compared to my other cards. __________________ ATI Beta Tester game.AMD.Moderator

Jun 4, 2006, 10:42 PM	#9
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,781 Rep Power: 141 System Specs	You gave us a lot of information, but I don't see what make and model monitor you are using.That information might be helpful. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Jun 2, 2006, 04:10 PM	#2
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	I upgraded from the AiW 9800 Pro to the X800XT AiW and it only got better. I think it may be your power supply feeding it low voltages or somesuch 'cause the only low quality is ATI's MMC software.

Jun 3, 2006, 12:42 AM	Thread Starter #4
bcc335 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Guys, Thank you for your replies! Just so you know this is my third card and third generation of the ATI AIW. The graphics on my 9800 AIW on this motherboard are stunning. As an ex-tech I bought and handbuilt this unit from the case up. Let me give you some idea of the things I've tried. 1. As far as power supply that was one of my first thoughts also. Im running an Antec 550 with adjustable control level, monitoring with Speedfan and verifying each rail with a digital volt meter. Needless to say they all check out. 2. I edited my post I'm only running six hard drives. Either way I can boot with only the Sys raid(2drives) connected and it has no impact on my X800xt aiw image quality and there is no difference on the power input to the card as measured with digital volt meter. 3. I have installed the latest board drivers/intel inf. I have tried proably 6 or 7 set of catalyst drivers using driver cleaner between each set. basically each set looks the same. 4. What blows my mind is I can stick my 9800Aiw in and its beautiful with stunning focus and graphics, then stick in the X800 AIW AND have to turn my contrast/brightness to max and even then its not enough. The color is all washed out and the white level is dingy and dull, text is blurry. Inaddition I can boot to any of my other raid setups and the card looks the same on all regardless of catalyst or drivers. 5. At this point I've just about run out of ideas. I'm wondering about the signal level thats coming out of the X800xt Aiw and whether it might be low.

Jun 4, 2006, 06:06 PM	#7
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	I think it may just be defective... there was no big stink over graphics quality (infact most people/sites I've seen with them/reviewing them raved over how good the quality was)