I need your advice on this...

Elku · Aug 29, 2008, 10:46 PM

Alright, I upgraded to an ATI Radeon HD 4870 by Visiontek from a nVidia Geforce 7950GT by XFX.
Here are the my current specs:
Q6600 processor
ABIT IX38 Quad GT motherboard
2x2GB DDR2-1066 OCZ Reaper HPC-Edition ram
2 HDDs, 1.5TB total
650w OCZ stealthstream power supply.

I have only 3 examples of FPS prior to upgrade, these would be :
World of Warcraft - Lowest FPS = 80, Highest FPS = 300, Average 150-200
Guild Wars - Lowest FPS = 40, Highest FPS = 400, Average 120-160
Lord of the Rings online - Lowest FPS = 60, Highest FPS = 120, Average 70-80

So I upgraded as usual, uninstalled the nVidia drivers before turning off and unplugging the PC, switching cards, and restarting the PC, installed latest drivers. Once I started world of warcraft, I noticed it was running smoother, but the FPS took a drop with Lowest FPS = 40, Highest FPS = 350, Average FPS = 80-100.

After contacting ATI support, they told me it has to be my power supply that requires an upgrade (ordered a new one, which is on the way, OCZ eliteXstream 1000w, shouldn't need to switch for a while :P), but I find it weird that a power supply would reduce the perfomance of a video card, but who knows, maybe less electricity to make it clock means lower performance. They also said it could be defective, but from experience, it will just not work at all. I tried downgrading to the drivers given on the Visiontek website, FPS about the same. And it dropped in every game. I also noticed some white artifacting when windows start.

HAs anyone ever experienced that? or knows what to do in such a situation? I've tried everything that can be possibly done so far (except switching PSU). Including updating DirectX(which was already up to date, so dind't do anything), driver cleaner and then re-installing the drivers.

EDIT: Oh yeah, if I turn off every ati32eevxx.exe(something like that, anyway), MOM.EXE and CCC.EXE from the task manager, the FPS increases. Tried to install ATI drivers without the CCC, but I can't set vsync to off if I do that, and FPS caps at 60.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Aug 29, 2008, 11:01 PM

I would look to games other than MMORPGs to compare performance. What stuck out right away about this one was that all of those games are network dependant and therefore I would think, subject to the random nature of MMORPG game code (i.e. the game won't necessarily draw the next frame if it doesn't receive a response from the server, rather than your frame rate plummeting due to your graphics card's inability to process the scene fast enough).

Elku · Aug 30, 2008, 02:05 AM

Tested with UT3 and Assassin's Creed, FPS is higher on the old card than on the newer card :/.

**temeteus82** · Aug 30, 2008, 09:28 AM

Have you updated the drivers to the newest ones? Catalyst 8.8 ??

CDsDontBurn · Aug 30, 2008, 09:49 AM

did you run DC Pro or DC.net prior to installing your ATI card?

Elku · Aug 30, 2008, 01:34 PM

To: temeteus82
Yes I have, and I have then downgraded to 8.7, to no improvement, and then to 8.6. Finally went over to Visiontek's website and installed their 8.6 (which is probably the same anyway).

To: CDsDontBurn
Yes I have, and everything I uninstall a driver to install a new one, I run it. The procedure I did was: 1. Uninstall nVidia Drivers, run DC(official version, bought a license couple months ago), 2. Turn off computer, unplug it, install new card, 3. Booted the computer and installed latest drivers.

Also, I've been noticing 2 strange occurrences. 1. When I boot the PC, the video card's fan blow at maximum (which is normal), then slows down, and then goes to maximum again and then the computer starts booting (before that second boost, the monitor shows "no input"). And during the windows loading sequence, lots of white artifacting spawning all over the monitor.

cozumel · Aug 30, 2008, 02:30 PM

Just checking you uninstalled using DC recommended procedure as displayed below and that it is not the cause of your problems:

Quote:

Below are the recommended steps. Step 4 and 5 are only for Windows 2000, Windows XP and higher.

Usage instructions
Click on the steps below to see a detailed description from each step.
Run Live Update to check if there are updates.

If there is no entry to uninstall the driver in Add or Remove Programs then skip step 2 and 4 and use all the other steps including step 5.
If it is not possible to boot into safe mode or when the program will not run in safe mode, then instead of rebooting to safe mode in step 3 reboot to windows and continue with the steps.

Disconnect the computer from the internet
Uninstall driver from Add or Remove Programs
Reboot into Safe Mode
On reboot into safe mode it is possible that Windows XP or higher will auto detect and install drivers.
Navigate to device manager->select the category>uninstall or remove but do not reboot
Disable any Antivirus Software
Run Driver Cleaner.NET
Empty recycle bin and reboot
Install the new driver

Don't forget to reconnect the computer to the internet when you are done installing the new driver.

Judas · Aug 30, 2008, 05:08 PM

i'd go as far to say that you should be seeing roughly a 50% at LEAST boost over the 7950 you had.....

Considering the rest of your machine.... it's quite odd your not getting it... worse yet it's slower.

the 650 watt psu should be more then enough to power the video card..... but that 1000 watt will definitely carry you over for quite a long time lol..

all i can think off is "residue" from left over drivers.. or previous configurations (some games on first run check your video card info, and make optimised configurations to better suit it and run at it's full potential. However i've seen some of these games not reset thier video configurations and optimisations if the video card is replaced...)

Either way, the last .. and unfortuneate resort would be a wipe and resintall of the OS for a 100% guarantee of eliminating any possible chance of something messing up that was due to previous configurations/drivers...etc.

Elku · Aug 30, 2008, 05:51 PM

I'll see what happens with my new PSU, I've been suspecting my old PSU of being defective, but never really tested it. I'll try what Cozumel said, and if it still doesn't work, I'll just format. A bit of pain in the ass for re-installing everything, but at least it will guarantee that it works.

Will probably repost or edit in about 2-3 hours after testing what Cozumel said, thanks everyone.

Ferret_Style · Aug 30, 2008, 07:28 PM

To be honest i dont think you need a 1k watt power supply on that system. Take a look at the PC cooling silencer 750. I have it running a CF system with 2 HD4850's and it just runs smooth.

As for the other issue yah power supply can do wierd things like cause it to not run well.

Elku · Sep 4, 2008, 02:34 PM

So, I switched power supply, so far, the only thing it fixed was the bug when I booted that sometimes, the PC would just start the fans and not boot. Other than that, still no fixing. I'll go ahead and try Cozumel's thing (haven't tested yet), if that fails, I'll install a game on ubuntu to test the FPS, if I get the same results, it's the card, if it goes up a lot, it's windows.

EDIT: Tried Cozumel's thing and FPS didn't increase. will be trying the card on a new OS, if that fails as well, I'll just get an RMA.

sammorris · Sep 7, 2008, 05:01 PM

I'd certainly try a new OS, Switching from nvidia to ATi or vice versa is rarely a smooth process (The acid test would be to reinstall windows, not a Linux variant).
Power shouldn't be an issue, I'm running a 4870X2 and a Quad core on a 520W HX.

Elku · Sep 27, 2008, 03:29 PM

So, I found the bug (finally). I got DDR2-1066 ram, and it was closed at 562mhz (default) by the bios. So I just clocked it to 1064 (mobo doesn't take 1066, for some reasons), and then all my FPS came back to what it used to be.

Aug 29, 2008, 10:46 PM	#1
Elku DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	I need your advice on this... Alright, I upgraded to an ATI Radeon HD 4870 by Visiontek from a nVidia Geforce 7950GT by XFX. Here are the my current specs: Q6600 processor ABIT IX38 Quad GT motherboard 2x2GB DDR2-1066 OCZ Reaper HPC-Edition ram 2 HDDs, 1.5TB total 650w OCZ stealthstream power supply. I have only 3 examples of FPS prior to upgrade, these would be : World of Warcraft - Lowest FPS = 80, Highest FPS = 300, Average 150-200 Guild Wars - Lowest FPS = 40, Highest FPS = 400, Average 120-160 Lord of the Rings online - Lowest FPS = 60, Highest FPS = 120, Average 70-80 So I upgraded as usual, uninstalled the nVidia drivers before turning off and unplugging the PC, switching cards, and restarting the PC, installed latest drivers. Once I started world of warcraft, I noticed it was running smoother, but the FPS took a drop with Lowest FPS = 40, Highest FPS = 350, Average FPS = 80-100. After contacting ATI support, they told me it has to be my power supply that requires an upgrade (ordered a new one, which is on the way, OCZ eliteXstream 1000w, shouldn't need to switch for a while :P), but I find it weird that a power supply would reduce the perfomance of a video card, but who knows, maybe less electricity to make it clock means lower performance. They also said it could be defective, but from experience, it will just not work at all. I tried downgrading to the drivers given on the Visiontek website, FPS about the same. And it dropped in every game. I also noticed some white artifacting when windows start. HAs anyone ever experienced that? or knows what to do in such a situation? I've tried everything that can be possibly done so far (except switching PSU). Including updating DirectX(which was already up to date, so dind't do anything), driver cleaner and then re-installing the drivers. EDIT: Oh yeah, if I turn off every ati32eevxx.exe(something like that, anyway), MOM.EXE and CCC.EXE from the task manager, the FPS increases. Tried to install ATI drivers without the CCC, but I can't set vsync to off if I do that, and FPS caps at 60.

Aug 30, 2008, 09:49 AM	#5
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	did you run DC Pro or DC.net prior to installing your ATI card? __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 30, 2008, 01:34 PM	Thread Starter #6
Elku DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	To: temeteus82 Yes I have, and I have then downgraded to 8.7, to no improvement, and then to 8.6. Finally went over to Visiontek's website and installed their 8.6 (which is probably the same anyway). To: CDsDontBurn Yes I have, and everything I uninstall a driver to install a new one, I run it. The procedure I did was: 1. Uninstall nVidia Drivers, run DC(official version, bought a license couple months ago), 2. Turn off computer, unplug it, install new card, 3. Booted the computer and installed latest drivers. Also, I've been noticing 2 strange occurrences. 1. When I boot the PC, the video card's fan blow at maximum (which is normal), then slows down, and then goes to maximum again and then the computer starts booting (before that second boost, the monitor shows "no input"). And during the windows loading sequence, lots of white artifacting spawning all over the monitor. Last edited by temeteus82; Aug 30, 2008 at 01:43 PM. Reason: links removed

Sep 4, 2008, 02:34 PM	Thread Starter #11
Elku DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	So, I switched power supply, so far, the only thing it fixed was the bug when I booted that sometimes, the PC would just start the fans and not boot. Other than that, still no fixing. I'll go ahead and try Cozumel's thing (haven't tested yet), if that fails, I'll install a game on ubuntu to test the FPS, if I get the same results, it's the card, if it goes up a lot, it's windows. EDIT: Tried Cozumel's thing and FPS didn't increase. will be trying the card on a new OS, if that fails as well, I'll just get an RMA. Last edited by Elku; Sep 4, 2008 at 03:59 PM.

Sep 7, 2008, 05:01 PM	#12
sammorris HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brentwood or York, UK Posts: 178 Rep Power: 24 System Specs	I'd certainly try a new OS, Switching from nvidia to ATi or vice versa is rarely a smooth process (The acid test would be to reinstall windows, not a Linux variant). Power shouldn't be an issue, I'm running a 4870X2 and a Quad core on a 520W HX. __________________ Speakers: Logitech Z-2300 & Philips MC-70 [homebrew surround via ATEN CS1782 KVAM] for HTPC. Logitech Z-5500 for gaming PC. I/O: Razer Diamondback Magma, MS Intellimouse Optical, MS Sidewinder X6, Saitek Eclipse II, Pertelian X2040 USB Display DVD: As little as Possible (LG GH20NS15) Networking: Netgear GS105, GS605, GS608, WRN2000, Linksys WRT54GL [Tomato], DrayTek Vigor 120, yards of CAT6

Aug 29, 2008, 11:01 PM	#2
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	I would look to games other than MMORPGs to compare performance. What stuck out right away about this one was that all of those games are network dependant and therefore I would think, subject to the random nature of MMORPG game code (i.e. the game won't necessarily draw the next frame if it doesn't receive a response from the server, rather than your frame rate plummeting due to your graphics card's inability to process the scene fast enough).

Aug 30, 2008, 02:05 AM	Thread Starter #3
Elku DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Tested with UT3 and Assassin's Creed, FPS is higher on the old card than on the newer card :/.

Aug 30, 2008, 05:51 PM	Thread Starter #9
Elku DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	I'll see what happens with my new PSU, I've been suspecting my old PSU of being defective, but never really tested it. I'll try what Cozumel said, and if it still doesn't work, I'll just format. A bit of pain in the ass for re-installing everything, but at least it will guarantee that it works. Will probably repost or edit in about 2-3 hours after testing what Cozumel said, thanks everyone.

Sep 27, 2008, 03:29 PM	Thread Starter #13
Elku DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	So, I found the bug (finally). I got DDR2-1066 ram, and it was closed at 562mhz (default) by the bios. So I just clocked it to 1064 (mobo doesn't take 1066, for some reasons), and then all my FPS came back to what it used to be.