Problem with a 9700 Pro

=MLK=BullDawg · Nov 20, 2003, 12:50 AM

Hello, this is my first time posting here and it's because I am in need of help. I bought a Radeon 9700 Pro (built by ATI) a while back and it has always worked flawlessly. However, a couple of days ago, my card started doing some odd things. Screenshots here:

Desktop:
www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazylines.jpg
www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazylines2.jpg
In-game (RTCW: Enemy Territory):
www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazyet1.jpg
www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazyet2.jpg

I've heard various things from various people about what could be wrong, but I initially thought it was the drivers. I have used the 3.1 Catalysts since they came out (worked beautifully) but recently, I figured I probably ought to upgrade to the 3.9's because it has been a long time since an upgrade and a lot of improvements have probably been made since version 3.1. So, I uninstalled the 3.9's and installed the 3.1's. I thought the problem was gone because I hadn't seen these horrid discolored bits in a day or so. However, earlier, I was playing Enemy Territory and they hit right in the middle of a game (see screenshot "crazyet1"). I've heard from some people that it could be caused by my card overheating, which makes sense, but I don't know much about it. Anyway, I've come here for help because I don't want to go through the hassle of sending the card back to ATI if I can avoid it. If any system specs are needed, I will post them (just let me know what you need). Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you guys can offer.

blade5545 · Nov 20, 2003, 01:05 AM

Here is a couple suggestions take the side panel of your case and see if still kepping on getting that, that should lower your system tempature by a couple degress. Also try this go into the bios and have it boot to bios defaults save it and then reboot and see if it keeps on doing that. Also check if your card is setted securly in the agp slot. Also more info would be helpful like psu,motherboard, and gave us your tempatures.

***Veridian3*** · Nov 20, 2003, 01:53 AM

While you've got the side off make sure the fan is dust free...it could be that its getting a little dirty and isnt cooling as well as it used to.

=MLK=BullDawg · Nov 20, 2003, 02:11 AM

I think it might be an overheating problem. I opened up my case and played and it seemed fine (but then again the problem was never constant). My fan is clean though. Something might just be out of place or not working right.

Chaos · Nov 20, 2003, 02:15 AM

Did you check to see if the card was seated properly in the AGP slot while you had it opened up ? You may also want to pop the heatsink off, clean it up by removing the old paste and apply a fresh coat of thermal paste

***Veridian3*** · Nov 20, 2003, 02:15 AM

ATI do have a good RMA process, maybe you should give them a call and see what the options are...better to get it looked at now than let it completely die.

EDIT** you could also try it in a 2nd PC if you have one...or maybe a friends, see if it occurs there too. If it does then its more than likely a hardware issue with the card.

=MLK=BullDawg · Nov 20, 2003, 02:28 AM

Thanks for the help. I'm not very hardware-savvy unfortunately (I don't know how to remove a heatsink). I'll see if I can put it in another box and see what it does. I suppose I will have to give ATI a call.

Nov 20, 2003, 12:50 AM	#1
=MLK=BullDawg DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Problem with a 9700 Pro Hello, this is my first time posting here and it's because I am in need of help. I bought a Radeon 9700 Pro (built by ATI) a while back and it has always worked flawlessly. However, a couple of days ago, my card started doing some odd things. Screenshots here: Desktop: www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazylines.jpg www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazylines2.jpg In-game (RTCW: Enemy Territory): www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazyet1.jpg www.l33t-host.net/bulldawg/crazyet2.jpg I've heard various things from various people about what could be wrong, but I initially thought it was the drivers. I have used the 3.1 Catalysts since they came out (worked beautifully) but recently, I figured I probably ought to upgrade to the 3.9's because it has been a long time since an upgrade and a lot of improvements have probably been made since version 3.1. So, I uninstalled the 3.9's and installed the 3.1's. I thought the problem was gone because I hadn't seen these horrid discolored bits in a day or so. However, earlier, I was playing Enemy Territory and they hit right in the middle of a game (see screenshot "crazyet1"). I've heard from some people that it could be caused by my card overheating, which makes sense, but I don't know much about it. Anyway, I've come here for help because I don't want to go through the hassle of sending the card back to ATI if I can avoid it. If any system specs are needed, I will post them (just let me know what you need). Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you guys can offer.

Nov 20, 2003, 01:05 AM	#2
blade5545 Shoots first ask's questions later Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Austin,TX Posts: 330 Rep Power: 0	Here is a couple suggestions take the side panel of your case and see if still kepping on getting that, that should lower your system tempature by a couple degress. Also try this go into the bios and have it boot to bios defaults save it and then reboot and see if it keeps on doing that. Also check if your card is setted securly in the agp slot. Also more info would be helpful like psu,motherboard, and gave us your tempatures. __________________ Dell Inspiron 700m 2 ghz Intel Mobile 2mb L2 cache 12.1 Ultrabrite 1.25 gig ram 80gig hdd 8x DVD-RW 4.5lbs 1.5" thick 5 hours battery DFI NF4 Ultra - D AMD Winchester 64 3200+ @4125+ 2.62ghz sold Swiftech H20-120-BB REV. 3 LIQUID COOLING KIT 2x512 OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Dual Channel sold Platinum Rev 2 OCZ POWERSTREAM 520W sold ATI X700 PRO SEAGATE 160GIG SATA Windows XP PRO SP2 / PearPC - Apple OS X 10.2 Unknown "The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself."

Nov 20, 2003, 02:15 AM	#5
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,269 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Did you check to see if the card was seated properly in the AGP slot while you had it opened up ? You may also want to pop the heatsink off, clean it up by removing the old paste and apply a fresh coat of thermal paste __________________

Nov 20, 2003, 01:53 AM	#3
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,025 Rep Power: 181	While you've got the side off make sure the fan is dust free...it could be that its getting a little dirty and isnt cooling as well as it used to.

Nov 20, 2003, 02:11 AM	Thread Starter #4
=MLK=BullDawg DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	I think it might be an overheating problem. I opened up my case and played and it seemed fine (but then again the problem was never constant). My fan is clean though. Something might just be out of place or not working right.

Nov 20, 2003, 02:28 AM	Thread Starter #7
=MLK=BullDawg DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the help. I'm not very hardware-savvy unfortunately (I don't know how to remove a heatsink). I'll see if I can put it in another box and see what it does. I suppose I will have to give ATI a call.