Display corruption during 3d applications

i-got2 · Sep 23, 2005, 10:19 PM

Hi. I'm new here and, although I know a little, I'm no expert. So, please be gentle!

I am having problems with an ATI 9700 Pro card. No problems with normal desktop operation, but after a short period of playing a game, eg. CoD, GTA or Fable, the screen suddenly switches to a random display of polygons and textures - I can just about make out what seems to be the game screen, but it is totally corrupt and obviously unplayable. Upon exiting the game to the Windows desktop, the display here is also corrupted with vertical glitches at regular intervals across the screen (I'll post a screenshot in a bit).

Can anyone suggest what would be the cause of this? I guess it's the card, because when I switch it for, say an NVIDIA Ti4200 I don't have the same problems. I've tried a bunch of different drivers (always removing old ones with DriverCleaner) with the same result. Could it be the card overheating? Or is it down to my old power supply (350W +3.3v:28A , +5v:35A , +12v:16A).

Any advice gratefully received.

ReDGuiTaR · Sep 23, 2005, 11:29 PM

sounds like an overheating card , try ati tray tools as it can display the GPU temperature . Couls be a PSU power problem also, what is your PSU spec?

i-got2 · Sep 24, 2005, 01:28 PM

Thanks for the reply. The 9700 pro apparently doesn't have a temperature sensor, so I can't get any reading of the temperature from tray tools. Ran the artifact tester though and i do get artifacts at the default settings. Anyone got any suggestions for checking the temperature, or even a cooling fix/alternative?

I gave what i thought were the relevant specs for my psu above. Is there any more information i could provide?

*Ray Adams* · Sep 24, 2005, 04:03 PM

Just run ATI Tray Tools.
Run 3D Renderer for 5 minutes, then click "Scan for artifacts". Leave it for 20-30 minutes. If you have problems with overheating you will see artifacts

i-got2 · Sep 24, 2005, 04:21 PM

Thanks. As I mentioned above, I do get artifacts when running at default settings. These are reduced/completely negated when I run the card at lower than stock settings - in fact, reducing the memory speed seems to allow me to play the games mentioned above with no major problems.

Therefore, I guess I have to assume that I have overheating problems? Any suggestions for how to get around them? Is there an easy way to replace the fan, say, or to refix it? I have read some reports of the heatsink contact on 9700s not being the best. So, would a fresh batch of thermal paste help? If anyone could offer some guidance, or point me in the direction of any good tutorials online, that would be great.

Thanks again. Really appreciate your time.

i-got2 · Sep 24, 2005, 04:36 PM

P.S.
Ray: I'm having occasional problems with Tray Tools: Sometimes, while using the control panel, system locks up and then restarts. I'm using v1.0.3.730.

*Ray Adams* · Sep 24, 2005, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Sometimes, while using the control panel,

Control Panel? So why you taling about ATT?

i-got2 · Sep 24, 2005, 10:58 PM

I meant when I open the Tray Tools menu from the System Tray. Sorry for the confusion. But, like I said, it randomly locks up and then restarts. Maybe just another problem related to my "sick" card - just thought I'd mention for info.

ReDGuiTaR · Sep 25, 2005, 12:53 AM

16A on the 12 volt rail is kinda low ...

i-got2 · Sep 25, 2005, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReDGuiTaR

16A on the 12 volt rail is kinda low ...

Yeah - I thought so too. I'll give a different psu a try before i start messing with cooling...

thanks.

Sep 23, 2005, 10:19 PM	#1
i-got2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Display corruption during 3d applications Hi. I'm new here and, although I know a little, I'm no expert. So, please be gentle! I am having problems with an ATI 9700 Pro card. No problems with normal desktop operation, but after a short period of playing a game, eg. CoD, GTA or Fable, the screen suddenly switches to a random display of polygons and textures - I can just about make out what seems to be the game screen, but it is totally corrupt and obviously unplayable. Upon exiting the game to the Windows desktop, the display here is also corrupted with vertical glitches at regular intervals across the screen (I'll post a screenshot in a bit). Can anyone suggest what would be the cause of this? I guess it's the card, because when I switch it for, say an NVIDIA Ti4200 I don't have the same problems. I've tried a bunch of different drivers (always removing old ones with DriverCleaner) with the same result. Could it be the card overheating? Or is it down to my old power supply (350W +3.3v:28A , +5v:35A , +12v:16A). Any advice gratefully received.

Sep 23, 2005, 11:29 PM	#2
ReDGuiTaR DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Quebec , Canada Posts: 746 Rep Power: 0	sounds like an overheating card , try ati tray tools as it can display the GPU temperature . Couls be a PSU power problem also, what is your PSU spec? __________________ Zing a ling... zing a ling a ling ... A8N-E - A64x2 4600, 2048 Mb Kingston ram 400mhz cas 2.5 ( 2 x 1024 DualChannel ), Seagate 320 Gig 7200 16Mb cache S-ata 2, GeForce 7900GT 512MB, Enermax 460watt power supply, WindowsXP SP2.

Sep 24, 2005, 04:03 PM	#4
Ray Adams DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: USSR Posts: 350 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Just run ATI Tray Tools. Run 3D Renderer for 5 minutes, then click "Scan for artifacts". Leave it for 20-30 minutes. If you have problems with overheating you will see artifacts __________________ ATI Tray Tools

Sep 25, 2005, 12:53 AM	#9
ReDGuiTaR DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Quebec , Canada Posts: 746 Rep Power: 0	16A on the 12 volt rail is kinda low ... __________________ Zing a ling... zing a ling a ling ... A8N-E - A64x2 4600, 2048 Mb Kingston ram 400mhz cas 2.5 ( 2 x 1024 DualChannel ), Seagate 320 Gig 7200 16Mb cache S-ata 2, GeForce 7900GT 512MB, Enermax 460watt power supply, WindowsXP SP2.

Sep 24, 2005, 01:28 PM	Thread Starter #3
i-got2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the reply. The 9700 pro apparently doesn't have a temperature sensor, so I can't get any reading of the temperature from tray tools. Ran the artifact tester though and i do get artifacts at the default settings. Anyone got any suggestions for checking the temperature, or even a cooling fix/alternative? I gave what i thought were the relevant specs for my psu above. Is there any more information i could provide?

Sep 24, 2005, 04:21 PM	Thread Starter #5
i-got2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Thanks. As I mentioned above, I do get artifacts when running at default settings. These are reduced/completely negated when I run the card at lower than stock settings - in fact, reducing the memory speed seems to allow me to play the games mentioned above with no major problems. Therefore, I guess I have to assume that I have overheating problems? Any suggestions for how to get around them? Is there an easy way to replace the fan, say, or to refix it? I have read some reports of the heatsink contact on 9700s not being the best. So, would a fresh batch of thermal paste help? If anyone could offer some guidance, or point me in the direction of any good tutorials online, that would be great. Thanks again. Really appreciate your time.

Sep 24, 2005, 04:36 PM	Thread Starter #6
i-got2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	P.S. Ray: I'm having occasional problems with Tray Tools: Sometimes, while using the control panel, system locks up and then restarts. I'm using v1.0.3.730.

Sep 24, 2005, 10:58 PM	Thread Starter #8
i-got2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	I meant when I open the Tray Tools menu from the System Tray. Sorry for the confusion. But, like I said, it randomly locks up and then restarts. Maybe just another problem related to my "sick" card - just thought I'd mention for info.