StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Has any one heard of any way to fix this error? I have a ATI Radeon x800XL and, have trouble running any 3d application, including Command and Conquer Generals, Civilizations 4, Star Wars Empire at War, and other games. I have the settings set at low. Any help would be appreciated.

Computer Specs:
Intel Pentium 4 3.4ghz
1gb ddr2 Ram
ATI Radeon x800xl 256mb

You overclock your video card? Also, what temperature is it at? Is the fan on the card broke?

Underclock your video card by 10% or so - if it still doesn't work, underclock more.

What's the airflow in the case? How dusty is it inside?

My card is not over clocked and I have cleaned the case. Cleaning has no effect. The fan is spinning. Are there any programs to measure card temperatures or should I put a digital thermometer in the case?

Snowman 15 wrote:My card is not over clocked and I have cleaned the case. Cleaning has no effect. The fan is spinning. Are there any programs to measure card temperatures or should I put a digital thermometer in the case?

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=725
You can use it to change you're core and mem clocks (under/over...whatever) as well.

Ran both the artifact and 3d test, GPU Temperature maxed out at 91C, while temperature chip read 49C. Is this too hot. After running test, the Recovery error popped up. This is at normal core and memory settings.

It could be that you have a defective card. I don't know where 90 C is relative to the maximum safe operating temperature for that GPU, though.

Are you running the latest drivers?

Is it still under warranty?

I am running the latest drivers. Could it be the power supply isn't strong enough or is faulty? I have a 350 watt power supply.

Snowman 15 wrote:I am running the latest drivers. Could it be the power supply isn't strong enough or is faulty? I have a 350 watt power supply.

How many amps can it push at 12V? What brand is it?

The computer is a dell, so i guess it is a dell power supply. How do you find the number of amps?

Snowman 15 wrote:The computer is a dell, so i guess it is a dell power supply. How do you find the number of amps?

Oh sweet mother. They probably fucked you on the power supply.

Hopefully, you'll be able to see the power supply unit sticker when open the case. If you can't, you're going to have to pull the PSU out and flip it over to read it. Then you just have to find the 12v entry on the sticker, and read the amps.

That assumes, of course, that the sticker isn't a flat-out lie. That's not always a safe assumption.

Still, as a short term fix, try underclocking your card - that usually helps with stability and its better to be able to play a game stably then that last 10% of performance.

Howedar wrote:That assumes, of course, that the sticker isn't a flat-out lie. That's not always a safe assumption.

I'm pretty sure you generally don't need to worry about that unless it's some no-name generic brand... which you shouldn't be buying anyway.

This is what it says,
-12V--- / 1A Max
+12V-B--- / 18A max
+3.3V --- / 17A Max
Tell me if this is the wrong information, because i will look again.

There's just one +12 listing? How many HDs and DVD/CD drives do you have? They also draw off the +12v.

18 amps should be good enough for most purposes. It's almost 220 W on that rail.

Sorry the left side of the sticker was hidden in a shadow, behind the processor fan. Here are the other numbers:
5A---22A Max
+5V(Fp)--- 2A Max
+12V-a---18A
That should be all of them.

I'm inclined to suspect video card at this point.

Uraniun235 wrote:I'm inclined to suspect video card at this point.

Same here. He's got plenty of power, and no hardlocks/BSODs. 90C is a little warm for high-end cards, but might be too much for his x800.

I don't think it'd necessarily be too much for the x800 in general, but yeah, if it's defective then it might be more susceptible to heat.