9600xt - Corrupted Graphics

[otrofox]

Hi everybody!

Suddenly, my vcard (Shapphire 9600xt 256MB ViVo without overcloking) became mad and started to corrupt graphics (both 2D and 3D).
The only that seems to work is Windows desktop but even the windows boot logo is corrupted, with some black pixels (actually vertical lines, not pixels) all over the image.

(See Image...)

I also tried ATITool 3d View and the behaviour is erratic. In addition to the vertical black lines, sometimes the 3D object becomes broken or bad drawn.

What can be happening?
Maybe I burnt memory because the fan broke up some months ago and I didn't change it.
Is it possible to test the memory to check whether it is damaged or not?
Can I replaced the memory sticks or even more, remove some sticks to get only 128MB? Are the memory sticks soldered to the card or just glued?

I also tried with different BIOS to see if it wasn't the original bios (I bought it on eBay) with no luck! The BIOS p/n is strange (113-AA09-700, reported by ATIInspector)

The same happens in two different PCs and problem doesn't happen with other gfx card on the same PCs so the problem is undoubtedly the gfx card.

Thanks in advance!

http://otrofox2.iespana.es/images.gif

[infrared]

Sorry for the bad news, but it looks like the card has been damaged, and can't be repaired.

Maybe I burnt memory because the fan broke up some months ago and I didn't change it.

If the card has been running passivly without a working fan, then this would have caused severe overheating, which would have caused the damage. The errors on the screen looks like artifacts caused by the gpu itself. If you can't send the card back, and want that one working for a while, first replace the fan, and if the errors are still there, try reducing the clockspeeds of the card below stock to see if you can stabilize it.

~IR

[otrofox]

Yes, I replaced the fan but the problems continue.
I also tried reducing clock speed (below 100Mhzs, both memory and core) without luck.

Maybe the new fan doesn't touch the chip tightly;
Can the card resuscitate if I install a good cooler or that kind of errors don't have any fix?

I'll put the card inside the fridge for a while and try again :laugh:

[dolf]

The problem seems related to the memory (probably bad chip). If you can't RMA the card you can play with it disableing half of the memory (editing the BIOS and changing the memory size). Of course you need to flash but if this is your only option you have nothing to lose.

[otrofox]

Yes, I was thinking on changing memory size but I have absolutely no idea about how to do that. Do you have some links for me?

In addition, It should be necesary to change the order in which the memory sticks are used, so that the first stick (maybe the damaged one, supposing this a memory-related problem instead of a core problem) is never used. The card should use the second 128MB instead of the first 128MB (supposing that the error is on the first 128MB, surely!).
So I have to change both the memory size and the memory-sticks order.

How can I do that?

I was thinking on (please, don't kick me out; I believe it's quite rude) removing some sticks from the card and install a 128MB BIOS, but I know that it doesn't sound good.

Regards.

[Changis]

you mean, solder off some ramchips off the pcb? not a smart Idea if you would like it to run afterwards.. but a good Idea how to mess up your GPU and mabye pc for getting wrong voltages 'cause of missing ramchips..

why don't you just buy a cheap ass new card? instead of risking electrical shocks and faults?

[otrofox]

I don't like to buy a new card because I have to buy, at most, the same card I nowadays own because of power supply limitations (I'm talking about a barebone 200-250W PC). 9600xt is the most I can install. I cannot buy a x1600-x1900 card until I change the whole PC so I'd like to make the damned card work until a couple of years later, when I'll buy another barebone (they are quite expensive :cry: )

[charlespayne]

if i was you i would take it to a shop and have it upgraded as it sounds like it is on its way out to the dumps i sugest a geforce 7600 and up :)

[Changis]

you dont have to buy a x1600/1900 card, a low profile X1300 or better yet the nvidia 7300gs @ 16w :P

Also, having a barebone = small space, little or no airflow, and often crammed into tv-benches making ventilation non-excistant and thus overheating hardware..

[otrofox]

X1300 needs a power supply with, at least, 350W when mine reaches 250W.
Actually I'm not sure that it really needs that wattage because why the hell a graphics card need so much power?

I rather prefer ATI's card instead of nVidia because of AVivo technology (ideal for using a TV RGB-Scart with the gfx card, quite better than nvidia purevideo). I don't need extreme power for games just a sharp conversion to TV signals for watching TV/videos and occasional games from the barebone.

About temps inside the barebone, everything was OK until the gfx card fan broke up.

If nobody have an idea about how to solve my problem, I'll have to buy a X1300 card and, I it doesn't work, return it. As far as I know, a 9800 card doesn't work with my PSU.

Any more ideas?

Thanx to everybody for your help.

[charlespayne]

250W you deff need a psu upgrade becouse if you dont have the right power it runs under powered and that can damage it also.

[Changis]

not with a barebone...

for cards, found this @ newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814103162
DIAMOND S120AGP128-CN Radeon 9550 128MB 64-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Low Profile Video Card - Retail
$43.99
($23.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)

[charlespayne]

that card is older then my old 9600xt card i use to have

[otrofox]

Sure, but then I'd buy another 9600xt card because I know that it works fine! (until the damned fan crumples everything). The 9550 is older.

[dolf]

Yes, I was thinking on changing memory size but I have absolutely no idea about how to do that. Do you have some links for me?

In addition, It should be necesary to change the order in which the memory sticks are used, so that the first stick (maybe the damaged one, supposing this a memory-related problem instead of a core problem) is never used. The card should use the second 128MB instead of the first 128MB (supposing that the error is on the first 128MB, surely!).
So I have to change both the memory size and the memory-sticks order.

How can I do that?

I was thinking on (please, don't kick me out; I believe it's quite rude) removing some sticks from the card and install a 128MB BIOS, but I know that it doesn't sound good.

Regards.

The size can be changed with RaBit but the order in which the memory sticks are used I have no idea. I have asked myself for that two years ago when I moded 9800XT BIOS but didn't achieve any result.

[KennyT772]

1 neglecting the high heat 9600xt killed it.
2 the 9550 is newer then the 9600 and uses the same core.
3 neither 9550/9600 have avivo let alone vivo
4 you cannot repair your card. the memory is more then likly fine but the core has been cooked. the card is truly junk other then 2d now and thats only for a little while longer until it kicks the bucket.
5 your bios edit plan wont work as the ram isnt the problem and it will kill your card permanently.

just do yourself a favor and spend a good $500 on a new system. and for the sake of the hardware always make sure every fan is working so you dont have this problem again.

[otrofox]

Thanks a lot to everybody.

KennyT772, unfortunately (for me) your answer is final so... yes, I'll have to change something in my PC. With a little of luck, only GfxCard and PSU.

Just another question, I'm having a look at a X1300 card but, before buying it, I'd like to know if that card, by means of Avivo technology, can output to RGB-Scart. I don't need much power for games but I'd like to have the best picture quality possible in my 50Hz TV for watching videos and TV.

After looking a lot of threads and forums, I cannot ensure whether that feature is available on every Avivo-compliant card or only on All-in-Wonder cards.

Best Regards.

[KennyT772]

any x1x00 card has hardware avivo. im guessing u are using the component (blue red green) inputs. the x1300 is a very minimalist card and should work just fine. make sure you get an agp version or you will not be able to use the card.

this is the card i would reccomend as the cooler is a beast and is silent.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161007

[otrofox]

:eek:

My barebone (MSI MegaPC) is smaller than that card!!!
Just kidding but definitely it doesn't fit inside; The normal card does.

With Scart-RGB I mean that the card can OUTput the signals for standard Scart-RGB interface (Red, Green, Blue, CompositeSync and Blanking-Signal for TV switching). I've read that Avivo cards support that output but I'm not sure if only Avivo AllInWonder cards support it.

Regards.

[xman2007]

X1300 needs a power supply with, at least, 350W . it may say that but im thinking a measly x1300 could quite happily run in your system, i have 1gb ram, x2 3800+ @ 2.4ghz, 80gb hdd, 3 led fans, pci modem, x1600pro on a generic 350w psu (shame on me lol i will change it soon i promise) anyways a cheap generic psu cost nothing these days, so get 1 and a cheap card like a x700 or x1300 or maybe even a 6200 would perform as well as a 9600

[xman2007]

just do yourself a favor and spend a good $500 on a new system. and for the sake of the hardware always make sure every fan is working so you dont have this problem again.


ok lol just spend $500 on a new system, very good answer, just 1 thing if he had money like that going spare do you think he would even bother posting this thread on how to revive his poor old 9600xt ? :D

[otrofox]

It's quite more difficult than simply changing the PSU. This Barebone has a specially designed PSU for it so I must find the right one. But, definitely, it's the only solution.

ThanX to everybody!

PD: about spending 500$... I'm afraid it would be about 1000$ (a good new barebone costs that... and more)

[KennyT772]

um no not really. i just updated my system with a new mobo cpu and video card for 400...and ram costs about another 100. 1 note of warning:never buy barebone kits. they suck hard and cost more.

if u have the cash get the card i posted eariler. it will work just fine and has everything and more that your 9600xt has.

[otrofox]

Mmm, I'd like to maintain my barebone alive. It's a pretty PC in my livingroom and the only way to have a PC in it (avoiding my wife killing me)
I'll look for a normal x1300 and a valid PSU for this barebone (hope it exists).
Yes, barebones suck but they achieve their goal ;)

I cannot find information about Scart-RGB output. Has anybody really tried that output with Avivo cards? I'm not talking about composite-video or s-video (they're easy to connect but awfull to watch)

Regards.

[Agility]

Your graphics card is dying due to the prolong heat it has suffered running wihtout the fan. I had a 9800PRO modified to XT card. THe fan went dead for 2weeks without my notice. Even though i managed to fix the fan, the GPU started showing artifacts like the one at your screen after 6months. I lowered the memory and GPU and it worked wonder. But it last me for 1week and bam the GFX went dead. Oh and no overclocking too.