9800 Pro & video problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter PMH
  • Start date Start date
P

PMH

When I start my PC ( not restart ) sometimes the monitor gets colored
patterns and the PC stops booting. No post shows up at all on the monitor.
The led on the monitor blinks. I'm not sure whether the problem is the video
card or something else is at fault. It only occurs about 20% of all bootups
from a cold start. Any thoughts are welcome.
 
When I start my PC ( not restart ) sometimes the monitor gets colored
patterns and the PC stops booting. No post shows up at all on the monitor.
The led on the monitor blinks. I'm not sure whether the problem is the
video card or something else is at fault. It only occurs about 20% of all
bootups from a cold start. Any thoughts are welcome.
Click to expand...
It's the video card. If built by ATI you can RMA the card for a free
replacement. Otherwise, one out of five is not that bad.
 
Kent_Diego kirjoitti:
It's the video card. If built by ATI you can RMA the card for a free
replacement. Otherwise, one out of five is not that bad.
Click to expand...

Could also be a sign of your PSU about to buy the farm...
 
The only reliable way is to hook up an oscilloscope. The voltage readings in
PC hardware monitoring programs usually are not calibrated.

Then again, the video card does NOT draw the most power at bootup. Maximum
draw occurs under load (i.e. an intense game or burn-in utility). The
artifact tester in ATiTool can work up the card pretty well. Give it a try
and see if you get any artifacts or lockups.
http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/
 
The only reliable way is to hook up an oscilloscope. The voltage readings
in PC hardware monitoring programs usually are not calibrated.

Then again, the video card does NOT draw the most power at bootup. Maximum
draw occurs under load (i.e. an intense game or burn-in utility). The
artifact tester in ATiTool can work up the card pretty well. Give it a try
and see if you get any artifacts or lockups.
http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/
Click to expand...

I downloaded the ATItool and ran it till the screen began looking a little
weird. What is a safe period of time to let it run? The log file didn't turn
up anything too important. It ran for about 5 minutes.
 
On a system with adequate cooling and nothing defective, the artifact tester
should be able to run 24/7 for days without generating any artifacts.

A few possibilities:

1) Overheating card. Clean out any gunk in the card's heat sink with some
compressed air or a vacuum cleaner. When the system is running, visually
check and make sure the card's fan is turning.

2) Underpowered PSU. This also explains the cold boot problems. Replace it
with a 350W or larger unit from a reputatable mfr (Antec, Enermax, Corsair
or PC Power & Cooling).
 
First of One said:
On a system with adequate cooling and nothing defective, the artifact
tester should be able to run 24/7 for days without generating any
artifacts.

A few possibilities:

1) Overheating card. Clean out any gunk in the card's heat sink with some
compressed air or a vacuum cleaner. When the system is running, visually
check and make sure the card's fan is turning.

2) Underpowered PSU. This also explains the cold boot problems. Replace it
with a 350W or larger unit from a reputatable mfr (Antec, Enermax, Corsair
or PC Power & Cooling).
Click to expand...
It only happens after the pc is started after many hours of being
shutdown.After a few seconds of not booting up I use the power button to
turn it off and then push it again to start at which time it boots up
normally. I don't think heat would be the issue.I appreciate your help.
 
Back
Top