Why is my radeon x1950 pro doing this (attached)?

[pdirect]

Hello i get this effect normally in gameplay and it can happen after a minute or after an hour. Even when the game is closed it still remains on windows untill i restart. I have tried ATI, Omega and Warcraft drivers - all have the same effect. Any help would be great! here are my specs:

Dual Core 6600 (2.4ghz not overclocked)
ati x1950 pro pci express
2gb ddr2 geil memory @ 6400
p5w dh deluxe mainboard
2 sata hard discs both maxtor
2 ide roms both pioneer

 

[Nelviticus]

Your card is faulty. The reason you only see the problem after an hour is that it only happens when the card heats up. Is it overclocked? If it is, turning off the overclocking might help but if it was my card I'd replace it.

One thing you could check is whether the fan is working properly. If it's stuck or not spinning freely then it won't be cooling the chips properly so they could be overheating.

Regards

Nelviticus

 

[pdirect]

The card isn't overclocked no - the fan seems to work as it should its quite to begin with then as the game has been on for a few minutes it starts to speed up and gets upto full speed no problem. The card works perfect in every other aspect - due you still think its faulty?

 

[Nelviticus]

Yes, I'm sure it's faulty. The chips heat up as the card works harder (such as in games) and the fan spins faster to keep them cool. The 'artifacts' that you're seeing appear when the chips get too hot, which doesn't happen unless the card is faulty. It could be faulty for a lot of reasons - a previous owner could have over-clocked it too far and damaged it, it could have been faulty straight off the production line or it could have just developed a fault over time.

Regards

Nelviticus

 

[wahnula]

These cards are notorious for spotty thermal grease application, you could try re-seating the heatsink with some new thermal paste and cleaning out the fan while you're at it.

Tony

"If it can't take it, I don't want it

 

[pdirect]

Thanks for all your help ill try cleaning up direct x a good blow out and maybe even a windows reinstall. Ill also check that heat sink the cards Idle temp is 56 degrees - too high?

 

[Nelviticus]

No, not too high. Very low. You'd expect any card to misbehave if it overheats but only faulty cards misbehave at normal temperatures.

Nelviticus

 

[pdirect]

Just so anyone that reads this thread knows. I replaced the saphire heat sink on my card i noticed when i took the original sink off there was alot of heat compound id go as far as to say maybe even to much for the metals to be touching properly! Ive replaced with a Zalman vf900-cu this heatsink comes highly reccomended as it not only comes with a heatsink for the processor but also fins for the memory too. its reduced my idle heat 15 degrees down to around 32 degrees idle! the original heat sink seemed very innefficient and £20 for the new one seemed a worth while buy! Thanks again all.

 

[electronicsfreak]

I am curious though, did that solve your problem?

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[pdirect]

It hasn`t happened since but ive not been gameing all the much recently - if it happens again ill post back the little gaming i have done has proved to be no problem!