ATI 9800 Pro even crashes on Pac-Man All Stars

[cobb]

All brand new - ATI 9800 Pro 128 mb, Dell 2.66 Intel, 40 Gig maxtor, 512 RAM, XP crashes anytime I run 3d (in about 10-15 sec.) (to prove the point, it crashed with original driver and 4.3)
I have read the forums, changed all thinkable options, resolutions, system restore, fasttime, vpu, overide, etc., called dell support (i know, lol), directx9, gee what else...
anyway, problem started during CoD play, started locking up, installed unreal2003 - never got past setup menu, BFvietnam, C&C generals, all crashed.
Only suggestion i have not tried is changing bios AGP bus from 1.5v to 1.7v (only b/c that option is not available in bios) from this forum (http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/19235/)
Hope someone here as the answer

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Have you tried reinstalling your motherboards AGP driver as well as the Catalyst display drivers, also, if youve had any other cards in there, such as Nvidia products, run Nasty Fiel Remover and clear out any nasty left overs which could be causing chew

--Jakk:t

[cobb]

thanks,Bigjakkstaffa
i have not updated the mobo drivers. i will try and update. i'm not optimistic about it, but it is something i neglected to do.
(btw, is maxtor.com the best place to go to download drivers...the problem is, i don't have inet access at home, and also don't know anything other than its an 80GB Maxtor Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM (until i return home)

[Bigjakkstaffa]

That item (the Maxtor component) is your hard drive, not your motherboard (mobo). Download a utility called AIDA 32 and use it to indetify your motherboard, then post its details back here and we'll let you know where you need to go for them

--Jakk:t

[sbob420]

I have had the same issue with a 9600 pro i may have found a solution. I disabled my onboard ac97 sound and it seems to be working find. i have tried updating the drivers for it but sitll no dice oh well good reason to get a good sound card i guess (evil grin)


edit:

i may have made a mistake here i forgot i also disabled the secondary display that the drivers put in device manager that may have also done it give them both a try and let me know

second edit:

it was definatley the onboard sound on mine

[Someone Stupid]

If you want to keep your card, or be able to RMA it in case it is defective, don't overvolt the card form the bus, you stand a good chance of doing more harm than good.

[cobb]

Bigjakkstaffa, its a Intel Springdale i865PE chipset (name-dell 4600)
other info from aida, p4a 2.66; 512 MB (DDR SDRAM), Bios - Phoenix, audio - Intel 82801 EBICH5 - AC 97, Maxtor 6Y080L0 (80GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Disabled sound card, still crashed. new ati drivers 3.9/.10/4.1/.2 did not help. installed max payne 2 - crashed.
have not changed the voltage to the card.
still crashed with AGP off in smartgart (and sound disabled)

:mad: :confused: :mad: :confused: = :x

[sbob420]

i though mine was running good but eventually it started to do the same thing again.

i thought it could be an over heating issue so i put a house fan blowing into the computer on high and tried to play a game.
That seems like it has solved the problem for now but i cant gaurentee that it did because it worked before for a while give it a try and let me know your seem to crash right away. I wonder if the stock coolers on these card are not good enough??

[cobb]

I don't plan on wasting my time on the heat issue, b/c if i boot up, immediately start the game, it crashes in about 10 seconds - that couldn't be a heat issue could it?

[Imperion1]

Could be.
Take the side panel off and stick a fan blowing in the open side. If the system doesn't crash anymore then its because of heat.
Do you have XP SP1 installed? How about the other XP updates?
Also might check with Dell for updated motherboard drivers.

[cobb]

XP updated. I guess I will try the fan, if that works, i'll be pissed - that would be pathetic. i'm looking at updating the mobo drivers.

[cobb]

after all that it seems to be the heat. i guess its my fault for my unbelief, as all the forums i read regularly made reference to cooling.
Question - How can I solve this problem forever with one fan? Where should I get it? Online, B&M?

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Depends if its the core or the RAM overheating, for a quick, easy and cheap solution try one of these:

http://www.arctic-cooling.com/en/products/vga_silencer/

--Jakk:t