VPU Recovery / ATI Radeon HD 3800 / Killing itself during games - Can't find solution

[Ledge]

Okay...So, I've checked high and low trying to find a fix to this...

The Problem - During games, Namely World of Warcraft, and Portal (These of which I play/ I try to play, often...) The game would halt out, the screen turn black, sometimes turn off, appear with a what looks to be a screen of destroyed pixels, then either A - Return to the Game, with a VPU Recovery in background, or B -Simply have the screen turn black, till I hit the Windows key / Alt - Tab out...Then to find, re-entering a game is impossible, because games just then fail to see the Graphics card. Recently I had a friend try to help with the problem. At first, WoW was my main squeeze, and thus, he worked, and I THINK what he did, was turn up one of my fans' speeds, and now WoW Hasn't reoccurred with the problem since. Upon giving the PC back, my friend had installed Portal, which I've been wanting to play for a while now...Turns out...My PC utterly hates Portal. At first, it was okay, I got in a good 20 Mins, before a VPU recovery, but I could still play. Then I got to test area 9 / 10, And now, it freaks out almost as soon as I enter a loaded game. ( Freaking out = VPU Recovery constantly till it can't find the Graphics card any longer.)

I know my way around a PC a fair amount, but, unlike my friend, I don't know tons of things about the actual workings...

I'd LOVE any help at all...I've read posts elsewhere about it possibly being a Power supply problem...I've spent most of my budget on a recent upgrade for this thing, and...Let's just say, I HOPE it's not the power supply needing an upgrade...

I'm pretty sure my friend has Omega drivers installed, Least he did at one time, and I don't know what version of CCC...I'm scared to try and upgrade anything, since my friend being into this stuff, has custom tweaks everywhere...

PC Info

Video Adapter Properties	
Device Description	ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
Adapter String	        ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
BIOS String	                113-SBSH2G02-00R-03
Chip Type	                ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9501)
DAC Type	                Internal DAC(400MHz)
Memory Size	        512 MB
	
Installed Drivers	
ati2dvag	6.14.10.6833 - ATI Catalyst 8.7

Computer	
Computer Type	  ACPI Multiprocessor PC
Operating System	  Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack	   Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer	   7.0.5730.13 (IE 7.0)
DirectX	          4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
	
Motherboard	
CPU Type            QuadCore AMD Phenom Black Edition 9600, 2415 MHz 
Motherboard Name	Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe  
Motherboard Chipset	AMD 790FX, AMD K10
System Memory	        2048 MB  (DDR2 SDRAM)

	
Info Via EVEREST

Any help at ALL would be amazing.

If anymore info is needed about my PC, Just ask... I'm ready to bang my head against the desk from the thing tempting me to play, then the graphic's card going - "Oh, Oh!? You wanna play!? Okay... -Play 5 mins.- TOO BAD!"

Q.Q

[Ledge]

Bumpage? >>...And... And update: Aside from it STILL Hating portal, it only allowed me to play the Sims 2 a good 3 hours, before it crashed out...Luckily I saved. :c...

-ANY- Help would rock...

[John88Z]

What watt power supply are your running?
What bus type is your card?

[John88Z]

Could also be the card overheating or flawed ram. Im not to good with ati more nvidia but i know theres a ati card monitering program thats tells you temperture, clock settings, and the like.

[Ledge]

Graphics Bus Capability PCI Express 2.0
Maximum Bus Setting PCI Express 2.0 x16

Temperatures
Motherboard 37 °C (99 °F)
CPU 36 °C (97 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1 29 °C (84 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2 29 °C (84 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #3 29 °C (84 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #4 29 °C (84 °F)
GPU Diode 35 °C (95 °F)
WDC WD3200JB-00KFA0 27 °C (81 °F)

Cooling Fans
CPU 1389 RPM
Chassis 1424 RPM
Fan #4 1329 RPM
Fan #5 3358 RPM

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.25 V
+3.3 V 3.39 V
+5 V 5.13 V
+12 V 12.10 V
VBAT Battery 3.33 V


I'm pretty sure it's not overheating...Least...O lawd I hope not...I blew out a 500$ Graphic's card the other week with overheating...Of course, playing Age of Conan, No less...-Sigh.- Luckily I only payed about 100$ for the 500$ one. <3 Ruined shipping.

I'm pretty sure I'm running a 500V power supply.

[John88Z]

Your temps are all great. You must mean 500watt. Pci express requires a 550 wattpsu if you get a good brand or 650 watt for a poor one.
http://shop1.frys.com/product/550341...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
Antec is a great brand. I picked it up and its been working great since.

[Ledge]

q.q...Now the only problem is...

-Sigh.-

Getting the money for the new power supply...-Broke.- D: I wish there was some trade-in type-a-deal thing..Or something!

q.q...I wish It weren't the power supply...-Cry.-

[koala]

Your temperatures and PSU voltages all look good. Did you take those readings while the computer was idle or while playing a game?

Check the PSU label to see how many amps are on the +12V line. PCIE cards need a minimum of 26 amps.

Enter your full system specs into this power calculator and set Capacitor Aging to 25%. Click the Calculate button, then add 30% to the total to allow for PSU inefficiency.

[John88Z]

he could get away with less amps on the 12v line but have more of them. I got the antec trio power with 3 19 amp 12v lines. works great with pcie

[koala]

John88Z, when you have multiple +12V lines, you combine them to work out the total. 80% of this total gives you an approximate figure for your +12V amps.

So your Antec Trio actually has about 46A/+12V. If it only had 19A, it would power an AGP card, but not PCIE.

[John88Z]

its powering my 8600gt system just fine. having been having anyproblems during games and such. but in Ledges' case a 500watt psu is defiantly insufficent for a pci express card.

[Ledge]

Sensor Properties	
Sensor Type	ITE IT8716F  (ISA E80h)
GPU Sensor Type	Diode  (ATI-Diode)
Motherboard Name	Asus M3A / M3A32-MVP Deluxe / M3A-H/HDMI
Chassis Intrusion Detected	No
	
Temperatures	
Motherboard	38 °C  (100 °F)
CPU	                38 °C  (100 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1	  30 °C  (86 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2	  30 °C  (86 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #3	  30 °C  (86 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #4	  30 °C  (86 °F)
GPU Diode	37 °C  (99 °F)
WDC WD3200JB-00KFA0	27 °C  (81 °F)
	
Cooling Fans	
CPU	1386 RPM
Chassis	1424 RPM
Fan #4	1337 RPM
Fan #5	3358 RPM
	
Voltage Values	
CPU Core	1.25 V
+3.3 V	3.39 V
+5 V	        5.13 V
+12 V	12.03 V
VBAT Battery	3.33 V

Those are the stats whilst play World of Warcraft. That...Link above just...Kind went waaaay over my head for comprehension. D:

[John88Z]

I think it could be a problem with the card. Can you still return it? Or at least exchange it?

[Ledge]

D: Not positive on that one...If I can, then my friends the one who's got the warrenty. Pretty sure it's been over two weeks now that I've had it. So most places won't take it back.

Oh. By the way, A full update on how it runs with games.

WoW = Fine. Just crashes at random, and I can continue play most times.
The Sims 2 = Fine. But when it does crash, it usually ends up forcing the card to reset continously till I restart.
TES:Oblivion = Oh lawd, It utterly hates it, just like Portal. Kills itself within the first couple of min's, if not moment's after the game is started.
Portal = Same as Oblivion.

[John88Z]

Its already been established that you need a higher watt power supply and do not underestimate the importance of a sufficent power supply!!!! I cant stress that enough. It is one of the most important componets in you pc and your whole system can fry. And by looking at your specs you have a great gaming rig and it would not be good if everything fryed. Second I still think your card is flawed. So youll have to look into the warrenty and exchange policies but either way pcie requires alot of watts and 650 is needed which is what i reccomend.
Read this to get a better understanding of the psu and help you choose one.
Power Supply Information and Selection

[Ledge]

Okay...So. I told my friend, the one who built the PC, the power problem. He suggested a Thermaltake 450w PSU, Which powered the Graphics card alone. http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Produc...S=1207&ID=1543

I got it. Installed it. The PSU works wonderfully. Just...The problem isn't fixed...

I'm currently talking to him to try and find the Warrenty to the Graphics card...It may be a LONG While before I can afford a new one, if we can't find it... : /

That is, assuming the Card is the faulty piece...

[Ledge]

Sorry to bring alive a dead topic once again...But...Based on my specs, can anyone suggest a good graphics card which'll fit snugly with my system? I'm not into Overclocking really, it puts fear into me. x3 But...I recently got a chunk of money, And can buy a good graphics card...((Since the old one seems to be the horrid problem..)) My price range is from 100-250$ or so.


Any help is appreciated!

[koala]

In order, best first:

Radeon HD4870, 1024MB GDDR5, PCIE 2.0 - $270 (after rebate)
Radeon HD4870, 512MB GDDR5, PCIE 2.0 - $215 (after rebate)
GeForce 9800GTX+, 512MB GDDR3, PCIE 2.0 - $200 (after rebate)