Random Restarts (ATI Radeon 9800 Pro)

Sticky Supreme · 07-05-2006, 01:05 PM

Hi, my problem is, when i have my Hardware Acceleration set to anything above the minimum, my computer restarts within about 10 minutes, even when I'm just doing simple things like web browsing.
Of course running on minimum acceleration makes most applications run waaay slower than they normally would, but anything higher and it restarts.
Sometimes, before it restarts, my mouse can no longer move up and down, only right and left. Then, the screen turns into a bunch of vertical coloured bars, before finally restarting.

my specs are as follows:

AMD Sempron Process 3100+
1.80GHz, 768 MB of RAM
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (with latest ATI drivers as far as I'm aware)

If you need any more information don't hesitate to ask. Any help is much appreciated.

TheUnlimited · 07-05-2006, 01:21 PM

Interestingly, I had a similar problem involving artifacts/display corruption and only being able to move the mouse left and right a week or so ago. After much fidgeting with individual parts, it went away. I too have a 9800 Pro.

Perhaps this has to do with power or overheating? Make sure the power plug on the 9800 is firmly in place and that the card is properly seated. Does it use stock cooling, or did you add an aftermarket cooling solution? 9800 Pros run very hot -- I underclock mine to 209/209 when not gaming to keep it cool.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts. I'm sure the hardware team and more experienced forum members will be able to help you more.

Sticky Supreme · 07-05-2006, 02:03 PM

I only have stock cooling as far as I'm aware so I may have to consider underclocking. As you say though I'll wait for some of the hardware team to post and see what other options there are. thanks.

ebackhus · 07-05-2006, 07:52 PM

What chipset does your motherboard have?

Sticky Supreme · 07-05-2006, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebackhus

What chipset does your motherboard have?

Please excuse my ignorance, how do I find this out?

TheUnlimited · 07-05-2006, 08:35 PM

SiSoftware's Sandra Lite will tell you what the Chipset is if you click on the "Mainboard Information" icon and scroll down to the third category, labeled Mainboard. Chipset is usually the last thing on that part of the list.

Sticky Supreme · 07-06-2006, 08:10 AM

I wasn't sure exactly which part I should be looking at, so here are two screens of the two parts involving chipsets.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hScreenie1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hScreenie2.jpg

thanks again.

Sticky Supreme · 07-07-2006, 02:38 PM

Erm, sorry.....*bump*? Anyone have any ideas?

TheUnlimited · 07-07-2006, 06:09 PM

Well, it looks like a K8T880Pro chipset, from that first screen shot. Maybe the AGP Bus/chipset drivers need an update? Not sure, myself.

Updating the AGP Bus driver on the KM400 chipset machine I just put together smoothed out a lot of the hiccups. Not sure where to get K8T880 drivers though.

**UncleMacro** · 07-07-2006, 10:32 PM

I'd start by updating your chipset drivers (instructions here). If that doesn't help then you could try using SMARTGART to slow down your AGP port (instructions here). Sometimes AGP instability can cause weird problems.

**Ralck** · 07-07-2006, 10:37 PM

Go into BIOS and check AGP Aperature size. You should set this to either 32 or 64 MB. Anything lower will be a performance hit; anything higher will cause instability.

TheUnlimited · 07-07-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralck

Go into BIOS and check AGP Aperature size. You should set this to either 32 or 64 MB. Anything lower will be a performance hit; anything higher will cause instability.

Ahh, this part I did not know. I always thought that it was a setting that simply had to be manually adjusted to match your video card. And here I've been setting it to 128 and 256 to match various cards. Guess I'll have to look into that. >_>

Just goes to show how much I understand about that setting.

Sticky Supreme · 07-08-2006, 08:41 AM

Thanks a lot for the help guys, I'll get started on that stuff now...

Sticky Supreme · 07-08-2006, 10:34 AM

I tried updating the chpset drivers, no luck there. Could anyone tell me where I can find Smartgart? i can't seem to find it anywhere

**UncleMacro** · 07-08-2006, 12:57 PM

SMARTGART comes with your Radeon drivers. This page shows how to access it.

Sticky Supreme · 07-08-2006, 03:16 PM

I slowed my AGP from 8x to 4x and so far it seems to be working. thanks everyone

07-05-2006, 01:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	Random Restarts (ATI Radeon 9800 Pro) Hi, my problem is, when i have my Hardware Acceleration set to anything above the minimum, my computer restarts within about 10 minutes, even when I'm just doing simple things like web browsing. Of course running on minimum acceleration makes most applications run waaay slower than they normally would, but anything higher and it restarts. Sometimes, before it restarts, my mouse can no longer move up and down, only right and left. Then, the screen turns into a bunch of vertical coloured bars, before finally restarting. my specs are as follows: AMD Sempron Process 3100+ 1.80GHz, 768 MB of RAM ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (with latest ATI drivers as far as I'm aware) If you need any more information don't hesitate to ask. Any help is much appreciated. Last edited by Sticky Supreme; 07-05-2006 at 01:06 PM.

07-05-2006, 07:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,313 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	What chipset does your motherboard have? __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

07-07-2006, 10:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ralck TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,454 OS: 98SE/XP PRO/FC4 My System	Go into BIOS and check AGP Aperature size. You should set this to either 32 or 64 MB. Anything lower will be a performance hit; anything higher will cause instability. __________________ Power Supply Info Everyone Should Read! How to Post Your System Specs

07-05-2006, 01:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheUnlimited Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New England Posts: 139 OS: Windows XP Home SP3 My System	Interestingly, I had a similar problem involving artifacts/display corruption and only being able to move the mouse left and right a week or so ago. After much fidgeting with individual parts, it went away. I too have a 9800 Pro. Perhaps this has to do with power or overheating? Make sure the power plug on the 9800 is firmly in place and that the card is properly seated. Does it use stock cooling, or did you add an aftermarket cooling solution? 9800 Pros run very hot -- I underclock mine to 209/209 when not gaming to keep it cool. Anyway, these are just some thoughts. I'm sure the hardware team and more experienced forum members will be able to help you more.

07-05-2006, 02:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	I only have stock cooling as far as I'm aware so I may have to consider underclocking. As you say though I'll wait for some of the hardware team to post and see what other options there are. thanks.

07-05-2006, 08:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheUnlimited Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New England Posts: 139 OS: Windows XP Home SP3 My System	SiSoftware's Sandra Lite will tell you what the Chipset is if you click on the "Mainboard Information" icon and scroll down to the third category, labeled Mainboard. Chipset is usually the last thing on that part of the list.

07-06-2006, 08:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	I wasn't sure exactly which part I should be looking at, so here are two screens of the two parts involving chipsets. http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hScreenie1.jpg http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hScreenie2.jpg thanks again.

07-07-2006, 02:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	Erm, sorry.....bump? Anyone have any ideas?

07-07-2006, 06:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheUnlimited Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New England Posts: 139 OS: Windows XP Home SP3 My System	Well, it looks like a K8T880Pro chipset, from that first screen shot. Maybe the AGP Bus/chipset drivers need an update? Not sure, myself. Updating the AGP Bus driver on the KM400 chipset machine I just put together smoothed out a lot of the hiccups. Not sure where to get K8T880 drivers though.

07-07-2006, 10:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	I'd start by updating your chipset drivers (instructions here). If that doesn't help then you could try using SMARTGART to slow down your AGP port (instructions here). Sometimes AGP instability can cause weird problems.

07-08-2006, 08:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	Thanks a lot for the help guys, I'll get started on that stuff now...

07-08-2006, 10:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	I tried updating the chpset drivers, no luck there. Could anyone tell me where I can find Smartgart? i can't seem to find it anywhere

07-08-2006, 12:57 PM	#15 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	SMARTGART comes with your Radeon drivers. This page shows how to access it.

07-08-2006, 03:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
Sticky Supreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 71 OS: Vista HP	I slowed my AGP from 8x to 4x and so far it seems to be working. thanks everyone