IndigoRose

Hello,

I was having a problem with games crashing (well still am), but games that I have played through from start to finish a couple of times, like Dreamfall.

I thought perhaps it was the RAM, but I don't think so cuz I'm back to what came with the PC when I was playing the games the first time.

Then I was thinking my sound card was conflicting with the onboard, but nope turned off in BIOS & still have probs.

Then I was (with help from TSF) thinking an overheating problem but seems to not be high enuf to cause my prob.

So even tho I've played thru with this card I'm thinking perhaps it's dying? B4 I would be playing & it would crash to a black screen, I opened the case & plugged in another fan & it seemed OK for a very short time, but now the crash is different in that it gives me a vertical "rainbow" instead of a black screen. Sometimes only a couple colors other times the entire spectrum. Is this a vid card prob?

Specs are:
Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 1 (build 2600)

System Model
VIA Technologies, Inc. KT400-8235
Enclosure Type: Desktop

Processor
1.73 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board
Board: KT400-8235
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG 10/21/2002

Drives
137.43 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
111.08 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4163B [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
WDC WD1600JB-00FUA0 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WCAES1300927, rev 15.05R15, SMART Status: Healthy

Memory Modules
512 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Slot 'A2' is Empty

Display
RADEON X800 Series [Display adapter]
RADEON X800 Series - Secondary [Display adapter]
Samsung SyncMaster [Monitor]

Bus Adapters
ALi PCI to USB Open Host Controller (3x)
ATI Remote Wonder Controller
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (3x)
VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller

Multimedia
ATI WDM Rage Theater Video
ATI WDM Specialized MVD Codec
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit

Other Devices
Saitek P880 Pad
Saitek P880 Pad (HID)
HID Keyboard Device
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
HID-compliant mouse
Logitech USB Wheel Mouse
Root Enumerator
Saitek Magic Keyboard
Saitek Magic Mouse
USB Root Hub (8x)

Any help is appreciated?

Heather
P.S.
I had originally asked about the crashing in intense graphic games when I thought it had nothing to do with the video card, but now that I get these "rainbows" I thought I should ask someone about the video card?

TheMatt

Hi Heather,

There are two things you need to check: voltages and temperatures. Download ATI Tray Tools from my sig and post the graphics temperatures. In addition, download SpeedFan from my sig and post the voltages it reads.

What PSU do you have? Post all the info on the side of the PSU, including brand, power output (watts), and the amperage (amps) on each +12v rail.

IndigoRose

Matt,

I tell you I feel like a fool! I had started a THREAD on what I thought was a separate issue but it would appear as tho it's all being linked together.

I didn't think the threads would "cross" each other. I figured that one would stay about the game & that this would be about the vid card & a separate thread would be needed cuz now I'm thinking it may actually be the vid card & this is the forum for Video Card Support & the other is actually Windows. But everyone here does NOT leave any stone unturned so I think it'll all get answered.

Would you agree? Or should I keep both threads going?

Heather

TheMatt

It definitely sounds like a video card issue. I will close the other thread. Please don't post in multiple forums, it is against the forum rules. Even if it turns out that another component is at fault, keep posting in the original thread. This way, it is easier to keep track of suggestions given.

Anyway, get the temperatures and voltages to check if the video card is underpowered or overheating.

tosh9i

So, what happened when you used that "window mode?"

Did lowering the video settings in Options have any affect?

tosh9i

I thought that you might find this one interesting:

ATI x800 Overheating / Power Supply issues? Help!

"I just reformatted and did a fresh install of windows no less than two weeks ago. Everything had been working wonderfully! I played half-life 2 with no problems and just recently got started in World of Warcraft.

After my second day in World of Warcraft, during gameplay, all of a sudden both my monitors went dead (as in lost a signal from the card). I can still hear the computer running with fan noise, but can not do anything unless I boot off and on. I thought this was weird so restarted and, bam, it happened again. It's happened 4 times, and I don't want to press it further so I stopped playing the game for a bit. Everything works fine during normal functioning, no problems with RAM intensive stuff like Photoshop, Video Editing, etc. I have not tried playing Half-Life 2 to see if this same thing happens now with that."

http://www.devhardware.com/forums/at...lp-102125.html



Also, go to either one of the following webpages to calculate your power supply:

http://www.journeysystems.com/?powercalc

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

IndigoRose

Matt & tosh9i:

Just a quick note to say thanks for the help & will do both things tomorrow. i have been staying in town to avoid the two hour commute each day & the save on gas is an added bonus.

Anyway just wanted to let you know that I haven't dropped the issue & still need help!!

Will post again tomorrow!!

Heather

P.S.
Am on vacation next week so hopefully will be able to get this figured out.

IndigoRose

Hi Matt,

Sorry it has been so long getting this info to you, we had a death in the family, & just learned that the bank I work for is closing the site I work in & all h*ll broke lose around there.

So Here is the info from my Power Supply:

BRAND & MODEL #: ATX Switching Power Supply Model #LC-B450E
POWER OUTPUT: 450w Pentium 4
AMPERAGE:
+3.3v = 28.0a
+5v = 50.0a
+12v = 18.0a
-5v = 0.8a
-12v = 1.0a
+5VSB = 2.5a
I know you had only requested the +12V info but didn't know if any of those other #s would mean anything or not but I figured too much info was better than not enuf, right?

Now in regards to the Graphics Temp I have only just downloaded ATI Tray Tools but I do have SpeedFan installed so I'll give you the #s it has then I'll run & install the Tray Tools to give you those #s also.

SpeedFan:

Fan1: 2679 RPM
Fan2: 5625 RPM
Fan3: 0 RPM


Temp1: 24C
Temp2: 41C
Temp3: 29C
Local: 29C
Remote: 62C
HD0: 30C
Temp1: 40C


Vcore1: 1.74V
Vcore2: 3.18V
+3.3v: 2.83V
+5V: 5.19V
+12V: 9.98V
-12V: -9.32V
-5V: -2.84V
+5V: 3.79V
Vbat: 0.00V

Now I also have something else that may or may not help I'm not sure. I was recently given a new game for my birthday, 'The Sacred Rings (Aura 2)', I installed it yesterday & was playing it yesterday no problem whatsoever. I shut my PC down last night when I went to bed & when I tried to play it again approx 1hr ago, my PC rebooted two separate times. Is it possible that something is getting lost when it shuts down? Like maybe it can't see some of the files it needs to run these games? Is that even possible? I don't know this is just getting so frustrating, & the worse part for me? Is not being able to fix this on my own.

Thanks again for your help!!!! You have no idea how much I appreciate everything!!!

Heather

IndigoRose

Amazing, almost exactly the same problem eh? nothing seems to fix mine tho'.

I went to the first site you have listed here to calculate the Power Supply, & it said :
'Your Recommended Minimum Power Supply is 409 Watts'. Now mine sez 450w does that mean I shouldn't be having this problem? Or does it mean my PSU is being maxed & I need more power? Power is always good!!!

Heather

IndigoRose

Hi Matt,

I hope this is the info you wanted from ATI Tray Tools, there is a lot of stuff in there & I wouldn't know where to start with 3/4 of it.

GPU Temperature Max: 40.88 Min: 40.50
Environment Temperature Max: 35.00 Min: 34.00

I this is not what you were looking for, let me know how to get the info you requested.

Thanks again.

Heather

TheMatt

You need to add PSU inefficiency, which means adding 30%. After that, you get 531 w. I would definitely be looking at a new PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371001

An underpowered video card is a common cause of the graphics artifacting problems you are having. The reason I chose a 650 w PSU was because that is a great PSU, and it was cheaper than the 600 w PSUs I looked at.

SpeedFan was reading the voltages incorrectly, if you download SensorsView I can get the correct voltages.
http://www.techsupportforum.com/arti...rsviewpro.html