3D Flickering Issue

GwydionMathonwy · 01-22-2008, 04:36 PM

Hi, I have an issue where when I run any program that is 3d-graphics intensive, I get some issues "flickering" in and out of existence. These problems are in the form of strips of long lines stretching out from certain models which can interfere with visibility in the game. I've also noticed some textures missing. Here at screenshots of both problems from Guild Wars...

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/5135/gw061qq3.jpg
(These are the lines. They move with the model they're being emitted from, and my character can walk through them uninhibited.)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9161/gw041pz6.jpg
(My character standing on a rectangle of missing texture. This should be a stretch of sand, like everything else around it.)

I've experienced these errors in every 3d program I run, sooner or later, no matter how graphics-intensive it is.

I thought that the issue might be overheating, so I bought the most expensive Zalman fan on newegg compatible with my card and installed it, but the problem still occurs even with the new fan manually kept on maximum. I also updated and reinstalled the graphics drivers. Just in case, I reinstalled the motherboard drivers and flashed the BIOS, too.

My card is an ATI Radeon X1900GT, which have notoriously bad stock fans... the thing used to idle upwards of 70 degrees C, and overclocking was just impossible. Is it possible that it's heat issues with the stock fan caused permanent damage, or is there an easier fix than buying a new card?

**emosun** · 01-23-2008, 11:57 AM

Welcome to tsf. Yea those do look like classic signs of overheating. And if you updated all the drivers and everything and it still does it , the card is either still hot or damaged from the previous heat.

First we need to know what power supply is in the system and the temperatures and voltages while is running games. Please post back with the make model and wattage of the power supply and your temps and voltages under load. If you need a program to view then try speedfan in my sig.

GwydionMathonwy · 01-23-2008, 03:54 PM

My power source is a Rosewill AP-550X. On NewEgg, it was advertised as a 500 watt PSU, and it says 475.5 watts on the sticker on the power source itself.

I used ATI's Catalyst Control Center to check the current temperatures. It idles at around 42 degrees C. I tested it in 3dmark06 and Oblivion, and in both instances it didn't get higher than 55 degrees C.

I checked the voltages with ATITool. The VGPU is at 1.225V, MVDDC and MVDDQ are at 2.086V, and VDDCI is at 1.438V, if those number mean anything to you

. Those should all be the defaults, since I haven't changed changed anything.

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 01-23-2008, 04:17 PM

rosewills are horrible power supplys that is what i think is causing this problem even if it is not you should replace it with a good unit to avoid damage to your system if it fails

**emosun** · 01-23-2008, 04:26 PM

Yea rosewill is not a great psu brand. The voltages we need are the 12v the 5v and 3.3v. try speedfan in sig. post temp and volts it says in there.

Also 55c is pretty hot, bout 131 f. Do you have any case fans?

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 01-23-2008, 04:29 PM

thats not that hot for atis last cards they got up to 70-80c normally

**emosun** · 01-23-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1 g0t 0wn3d

thats not that hot for atis last cards they got up to 70-80c normally

oh ok, could just be that psu then.

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 01-23-2008, 04:50 PM

Thats what i think (my ultra did that in wow)

GwydionMathonwy · 01-23-2008, 05:02 PM

Here's the voltage info from Speedfan:

Vcore1:1.33V
Vcore2: 1.81V
+3.3V: 3.33V
+5V: 4.95V
+12V: 0.00V
-12V: -16.97V
-5V: -8.63V
+5V: 5.08V
Vbat: 4.08V

I've got an 80mm fan in the front of the case for intake and a 120mm fan in the back.

01-22-2008, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
GwydionMathonwy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP Home Edition SP3	3D Flickering Issue Hi, I have an issue where when I run any program that is 3d-graphics intensive, I get some issues "flickering" in and out of existence. These problems are in the form of strips of long lines stretching out from certain models which can interfere with visibility in the game. I've also noticed some textures missing. Here at screenshots of both problems from Guild Wars... http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/5135/gw061qq3.jpg (These are the lines. They move with the model they're being emitted from, and my character can walk through them uninhibited.) http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9161/gw041pz6.jpg (My character standing on a rectangle of missing texture. This should be a stretch of sand, like everything else around it.) I've experienced these errors in every 3d program I run, sooner or later, no matter how graphics-intensive it is. I thought that the issue might be overheating, so I bought the most expensive Zalman fan on newegg compatible with my card and installed it, but the problem still occurs even with the new fan manually kept on maximum. I also updated and reinstalled the graphics drivers. Just in case, I reinstalled the motherboard drivers and flashed the BIOS, too. My card is an ATI Radeon X1900GT, which have notoriously bad stock fans... the thing used to idle upwards of 70 degrees C, and overclocking was just impossible. Is it possible that it's heat issues with the stock fan caused permanent damage, or is there an easier fix than buying a new card?

01-23-2008, 11:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,999 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: 3D Flickering Issue Welcome to tsf. Yea those do look like classic signs of overheating. And if you updated all the drivers and everything and it still does it , the card is either still hot or damaged from the previous heat. First we need to know what power supply is in the system and the temperatures and voltages while is running games. Please post back with the make model and wattage of the power supply and your temps and voltages under load. If you need a program to view then try speedfan in my sig. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

01-23-2008, 03:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
GwydionMathonwy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP Home Edition SP3	Re: 3D Flickering Issue My power source is a Rosewill AP-550X. On NewEgg, it was advertised as a 500 watt PSU, and it says 475.5 watts on the sticker on the power source itself. I used ATI's Catalyst Control Center to check the current temperatures. It idles at around 42 degrees C. I tested it in 3dmark06 and Oblivion, and in both instances it didn't get higher than 55 degrees C. I checked the voltages with ATITool. The VGPU is at 1.225V, MVDDC and MVDDQ are at 2.086V, and VDDCI is at 1.438V, if those number mean anything to you . Those should all be the defaults, since I haven't changed changed anything.

01-23-2008, 04:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: 3D Flickering Issue rosewills are horrible power supplys that is what i think is causing this problem even if it is not you should replace it with a good unit to avoid damage to your system if it fails __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

01-23-2008, 04:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,999 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: 3D Flickering Issue Yea rosewill is not a great psu brand. The voltages we need are the 12v the 5v and 3.3v. try speedfan in sig. post temp and volts it says in there. Also 55c is pretty hot, bout 131 f. Do you have any case fans? __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

01-23-2008, 04:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: 3D Flickering Issue thats not that hot for atis last cards they got up to 70-80c normally __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

01-23-2008, 04:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: 3D Flickering Issue Thats what i think (my ultra did that in wow) __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

01-23-2008, 05:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
GwydionMathonwy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP Home Edition SP3	Re: 3D Flickering Issue Here's the voltage info from Speedfan: Vcore1:1.33V Vcore2: 1.81V +3.3V: 3.33V +5V: 4.95V +12V: 0.00V -12V: -16.97V -5V: -8.63V +5V: 5.08V Vbat: 4.08V I've got an 80mm fan in the front of the case for intake and a 120mm fan in the back.