Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650

weflenmr · 03-06-2009, 07:05 PM

Hello,

I am attempting to uprgrade my Nvidia GeForce4 MX 4000 to an ATI Radeon x1650 512MB DDR2 TV/DVI AGP8x.

I uninstalled the Nvidia drivers and then removed the card from the PCI slot before sliding the new ATI card into the AGP slot. I then installed the AGP drivers and restarted my computer. When when my windows loaded up again, everything appeared to be working fine; the new ATI card appeared in the control panel and was listed as functioning properly. However, I noticed that occasionally the screen would flicker for a moment (as though it were going to shut doff) and when I tried to do any graphics intensive activity such as play a game, it would only work for about a minute or two before the computer abruptly restarted.

I tried installing the latest drivers from ATI's Web site but the problem persisted. I'm pretty new at this (this is the first time I've tried to install a graphics card) so I tried to do some more research online and am wondering if insufficient power supply is the problem. The card does not appear to have any power connecting ports (aside from the AGP). However I am unable to figure out what my computer's total power supply--ATI recommends a 350-Watt power supply for the card (and a fully loaded system).

My PC specs are listed below:

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ 2.1 Ghz
Motherboard: ASUS Kelut 2.02 (3 PCI, 1 AGP 8x)
1536mb DDR RAM
160GB 7200RPM Ultra DMA hard drive

(if any other info is needed, let me know)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

**emosun** · 03-07-2009, 04:07 AM

Welcome to tsf.

Switching from nvidia to ati can be a hassle as there driver conflict causing performance errors. download driver cleaner and make sure anything nvidia is removed from the machine , then reinstall the ati drivers. Try the ati drivers on the cd first , sometimes the latest isn't the best.

weflenmr · 03-07-2009, 09:14 AM

Thanks for the advice, emosun. I have already tried using the drivers that came with the CD but had the same problem with the computer restarting. Do you know where I can download a good, free driver cleaner?

Also, I finally did figure out that my PC power supply is only 250 Watts whereas, as I mentioned in my initial post, ATI recommends 350 Watts for the card. Consequently, I've ordered a 500 Watt power supply (for $30 on ebay, but I made sure to check that the brand name was reliable) so that may resolve the problem when it arrives in a few days, but I'll try using the driver cleaner in the meantime.

dai · 03-07-2009, 09:34 AM

500w $30 psu's are usually junk

Power Supply Information and Selection

**emosun** · 03-08-2009, 12:40 PM

Yea there really isn't a 30$ power supply that's reliable. And heres driver cleaner

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745

weflenmr · 03-08-2009, 02:22 PM

Thanks, for all the advice and for the link. Unfortunately, I've already ordered the power supply and really can't afford to spend more than I have on it already (buying the graphics card itself for $60 was a bit of a splurge for me). I did make sure to read a consumer review of the power supply that said it was reliable, but I guess I'll find out.

Mcninjaguy · 03-08-2009, 02:46 PM

its too bad the average consumer has no clue about PSU's

03-06-2009, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
weflenmr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650 Hello, I am attempting to uprgrade my Nvidia GeForce4 MX 4000 to an ATI Radeon x1650 512MB DDR2 TV/DVI AGP8x. I uninstalled the Nvidia drivers and then removed the card from the PCI slot before sliding the new ATI card into the AGP slot. I then installed the AGP drivers and restarted my computer. When when my windows loaded up again, everything appeared to be working fine; the new ATI card appeared in the control panel and was listed as functioning properly. However, I noticed that occasionally the screen would flicker for a moment (as though it were going to shut doff) and when I tried to do any graphics intensive activity such as play a game, it would only work for about a minute or two before the computer abruptly restarted. I tried installing the latest drivers from ATI's Web site but the problem persisted. I'm pretty new at this (this is the first time I've tried to install a graphics card) so I tried to do some more research online and am wondering if insufficient power supply is the problem. The card does not appear to have any power connecting ports (aside from the AGP). However I am unable to figure out what my computer's total power supply--ATI recommends a 350-Watt power supply for the card (and a fully loaded system). My PC specs are listed below: CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ 2.1 Ghz Motherboard: ASUS Kelut 2.02 (3 PCI, 1 AGP 8x) 1536mb DDR RAM 160GB 7200RPM Ultra DMA hard drive (if any other info is needed, let me know) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

03-07-2009, 04:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,087 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650 Welcome to tsf. Switching from nvidia to ati can be a hassle as there driver conflict causing performance errors. download driver cleaner and make sure anything nvidia is removed from the machine , then reinstall the ati drivers. Try the ati drivers on the cd first , sometimes the latest isn't the best. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

03-07-2009, 09:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
weflenmr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650 Thanks for the advice, emosun. I have already tried using the drivers that came with the CD but had the same problem with the computer restarting. Do you know where I can download a good, free driver cleaner? Also, I finally did figure out that my PC power supply is only 250 Watts whereas, as I mentioned in my initial post, ATI recommends 350 Watts for the card. Consequently, I've ordered a 500 Watt power supply (for $30 on ebay, but I made sure to check that the brand name was reliable) so that may resolve the problem when it arrives in a few days, but I'll try using the driver cleaner in the meantime.

03-07-2009, 09:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,773 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650 500w $30 psu's are usually junk Power Supply Information and Selection __________________

03-08-2009, 12:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,087 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650 Yea there really isn't a 30$ power supply that's reliable. And heres driver cleaner http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745 __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

03-08-2009, 02:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
weflenmr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650 Thanks, for all the advice and for the link. Unfortunately, I've already ordered the power supply and really can't afford to spend more than I have on it already (buying the graphics card itself for $60 was a bit of a splurge for me). I did make sure to read a consumer review of the power supply that said it was reliable, but I guess I'll find out.

03-08-2009, 02:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Problem installing/using ATI Radeon x1650 its too bad the average consumer has no clue about PSU's