Video Drivers Failing

AWLFayte · 04-17-2009, 06:15 AM

I need some help...

I own a Gateway 838GM Media Center CPU.
P4 3.0Ghz Processor
2 Gigs Ram
200 Gig HD
etc...

It came with a ATI Radeon x300/x500/x1050 PCI-E 128 MB Graphics card.

I play games like Counter-Strike:Source, and WoW Religiously, but i've had nothing but problems with this CPU's graphics card.

I have the side panel off, and a small High Velocity fan running on it to keep it cool, and if I crank my AC and keep it like an icebox in here, the drivers won't fail, but usually a few minutes into game...the screen will start pixelating and the display drivers will fail, usually locking up my system and forcing me to manually restart.

Now I know a LITTLE about computers, and I know the x300 is an old model Video card, but I'm not sure why its having this problem if it came STOCK with the Gateway PC. The PC is way out of date, so Gateway could care less, and there is no warranty.

I also checked, and the PC is running a 300Watt Power Supply. Could that be causing the drivers to fail? Or is it a built in problem with the GfX card? What are some pointers? and if I were to replace the Power Supply, and the GFX card...whats the best card and supply I could install on this system?

Thanks for any help!

Mikhalkov · 04-17-2009, 07:12 AM

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that taking the side panel off your PC disrupts proper airflow and makes the problem worse, so my opinion is that this is an overheating problem. If you download a freeware program called SpeedFan, it will monitor your temperatures so you can see if it's an issue.

If you do still plan to upgrade, the more powerful the card is, the more power it will require. But if you're having a heat problem, a more powerful card won't do you much good, so make sure your heat is in check before you go upgrading anything.

AWLFayte · 04-17-2009, 11:56 PM

Yea, I have Speedfan.
What is a good temperature to keep it?

**emosun** · 04-18-2009, 10:27 AM

The gpu should stay under 70c to run properly , your problem sounds like an overheating issue.

04-17-2009, 06:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
AWLFayte Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate	Video Drivers Failing I need some help... I own a Gateway 838GM Media Center CPU. P4 3.0Ghz Processor 2 Gigs Ram 200 Gig HD etc... It came with a ATI Radeon x300/x500/x1050 PCI-E 128 MB Graphics card. I play games like Counter-Strike:Source, and WoW Religiously, but i've had nothing but problems with this CPU's graphics card. I have the side panel off, and a small High Velocity fan running on it to keep it cool, and if I crank my AC and keep it like an icebox in here, the drivers won't fail, but usually a few minutes into game...the screen will start pixelating and the display drivers will fail, usually locking up my system and forcing me to manually restart. Now I know a LITTLE about computers, and I know the x300 is an old model Video card, but I'm not sure why its having this problem if it came STOCK with the Gateway PC. The PC is way out of date, so Gateway could care less, and there is no warranty. I also checked, and the PC is running a 300Watt Power Supply. Could that be causing the drivers to fail? Or is it a built in problem with the GfX card? What are some pointers? and if I were to replace the Power Supply, and the GFX card...whats the best card and supply I could install on this system? Thanks for any help!

04-17-2009, 07:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mikhalkov Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 403 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Video Drivers Failing I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that taking the side panel off your PC disrupts proper airflow and makes the problem worse, so my opinion is that this is an overheating problem. If you download a freeware program called SpeedFan, it will monitor your temperatures so you can see if it's an issue. If you do still plan to upgrade, the more powerful the card is, the more power it will require. But if you're having a heat problem, a more powerful card won't do you much good, so make sure your heat is in check before you go upgrading anything. __________________ "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." -1957 "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." -1949

04-17-2009, 11:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
AWLFayte Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate	Re: Video Drivers Failing Yea, I have Speedfan. What is a good temperature to keep it?

04-18-2009, 10:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,983 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Video Drivers Failing The gpu should stay under 70c to run properly , your problem sounds like an overheating issue. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list