ATI Sapphire X1950 - Monitor posting Multi-Colored Lines at Start Up

Phobos85 · 07-08-2009, 06:08 PM

Hi, I've recently ran into a problem and am trying to find a solution before I have to take it into a tech. I run windows XP and have a ATI Sapphire X1950 GT. Recently when I started it up the monitor posted multi-colored vertical lines instead of the standard boot screen. The screen flashes each time the computer would normally change screens then when it gets to the point of the user login, it stops and sits there. Leading me to believe it's not a motehrboard issue but a graphics card or heating issue. I was wondering if anyone else had, had this problem and if so what they did to fix it? Any advice would be awesome! I'm at my wits end to figure out how to fix this without seeking expensive help. Any advice would be welcome, thank you! And note that at the User Login it still shows the multi-colored vertical lines, no change what soever from when it first posts. Thanks again for any help.

**grimx133** · 07-08-2009, 07:18 PM

Try the card in another computer, or try another card in yours. Drivers load with windows, sounds like this happens right away before loading. You should also try another monitor as well as another cable. Take the cable connections off at the card as well as the monitor and look for bent pins, reseat the connections, making sure they are adequately tightened.
I'm thinking it's somewhere in those 3 things, and you'll probably have to do some swapping to find out which.

**koala** · 07-09-2009, 10:50 AM

It sounds like the VRAM is faulty on the graphics card. I had the same problem with an AGP X1950Pro. This can be caused by overheating or a weak PSU, so check your case fans and PSU voltages, and test the card in another computer before replacing it.

Do you also get random, multi-colored characters in BIOS and during POST?

Phobos85 · 07-09-2009, 10:04 PM

I've tried the card in another computer with success. The card works fine, however I can't even get to bios and am not sure if it's posting at all. The lines start as soon as the graphics kick in period. I've also tried a different monitor with the same results. Many lines with no way to be sure if it's posting or able to even get to bios. I am considering taking it in to a shop and seeing what they tell me. Any other advice would be nice, thanks a ton!

**grimx133** · 07-09-2009, 10:43 PM

So the X1950 works without any issues in another computer, but as soon as you put it back in yours, no go.
What's your power supply? And the output, in amps, on the 12 volt rail(s).

07-08-2009, 06:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Phobos85 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	ATI Sapphire X1950 - Monitor posting Multi-Colored Lines at Start Up Hi, I've recently ran into a problem and am trying to find a solution before I have to take it into a tech. I run windows XP and have a ATI Sapphire X1950 GT. Recently when I started it up the monitor posted multi-colored vertical lines instead of the standard boot screen. The screen flashes each time the computer would normally change screens then when it gets to the point of the user login, it stops and sits there. Leading me to believe it's not a motehrboard issue but a graphics card or heating issue. I was wondering if anyone else had, had this problem and if so what they did to fix it? Any advice would be awesome! I'm at my wits end to figure out how to fix this without seeking expensive help. Any advice would be welcome, thank you! And note that at the User Login it still shows the multi-colored vertical lines, no change what soever from when it first posts. Thanks again for any help.

07-08-2009, 07:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,170 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: ATI Sapphire X1950 - Monitor posting Multi-Colored Lines at Start Up Try the card in another computer, or try another card in yours. Drivers load with windows, sounds like this happens right away before loading. You should also try another monitor as well as another cable. Take the cable connections off at the card as well as the monitor and look for bent pins, reseat the connections, making sure they are adequately tightened. I'm thinking it's somewhere in those 3 things, and you'll probably have to do some swapping to find out which. __________________

07-09-2009, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,448 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: ATI Sapphire X1950 - Monitor posting Multi-Colored Lines at Start Up It sounds like the VRAM is faulty on the graphics card. I had the same problem with an AGP X1950Pro. This can be caused by overheating or a weak PSU, so check your case fans and PSU voltages, and test the card in another computer before replacing it. Do you also get random, multi-colored characters in BIOS and during POST? __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-09-2009, 10:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phobos85 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Re: ATI Sapphire X1950 - Monitor posting Multi-Colored Lines at Start Up I've tried the card in another computer with success. The card works fine, however I can't even get to bios and am not sure if it's posting at all. The lines start as soon as the graphics kick in period. I've also tried a different monitor with the same results. Many lines with no way to be sure if it's posting or able to even get to bios. I am considering taking it in to a shop and seeing what they tell me. Any other advice would be nice, thanks a ton!

07-09-2009, 10:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,170 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: ATI Sapphire X1950 - Monitor posting Multi-Colored Lines at Start Up So the X1950 works without any issues in another computer, but as soon as you put it back in yours, no go. What's your power supply? And the output, in amps, on the 12 volt rail(s). __________________