I think my video card is a dud.

CasaDeQueso · 04-04-2005, 09:21 AM

I'm a relatively new gamer who just upgraded (or so I thought) to an Xtasy 9600 256mb video card. I guess when the price seems to good to be true, it usually is. I paid $150 for it at Circuit City, plus received a $30 rebate. Anywho, installation was simple and flawless, however all the games I play on it are choppy -- Half-Life2, Call of Duty, Battlefield 1942. The graphics look good, but the game play is choppy. My processor is only 1.5Ghz, but nontheless, the games should play smoothly, right? Also, the card is pictured on the box as having a fan -- it doesn't. I wonder if there's an overheating issue?

If anybody has had similar problems, or has insights into special drivers I might need, please let me know. I'm about to return the damned thing.

Thanks in advance.

elf · 04-04-2005, 10:29 AM

I'm guessing you already tried downloading the newest drivers from the ati site
available HERE

Well the 9600(is it xt or pro?) is barely capable of handling hl2. If I were you I would opt for dishing out an extra 50$ (after adding back the mail in rebate so like 170-180) and getting either a geforce 6600gt, or a radeon 9800xt.

I looked up the card and its not supposed to have a fan on it, just a standard heatsink without a fan. Try turning the graphics all the way down and see if the gameplay smooths out. Apparently the 9600 has a problem with memory bandwidth...the video memory just can't keep up with the rest of the system.

2ply · 04-04-2005, 11:25 AM

I'm thinking driver problem. Personally I'd recommend the Omeg drivers, I used them for my 9600 Pro when I ran XP, and they worked pretty nice. What graphic settings are you running HL2 on? My 9600 can run HL2 with about 60-70 FPS with pretty high settings.

Look into the Omega drivers, they're pretty good quality from my experiences.

**MD_Willington** · 04-04-2005, 02:45 PM

Power issue if not driver or heating issue?

Those cards need a lil extra current to run smoothly too...

MD

04-04-2005, 09:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
CasaDeQueso Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1 OS: WinXP	I think my video card is a dud. I'm a relatively new gamer who just upgraded (or so I thought) to an Xtasy 9600 256mb video card. I guess when the price seems to good to be true, it usually is. I paid $150 for it at Circuit City, plus received a $30 rebate. Anywho, installation was simple and flawless, however all the games I play on it are choppy -- Half-Life2, Call of Duty, Battlefield 1942. The graphics look good, but the game play is choppy. My processor is only 1.5Ghz, but nontheless, the games should play smoothly, right? Also, the card is pictured on the box as having a fan -- it doesn't. I wonder if there's an overheating issue? If anybody has had similar problems, or has insights into special drivers I might need, please let me know. I'm about to return the damned thing. Thanks in advance.

04-04-2005, 10:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	I'm guessing you already tried downloading the newest drivers from the ati site available HERE Well the 9600(is it xt or pro?) is barely capable of handling hl2. If I were you I would opt for dishing out an extra 50$ (after adding back the mail in rebate so like 170-180) and getting either a geforce 6600gt, or a radeon 9800xt. I looked up the card and its not supposed to have a fan on it, just a standard heatsink without a fan. Try turning the graphics all the way down and see if the gameplay smooths out. Apparently the 9600 has a problem with memory bandwidth...the video memory just can't keep up with the rest of the system. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

04-04-2005, 02:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
MD_Willington Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: WA State & BC Posts: 587 OS: XP	Power issue if not driver or heating issue? Those cards need a lil extra current to run smoothly too... MD __________________ Mainboard: PCC M848ALU / ECS L7S7A2 / ECS 748-A, HDD: Western Digital 40Gb, RAM: 2-256Mb DDR266 by Micron 4x AGP Card: 3DForce4-MX440, CDRW: Liteon 52x32x52, PSU: Antec True430, CPU: XP2200+ (AXDA2200DUV3C) *It's OK to be ignorant; it's not OK to play stupid.* *Never assume you are entitled to an answer. You are not.*

04-04-2005, 11:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
2ply Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 85 OS: XP/FC3 Dual Boot	I'm thinking driver problem. Personally I'd recommend the Omeg drivers, I used them for my 9600 Pro when I ran XP, and they worked pretty nice. What graphic settings are you running HL2 on? My 9600 can run HL2 with about 60-70 FPS with pretty high settings. Look into the Omega drivers, they're pretty good quality from my experiences.