9800 pro geometry and texture issues.

Ga-Knomboe Boy · 11-24-2005, 06:37 AM

Hello, sorry if this problem has been discussed before, I tried using the search function but was unable to find any relevant topics.

My 9800 pro has an issue with textures, and geometry in Direct x 9 intensive games. I bought the video card at the end of last year and when I had installed it I suffered the same problems; bad geometry and multi-coloured textures. I thought this might have been the result of some nVidia files still lingering around despite my efforts to delete them all with a range of programs. I was eventually able to fix the problem by installing some ATI drivers that were nearly a month old at the time of buying the video card in December. Whenever I updated the drivers the same problem would reoccur, and as such, I left the computer for with now, what would seem like year old ATI drivers. Anyway, after a recent reformat of my computer the problem came back, I could probably track down the old drivers on the internet but I'd rather solve this issue once and for all, whilst gaining some performance. As the problem reoccured after reformatting it must be a hardware problem as opposed to a software problem. I have a feeling the problem might be a result of a lack of power coming from the PSU, but a second opinion would be good.

My computer is craptastic, but I am stretching every penny at the moment. So here are the specs.

I am using Windows XP with SP2
Pentium 4, 2.0 Ghz
786 mb ram
9800 pro
1*60 gig hdd
1*80 gig hdd
1*cd-rw
1*dvd
1*3.5 inch floppy
I’m not sure what kind of motherboard I am using (most of this came in a package from 2002 and I lost the details which is why I haven't given the product name)

This is running on a 250 watt PSU (yeah I know)

I have sent two reports of the issue to ATI with images, specs, details of the issue, and how it arose. Yet some 8 months later I have not received any sort of technical support and (well at least last time I checked) they have yet to update their technical support site with similar issues.

Here are some screenshots from BF2 of the issue. The game is being run on medium settings with 1280*960 resolution.

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6...reen0000yg.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/4...reen0010ey.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1...reen0021ma.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8...reen0032fh.jpg

Any help will be appreciated

**UncleMacro** · 11-24-2005, 08:33 AM

Screenshots like that generally mean bad video RAM or a damaged GPU but generally changing drivers doesn't make the artifacts go away. It's still worth the trouble to underclock the video RAM and GPU one at a time with ATITool (instructions here) to see if the problems go away. If the artifacts disappear when underclocked then you'll know that you have either GPU or video RAM problems. Underclocking doesn't always make them go away but it often works.

Also, before doing anything else I would slow your AGP speed down to 4X and disable fastwrites. They probably aren't causing your problem but slowing your AGP down just takes a minute with SMARTGART (instructions here) so you'll know that AGP instability has nothing to do with the problem.

By the way, do you mind if I post your screenshots on a web page I'm building? I'm collecting screenshots with artifacts to try to help people figure out what kind of problem they're having.

Ga-Knomboe Boy · 11-24-2005, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the help, you may post the screenshots, I will report back to you once I have tried underclocking and slowing the AGP speed.

Ga-Knomboe Boy · 11-24-2005, 05:44 PM

I love you UncleMacro, it seems changing the AGP speed fixed the problem :D

**UncleMacro** · 11-25-2005, 12:01 AM

It's good to hear that it's fixed. You must have the world record for AGP corruption. I've never seen it that bad before.

11-24-2005, 06:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ga-Knomboe Boy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	9800 pro geometry and texture issues. Hello, sorry if this problem has been discussed before, I tried using the search function but was unable to find any relevant topics. My 9800 pro has an issue with textures, and geometry in Direct x 9 intensive games. I bought the video card at the end of last year and when I had installed it I suffered the same problems; bad geometry and multi-coloured textures. I thought this might have been the result of some nVidia files still lingering around despite my efforts to delete them all with a range of programs. I was eventually able to fix the problem by installing some ATI drivers that were nearly a month old at the time of buying the video card in December. Whenever I updated the drivers the same problem would reoccur, and as such, I left the computer for with now, what would seem like year old ATI drivers. Anyway, after a recent reformat of my computer the problem came back, I could probably track down the old drivers on the internet but I'd rather solve this issue once and for all, whilst gaining some performance. As the problem reoccured after reformatting it must be a hardware problem as opposed to a software problem. I have a feeling the problem might be a result of a lack of power coming from the PSU, but a second opinion would be good. My computer is craptastic, but I am stretching every penny at the moment. So here are the specs. I am using Windows XP with SP2 Pentium 4, 2.0 Ghz 786 mb ram 9800 pro 160 gig hdd 180 gig hdd 1cd-rw 1dvd 13.5 inch floppy I’m not sure what kind of motherboard I am using (most of this came in a package from 2002 and I lost the details which is why I haven't given the product name) This is running on a 250 watt PSU (yeah I know) I have sent two reports of the issue to ATI with images, specs, details of the issue, and how it arose. Yet some 8 months later I have not received any sort of technical support and (well at least last time I checked) they have yet to update their technical support site with similar issues. Here are some screenshots from BF2 of the issue. The game is being run on medium settings with 1280960 resolution. http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6...reen0000yg.jpg http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/4...reen0010ey.jpg http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1...reen0021ma.jpg http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8...reen0032fh.jpg Any help will be appreciated

11-24-2005, 08:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	Screenshots like that generally mean bad video RAM or a damaged GPU but generally changing drivers doesn't make the artifacts go away. It's still worth the trouble to underclock the video RAM and GPU one at a time with ATITool (instructions here) to see if the problems go away. If the artifacts disappear when underclocked then you'll know that you have either GPU or video RAM problems. Underclocking doesn't always make them go away but it often works. Also, before doing anything else I would slow your AGP speed down to 4X and disable fastwrites. They probably aren't causing your problem but slowing your AGP down just takes a minute with SMARTGART (instructions here) so you'll know that AGP instability has nothing to do with the problem. By the way, do you mind if I post your screenshots on a web page I'm building? I'm collecting screenshots with artifacts to try to help people figure out what kind of problem they're having. Last edited by UncleMacro; 11-24-2005 at 08:35 AM.

11-24-2005, 03:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ga-Knomboe Boy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	Thanks for the help, you may post the screenshots, I will report back to you once I have tried underclocking and slowing the AGP speed.

11-24-2005, 05:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ga-Knomboe Boy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	I love you UncleMacro, it seems changing the AGP speed fixed the problem :D

11-25-2005, 12:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	It's good to hear that it's fixed. You must have the world record for AGP corruption. I've never seen it that bad before.