Monitor Cuts Out with ATI Radion x700

afritzsche · 01-14-2006, 03:34 PM

Hi All,

I recently started having a somewhat frequent problem with my monitor/video card. Actually, I'm not sure exactly where the problem lies, but here are the facts:

I have an ATI x700 256 MB video card running on a PIII 1.8 Ghz with 512 MB RAM. I've never had any problems with the card and have played games like Doom 3 without any problems. I recently installed World of Warcraft III and since that point have had a recurring problem. After extended play or sometimes for no reason at all, the computer will continue to run but the monitor will stop receiving a signal (orange light). I'm really not sure why.

The first time it happened, I opened up the computer and cleaned off all the dust on the video card/motherboard/etc. I thought that perhaps the heat made it turn off. For a little bit it would turn on in safe mode, with VGA display, and then somewhat miraculously it started working like new again.

Now, sometimes the problem will occur when I turn on the computer. It just won't boot. Other times there aren't any problems. Other times the video will cut out when doing something graphics intensive.

Does this make sense? I'd really appreciate any advice the brilliant readers on this bulletin board can provide. Thanks.

Alfred.

dai · 01-14-2006, 03:46 PM

what size power supply are you running,is it the original or have you upgraded it

afritzsche · 01-14-2006, 04:28 PM

It's the power supply that came with the computer. I haven't upgraded it, but I'm not sure what it is or how to check.

If it's any consolation, I've been running this setup without any problems for about 7 months. I'm installing updated drivers for ATI Radeon to see if it *might* make a difference, but my hopes aren't up.

Do you think the power supply could be too small?

afritzsche · 01-14-2006, 04:44 PM

Whoa. I opened it up and it says 260W MAX. I think that's really low. Right?

dai · 01-14-2006, 04:55 PM

go here and check what size you need
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/
based on a quality supply and add 30% to the result

Animo · 01-14-2006, 05:08 PM

Hey. Ive got the AGP X700 video card and they recommend a 300W or greater power supply. Though 260W isn't that far away, I dont think it can support the card 100%.

afritzsche · 01-14-2006, 05:11 PM

Interesting. Thanks. Do you think it makes sense that the card would work fine until 7 months or so passed? It just seems weird that all of the sudden it would cut out.

Are there any ways to make the computer less likely to break down because of the power supply? Preventative measures, etc.?

Thanks - AF

dai · 01-14-2006, 05:18 PM

that is normal on a underpowered supply.after time it starts to show signs of wear
go for a quality supply as big as you can afford above what you need

afritzsche · 01-14-2006, 05:32 PM

Do you know if any type of power supply will work, are they all compatible or do they come in different sizes, etc.?

Thanks for all your help.

-AF

dai · 01-14-2006, 05:39 PM

as long as it is not a brand name i.e.
compaq
dell
hp
any atx should just swap straight in

afritzsche · 01-15-2006, 03:02 PM

I bit the bullet and went to Best Buy for an overpriced but quick fix. The problem so far seems to be fixed.

Thanks - AF

dai · 01-15-2006, 11:00 PM

did you find out what they did to fix it

afritzsche · 01-16-2006, 10:46 AM

OK, here's the deal. What I meant was that I went to Best Buy to buy a new power supply. I meant that it was more expensive than one on new egg. Obviously, at that time I thought it was a fix. For about sixteen hours I had no problems and things that previously made the monitor cut (really high graphics settings, for example) stopped having that result.

BUT, of course: this morning the computer won't start up with anything but safe-mode style resolution and color depth. Help! I replaced the power supply and am not sure of where to go from here.

Trying to re-install the drivers for the video card now and entered a ticket with ATI today.

Thanks - AF

afritzsche · 01-16-2006, 11:22 AM

Also, something unusual is happening in my device manager. There are seven instances of either "VGA Graphics" or "ATI Radeon X700", depending on whether or not the driver is installed.

The properties for one of the devices indicates there are "insufficient resources" to use the device.

Thanks for all your help. AF

dai · 01-16-2006, 12:38 PM

http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.html

afritzsche · 01-17-2006, 04:48 PM

Going to send it to ATI if my warranty is still good. Will update when they let me know what's going on.

AF

01-14-2006, 03:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	Monitor Cuts Out with ATI Radion x700 Hi All, I recently started having a somewhat frequent problem with my monitor/video card. Actually, I'm not sure exactly where the problem lies, but here are the facts: I have an ATI x700 256 MB video card running on a PIII 1.8 Ghz with 512 MB RAM. I've never had any problems with the card and have played games like Doom 3 without any problems. I recently installed World of Warcraft III and since that point have had a recurring problem. After extended play or sometimes for no reason at all, the computer will continue to run but the monitor will stop receiving a signal (orange light). I'm really not sure why. The first time it happened, I opened up the computer and cleaned off all the dust on the video card/motherboard/etc. I thought that perhaps the heat made it turn off. For a little bit it would turn on in safe mode, with VGA display, and then somewhat miraculously it started working like new again. Now, sometimes the problem will occur when I turn on the computer. It just won't boot. Other times there aren't any problems. Other times the video will cut out when doing something graphics intensive. Does this make sense? I'd really appreciate any advice the brilliant readers on this bulletin board can provide. Thanks. Alfred.

01-14-2006, 03:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,551 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	what size power supply are you running,is it the original or have you upgraded it __________________

01-14-2006, 04:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	260w Whoa. I opened it up and it says 260W MAX. I think that's really low. Right?

01-14-2006, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,551 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	go here and check what size you need http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ based on a quality supply and add 30% to the result __________________

01-14-2006, 05:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,551 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	that is normal on a underpowered supply.after time it starts to show signs of wear go for a quality supply as big as you can afford above what you need __________________

01-14-2006, 04:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	It's the power supply that came with the computer. I haven't upgraded it, but I'm not sure what it is or how to check. If it's any consolation, I've been running this setup without any problems for about 7 months. I'm installing updated drivers for ATI Radeon to see if it might make a difference, but my hopes aren't up. Do you think the power supply could be too small?

01-14-2006, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Animo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4 OS: windows xp pro	Hey. Ive got the AGP X700 video card and they recommend a 300W or greater power supply. Though 260W isn't that far away, I dont think it can support the card 100%.

01-14-2006, 05:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	Interesting. Thanks. Do you think it makes sense that the card would work fine until 7 months or so passed? It just seems weird that all of the sudden it would cut out. Are there any ways to make the computer less likely to break down because of the power supply? Preventative measures, etc.? Thanks - AF

01-14-2006, 05:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	Do you know if any type of power supply will work, are they all compatible or do they come in different sizes, etc.? Thanks for all your help. -AF

01-14-2006, 05:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,551 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	as long as it is not a brand name i.e. compaq dell hp any atx should just swap straight in __________________

01-15-2006, 03:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	Thanks. I bit the bullet and went to Best Buy for an overpriced but quick fix. The problem so far seems to be fixed. Thanks - AF

01-15-2006, 11:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,551 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	did you find out what they did to fix it __________________

01-16-2006, 10:46 AM	#13 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	Updates. OK, here's the deal. What I meant was that I went to Best Buy to buy a new power supply. I meant that it was more expensive than one on new egg. Obviously, at that time I thought it was a fix. For about sixteen hours I had no problems and things that previously made the monitor cut (really high graphics settings, for example) stopped having that result. BUT, of course: this morning the computer won't start up with anything but safe-mode style resolution and color depth. Help! I replaced the power supply and am not sure of where to go from here. Trying to re-install the drivers for the video card now and entered a ticket with ATI today. Thanks - AF

01-16-2006, 11:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	Also, something unusual is happening in my device manager. There are seven instances of either "VGA Graphics" or "ATI Radeon X700", depending on whether or not the driver is installed. The properties for one of the devices indicates there are "insufficient resources" to use the device. Thanks for all your help. AF

01-16-2006, 12:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,551 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.html __________________

01-17-2006, 04:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
afritzsche Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9 OS: WinXP	Going to send it to ATI if my warranty is still good. Will update when they let me know what's going on. AF