Need some graphics card advice
- Thread starter Josh
- Start date
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The X1800XT isn't good enough? That's at the least a high mid-end card. Yeesh.
I somehow doubt you actually have that one, though, since it'd be way over 200 quid anyway.
The X1800XT isn't good enough? That's at the least a high mid-end card. Yeesh.
I somehow doubt you actually have that one, though, since it'd be way over 200 quid anyway.
no no no no no no no and no!
i forbid you to waste money now if you already have an X1800XT. you'll have to wait until the next gen of DX10 cards that should be along in a timely fashion.
i forbid you to waste money now if you already have an X1800XT. you'll have to wait until the next gen of DX10 cards that should be along in a timely fashion.
SquishyDeadBody
It Wandered In From the Wastes
Josh said:
Someone ban ole Josh for that link.
Thats just freaking nasty.
Just think that Josh had to be looking for that website just to link it.
Maybe next time you could show some fair warning?
Maybe a NSFW?
Thats what you get for invading other people's special awards. Anyway, yeah I've been on that site, it is one of the most famous shock sites around currently. Back on topic:
I'm still kinda tempted to switch graphics card, because I'm sure there is something wrong with mine. Lots of odd things happen, like for instance every time i go on my drivers page, the monitor flashes black twice. This isn't my monitor, because it has done it on two different ones. Not only am i also noticing some odd frame rate drops (low fps on guild wars, sudden drops to 10 for about an hour on the source engine) but also some games are now just refusing to run. Guild Wars won't load an area anymore, just sticks on the loading screen, even though i can hear audio in that area, and can apparently move my character. I can't think of any other cause for this. Anyone heard about these sorts of issues with ATI cards before? This is my first ati, and I'm not sure whats normal and what isn't.
I'm still kinda tempted to switch graphics card, because I'm sure there is something wrong with mine. Lots of odd things happen, like for instance every time i go on my drivers page, the monitor flashes black twice. This isn't my monitor, because it has done it on two different ones. Not only am i also noticing some odd frame rate drops (low fps on guild wars, sudden drops to 10 for about an hour on the source engine) but also some games are now just refusing to run. Guild Wars won't load an area anymore, just sticks on the loading screen, even though i can hear audio in that area, and can apparently move my character. I can't think of any other cause for this. Anyone heard about these sorts of issues with ATI cards before? This is my first ati, and I'm not sure whats normal and what isn't.
Yep, and you get a warning for posting it here like that. Don't do that again, or you get a ban.Josh said:
That sounds like a broken card. So use your warrantee.Josh said:
The flickering is normal for ati cards when it's switching settings. Mine does it all the time when running different games, or loading up the catalyst control center.
The intermittent fps problems sound like a temperature problem to me. Are you overclocking? Check your fans and vents to make sure they aren't clogging up with dust. Also you should defrag your hard drive, defrag and clean your registry, and run a ram optimizer to try to fix the other problems. It doesn't sound like a dead card to me.
I'm running an x1300 and with the rest of my hardware, I can run some high end graphics quality. It's not just the card, but CPU, RAM, and the way you handle your cache and pagefile. Don't give up on it yet.
The intermittent fps problems sound like a temperature problem to me. Are you overclocking? Check your fans and vents to make sure they aren't clogging up with dust. Also you should defrag your hard drive, defrag and clean your registry, and run a ram optimizer to try to fix the other problems. It doesn't sound like a dead card to me.
I'm running an x1300 and with the rest of my hardware, I can run some high end graphics quality. It's not just the card, but CPU, RAM, and the way you handle your cache and pagefile. Don't give up on it yet.
Nah, no overclock, and i have fan running at 100 percent constantly, idles at 52 degrees, games usually at 70 at the most. So erm, about this memory test, can you recommend me any? Thanks
Also, i can't find any bloody thing to do with me graphics card, not really a chance of returning it, whats my best bet of a replacement under 200 quid, the 8800 linked earlier in the topic?
Also, i can't find any bloody thing to do with me graphics card, not really a chance of returning it, whats my best bet of a replacement under 200 quid, the 8800 linked earlier in the topic?
I've had about 0 problems with my X1800GTO,the flickering does happen when I change res. and such,but never in a -to me- disturbing way.
I haven't noticed any unusual/unexpected framerate drops in HL2 during the times I've played it.(I'd guess three hours in a row is max,maybe four,with VtM Bloodlines I've prob. played six in a row without problems...)
I doubt it's the graphics card though,sounds more like something within the rest of the PC,a graphics card shouldn't cause framerate drops for more than a while...(due to much textures to draw and such)
I would look at system hogs elsewhere,do you turn off the antivirus prog. when gaming?
Do you have indexing turned on?
Do you have M$ Office installed and parts of it running?
Maybe there's some trojan installed that you've missed?
How much memory do you have in your system? (I was fine with 1Gig,but increasing to 2 was certainly not a waste of cash,with Gothic3 it's a must have IMHO)
What I would do if I were you is a fresh installation of the OS and then not install anything other than the newest drivers and such and then try the games you have problems with.
Another thing you could try is to go to some friend and try the card in a box you know work just fine and see if the problems happen there too,alternatively borrow a graphics card of a friend and see if it helps.
Maybe you could borrow a memory stick and try playing the source game without any other change...?
I haven't noticed any unusual/unexpected framerate drops in HL2 during the times I've played it.(I'd guess three hours in a row is max,maybe four,with VtM Bloodlines I've prob. played six in a row without problems...)
I doubt it's the graphics card though,sounds more like something within the rest of the PC,a graphics card shouldn't cause framerate drops for more than a while...(due to much textures to draw and such)
I would look at system hogs elsewhere,do you turn off the antivirus prog. when gaming?
Do you have indexing turned on?
Do you have M$ Office installed and parts of it running?
Maybe there's some trojan installed that you've missed?
How much memory do you have in your system? (I was fine with 1Gig,but increasing to 2 was certainly not a waste of cash,with Gothic3 it's a must have IMHO)
What I would do if I were you is a fresh installation of the OS and then not install anything other than the newest drivers and such and then try the games you have problems with.
Another thing you could try is to go to some friend and try the card in a box you know work just fine and see if the problems happen there too,alternatively borrow a graphics card of a friend and see if it helps.
Maybe you could borrow a memory stick and try playing the source game without any other change...?
Thanks for the advice.
I have 2gig of ram, from a reliable brand. I'm interested in optimizing it, or whatever dove mentioned, know any good software for doing this?
I'm pretty sure it is my graphics card, I've only noticed the sudden horrific drops of fps since i put it in, and now guild wars not running is very odd.
I have a fresh install of me os, formatted two days ago, so i think i can rule out trojans or background shit.
Interestingly enough, i got guild wars running for a short time yesterday, before it packed in like it did on me previous xp install (only started packing in recently, i'm sure this card is dieing), and i noticed the graphics were awful, choppy, and i had a very low draw distance, even when everything was set to high.
I also recently did a 3dmark 06 test. The last one i did scored in at about 8k points, but this one... 4000. Something is wrong here.
So basically:
1: I reckon i can scrape some more cash together, so for about 250 quid, what should i get as a replacement?
2: How can i test my ram?
Thanks for all the comments.
I have 2gig of ram, from a reliable brand. I'm interested in optimizing it, or whatever dove mentioned, know any good software for doing this?
I'm pretty sure it is my graphics card, I've only noticed the sudden horrific drops of fps since i put it in, and now guild wars not running is very odd.
I have a fresh install of me os, formatted two days ago, so i think i can rule out trojans or background shit.
Interestingly enough, i got guild wars running for a short time yesterday, before it packed in like it did on me previous xp install (only started packing in recently, i'm sure this card is dieing), and i noticed the graphics were awful, choppy, and i had a very low draw distance, even when everything was set to high.
I also recently did a 3dmark 06 test. The last one i did scored in at about 8k points, but this one... 4000. Something is wrong here.
So basically:
1: I reckon i can scrape some more cash together, so for about 250 quid, what should i get as a replacement?
2: How can i test my ram?
Thanks for all the comments.
keyser Soeze
Where'd That 6th Toe Come From?
I think the 8800 series is a good choice even tho i normally prefer ATi.
At this time ATi have nothing to throw against the 8800 series. They do have some nice shit in development, the R600 aka x2800xt. This card have been said to have ~30% more efficiency compared to 8800. So obviously it will be a better card but it will also cost allot more for a longer time.
My advice would be to get 8800GTS or 8800GTX in something like 4 months, by then the price will have dropped allot.
Besides this there isn't really any need for a DX10 card at this time. There are only a handfull of games that will support it in the coming months.
Also what CPU do you have and what is the max resolution on your monitor?
http://www.memtest86.com/
At this time ATi have nothing to throw against the 8800 series. They do have some nice shit in development, the R600 aka x2800xt. This card have been said to have ~30% more efficiency compared to 8800. So obviously it will be a better card but it will also cost allot more for a longer time.
My advice would be to get 8800GTS or 8800GTX in something like 4 months, by then the price will have dropped allot.
Besides this there isn't really any need for a DX10 card at this time. There are only a handfull of games that will support it in the coming months.
Also what CPU do you have and what is the max resolution on your monitor?
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://www.memtest.org/ is better (updated version)
as for optimising your ram, that's mostly bullshit. either way, if you got those drops you really need to diagnose what's wrong. cpu temps, voltage lines etc.
as for optimising your ram, that's mostly bullshit. either way, if you got those drops you really need to diagnose what's wrong. cpu temps, voltage lines etc.
Josh said:
Sorry,not really,haven't really bothered about it since my...Pentium 100Mhz days...I did find a couple while looking through nonags now though:
http://www.pcalmeglio.com/winoverboost/index_en.htm
http://www.e-systems.ro/
http://www.nomorehistory.com
Yeah,I couldn't get a game to start more than once myself,but with the newest drivers it all of a sudden did...
Do you get the full version (with all the extras) or just the drivers?
I did get some trouble with the extras on my 9600 and have stayed away from them ever since.(but by mistake I got the full package when upgrading this x1800GTO and again I ran into problems,so I don't recommend those,get just the drivers instead....)
If you like the extras you can try to update with those when you have drivers installed and working...
Yes,I agree...but from the problematic graphics cards I've ever encountered (which TBH haven't been many) I have never had that type of problem.(it's been completely dead,slow,flickering,black screens all the time and never intermittently...which is why I wonder...)
But,if it still is the graph. card,I'd expect a faulty memory module on it if you can't find something that's a clear problem.
If you want to test it,overclock the card,look for pixels that are white on a dark background,that's the first sign it's getting too much and you've reached the limit.
If you haven't got any warranty on it,it might also be a good idea to remove the HSF and see if it has any thermal paste between it and the HSF...(thermal pads can do a decent job,but they're far from optional,if it has a lot of thermal paste/very unevenly spread you should check to see if the HSF actually sits nicely on the GPU)
There should only be a thin,even layer on it...preferreably as thin that you could almost see through it.(but that's very unlikely to happen on something "spewed out" of a factory)
Get the cheapest you can get,keep as much money as possible and wait for next gen...sorry,but the best choice for you is to get this one exchanged through warranty or do what you can to get it running if it has run out...(second best is to get used to slow FPS right now with a cheap card and keep as much money as you can and save a bit more and get a midrange of the next gen. cards when they come)
One other attempt -if you're willing to talk to some people who're very knowledgeable- go to www.beyond3d.com and ask at their forum about what may be the problem,how to check for a problem and so on....(I haven't been on that forum for years,but those people talked way above my head when they were talking about features and things...but they also do "scale down",so they won't do it on a simple question)
For reviews,I'd check one of:
www.anandtech.com
www.firingsquad.com
www.beyond3d.com (warning for tech stuff here though)
www.hardocp.com
I'm not a huge fan of tomshardware,it may have changed,but years back he was payed to write some reviews by the industry...and I don't really trust such sites...(things may have changed so it has stopped and firingsquad and anand has started to get payed though...I doubt the last two are for sale though,they're more like NMA/DAC HC type of deals...or at least they were...haven't really checked them either for years)
I wish I could remember what it was that always managed to crash my PC when I had a faulty memory stick....(it ran through SiSoft sandra and so on,but there was a game that crashed it instantly...I wish I could remember what it was...but this was about 10 years ago,so it may not have the same effect anymore)
Seems like micro£oft themselves has a testsuite:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
Found this too:
http://www.memtest86.com/
As SuAside posted while I was writing,it seems to be a better version if you remove the 86....
keyser Soeze said:
True,but at the same time it's a better choice to wait for a next gen. mid-range than spend the money for something that will soon be beaten by it.(so for more or less the same money you spend today on a good card,you can get a better card tomorrow with a mid-range one)
That's why I stick to that class with everything in my PC's,getting the best at double the price for a 10% increase in speed is only for those with a big wallet...(my previous 9600Pro and the OC'ed P4 1600@2400 stayed with me for 3 years plus at a nice -well,nice in computer terms- value for money deal,had I bought a P4 2400 and a 9800 I'd have spent about 500$ more with not much more longetivity and not much more performance)
Right, i've made a microsoft memory test floppy, ready for when i go to bed. I also had a harder look at me bios, and the temps of me cpu seem fine. core idles around 35, fan goes to 100% at 50. There was something about voltages on that page, but i don't really understand them, if it would help, i could take a picture of my monitor on that page.