Author Topic: 9500 Pro problem  (Read 330 times)

Offline mauser

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9500 Pro problem
« on: November 11, 2003, 01:06:23 AM »
I posted a while back when I was having problems with my 9500 Pro.  After a BIOS update of my mb (MSI KT3 ULTRA2), it seemed the problems went away.  Well, I just recently upgraded to Win2K and after everything was done I wanted to bench it under 3dmark03.  It described my cpu as Athlon running at 1250 MHz!  Checked the FSB setting in the BIOS and it had been running at 100 MHz instead of 133 all this time after the BIOS update.  

However, after setting the FSB back to 133 my video system goes unstable.  While playing AH, after about 5 mins the system reboots itself.  For my 3D Aquarium screensaver, the machine just hangs with a blank blue screen.  So I try using Radclocker (comes with the Omega drivers) to underclock the 9500.  I set it from the default 276 MHz down to about 180 and still it didn't help.  Only if I set the FSB down to 100 MHz is the system stable enough to play AH.  

Does this sound like a bad card?  My system never did this with my old GeForce2 Pro card.  I really like the image quality of the ATI's but after hearing about other bad cards, I hope QC improved for the 9600 / 9800 series.  

mauser

AMD Athlon XP 2000+
MSI KT3 Ultra 2
256 MB RAM
ATI RADEON 9500 Pro 128
Windows 2000 Pro
DirectX9.0b

Offline bloom25

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9500 Pro problem
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2003, 01:23:52 AM »
Actually it sounds like bad system ram to me.  Your memory is fine at 100 MHz but is having problems at 133 MHz.  Try downloading and running memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com).  This program will make a bootable floppy (or CD) and will take about 30 - 60 minutes to complete a test cycle with 256 - 512 MB of system memory.  (Run it with the FSB set at 133 MHz.)  If you see any errors, run the test again and if the error is again present you will want to pull memory sticks and try to track down which one is the culprit.

If it's not that, the CPU may be overheating or the power supply is very borderline and the extra CPU clockspeed (and corresponding rise in power consumption) is just pushing it over the edge.  The 9500 PRO draws a lot more power than a GeForce 2 does.  You can try to track down a heat problem by opening the side of the case (to improve cooling) and trying to play AH again.  A power supply issue can be a lot trickier to track down, as the system will usually reboot without any warning if the powersupply overheats or glitches.

You might also check (if possible) in the bios that the AGP bus is running at 66 MHz.  If the FSB is overclocked on a VIA chipset board, the AGP bus also rises in clockspeed.  Once it gets to an even divisor of 66 MHz it will be corrected.  (Meaning if it really is at 133 MHz, the AGP bus should be at 66 MHz, but if it's accidentally been set to say 120 MHz it may be different.)  If all else fails, and you have the option, try setting the AGP transfer rate to 2x.

One last thing that may be helpful is to check for errors in the system log.  Right click "My computer" on the desktop and pick manage.  System tools -> event viewer.  Look for any errors under system and/or application.  Typically a message indicating that the system has rebooted from a bugcheck may be helpful in narrowing down a software issue.  (Unfortunately this sounds like a hardware related problem though...)
« Last Edit: November 11, 2003, 01:29:42 AM by bloom25 »

Offline mauser

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9500 Pro problem
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2003, 11:10:30 PM »
Thanks for the suggestions bloom!  I ran the memtest about 3 times - one with the default tests and then with all the tests.  No errors showed up.  I took the cover off and also got a new desk (the cpu previously sat in a cubby hole with rollers - part of my old desk) so that the cpu could get more air.  AH ran several hours this time before the system reset itself.  The BIOS doesn't show or have any separate settings for the AGP bus speed - so no go there.  The system event log didn't show anything either after the resets.  It must be the heat ... on Skuzzy's advice I had gotten an Antec 430W TruePower, which should be sufficient because I don't have more than one of anything (CD-RW, hard drive, etc.) in my system.  The case is an old InWin A500... it was good for the old Slot A Athlons and older video cards, but probably insufficient for newer processors and video cards.  Looking at Antec cases now, not sure if I really want to go back to a full tower though.

mauser

Offline Furious

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9500 Pro problem
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2003, 02:22:53 AM »
I had very similar problems with an MSI KT3 ULTRA2 board.  It turned out to be heat related.  An extra case fan and a Glacialtech Igloo fixed it.

Might want to get MotherBoard Monitor and set the test interval to like 10-15 secs and see if the CPU's or MB's temp is spiking right before a spontaneous reboot.

Offline mauser

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9500 Pro problem
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2003, 11:10:04 AM »
I had gotten an extra case fan for the front, to draw air into the case, but it didn't seem to help much.  I see all the Antec mini-towers have an extra exhaust fan port, while my old Inwin relies on the power supply's exhaust fan port.  I was reading some of the docs on AMD's site which suggested that the temperature inside the case should not go above 40C.  Using the BIOS temperature monitor, my cpu temp hits 63C and I think the system temp is in the 50's.   Gonna go looking around this weekend for a case, rounded IDE cable, and fans.

mauser

Offline bloom25

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9500 Pro problem
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2003, 08:31:58 PM »
That's WAY to high of a case temp, and the CPU temp is also a bit high.  I don't think a 9500 Pro is going to be able to cool itself with the temperatures in the case that high.  The extra casefan exhaust port is crucial on new systems.

Offline mauser

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9500 Pro problem
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2003, 10:49:50 AM »
Picked up an Antec Performance ProView 1000AMG case this past weekend and moved all my parts into it.  Big difference immediately, the temps went down to about 49 C (cpu) / 42 C (case) at idle and get to about 54 C (cpu) / 45 C (case) while playing AH for at least an hour.  Now I just need a whole day to play something to make sure it's stable ;)

15 C lower cpu temperature at idle... like Richard Petty used to say, "Man, what a difference!"

mauser