7600GT and texture >256

[maque1]

Running 2 7600gt in SLI mode, asus an8 sli deluxe with 1 gig mem, 24" Acer LCD 980X1220.

If I try to run AH in 512 tex mode or higher, after a while I get "artifacts", mostly grey vertical columns from the ground to heavens.  256 or lower fine.  Close to the ground is the worst.  Running the old 84.23 driver. the 91. series are worthless.

If I go back to the desktop for a few seconds and back to AH, everything is fine for awhile, then it starts all over again.

?????????????? Anyone?

Maque:confused:

[Skuzzy]

Heat.  Possibly power.  The clue being that it returns to normal after going back to the desktop.

What you are seeing is memory artifacts.  Usually the result of heat, but can also be caused by barely adequate power.

When you enter 3D, such as starting a game, the video cards power consumption skyrocket, as does the heat generated.

Reducing the texture size, reduces the workload a bit.

Easy way to determine if it is heat.  Pull off the case top/side panel, then get a desk fan and point it at the video cards (turning it on also helps).