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why do i get atikmdag error 3870?

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windie   03-08-2008 at 11:53:58 AM

Hi. I have noticed this for some time, that whenever i use ati overdrive feature to OC my 3870, then i do get atikmdag error, that the ati driver was reset or restarted or something. This obviously happens only when playing games (games freezes as the driver is restarted). At stock settings its fine.

I use rivatuner to OC, i dont get that error, games run fine at the OC setting. However, when using rivatuner, it makes my 3870 run at least 10-15C (at 68C) hotter on idle speeds. It doesnt matter if I reset to default settings afterwards. I have to restart the computer so that the rivatuner effects are removed and idle temp speeds are then at around 54C.

Does anyone else have these problems? Im running Vista 32bit. thanks

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mactronix   03-08-2008 at 03:31:56 PM
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Dont really think you have a problem as such,The error code is that the drivers have stopped responding which when overclocking means you have gone too far and the card isnt happy to run with the clocks you have set it.
When you overclock a graphics card it will run hotter, its going faster an doing more so its to be expected.
I dont know about riva tuner but in ATI TOOLS you can set default and gaming profiles that you can switch between. I would be surprised if you cant in riva tuner.
Third party apps tend to OC better than catalist in my experiance which is why you get better results with Riva tuner.
Do you have any fan sped settings you could increase to help cool the card ?
Mactronix

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husky mctarflash   03-08-2008 at 04:23:36 PM
- 0 +

I tried OCing with Rivatuner, but found that the HD3870 would no longer have the power (aka HEAT) saving functions, i.e., it normally drops down to 300 MHz on 2-D applications, and then ramps up to full speed when doing 3-D (games). Of course if the card is running full speed when it should otherwise be on idle, you will get some crazy heat issues. This was a deal killer for me. Maybe others have figured out how to downthrottle it for 2-D using Riva???

But this is all sadly irrelevant for me because my bad ass HIS ICEQ3 HD3870 is unstable with any kind of meaningful OC'ing. (max only about 5% on processor, but ZERO OC on memory).

Keep in mind that RivaTuner is still essential for the HD3870: its fan is fixed at 25%, which is probably not enough for running idle, let alone when Crysis pushes the card to 99% utilization.

Good luck!

------------------------------ e8400 at 3.85 GHz with Xigmatek 120mm Rifle | MSI P35 Neo2 FR | HIS HD3870 ICEQ3 | 4 GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800| 250 GB WD Caviar | 600 Watt OCZ StealthExtreme | Antec 900 | XP SP3
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windie   03-10-2008 at 12:09:55 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for your replies. I forgot to mention, that i just got the ICEQ 3 card, it has 075 bios and so the fan speed does adjust as necessary (not locked at 25%). My card never goes above 73C on load (53C idle).

@Husky McTarFlash, that makes sense. I guess thats why then u OC with rivatuner, the card then idles at least 10-15C more than normal. I managed to OC till 775 on core and 1270 on memory (didnt try further).


@mactronix, It doesnt matter even i OC the card by 1% using ati overdrive, it still gives the errors. It does not with rivatuner (it does with ati tool). But agian, with rivatuner the card runs hotter and so the fan runs faster (which i kinda do not like when i want things quiet). There is no problem of cooling. I actually had another powercolor 3870 that dies (other reasons why i gave that up). but the issue was the same as with this card. So its some crappy thing with ati overdrive and maybe vista i think. There is no need for increasing volt is there?

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