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The dangers of toying with older hardware - X850PRO unstable.

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - The dangers of toying with older hardware - X850PRO unstable.

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jay_l_a   10-01-2008 at 11:39:24 PM

New build: old hardware.

P4 3.2Ghz (Prescott - HT)
1Gb DDR 133 (feel the speed)
AGP ATI X850PRO
cr@ppy Dell mobo.


Machine Prime 95 stable.

ATI tool runs fine, temps on video card are fine.

3dmark2001 - runs for about 30 seconds, then crashes.

3dmark2003, sometimes gets all the way through Battle of Proxycon, then crashes.

After crash, ATI's vpu recovery thangy is active.

It's not temps. It's not instability in the mem/CPU.
Drivers? I've tried the latest (8.9) catalyst, and some from last year (7.6 or something)

Any ideas?
Thanks,
J

------------------------------ GA-X38-DS4 (BIOS F3)||E8400 C2D (3.6GHz)||2x 1Gb Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 4-4-4-12||320Gb WD Caviar||2x 750Gb WD Caviar||Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W||2x HD4870 512Mb(Crossfire)||HT Omega Striker 7.1
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joz   10-02-2008 at 12:01:50 AM
- 0 +

Your PSU sucks, get a new one.

Reply to joz
jay_l_a   10-02-2008 at 12:07:13 AM
- 0 +

Yep, that's one thing I didn't mention.

PSU: Cooler Master 600W

More than up to the job.

------------------------------ GA-X38-DS4 (BIOS F3)||E8400 C2D (3.6GHz)||2x 1Gb Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 4-4-4-12||320Gb WD Caviar||2x 750Gb WD Caviar||Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W||2x HD4870 512Mb(Crossfire)||HT Omega Striker 7.1
 Reply to jay_l_a
megamanx00   10-02-2008 at 12:58:17 AM
- 0 +

Try disabling fast read and fast write. Also make sure to dissable Video BIOS shadow, or any similar option should you have it in your BIOS menu. You may also want to try using the Omega Drivers, which is what I use on my old computer with a 1950GT

------------------------------ Playing X-Men Origins: Wolverine Athlon 64 X2 5000+ @3.24 Brisbane | GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-DS4 | 4GB Mushkin DDR2 1066 | Plextor 760A| 2x 3850 512M CF| WD 1TB Black| Fortron Blue Storm II 500W | APEVIA X-Dreamer Black | Win XP Pro & Vista Buisness 32bit
 Reply to megamanx00
jay_l_a   10-02-2008 at 02:03:21 AM
- 0 +

Hmmm.
Cause: Unmatched DIMMS

 

Weird, Prime didn't seem to have a problem with them.

 

I had a pair of 256Mb DDR266's in there and a pair of 256Mb DDR 333's in there. I pulled out the 266's and all seems to be fine. (BTW I was running the 333's at DDR 266 speed)

 

I'll play with it at this speed, and then throw the 1Gb of Corsair XMS DDR400 at it and see if it's any faster.

 

I'm pleasantly surprised. It's by no means a FAST machine, but it should be able to pull backup duties if I ever want to play a LAN game on an RTS or something (*note: this comment excludes SupCom)


Message edited by jay_l_a on 10-02-2008 at 02:04:31 AM
------------------------------ GA-X38-DS4 (BIOS F3)||E8400 C2D (3.6GHz)||2x 1Gb Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 4-4-4-12||320Gb WD Caviar||2x 750Gb WD Caviar||Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W||2x HD4870 512Mb(Crossfire)||HT Omega Striker 7.1
 Reply to jay_l_a
harna   10-02-2008 at 02:15:45 AM
- 0 +

I used to get the VPU error quite frequently on old 850XT. It turned out to be a driver issue, and not all versions worked with it under Win XP. Unfortunately can't remember the version that did. If your using VISTA, i'd strongly advise changing the card out for a DX 10 supporting one. Anyway I diverge. The issue is with the 3D settings in the driver, hence Prime is stable but 3D mark and games give up VPU error. To check if this is so open CCC and click on 3D settings, select AA and see if 3D preview runs correctly. If not, you will need to look for a driver version that will work with your OS. And make sure you completely uninstall all ATi software before reintalling the fresh driver, including any ATi chipset drivers. Good luck, could take a while.

Reply to harna
jay_l_a   10-02-2008 at 04:10:57 AM
- 0 +

Catalyst 7.6 worked fine. Currently installing the 8.9 version, see if it's any faster.

I remember, the issue you're talking about, happening with this card before. I'd update drivers and none of the games would work.....

------------------------------ GA-X38-DS4 (BIOS F3)||E8400 C2D (3.6GHz)||2x 1Gb Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 4-4-4-12||320Gb WD Caviar||2x 750Gb WD Caviar||Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W||2x HD4870 512Mb(Crossfire)||HT Omega Striker 7.1
 Reply to jay_l_a
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