Need Help With ATI AIW 9600 XT

junkmanj · Rated PG Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 13

I recently installed a ATI AIW 9600 XT video card in my son's computer. Specs as follows

- MSI K7N420 Pro ( nvidia chipset with built in graphics accelerator)
- (2) sticks of Crucial PC 2100 slots 1&2
- SB live sound card
- New Thermaltake 420 watt power supply
- Athlon 2400 + CPU
- 66 / 133 / 266 timing
- latest catylist 5.2 drivers
- not overclocked at all

I am experiencing random crashes to a blue screen. Windows XP reports a machine_check_error and points me in the direction of power supply, ram , overclocking, ventilation,

Tried uninstall / reinstall video card and sound card drivers
Installed latest Chipset drivers before reinstall, installed Direct C 9C

Voltage rails seem stable

ATI Smart Gard lowers AGP speed to 1X,

Followed ATI's instruction for BIOS settings

Still I get random crashes even with the AGP slider reduced 1 position. Crashes on certain game scenes and Ruinscape online.

The only thing I can think of is the AGP driving value. MSI says to leave it in auto or else the machine may crash and not POST.

I was also thinking, I may have too much plugged into one power strip but I think the power supply would be well regulated.

Finally my PCI USB 2 card shares the same IRQ but no conflicts areindicated in the device manager.

I would very much appreciate any thought or suggestions that you may have. ATI seems to be of little help.

Thanks!
junkmanj

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3473

First, I don't know anything about ATI video cards...

Does that card require additional power? If so, is the line it's on have many devices connected? Your 420w should be more than sufficient to run what you have installed (assuming 1-2 HD and optical drives).

Do you have another video card you can try to see if you still have the problem with it?

Have you disabled the built-in video? Should be in the bios or a jumper on the MB.

HackaX0rus · Posted: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 14:19:58 Post Subject:

welcome to BB junkmanj,
Aiight try a new psu and make sure the onboard is disabled like hell said. I had troubles with my 9800 pro doin similar things and it was my shotty psu. I had a 500 watt enermax and it had jsut reached the end of its life so try another psu if that doesnt help try flashing the bios. or using older ati drivers.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 14:24:21 Post Subject:

Welcome... As a base first step I would roll back drivers to the ones provided with the card.

I have a 9600 Sapphire card that was tempermental. I had to use the Sapphire version drivers first, then patch to Catalyst 4.11 (I believe), and then to 5.2. If I installed the card and went straight to offical ATI drivers I would have problems. May be a good thing to try before swapping out hardware, especially brand new hardware (psu).

HackaX0rus · Posted: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 14:27:49 Post Subject:

BeerCheeze · Posted: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 14:34:54 Post Subject:

Hi Junkman...

Since you mentioned that you might have too much plugged into 1 power strip, this might be your problem. Your PSU can only regulate the power it is given, if your power strip is being overloaded it may not be able to supply enough current to your system.

Try plugging it directly into the wall outlet and then running some test and see what happens. At the least you should eliminate the possibility of it being the power strip.

OOo and Welcome! Grin

junkmanj · Rated PG Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 13

Somethings I tried:

I did flash the BIOS to the latest version

There is no MB jumper or BIOS settings to eliminate the on-board graphics. God knows, I read the main board manual 5 times.

I will indeed plug the power supply directly into the wall socket. This is a easy test.

The on-board video worked fine with the old Antec 300 watt PSU.

Does anyone know about AGP "Driving Value"? This is a mystery adjustment in the BIOS that can lead to system crashes. I know how to re-set the BIOS with the jumper on the MB so I'm willing to take a gamble.

Let me try the wall outlet first though.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

junkmanj

BeerCheeze

junkmanj · Rated PG Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 13

Thanks for the post Dr. Evilchase. I will check with ATI to see what the AGP driving value should be; I sense that this is the problem. ATI is not extremely responsive. I sometimes think I'm going to die of old age before they answer my e-mail message

Junkmanj

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3473

They should have an 800 number you can call for Tech Support...

I've always gotten better tech response out of many companies by calling their Tech Support line...