9800 Pro 128 help!

[DJMattB241]

Okay, i've been working with this for some time, so let me run down a timeline:

-Added second harddrive
-videocard started lagging
-Added a third fan in the case (thinking overheating, you know?)
-Added a ArcticCooling fan on the card itself
-Formatted harddrive/reinstalled windows/reinstalled most recent drivers
-Upgraded from a 400w to a 500w PSU (thinking i didnt have enough power after adding 2nd HDD)

Here's what it's doing:

I play UT2004, and it'll start off with a fine frame rate (over 100fps in regular DM) and over the course of about 5 minutes, the frame rate will continue to fall until its leveling about 15fps, where it holds.

*sigh* help? did i kill it?

P4 3.0Ghz
512Mb RAM
9800Pro 128 (not oc'd ever)
2 HDDs
2 CDROMS
front USB panel
500w PSU
3 case fans

 

[DJMattB241]

bump?

 

[Tates]

1 GB of DDR works wonders

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: DJMattB241
bump?

Hey, if you disconnect the 2cd HDD now, does the problem persist, or go away?

Fern

 

[revnja]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I'm using the same exact card and I get this EXACT problem except it's in CS:S. I switched to the Omega drivers and turned off fast writes which helped make the game playable half the time, but it's really random on the times I get a good framerate. It's a very confusing issue, that is for sure.

 

[Fern]

What PSU are you using & how many amps on the 12volt rail?

Fern