ATI 9800np from CC is DOA!?!

[Mike99Pgh]

I can't believe it! First, my system specs are as follows...

Abit NF7-S
AMD 2500+ clocked to 3200+
512MB Geil PC3200 at 2.5-6-3-3
Seatgate 120GB Baracudda IV
Santa Cruz
Gainward GF3 Ti200

I brought the 9800np home and set out on installing it. First I uninstalled the nVidia drivers and ran Driver Cleaner. Put the 9800np in and fired it up. For the first 30 seconds or so everthing looked OK and I booted into XP. Then the screen started flickering and I got a bunch of horizontal lines. After that the PC rebooted. At that point everything was all jumbled up and XP wouldn't load.

I shut everything down, made sure the card was seated, power was firmly attached, etc. Booted and the same thing. So I was thinking maybe my Turbolink 350W power supply wasn't putting out enought power. I know turbolinks aren't the best and I wanted to upgrade anyway so I went out and got an Antec 430W True Power supply. Installed that one and I still have problems with the 9800.

Now, whenever I try to boot up with the 9800 in there it won't even POST. BUT if I wiggle the card a little it will boot and everything "looks" fine. Wiggle it some more and it the PC will power off. Something is definitely screwed with that card!

Put the old Ti200 back in and all is well. This SUCKS...guess I have to take it back to CC and they'll have to order another one. None left in stock

Any other ideas or is this card just DOA?

 

[Viper96720]

It's got a warranty send it back to the manufacturer and get a replacement. Since they're no longer made don't know if CC can get anymore.
Did you try it in the computer at stock speed not overclocked? Make sure the PCI/AGP speed is locked.

 

[Mike99Pgh]

Yea...tried the 2500+ at stock speed and the AGP is locked.

Hmmm...when did they stop making 9800np's? Anyway...I'm not fooling around with sending it back to ATI. I'm going to CC and letting them deal with it. Worst case they'll just grab one out of inventory from another store. Actually, that's what they did for me on this one.

 

[LesPaul]

I've got an issue with my 9800 from CC too.. the heatsink on the VPU is very loose.. i can wiggle/turn it a few degrees each way... I seriously doubt with it being this loose its making solid contact with the core.. Anyone else have this problem with these cards?

 

[PClark99]

I got one from the CC deal last week. No problems here. Just installed it in my new SB75 rig tonight. Very good card IMHO.

 

[Viper96720]

I thought ATI no longer made the non pro but was mistaken.

 

[DarkKnight]

you just got a bad card, happens once in a while

 

[ectx]

If you have another system, I would plug the card in that system before reaching a conclusion.

I have nf7-s and 9700np(FIC). Everytime I load a new driver, winxp will error out (reboot) 2 twice. Then everything is ok - not a trace of instability at all. Tried everything, uderclocking (both cpu and video), overvolting agp, locking agp bus, reinstalling winxp .... and it always happens.

Put the 9700np in a 8rda+ and evewrything is ok.

Also, I had a lot of problems with the 9700np after flasing the bios to make it take oc setting. After that, it would not even boot up in most motherboards I owned (will boot in older ones). Finally I flashed it with a Herculus bios and now everything is ok (except the strange problem with nf7-S ).

Not sure this applied to your situation, but thouhgt my experience is weird enough to tell the story.

 

[MisterRaven]

Originally posted by: Mike99Pgh
I can't believe it! First, my system specs are as follows...

Abit NF7-S
AMD 2500+ clocked to 3200+
512MB Geil PC3200 at 2.5-6-3-3
Seatgate 120GB Baracudda IV
Santa Cruz
Gainward GF3 Ti200

I brought the 9800np home and set out on installing it. First I uninstalled the nVidia drivers and ran Driver Cleaner. Put the 9800np in and fired it up. For the first 30 seconds or so everthing looked OK and I booted into XP. Then the screen started flickering and I got a bunch of horizontal lines. After that the PC rebooted. At that point everything was all jumbled up and XP wouldn't load.

I shut everything down, made sure the card was seated, power was firmly attached, etc. Booted and the same thing. So I was thinking maybe my Turbolink 350W power supply wasn't putting out enought power. I know turbolinks aren't the best and I wanted to upgrade anyway so I went out and got an Antec 430W True Power supply. Installed that one and I still have problems with the 9800.

Now, whenever I try to boot up with the 9800 in there it won't even POST. BUT if I wiggle the card a little it will boot and everything "looks" fine. Wiggle it some more and it the PC will power off. Something is definitely screwed with that card!

Put the old Ti200 back in and all is well. This SUCKS...guess I have to take it back to CC and they'll have to order another one. None left in stock

Any other ideas or is this card just DOA?

Try disabling AGP fast writes in your motherboard's BIOS, as well as the ATI contol panel. I have the same card, and it worked for me.