Corrupt video output, a7v8x / ti4200, got any ideas?

[TheSuperSquirrel]

Hey, this is what I'm running before I get into the problem.

Asus A7V8X (bios v.1010), Barton 1.83 retail HSF, 2 x 256M mushkin pc2700, Abit Siluro GF4 Ti4200 (128M/8X)

Ok, the system was working fine for about 2 weeks now. I've played practically full 2 days worth of games since I've had it. One day, I go to restart my system (soft boot), and then all the letters on the screen became corrupt (you can still make out some characters though), with unreadable ascii characters, rainbow coloring, and verticle lines scattered throughout the video bios screen, motherboard bios screen, and in both windows98/2k. 98 wont even boot, it will just restart repeatedly, 2k will load though.

Now the weird thing is, for a few hours, I was able to get it to work properly, only after a power draining cold boot. But a few hours later, same problem no matter what I did. I don't have all the parts to troubleshoot properly right now, I've had the video card tested on other machines (non agp8x, non kt400) and it seems to work fine. It's not the monitor either, cause I'm typing on it right now using my old s3 pci vid card. (the use of the dvi connetor did nothing, same problem) Nobody would let me borrow their card to plug into my motherboard yet, and I was hoping someone here has run into this problem already and knew the answer. Thanks in advance for any help, thoughts, advice.

-Rich

 

[Peacekeeper100]

Here is a link I found with a similar problem. It seems to be related to the Ti-4200's. Hopefully this will help.

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/3822/

 

[dude]

I believe this problem is with some capacitors that are defective on the card. Not the card makers' problem or a manufacturing problem but the capacitor manufacture problem!

 

[Bacinator]

It would be the manufacturer's problem, because nearly every warantee specifies that the card is protected from defects. A capacitor not performing at it's rating or the card not performing as advertised, are technically "defective".

 

[Bacinator]

Try updating drivers and firmware anyways... Abit software linky

 

[Bacinator]

Found Abit Warantee/RMA page

2. Find your original invoice:
ABIT offers limited warranty on the hardware (the "Product") against defects in material or workmanship for a period of three (3) year from the original date of purchase for all products, purchased in the United States (excluding territories) or Canada from ABIT or ABIT authorized dealer. If your product is within two (2) years from the original date of manufacturing, or one (1) year from the original date of purchase, whichever is longer for Motherboard; or fifteen (15) months from the original date of manufacturing, or one (1) year from the original date of purchase, whichever is longer for VGA Cards and all other accessories. If you have the invoice of original purchase with you and your product is still within that period, we will take care of your repair for you absolutely FREE. In case you lost your invoice or your product is beyond this period for free labor service, then you will have to pay for the service charge either via our online payment or write a check for USD $25.00. to ABIT Computer USA to cover the labor and associated handling costs.

 

[damonpip]

I don't think dude meant that it wasn't covered by warranty, I think he was just suggesting that the manufacturer might not be at fault. If the manufacturer uses a defective partt, it's covered by warranty, so no need to worry about that.

 

[Bacinator]

I could knock over my neighbor's trashcan.
It would be my fault, but not my problem.

Implying that the problem is not the manufacturer's impies they are not responsible for it, whether they are the cause or not.