Flicker/Shutdown on 3D

[Nick4753]

My System:
AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (1666.3Mhz)
Biostar M7VIF (KT333-8233, VIA KT266/333 Rev 0, VIA VT8233A; Bios: Pheonix 6.00PG 09/02/2002)
1.5GB Ram (133.3Mhz, All Kingston or Micron PC2700 or 2100, Checked and Passed Memtest 86)
Powercolor ATI Radeon 9600XT AGP 256MB (Fast Write was ON but is now OFF, Running at 1600x1200 60Hz)
2x Western Digital 120GB Special Edition
Soundblaster Audigy Gamer
ATI TV Tuner
3Com Network Card
ANTEC 400W Power Supply (Update from 200)

Problem:
When I would load into a 3D Game or run a video application over a longer period of time my system would flicker then restart itself. This is a BRAND NEW thing. The system has run stable for over 3 months in the current configuration. I thought it might be heat so I ran it without a cover on and installed a monitoring program, but the restarts happened no matter the CPU/Case Temp). I was running a poor offbrand power supply and switched to a trusty Antec one to no avail. Now I am sorta lost. This graphics card cost me $125, and I honestly can't afford a new one at this point in time. I haven't overclocked it at all.

Any ideas? I'm running the latest ATI Driver (I believe, will try that next) and this JUST started.

 

[montag451]

Does it happen at a certain point, the same point, in these apps/games?

Have you got any other progs running in the background?

Is it the app that restarts itself, or the system reboots?
What OS?
Can you look in EVENT VIEWER if 2k/xp?

 

[Nick4753]

The system reboots. Programs running in background are usuially Firefox, McAfee, and the other gammut of standard files/folders open. A putty session or two. Stuff that has always worked fine in a multi-tasking environment.

XP: Here is what I have got for the last time it went off:
Hanging application WoW.exe, version 1.2.1.4150, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

Followed by (After Restart)
Windows saved user NICK\Nick Catalano registry while an application or service was still using the registry during log off. The memory used by the user's registry has not been freed. The registry will be unloaded when it is no longer in use.

Each time it references the application (either VLC or World of Warcraft, although it HAS restarted without ANY notice whatsoever but I can't find those records at the moment) and then when I boot it back up it restores the registry.

I honestly believe it is the GFX card, but like I said I can't afford a new one.

 

[montag451]

http://www.google.com/search?q...;ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

[Nick4753]

WoW is World of Warcraft. It is a legitimate game

Just to be sure I ran it through McAfee and it is indeed World of Warcraft.

 

[montag451]

Well, that is a relief........

disable all startup non essentials,
Take out all non necessary hardware/usb/drives etc

See if prob still happens

 

[montag451]

Well, that is a relief........

disable all startup non essentials,
Take out all non necessary hardware/usb/drives etc

See if prob still happens

 

[montag451]

Sorry = meant to say, if you disable wow startup, and problem still happens,
then disable..........................

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: Nick4753

ANTEC 200W Power Supply

200W????? New PSU imidiately.

My friend ran a GF4Ti4200 + P4 on a 230w, it fried two videocards and the PSU.

You need atleast 300W, but I would reccomend getting atleast a 400W PSU.

 

[Nick4753]

Sorry... 400W & the other PSU was 420

 

[montag451]

what brand psu?
A 400w generic may be less powerful than a reliable brand 300w or less

 

[Nick4753]

The orig one was 400W generic. The new one (that still gives the same problem) is 400W Antec. I trust the Antec one quite a bit.

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: Nick4753
Sorry... 400W & the other PSU was 420

Ok, might want to change it in the original post too
Can't you RMA the card?

 

[Nick4753]

Not unless Powercolor has a 1 year warranty I don't know about.

 

[Uncle Bob]

check to see if the fan on the graphics card is still running, the flickering may be an early indication that the GPU is overheating

have you recently updated the video drivers by any chance?

 

[biostud]

according to powercolor their RMA is good for two years, go to their homepage PC

Maybe try the card in another computer before you RMA.

 

[Nick4753]

What is the normal range for GPU temp?

 

[Nick4753]

Thank you all for your replies. It seems as if it was the graphics card. There is a local medium-sized system builder in the area that has a factory warehouse not too far away from my house. The place also has equipment that is either pulled from display systems at one of their 20 stores, refurbished, or something similar. Since I purchased the 9600 XT from them at a signifigantly reduced price 3 months ago they were fine with giving me a new 9600XT saying they would RMA the part themselves. Of course, the new one I have is one of the nicer Gigabyte 9600XTs with the Blue LED and such.

Thank you all for your assistance. If only I had more information to share with you.

 

[montag451]

well done, and thank you very much for telling us how it turned out.

Good luck