Lines during games using 9800pro

[oscar6]

I have lines when I open any game using my stock ATI 9800pro (ATI catylyst 4.9). This problem started a few months ago. Before, I could restore the proper image quality by defragging the PC. Now, that doesn't work anymore. Normal PC programs are fine. Only games end up wierd. Basically, it looks like a series of horizontal "lines" across the screen. These lines as well as the entire screen are slight distortions of the actual image via a "pixellated" look. I can still see the image, but games are much less fun with messed up image.

Just a few weeks ago, some utilities just stopped working and disappeared. (volume, microshaft paint, card games, calculator, etc)

I started out with Catylyst 4.11, then I switched to 4.12 to fix the problem. When I switched to 4.12, I lost all openGL support and games wouldn't even open. I switched back to 4.11 and the same thing!

Ultimately, I used the install disk for 9800pro w/ 4.9 and that fixed the openGL problems.
I used my windows XP cd to reinstall the utilities.

Now I am back where I started with the pixellated lines across the monitor during games.

Help.


P4 at 3.0 GHz
1 Gig Corsair 3200 LL ram
ASUS P4C800-E mobo
200 Gbyte Maxtor hard drive
ATI 9800pro
Samsung 191T-plus monitor
Windows XP

 

[VTrider]

That video corruption or 'artifacts' you experience sounds like a hardware problem with video card. The fact that you experienced other problems (disappearing programs, stop working, defragging fixing things) could point to something else other than the video card. Have you tried the 9800Pro in another system to see if it shows the same problems? If so, then it's probably the card. Do you have it overclocked at all?, make sure the fan/heatsink is working?

My 9800Pro (ATI retail, catylst 4.9 too) just died on me after similair 'artifact' problems, ran fine for months, then 'poof' - back to Newegg for RMA.

 

[oscar6]

I have not yet tried switching the card to another machine. I will try that. I have had this card for about 6-8 months, so I doubt I could RMA to newegg. It is not overclocked. I have tried oc'ing in the past but I prefer stability and longevity to little increases in FPS.

Should I mirror my hard drive in case it has a mechanical problem?

Are there diagnostic programs I could run that would show me what the heck is going on?



Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.



Anyone else?

 

[oscar6]

Bump