need help 9800 pro

[ArmanleeExchange]

Hi I just bought a 9800 pro but it seems to freeze my comp a few minutes after being on, so I was wondering if this is a problem with the vid card or could it be problems with compatability with mobo or something like that? thanks.

 

[modedepe]

Did you clean out the previous drivers? Is your psu up to the job? Fastwrites off? List the rest of the specs of your system.

 

[ArmanleeExchange]

well i formatted last week to see if that would fix the problem but it didnt. What is a fastwrite? Well right now im using a
1800+
MSI mobo not sure which one
512 mushkin pc2100
300 watt psu is that enough?
I'm not sure what else to list thanks for replying though

 

[MDE]

There should be a BIOS option of AGP Fast Writes, turn that off (there may also be an option in the ATI SmartGart tab, been a while since I've used an ATI card). Make sure you have the extra power cable plugged into the card. The model of your motherboard might help out (or at least the chipset [probably Nvidia or VIA])

 

[VIAN]

and you bought a 9800 pro with that system.

You shoulda bought a 9600 XT or 9600 Pro if the XT needs the power supply. You system is bottlenecking the card, and it will underperform for you as a result meaning you wasted your money.

 

[ArmanleeExchange]

well the reason why im asking this question is because i want to know if its my vid card that is broken since i am buying a new mobo/proc and didn't want to use the money if the problem is with the card.

i bought the vid card first cuz i got a extremely good deal on it probably cheaper than i could have gotten a 9600 pro for.

the mobo is an old msi via one im just not sure which sorry

thanks again

 

[Wuzup101]

You might also be lacking in the power department. IMHO you need something more substantial than a 300watt psu to run a card like that. I wouldn't hook it up to anything less than a quality 350 unless you have pretty much a bare system other than that. If you are going to upgrade your mobo/proc soon I would also suggest a better psu... antec, enermax, etc... Go for something good like that. The psu definitely could be the problem... those cards draw a lot of power!

 

[ArmanleeExchange]

so you guys are pretty sure the problem isn't with the card itself right? what are some of the things that would happen if i got a faulty card?

 

[Mem]

300 watt psu is that enough?

Could be the PSU,video cards are getting more power hungry and need a quality PSU.

I would try a quality PSU like a 350w Antec,Sparkle,Enermax etc, as to the video card well if you know somebody that has a PC with a good PSU ,you could try it in their PC.

 

[Alptraum]

I would check into getting a quality power supply as well. I have the 9800pro AIW and while the power may be different for it the manuel recommends a PS with a minimum of 300 watts. If the plain pros are similiar you are right at the minimum.