Need help w/ 9800pro!

[Moonlapse]

I posted this at another forum earlier, but I only got one response and it helped none.

First off, I got a HIS 9800pro yesterday to replace my old GF2. Removed the nvidia drivers, updated BIOS, and put in the ATI. After installing the Catalyst drivers, I see that my font and icons are very blurry, which never happened on my GF2. Uninstalled Catalyst, put in Omega drivers. Same thing. Then I installed XP in a new hd, to see if the problem was coming from some setting that I had changed awhile back. Again, after putting in Catalyst (4.6), the font is blurry, even on a new OS. Changed the dpi to 120, which fixed it to some degree, but not entirely. This doesn't happen in games though. So, has anyone had this problem, and if so, can it be fixed?

Secondly, my screen tends to flicker alot.. never happened with the older card. It will do it for about 20-30 seconds, then stop for about 5-10 minutes, then would continue again after that. I tested it with my old psu (350w PowMax which I got with my Enermax case awhile back), and flickered. Put in a 480w Thermaltake PurePower afterwards, and it does the same. It's really annoying, especially when playing games. It first started when I OC'd (only at XT speeds, 412/365), but it continues to do it at stock speeds. Is this the vid card, or the refresh rate on the monitor (CRT @ 85mhz, resolution 1024x768)? Or something else?

Lastly, which is bugging me the most, is that nothing seems.. smooth. When I drag screens around, the edges are glitchy, and don't move in a straight line with each other... just looks jagged. Are there any settings to change this? Or any program to fix it..? I never had any problems with the GeForce2, but ever since I installed the 9800pro, I've had .. well, not anything serious, but really annoying issues.

And for reference:
Athlon XP 1700+ @ 2.00ghz
2x256 OCZ PC3200 (2-3-3-6)
Asus A7V8X-X (I read that KT400 chipsets and ATi cards don't match well. I installed the latest BIOS and I didn't have the issues that other people mentioned (unable to install Windows, constant lockups in games, etc.) hopefully this is not it, don't want to spend 80+ on nForce2 mobo, short enough on money as it is)
Thermaltake 480w Silent Purepower PSU
Volcano 12+ heatsink (Temps are not an issue with this rig)

Also, I scored 5826 in 3dmark03 @ XT speeds, and 55xx at stock. Is that normal for a 9800pro? Scored around 31,500 on Aquamark OC'd and 29,500 at stock.

Things I have done so far :
Set AGP speed to 4x
Changed aperature size in BIOS (it was at 64, changed it to 128)
Changed dpi from 96 to 120
Turned Fastwrites off
Countless installing and uninstalling of drivers
Other things I have done and don't remember offhand..
And yes, I have checked that the molex connected is directly from the PSU, not jumped off from a fan or anything else. All voltages are stable..

Any help would be greatly appriciated! Sorry for the long post..

 

[rbV5]

CRT @ 85mhz, resolution 1024x768

First, check to make sure its actually running at that setting, look in the displays advanced display properties and if I remember right it displays the actual resolution/refresh..its pretty common to revert to 60Hz despite setting it at 85Hz if the monitor *inf file isn't installed, or the monitor doesn't support DDC information. You may have to uncheck DDC and manually enter the maximum values your display supports for both resolution and refresh rate.

Another potential issue is that the drivers from your previous card aren't completely removed. Maybe try drivercleaner, and re-install the drivers making sure your OS service packs, AGP drivers and DX9b are up to date first.

Try another cable perhaps?

 

[Moonlapse]

Originally posted by: rbV5

CRT @ 85mhz, resolution 1024x768

First, check to make sure its actually running at that setting, look in the displays advanced display properties and if I remember right it displays the actual resolution/refresh..its pretty common to revert to 60Hz despite setting it at 85Hz if the monitor *inf file isn't installed, or the monitor doesn't support DDC information. You may have to uncheck DDC and manually enter the maximum values your display supports for both resolution and refresh rate.

Another potential issue is that the drivers from your previous card aren't completely removed. Maybe try drivercleaner, and re-install the drivers making sure your OS service packs, AGP drivers and DX9b are up to date first.

Try another cable perhaps?

It is running at the same setting. And yes, the monitor does support DDC. It said in the DDC info that the max reported res is 1920x1440 and the max refresh rate is 160hz. This though says that the max res is 1600x1200 and refresh is 85hz? So is that the correct setting? I have tried to get the latest monitor driver, but KDS's site seems to be down? :\ A newb question here, but how would I know if a inf file is installed? Monitors are not up my alley..

I installed the 9800pro from scratch on a new hd. I have installed Cat drivers (4.6, 4.5, then back to 4.6) and then uninstalled them with add/remove programs, then booting up in safe mode and using Driver Cleaner 3. Installed the windows updates, and DX9b as well. More newb questions here - the AGP driver are just stuff like the catalyst drivers, right? If so, I have 4.6.. and secondly, was I supposed to use the CD that came with the card? I took it as it was an out of date driver, and not worth even installing on computer.

The power cable you mean? I read somewhere that doing that may help.. guess I should use the cable that came with the PSU I just got..

 

[rbV5]

but how would I know if a inf file is installed? Monitors are not up my alley..

On the "Monitor" tab of the display properties it should show next to "monitor type". If its showing the proper settings on the advanced displays tab however, I doubt that the monitor driver (*inf) is the issue here.

the AGP driver are just stuff like the catalyst drivers, right?

No, they're the MB drivers for the AGP port usually included in your Motherboard's chipset driver set. The common symptom would be that AGP texturing or DX acceleration would be broken, or that you couldn't get a proper driver install, type dxdiag in the box at: Start>run to check your DX acceleration, however, your scores indicate that this is likely not the issue here.

The power cable you mean?

I meant the VGA cable, just to eliminate the easy stuff.
Is it blurry at all resolutions/ refresh rates?

 

[Moonlapse]

Originally posted by: rbV5

but how would I know if a inf file is installed? Monitors are not up my alley..

On the "Monitor" tab of the display properties it should show next to "monitor type". If its showing the proper settings on the advanced displays tab however, I doubt that the monitor driver (*inf) is the issue here.

the AGP driver are just stuff like the catalyst drivers, right?

No, they're the MB drivers for the AGP port usually included in your Motherboard's chipset driver set. The common symptom would be that AGP texturing or DX acceleration would be broken, or that you couldn't get a proper driver install, type dxdiag in the box at: Start>run to check your DX acceleration, however, your scores indicate that this is likely not the issue here.

The power cable you mean?

I meant the VGA cable, just to eliminate the easy stuff.
Is it blurry at all resolutions/ refresh rates?

Says nothing of an inf. Ive tried finding the driver for it, but I couldn't access KDS's site last night, and there were other places too, but I couldn't get through to there either. If it says the driver is for 98, would it still work with XP?

I did install the chipset drivers (In my case, the VIA 4in1 driver), but now that you mention it, I probably haven't updated THAT. Got the latest BIOS, that I am sure. As for the tests, I got this.. if this is what you were referring to.

Direct3D 7 test results: All tests were successful.
Direct3D 8 test results: All tests were successful.
Direct3D 9 test results: All tests were successful.


I don't have another VGA cable.. I posted this elsewhere though and I was told to use the VGA-->DVI plug. I'll try it, but I don't have the time at this very moment.. would you think this would work?

 

[Moonlapse]

Oh and yes it is blurry at everything i've tried, much more so on higher resolutions. Ive also tried all refresh rates from 60-90. I don't want to go any higher than that..

 

[Moonlapse]

Reinstalled cat drivers, installed inf file, updated mobo chipset drivers, updated GART drivers, replaced power cord, used the VGA>DVI connecter.. and i'm still getting some ghosting. Though it doesn't seem AS bad as it used to, it's still visable. Haven't noticed any flickering yet, but it usually happens when I load up a game. Also, I'm still getting some jagged edges when moving menus around. Only thing else to test out is to change monitors. Speakin of games though, I get around 30-40fps in combat scenes in the FarCry demo, at 1024x768 with low AA, AF 2x, no V-sync, and all advanced settings at medium, at stock speeds on card. This seems quite low, seeing how other people here seem to do much better. Is that just the demo?

 

[Cerb]

If you have anything transparent behind it, you will get those edges moving certain things around with an ATi card (I get it with some apps, not with others, and never saw it w/ my GF4).
The burriness, however...
Go into the advanced display options, displays, click the bar above monitor. Try changing the sync options, display size and position. I don't know about fuzziness, but I have fixed crawlies on a CRT by messing with those. If it doesn't fix it, return the card. Blurry stuff is not good for your eyes, and should be unacceptable, regardless of how good a deal this card may or may not have been.

 

[PrayForDeath]

I used to have some flickering with my GeForce 4 MX , it was sooo annoying! I asked everybody about it in other forums, nobody had the answer, at the end, one day I was messing with my drivers and found something called Display Timing, when I clicked on it, it showed me Timing Modes, and it was set to "Auto-Detect" mode, there was four other modes, I chose one of them, and the flickering dissappeared! I noticed that every mode works perfectly for my video card except that "Auto-Detect". So you could check this yourself, it might help you, but that was with my Detonator drivers, I don't know if there's something similar in ATI's Catalysts!
By the way, can anybody explain what's the Display Timing??

 

[Moonlapse]

Originally posted by: Cerb
If you have anything transparent behind it, you will get those edges moving certain things around with an ATi card (I get it with some apps, not with others, and never saw it w/ my GF4).
The burriness, however...
Go into the advanced display options, displays, click the bar above monitor. Try changing the sync options, display size and position. I don't know about fuzziness, but I have fixed crawlies on a CRT by messing with those. If it doesn't fix it, return the card. Blurry stuff is not good for your eyes, and should be unacceptable, regardless of how good a deal this card may or may not have been.

When I move stuff around to test out, I just move it around on the desktop w/ nothing around, on a black wallpaper. When I move them around slowly, no problem, but anything faster and i'll get edges. It's just annoying - seeing though that I get much better performance than I had before, but just not being smooth.

Last night I read that blurriness tends to be caused by high brightness/contrast. So I looked at my monitor settings, and lo and behold, contrast was 100, brightness 85. Set them both down to 60, made adjustments in Windows, turned the resolution up to 1280x1024 @ 85hz, set font to large, and most of the blurriness has seemed to dissapear! I can't comment now if it's blurry or not, since I just woke up and my eyes haven't adjusted, but it seems much better. Screen flickering has seemed to dissipate too, but it pops up once in awhile. Card clocked to 418/358 now - scored 5800 in 3dmark03, and 32000 in aquamark. Though there are alot of nuances to deal with, most of them are fixed.. to a degree.

I used to have some flickering with my GeForce 4 MX , it was sooo annoying! I asked everybody about it in other forums, nobody had the answer, at the end, one day I was messing with my drivers and found something called Display Timing, when I clicked on it, it showed me Timing Modes, and it was set to "Auto-Detect" mode, there was four other modes, I chose one of them, and the flickering dissappeared! I noticed that every mode works perfectly for my video card except that "Auto-Detect". So you could check this yourself, it might help you, but that was with my Detonator drivers, I don't know if there's something similar in ATI's Catalysts!
By the way, can anybody explain what's the Display Timing??

I looked for this in the advanced settings, didn't see it. First time I've used ATi, so I don't know much about their settings/controls. Needless to say, the crossover has been hard.

 

[Moonlapse]

Blurriness has returned 🙁. Everything was going ok until I was playing the FarCry demo, and then all of a sudden the screen went black for a split second, then things became blurry again. I just noticed though that it's blurry in the middle areas, but NOT around the edges. Examples below.

Screen Capture
This is a screen capture, so I dunno if that will show up normal to you, or if it will show it as I see it. I'm leaning towards the former.

But I took pictures as well (although crappy ones)

Middle of screen (blurry area)
Edge side (clear)

Of course, magnify to get the full extent. After seeing this, more and more I think it's the monitor.. I'll have to check it by using another monitor, ASAP. Has anyone else had an issue like this?

 

[Delorian]

Never seen that before. I'd try another monitor, then try to reseat the card into the MB, try a different power cord on that monitor, and finally revert back to an older catalyst/omega driver set. I believe Omega bases theirs off of ATI's which may have the same bug in them for your specific card. I'd give driver cleaner a try and possibly use drivers that are a couple of versions old. Let us know your progress!

 

[Moonlapse]

Well, I uninstalled the display drivers, used Driver Cleaner, and inserted in my GF2. Installed latest Nvidia driver.. and...

Same issue. 🙁

It either rounds down to the AGP slot, or the monitor itself (or the cord of it). (Checked the VGA core while taking it out, and saw that I have a r360, joy!) Updated all the mobo chipsets and the BIOS. I know there are compatibility issues with ATi cards and KT400 chipsets, but since it's doing the same thing with the GeForce, it can't be that. Glad I won't have to deal with RMA'ing the card, but now I might have to buy a new monitor :\ Oy. I'll go ask my cousin to bring his CRT over and then I'll be able to figure it out once and for all. I'll keep you posted..

 

[Cerb]

Tried degaussing?

 

[PrayForDeath]

There's an option in the monitor's menu called "Moire", try to mess with it, I hope that helps.

 

[Moonlapse]

I've tried with that, but i'm pretty much certain it's the monitor. Read a few reviews on amazon about my monitor, and a few people have had the same problem, most notiably a popping noise *inside* the monitor (I somehow forget to mention this), which started to cause the constant blurriness in the middle of the screen. Already got my eyes set on a monitor, and now am in the process of finding the lowest price for it. thanks to everyone who put their input - I guess it was just a coincidence that my CRT crapped out right when I got the card