New X800XL on new AMD Build: Extreme Flickering and Distortion (Please Help..)

[vincentnguyen]

Okay, I just finished buildling my AMD build:

Chaintech VNF4/Ultra
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego
1 GB Ram Corsair Value Select
Seagate 250GB Barracuda
300W PSU (With case)
Connect3d ATI X800XL

But.... there is a huge problem. Even before installing the newest catalyst 5.6 Drivers, my monitor flickered like a biatch. There was huge distortions and flickering all over the screen, especially when using internet explorer or Windows Update (to get SP2). It flickers at any resolution, and at any Hertz (60 through 85 Hz is what my monitor supports).
It not only flickers when using anything in Windows, but also in games such as Guild Wars. When i turn up the Anti-aliasing to 4x or change the resolution to higher in Guild Wars, the flickering seems to get worse. But, there is no flickering when i boot up the system or when i use BIOS. What could be the problem? This is pissing me off like heck because I already had problems with installing the motherboard (thought it was dead -- but it wasnt), and now I have this huge problem with the damned video card. Please Help!! (btw, its not my monitor because i used my old P4 1.6 Ghz system with a Geforce 2 Mx400 and it works perfectly fine at 85 hZ). Could it be a bad card? Anyone have experience with this? Please!

 

[sandorski]

Strange. Check for a BIOS update, make sure the monitor is properly recognized, make sure the proper Monitor is chosen in the ATI Control Panel, That it's the Primary Display Device.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

you plugged in the pci-e power connector on the video card right?

 

[vincentnguyen]

Actually, there is no Pci-e power connector on the video card. It takes power straight from the motherboard. This also confused me because the retail box came with a little card reminding me to connect the extra 4-pin power, but there is no connector for the X800XL. Sandorski, i have downloaded the newest bios update to the desktop, how can i update the bios now?? I think there is some sort of flash program but I'm not sure about how it works. Im gonna go try it now.

 

[vincentnguyen]

It seems like the problem may be power supply related, because the flickering gets progressively worse with more use in dekstop modes (like using Internet Explorer). I tried increasing fan speeds with ATI Tool Tray downloads, but it didn't help at all. I'm going to call ATI support tomorrow when they are open to see if they can do anything else for me.


By the way, the monitor is correctly recognized as the primary display, but the screen still shudders and flickers, making it hard to use. Its almost like its shaking and flickering alot when you change websites, minimize windows, etc. OR... it may just be a crappy card. I dunno.

 

[cbehnken]

I would first upgrade your PSU. It is very inadequate for the system you have.

 

[Mattd46612]

Ouch that power supply could use a extra 200W. Lucky your gettin this far with the compenents your using with it.

 

[vincentnguyen]

hmm, i think you guys are all right.. when i disconnected some of the case fans (there are like 3 because the brand is "cooler master" lol) there was much less flickering; its almost nearly usable now. thanks alot, i'll check out a new PSU. get back to you all when that happens! i'm going on vacation for 3 weeks so it'll be awhile.. thanks all.

 

[Spacecomber]

If you are running a PCIe video card that doesn't have an external power connector and gets all its power from the motherboard, I think that you definitely will need a 24 pin main power connector. I believe that is the main purpose of the extra 4 pins, supplying the PCIe slots with more power. Many people have found that they can run their new motherboards with an older power supply by plugging their 20 pin main connector into a 24 pin socket on the motherboard, but these folks are either running a relatively low power video card or one that has an external power connector that they can hook directly up to the power supply.

You might be able to get away with using one of those 20 pin to 24 pin adapters, but you are back to the issue of whether your 300w power supply is up to the task. You'll notice that the latest power supplies, besides coming with 24 pin main cables and square 4 pin video card connectors, have dual 12v rails now. These dual 12v rails should be of help to your system, since the both motherboard and other components (such as drives and fans) are going to be drawing quite a bit of that 12v resource.

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