Radeon 9700 Pro constantly crashing

[jitspoe]

Here's my specs:

Hardware:

Abit sr7-8x
Radeon 9700 Pro (obviously)
P4 2.0A ghz
512meg Mushkin PC-3000 DDR ram.

Software:

WinXP Pro, SP1
Latest ATI drivers
Latest bios update


Here's what happens:
Under regular windows usage... just plain old explorer windows -- copying files and whatnot, sometimes:
a) Windows pops into low-res 16-color and says the video drivers crashed.
or
b) Blue screen of death / reboot.

When in opengl (I've only tried Quake2 so far), after a few minutes of usage, the video signal just dies (monitor light turns orange). It doesn't matter if I'm running in full screen or windowed mode. Once the image stayed on the screen, but it was bright and smeared slightly.

All the drivers/updates have behaved the same way.

Also, EVERY time I boot windows (even after a simple reboot), it comes up with a message saying the system has recovered from a serious error.

 

[Entropy007]

Are you running AGP 8x?
There have been a lot of problems running in 8x motherboards
There is a long thread about it HERE at Rage3d.

the "here" is bolded and capitalized for visibility. It is not meant as yelling or any other reason. THIS would yelling

 

[Entropy007]

This is interesting


<FONT class=nf>From OCWorkbench....

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABIT SR7-8X Updated BIOS
Posted by overclocker at 6:05

sr7ba.exe Fix occasionally hangs up issue with SiS Xabre AGP 8X graphic card.
Enhance the system performance.
Auto detect the multiplier factor for P4 Willamette CPU.
Fix occasionally boot into Windows XP slowly.
BIOS compile Date: 8/26/2002

<a href="http://fae.abit.com.tw/eng/download/bios/dlbios.php?name=SR7-8X&file=sr7/sr7ba.exe" target=_blank>http://fae.abit.com.tw/eng/download...e=sr7/sr7ba.exe</A>

ABIT SR7-8x boot problem with Xabre 8X cards solved.
Posted by overclocker at 5:56

A couple of weeks ago, a local retailer was telling me that they had some problems getting their Xabre 200 and Xabre 400 cards to POST on the ABIT SR7-8X. After some investigation, they finally got it working. What they did was to use a 4x card and then change the BIOS setting BOOT from AGP instead of the default PCI.

The board POSTED immediately and they're able to get it running on far.</FONT>

 

[jitspoe]

Thanks for the forum link. It looks like I'm not the only one having trouble on the SR7-8x. I did get that bios update and it didn't make a difference.

 

[jitspoe]

From what I've gathered, the only way to fix this problem is to send the card back to ATi and get a new one. Somebody please inform me if there is another way.

 

[BFG10K]

You could try running in AGP x4 mode.

Also don't overclock anthing and make sure your power supply is 300W or higher.

 

[jitspoe]

Nothing's overclocked. I've tried running in 4x mode. I've tried different drivers, mobo bios updates, windows updates, etc. Nothing makes a difference. There's a bigger thread about these issues. I didn't notice it because it was in the Motherboard seciton:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=29&threadid=865941&STARTPAGE=1

 

[Diggmasta]

"Also, EVERY time I boot windows (even after a simple reboot), it comes up with a message saying the system has recovered from a serious error."

-I've got the exact same problem. It's been freaking me out as I just built the my system, and it's my first time doing so. I thought I seriously screwed something up.

 

[Diggmasta]

(I've also got the Abit SR7-8X), wich a P4 2.53 Ghz, and 512 of Kingston 333Mhz DDR.

 

[BFG10K]

Is your power supply higher than 300W? I had lockups in every single game when going above 2.0 GHz until I upgraded mine to 400W.

Also trying pulling all but one of your RAM sticks.

 

[jitspoe]

I have a 400w power supply. That's not the issue. A LOT of people are having this problem, even with top-of-the-line power supplies. I haven't seen anyone with a stable combination of a Radeon9700 and an Abit SR7-8x. If anyone has a stable combination like that, please reply to this. State the PN (number on the white sticker attached to the card) and/or the bios version and date (Display properties/advanced/options/details). Also state if you had to download any special drivers/bios updates to resolve the issue. Thanks.

 

[jitspoe]

...so.... anyone gotten this combo to work yet?

 

[cmdrdredd]

My friend had that trouble, but he changed to a Gigabyte Mobo and 100% now...dunno

 

[boyRacer]

My brother had similar problems... switched to 3rd party Omega/Plutonium drivers and it started working...