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Sapphire 1950Pro, issues with monitor?

Brutus04

Brutus04

Senior member
I got a Sapphire 1950Pro and the monitor goes blank after about 5 minutes and flip flops between digital to analog (If it comes on at all). Some times the system will not even POST. The card is the only thing on one of the rails and requires two connectors. Does it sound like overheating? Anyone experience this?
 
I must be "postmortem". I did not understand the "rail" system requirement...Seems to be staying alive at the moment...Thanks!!
 
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
You know you are supposed to connect card to two different rails?
Click to expand...

Where is that documented at? Most PSUs have all of the 4pin Molex connectors on the same rail. Weather the cards power connections are split between 2 line or shairing the same, the card will still be getting the power it needs. I just don't see where spliting the power input between 2 rails/lines is going to make any differnece.
 
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
You know you are supposed to connect card to two different rails?
Click to expand...

My Sapphire X1950PRO AGP is happily running on a single rail and has done so since the start of the year...that's why Sapphire supplies a single molex splitter so one rail can power both connectors..

However if you have a lower quality PSU it is probably wiser to use 2 rails just to be safe.
 
Originally posted by: Stumps
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
You know you are supposed to connect card to two different rails?
Click to expand...

My Sapphire X1950PRO AGP is happily running on a single rail and has done so since the start of the year...that's why Sapphire supplies a single molex splitter so one rail can power both connectors..

However if you have a lower quality PSU it is probably wiser to use 2 rails just to be safe.
Click to expand...

That is what I am saying, I have read on Sapphire's forums that supplied single molex shouldn't be used to attach to both connectors.
 
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
Originally posted by: Stumps
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
You know you are supposed to connect card to two different rails?
Click to expand...

My Sapphire X1950PRO AGP is happily running on a single rail and has done so since the start of the year...that's why Sapphire supplies a single molex splitter so one rail can power both connectors..

However if you have a lower quality PSU it is probably wiser to use 2 rails just to be safe.
Click to expand...

That is what I am saying, I have read on Sapphire's forums that supplied single molex shouldn't be used to attach to both connectors.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I don't really think that is a Video card issue, it's more of a PSU issue I suspect, I've got a couple of friends who are running the same card in similar setups to what I'm running and they have their Sapphires running with both molex connectors powered by one rail...but Like myself they do have decent PSU's.

I think that if you have a decent PSU (450w or better, 30A+ 12V etc) you can run the Sapphire on a single rail as long as nothing else is connected to the rail (as myself and my friends have done).

It's hard to say though, as I haven't sold many of these cards outside my group of friends so I can only go with that.

But as I said ealier I do agree with you, when in doubt use 2 seperate rails if you can...
 
Use your mobo monitoring software or better yet a multi-meter to measure your 12V rail. If it is staying above 11.5V then you have a faulty card. I had to return my Diamond X1950PRO 512mb, same card as your Sapphire, due to similar issues.
 
Well it seams you guys are confusing rails with the strings of connectors. The rails of the PSU, if the PSU is a multi railed unit, are only known if you open the unit up and trace where the wires go. They are typically separated buy a small circuit on the PSU's main board. As i said before with most PSUs the standard Molex connectors are all on the same rail so you can't split between 2 different rails. That said if you are referring to the different strings of connectors as rails then a single string of connectors will power the card with no problem. All the string connect to the same point inside the PSU. Its just a matter of staying within the power limits of the wires. If you try sucking too much power through a wire it will cause problems such as shutting off the PSU. That video card isn't going to overload a single string. Just don't have anything else but the video card plugged into that string.
 
Thanks all...It was working fine until I rebooted, now I cannot even get a POST. One of the plugs is used for the system drive and another for CD/DVD. Do you think it may be underpowered?
 
Possibly. You figure there is only a max of 17A availible on the +12v rail. Now the CPU and possibly the 24 pin motherboard connector are running off one rail with everything else on the other. Lets break it down. Each drive uses about 1.5A on average, the video card needs about 9A to 11A depending on the load. For system fans and lights we'll figure about 2A. So at the worste the system is trying to pull 16A from that one rail. That 17A rateing is a peak rating. The PSU isn't ment to sustain that amount of power for long periods of time. So it seams like the system is being under powered. This is the fundamental problem i have with the Earth Watts PSUs. Its only got dual +12v rails and they are rated at 17A each. I would exspect 20A for it to be a better PSU. While it may say it can offer a max of 34A on the combined +12v rail realisticly its only able to supply about 28A max.
 
Thanks for your time mpilchfamily; understand. Don't understand why I am not posting...I installed my other PSU and removed all components, looked for shorts etc. Do you think I may have baked my MB? This was a money-saving move, lol ....waaaa.
 
If you're just posting the board, I don't see why the 1950 would be pulling it's max power anyway.. more likely a fraction of it...

You've probably fried something... either the video card or mainboard...

No beeps or anything?
 
If it doesn't even post with the X850pro.. its likely an effectively dead PSU or motherboard. Would rather its the PSU as that would be easier to replace.

My sister and father both have X1950pros and both are happy on cheap ~420w PSU with single 14a 12v, but both are running barton era 2.3ghz Athlon with just two drives so theres not much electrical draw going on. Still needing over well over 20a on the 12v is a gross extravagation.
 
Thanks all you gurus. I used the PSU and the 1950Pro to an older Skt A MB and it all worked fine. Looks like I will be going to PCI-e sooner than I thought. I will be selling some PC3200. Thanks again.

Got some good experience.
 
if you already have the set up for a agp card, why not just buy a cheap agp MB

otherwise just might as well start all over period, what's wrong with using the agp card in the motherboard that works
 
ya, don't spend big dollars on that MB, maybe even get a used one if you know it's good

now you will have another system, that may not be top of the line, but will hold ya thru till you make the big step and start all over, plus you will have decent spare/second pc for a while
 
Replaced my fizzed A8N with an inexpensive Abit and put things back together. I even got rid of the IDE thinking it was drawing too much current away from the 1950. The 1950 configured OK but then after reboot my monitor could not recognize the card...kept flashing between analog and digital. Tried power from separator rails, same rail, disconnected my CD/RW, everything. It posted fine and displayed the POST OK. Not sure now if it is the card or the monitor. I put in my ole ATi 850 again and the monitor and everything works great! Any ideas?the 1950Pro is awesome when it?s working.
 
I talked to Samsung to see if they have heard of any issues since the 1950Pro is a preferred card for my monitor...definitely the video card. I will RMA it next week, maybe try another...Thanks again all!!
 
you could possibly have a dodgy DVI to VGA adapter (unless your monitor has a DVI contection).

While it shouldn't make any difference, which DVI port are you connecting the monitor to?
 
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