The X1800XL Saga

[nRollo]

I'm starting to wonder if the card is the victim of some "harmless" OCing experiments. (it's a refurb)

I've formatted the drive, all I have on there is Windows, the motherboard drivers, the ATI drivers from the box, and Tribes Vengeance. (a 2004 game with ATIs logo on it)

Still, when I boot, I get a few colored lines flash on the screen.

Playing Tribes, it works good, looks great, but after 10-15 minutes of play WHAM VPU recovery error. After about 45 minutes BSOD.

Guess I'll try another game, see if it's Tribes issue.

Anyway, ATI does have very nice IQ, I've always liked their 2d a lot, and the 3d is looking pretty sharp.

 

[5150Joker]

Sounds like a defective card.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Sounds like a defective card.

From the factory, or after Timmy Turner thought it should run as fast as a XT?

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Sounds like a defective card.

From the factory, or after Timmy Turner thought it should run as fast as a XT?

Dunno was your card refurbished?

 

[Corporate Thug]

RMA?

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Sounds like a defective card.

From the factory, or after Timmy Turner thought it should run as fast as a XT?

Dunno was your card refurbished?

Oh yeah, $290 newegg special.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Sounds like a defective card.

From the factory, or after Timmy Turner thought it should run as fast as a XT?

Dunno was your card refurbished?

id say it might have gone as far as a bad voltmod(pencil trick) to create that kind of damage. I would like to think the average person isnt so stupid to oc like crazzy and leave it artifacting to the point damage is caused on stock vcore.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
RMA?

Hmmm, sounds like you guys have heard enough.

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Sounds like a defective card.

From the factory, or after Timmy Turner thought it should run as fast as a XT?

Dunno was your card refurbished?

Oh yeah, $290 newegg special.

Sounds like little Timmy was having fun with the card prior to giving it back to Newegg and then to you.

 

[Munky]

Well, what temp is it running under load?

 

[n7]

Yeah, your experience isn't normal...why'd you buy refurb

It sounds like a fubared card for sure

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: n7
Yeah, your experience isn't normal...why'd you buy refurb

I bought two 6800NUs I ran in SLI refurb, no problems. I was only buying the card to see the AF and HDR + AA, so I figured I'd save $30 of loss on a new PowerColor and pick up the games in the Asus bundle. (I've got a 512GTX and 7800GTX SLI to use, not to mention other cards already)

It sounds like a fubared card for sure

I guess I have to retract my frustration with ATI drivers, and renew my vengeance toward "harmless OCers".

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: n7
Yeah, your experience isn't normal...why'd you buy refurb

I bought two 6800NUs I ran in SLI refurb, no problems. I was only buying the card to see the AF and HDR + AA, so I figured I'd save $30 of loss on a new PowerColor and pick up the games in the Asus bundle.

It sounds like a fubared card for sure

I guess I have to retract my frustration with ATI drivers, and renew my vengeance toward "harmless OCers".

Hey now not all of us are evil.

 

[BFG10K]

From the factory, or after Timmy Turner thought it should run as fast as a XT?

I'd wager the latter.

 

[dug777]

sounds like a dud sadly

Kill Timmy :|

 

[Snakexor]

rollo, im so proud of you youve come along way since this past summer!!!

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Snakexor
rollo, im so proud of you youve come along way since this past summer!!!

I don't know if I get this, but thanks, I guess.

Just played 30-40 minutes of GTA-Vice City, no problem. Thats a DX game as well, but I had PS2 enabled in Tribes, so maybe there's an issue with that.

The screen flashed while booting, and in Windows though.

I've got a busy weekend, and it's not going anywhere till Monday anyway, so I'll at least get my answer to the AF and HDR +AA questions by then. I didn't mind eating $50-$60 on re-sale to check it out, but I don't think the answers are worth $290 to me. (and I won't sell a card that may have problems)

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: n7
Yeah, your experience isn't normal...why'd you buy refurb

I bought two 6800NUs I ran in SLI refurb, no problems. I was only buying the card to see the AF and HDR + AA, so I figured I'd save $30 of loss on a new PowerColor and pick up the games in the Asus bundle. (I've got a 512GTX and 7800GTX SLI to use, not to mention other cards already)

It sounds like a fubared card for sure

I guess I have to retract my frustration with ATI drivers, and renew my vengeance toward "harmless OCers".

you aren't gonna resell that card?
:Q

it really does seem defective . . . won't NewEgg take it back?

 

[jiffylube1024]

No it's ATI's cards. They're all crap and frankly I don't know how the company stays in business!

Seriously, it sounds like the refurb you got is a dud. Definitely happens on refurbs.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

My X800XL would have VPU recovery problems when it got warm (above 70 C GPU temp). I replaced the stock cooler with the Zalman one, and the problems seem to be much less frequent (although I think they did occurr once with the Zalman).

Anyway, if you like the card enough, you may think about trying a better cooler.

-D'oh!

 

[fierydemise]

I don't see anyone else having issues like you so I'd assume (like others have said) its a dud, oh well would have been interesting to hear your opinions about how it compared in terms of IQ.

 

[Munky]

Of all the people to get a dud Ati card, it had to be Rollo...:Q

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: munky
Of all the people to get a dud Ati card, it had to be Rollo...:Q

He deserved it.
Karma for all his bad-mouthing of ATi







/now for all you who can't take a joke, chill teh eff out. Laugh a little

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: munky
Of all the people to get a dud Ati card, it had to be Rollo...:Q

No big deal I've purchased over a dozen of them new without incident, I'm sure their quality is fine. My only qualm with them is the reduced warranty.

 

[v8envy]

My vote is amateur overclocker as the previous owner. Probably some guy with a $20 case/psu. That card may have seen 90C or more during its short, brutal lifetime.

Which is why I'll * NEVER * buy any refurb from the 'egg that's popular with the junior overclocker set. 6800NUs were most likely RMAd because they didn't unlock, but the XL isn't an unlocker. Its reputation is a monster overclocker.

Buying 'refurb' video cards from the egg is just like buying an ex rental car. You may luck out, but odds are the thing was ridden hard and put away wet. I worked with one consultant who used a nearby traffic circle as an impromptu skidpad for rentals. One week I saw smoke pouring out below the generic Oldsmobuick he was flogging. Could have been just oil spilling out of the dipstick onto a hot manifold due to undesigned for G-forces, but more likely that car won't make it past 60k miles problem free.

Bounce that card back to the 'egg.