Video Card or Power Supply (or both)

[Jaimie]

I have a Powercolor 9800 Pro 128MB, 128-bit (ick, should've checked before I bought), and I'm using the 420W PSU that came with the RAIDMAX case I purchased. I've been having some trouble with several things over the past week.

• After running 3dMark01, 3dMark03 and 05 do not run past the first test, or show up blank. However, I am able to run Aquamark3. After running dxdiag I am able to see the DirectDraw tests in normal mode. However the final DirectDraw test, and the DirectX tests in fullscreen do not work. I can barely see signs of the cube running very, very, faintly. After a reset the dxdiag tests worked until I ran 3dMark again.
• After updating to Catalyst 4.11 the same things as above occur except the dxdiag tests show up regardless. I can also complete the first test of 03 and 05 before a crash.
• Halo has randomly started to skip around. It completly locked up on Wednesday night.
• I noticed that the dxdiag and the first test of 3dmark03 started to slow down to about 19fps for about 5 seconds before returning to normal rates of 70+

I doubt it is the powersupply, due to the fact that the rails are operating fine, I think. (+3.3V: 3.46V, +5V 5.21V, +12V 12.46V, -12V -12.77, -5V -5.20V) However, this could very well be a part of the problem considering it is a generic. I am concerned about the issues I have been having.

Please help in any way you can.
Jaimie

 

[Jaimie]

If anyone has any questions or anything I will gladly answer them, I really need help with resolving this issue so I can know if I need to RMA any parts.

Also, if the parts do need to be replaced, what would you recommend getting? I was considering replacing the Powercolor, if that is in fact the problem, with a Saphire 9800 Pro Atlantis, 128MB, 256-bit,. If it is the power supply I was considering the purchase of an X-Connect 500W PSU. I'd be willing to put out up to $110 (preferably much lower) on a power supply or $250 on a graphics card.

But before that I would appreciate any help repairing these issues.
Jaimie

 

[Pete]

No clue as to your problem (those voltages look good to me--heck, they're better than those on my 300W Antec, which is powering a 9700P/XP1700+/512MB pretty well), but some generic suggestions:

1. reinstall DirectX9.0c
2. revert to Catalyst 4.9 (follow instructions to uninstall and install)
3. lower AGP speed to 2x or 4x

A real, 256-bit 9800P should not cost you $250 nowadays--at least, not in US dollars from a US internet store. $200 is the going rate, AFAIK, and you should be able to find used ones for $160.

And you sure as hell don't need a $110 500W PSU for a 9800P. A solid 350W unit (AFAIK, Antec, Enermax, Sparkle, Fortron are all good--TechReport has some PSU reviews, if you're curious) should do. I'd imagine you can get a good, new ~350W unit for no more than $50. Heck, you can buy an Antec case with an Antec 350W PSU inside of it for not much more than that. A quick look at NewEgg shows a 350W Enermax EG365P for $62 shipped, and basic (tho probably noisier, and with far weaker 12V lines [not an issue for your CPU, tho]) Sparkle and Forton 350W units are just $32.

 

[Jaimie]

I reverted to Catalyst 4.9 and that solved the 3dMark05 issues, but the 03 issues are continuing. I've also had Age of Mythology completly drop out several times this morning, the application simply shuts down after a half an hour of play or so. Since my voltages are ontop, what will lowering the AGP bus do for the issues? What else should I do?