Video Corruption @ POST

[NuKe9]

Trying to troubleshoot a problem with a video card, please check out the pic below.

POST Screen

Any ideas? I've tried many things, nothing i've tried is really making a difference.

Card in question is a PCIe 6800GT. I can throw in my AGP 6600GT and it works great. (Asrock 939Dual)

PSU is adequate and plugged into card (Coolermaster 430W). Monitor is good, tried both DVI ports and DVI adapters.

Is the card toast?

Thanks!

 

[Jeff7181]

I've seen it when my PSU's +5v rail was crapping out. Check the voltage at a molex connector during the POST with a digital volt meter.

 

[NuKe9]

Cool, i'll try that.

Thanks!

 

[imhungry]

But if the +5v rail was the case, then it would have to be that the 6800GT wasn't getting enough power, then?

If the 6800GT doesn't work, but the 6600GT does, I'd have to think that it was the 6800GT or the slot itself. Or maybe bios?

 

[NuKe9]

Updated the mobo BIOS, even updated the Videa Cards BIOS. This resulted in totally undecipherable images. I flashed it back. I don't have another PCIe card to test, but thats also a possibility. I'm thinking about picking up a cheapie PCIe card to test my mobo.

Thanks again!

 

[Stumps]

it happens all the time to the PC that i'm posting on, its fitted with a Gigabyte 9600XT and the screen is garbled till the desktop loads then everything is fine, it has no issues in games at all and runs fine, it just gives a messed up bootup screen thats all

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: imhungry
But if the +5v rail was the case, then it would have to be that the 6800GT wasn't getting enough power, then?

If the 6800GT doesn't work, but the 6600GT does, I'd have to think that it was the 6800GT or the slot itself. Or maybe bios?

Unless the 6600GT draws that much less power that it doesn't put as much stress on the PSU and the voltage doesn't dip low enough to cause problems, which could be the case, since my FX5900 had problems, but my 9800 Pro didn't until the PSU got even worse.

 

[NuKe9]

I'll definately check my volts. I get corrupt and distorted graphics all the way to the OS.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Fardringle]

My system did exactly the same thing when I got a new video card. Turned out that the poor quality PSU I had in the system just wasn't giving the video card enough power. I upgraded to a decent PSU and haven't seen the problem since.

 

[NuKe9]

Originally posted by: Fardringle
My system did exactly the same thing when I got a new video card. Turned out that the poor quality PSU I had in the system just wasn't giving the video card enough power. I upgraded to a decent PSU and haven't seen the problem since.

I wouldn't say mine is inadequate. It's a quality unit, maybe not enough for this card?
What kind of PSU did you have?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: NuKe9

Originally posted by: Fardringle
My system did exactly the same thing when I got a new video card. Turned out that the poor quality PSU I had in the system just wasn't giving the video card enough power. I upgraded to a decent PSU and haven't seen the problem since.

I wouldn't say mine is inadequate. It's a quality unit, maybe not enough for this card?
What kind of PSU did you have?

Doesn't mean it can't fail. I killed two TruePower 430's before switching to a TruePower 550. I wish I had spent the extra money on a PC Power and Cooling unit though.

 

[Killrose]

Make sure you have any overclocking utilities dissabled or removed, especially one for an ATi card if that was your previous card

 

[NuKe9]

Very true. With the card removed, the system is stable as a rock. It could be the new card is stressing the PSU to a breaking point not yet reached.

Killrose, I wish I could get to the OS to see what utilities to disable. Right now though, my rig is bone stock. Before removing the old card, I also uninstalled the drivers.

I've got a few things to try tonight. I will report back

Thanks!

 

[Jeff7181]

Some nForce3 boards have an "ATI/nVidia speed up" option that automatically overclocks. Many boards need either a modded BIOS or require a special keystroke to reveal that option. Might be worth looking into. (it was an issue with my Neo2 Platinum)

 

[ayabe]

My rig was doing that due to a very weak 3.3v line, running around 2.8v.

 

[NuKe9]

Update:

The mobo is an ASROCK 939Dual.

Tried another PSU, an Enermax 465P-VE, pretty stout PSU. I had the same problem. Also tried another PCIe card, it worked fine. Things are starting to look like this card is bad. Or are these PSU's not strong enough?

Again, this is the only output I get from this card. From the minute I hit the power button, it looks like the pic in the OP. Stuff is displayed, just corrupted to hell and barely readable.

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[aka1nas]

Sounds like the card is fried.

 

[yacoub]

Aside from all the PSU talk, it could also be an IRQ conflict if you recently installed another PCI card. I had a run-in with that when I installed a soundcard and switching it to another PCI slot fixed it.

In your case, probably the PSU or the card is toast.