Video data corruption when starting computer

[membreya]

I've recently installed a GT Cooler Ultra CPU Fan (not sure if this is the problem or if it caused the problem)

However whenever I start my computer and on booting into windows my video data is corrupted (ie green streaks running down the screen and random blocks of colours)

Once I have fully loaded windows, the video is fine.

Normally this wouldn't bother me TOO much, however I'm also experiencing problems with games that use OpenGL in that it will cause my system to become unstable..once I alt+tab out of the game it's all good but I can't get back to the game

Video card is an ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (yes yes it's old but hey!)

System is an AMD Athlon 64 3200+
512MB PC3200
120gb WD Sata HDD
Epox 8KDA

very, very confused..please help

 

[Boobers]

Sounds like your GPU is dieing a slow death from overheating. It may have overheated in the past, which slightly damaged the GPU or memory...maybe the new cooler is installed improperly? or has bad fan/airflow?

 

[m4ch0dude]

I wouldnt blame the problem on overheating, since I also have a 9000pro, and the fan on the card died recently, so I just run it with passive cooling and it works perfect. These cards arent't clocked that high to generate much heat, and in fact the non-pro versions come with passive cooling standard. I would double-check how you installed and connected the cooler, and also update to the latest bios and video drivers.

 

[membreya]

Well I WAS having a problem with the fan (wasn't seated properly) so I've reinstalled it...and properly this time

Also tried reseating the vid card....AND turning the CPU fan off to see if it was generating too much of a blast (air is blown in all directions)

All of these had no effect, the only other thing I can think of (and I dread to prove it right) is to try a different video card..

It will mean one of two things, my vid card or my agp slot

 

[membreya]

Ok, I've fairly well decided it's a botched video card now...I uninstalled my omega drivers in windows and restarted..once I was back in windows without a proper set of drivers the corruption was there..

I installed catalyst drivers and the problem has gone from windows again..

Would posting a picture of the corruption help people to see what I mean??

 

[zakee00]

yeah post a pic. dont know why your card would do that though...

 

[THUGSROOK]

that happens when your OCed too far (via vid bios) or overheating.
could also be a bad PSU, but i dont think thats the prob in your case.

 

[membreya]

POST Screen

Windows Booting

That's pics of the corruption, and in reply to Thugsrook, I don't OC my vid card in any way nor my CPU and the fan on the vid card is working fine (it's too old for a temp probe )

 

[Boobers]

From looking at that POST screen, I'd say the card is bad. RMA it if you still can...

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: Boobers
From looking at that POST screen, I'd say the card is bad. RMA it if you still can...

 

[membreya]

No RMA available, it's quite old (2 years) lol so I'm just going to go for a 6600GT or 6800 depending on how the finances look

Eventually bit the bullet and put my gf's 440MX in the PC ....works beautifully Could have been worse...I could have had a corrupt AGP port.

 

[Boobers]

No RMA available, it's quite old (2 years) lol

2 years old is NOT that old. Many video cards have a 3 year warranty, some even have a life-time warranty. In fact, the ATI Website says... "RADEON 7000 and newer products have a three year warranty." I'd send it in for RMA...

Could have been worse...I could have had a corrupt AGP port.

BTW, it's cheaper to buy a new motherboard than a new video card. If it was a bad AGP port, that would have cost about $100. A new 6600GT is $200+...so, how could it have been worse?

 

[membreya]

it's time to upgrade anyway, the vid card is the main bottleneck on my PC for modern games now.

As for why a corrupt AGP port would be worse, Ive only had the new PC for a month or two..the video card I've had for years..

it sinks the heart when a new piece of hardware dies

 

[Boobers]

So true. I HATE it when a new piece of hardware dies. So sad...as Bill Clinton said..."I feel your pain!"

Anyway, yeah, the 9000 is a bottleneck. You'll be really happy when you do upgrade to a 6600GT (or whatever)...

 

[genghislegacy]

Originally posted by: Boobers
So true. I HATE it when a new piece of hardware dies. So sad...as Bill Clinton said..."I feel your pain!"

Anyway, yeah, the 9000 is a bottleneck. You'll be really happy when you do upgrade to a 6600GT (or whatever)...

Yep the 6600GT is great, if you stick with 9000, try to set all clocks to normal to see whether the stability issue arise from overclocking certain parts like MB or graphics.

 

[membreya]

Nothing on my PC is overclocked...video and motherboard are all stock settings