X1900GT(R1) is artifacting + other odd issues

[nonameo]

Well, I just got all of my system thrown together, and it seems like everything is working OK except for the video card!

Basically, here's what I get: I was getting artifacting in the BIOS splash and in knoppix, but not in ubuntu or in vista(although I did during the first time I tried to install vista, 2nd time was OK)

Also had some artifacting in knoppix during the text mode at boot.

Here's what happens in ATI Tool: I'll run ATI tool. First issue is that it thinks that the core is 500mhz and not 575, which it should be. I've done some research and it seems that this may be the 2D clock it is reporting. I would believe this, but I checked the ATI Tool settings, and it is set to go to 3D mode when it is running.

Eventually( after a couple of minutes of running) it will artifact(yellow dots only... heh). Sometimes it will do it sooner, sometimes later, but it seems to do it about that far in whether it is warmed up or not.

If I try to change ANYTHING(voltage, clocks, underwear) up or down, it artifacts like CRAZY after about 2 or 3 minutes.

I was able to play a game of supreme commander for about 30 minutes, then it crashed.

Also - temps do not get high at all. It idles around 35-40c and tops out at about 55-60c. This is with an Accelero X2.

Things I've done:

RE-applied thermal grease
reset BIOS to factory defaults
Checked to make sure fan was running OK
Took out 2 sticks of RAM
Checked my 12v line. Oddly, the BIOS reports 12v, but Speedfan reports 6v and MBM5 reports 9.5. It seems that all of the voltages are off, because it reports the CPU core voltage as 2.26v( I have a E4300 on an IP35-E) which can't be true.

Anyways, the card was working fine for the seller, it was packed well, and I made sure I was grounded. I'm hoping there's some kind of other, fixable issue here. Any ideas? All of my other parts seem to be working fine together.

edit: I just noticed something else weird: If I hit the "default" button in ATI Tool a few times in not-so-rapid succession, it will sometimes pick a different default, usually 150 or so less for the memory and 100 or so less for the core. Weird.

 

[tigersty1e]

Uh-oh.

Did the seller sell you a card that was already arifacting due to overclocking?


If the card is running default speeds and artifacting, I would contact the seller pronto.

 

[AzN]

Don't use ATITOOL

Try some other prog.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Sounds like you need an RMA in the near future. And what's wrong with ATitool? The only alternatives are RivaTuner and Speedfan, but ATITool is easier to use.

 

[Puffnstuff]

You need to use a digital multimeter on the rails to check voltages and don't depend on software that tries to read the onboard sensors. Did you buy the video card new or is it used? Sounds like it's defective and needs to be replaced. Artifacting is a sure sign of a bad card.

 

[bizzyd1441]

if your x1900gt is made by Sapphire there is a very high chance the card is just defective. I have one and have had similar issues. The only potential solution is getting a better psu with a lot of amps. Really though, its the video card's fault for being crappy.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: bizzyd1441
if your x1900gt is made by Sapphire there is a very high chance the card is just defective. I have one and have had similar issues. The only potential solution is getting a better psu with a lot of amps. Really though, its the video card's fault for being crappy.

If your solution was to get a better psu with more amperage, then it was because you were underpowering it, not because it was defective.

That's like saying Ford Focuses are defective because you put diesel in the gas tank, vegetable oil in the engine and no air in the tires and it refused to run.

 

[Denithor]

Well, I can also vouch for the crappy quality of Sapphire x1900gt. Mine was never overclocked (not even for benchmarking) and began giving heavy artifacts about 11 months after I bought it. Newegg took it back and gave me a $135 credit (go Egg!) that basically paid for my 9600GT.

 

[v8envy]

Sapphire X1800XT here. Same story. Lived long enough to hit 11 months, started to artifact like crazy. Never ever overclocked even for a millisecond, decent Antec PSU (430 watt I think). I briefly ran my 8800GT with that PSU before upgrading to an EA500, it ran like a charm.

Sapphire wanted a 'processing fee' just to look at the card. Newegg gave me a credit (go egg!) as well.