I recently got a new video card: HIS Radeon X1950 Pro IceQ3 Turbo 512MB/256MB AGP for my computer and i am getting screen artifacts when i am playing 3d games (e.g. little colored dots all over the screen and polygons stretching and tearing...) and the only way to get rid of them is to reboot. I've tried both drivers from the ATI website and hisdigital and it still happens. According to the software tool, the temperature runs pretty low (it usually stays below 50 C), so maybe it isnt an overheating problem? Keeping my case open with a room fan blowing into it seems to reduce the occurance though. Also, my power supply is 350W, a bit lower than recommanded i believe - maybe that is the problem? If so, will underclocking my card help? If so, how?
2007-08-17 13:26:33 · 4 answers · asked by tzz1985 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
i would try a new power supply ... especially if its a generic 350w .. a generic 350w is more like 150w in my opinion ..
2007-08-17 13:31:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's 1 of 2 things...
1) Not enough power
2) Bad onboard video memory
I had the exact same problem when I installed my 8800GTS, I installed a new 500W Enermax PSU and it runs perfect now!
BTW - just because a power supply is generic doesn't necessarily mean it's bad! The thing to check is how many amps it has on the 12V rail. 3.3V and 5V were used a LOT more back in the old AMD days and by AGP, 5V and 12V are used by hard drives and optical drives, and video cards use only 12V...
Take the total amount of amperage on the 12V rail(s) say 12V1 = 14A and 12V2 = 14A then you would take 28*12=336W on your 12V rail! So... not all power supplies are built alike and just because it's "generic" doesn't mean it's bad. Just make sure that the one you have or get has a good 12V output!!
Enermax, Antec and OCZ are by far the best power supplies you can buy right now!
Anyways, hope this helps - you might want to try unplugging any additional CD/DVD/Hard Drives and see what happens, otherwise if you install a new PSU and you have the same problems, you know it's the onboard ram - send it back!
Update...
Where does he imply anywhere that he's overclocking the card!?
Artifacting during normal use is caused by not enough power or a bad memory sector - period, nothing else can do it!!
2007-08-17 14:50:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
try uninstalling the video drivers and reinstalling them and see if the problem persists...if it does try taken the card out and cleaning the contacts really well, a pencil eraser works very well for that....clean the slot out with compressed air and clean the card.....also make sure the fan is running, if not its a heat problem.... while the card is out if you know anyone you can borrow a card from to see if it works....if it does work your card is bad......but even if you cant try another card and you put your card back in and still have the problem its more than likely that the video card is shot..... it could be your power supply is going bad also.....but i would try replacing the card first.....if it still artifacts then most likely its the power supply...... Scott
2016-05-21 23:29:32 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like you are overclocking your video card (ATI Tools?) Set it back to normal. Not all video cards respond to overclocking techniques. Or under display, reduce your video acceleration slider down just a bit.
2007-08-17 16:36:43 · answer #4 · answered by Ntothat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋