9500np softmod artifacts

[KFB]

I have a Sapphire 9500 red PCB "L" shaped mem 128mb. I used the latest omega drivers and the card takes the mod fine in windows xp (without SP1) and passes all the artifacts tester tests included with the omega drivers. Video files and everything except games work great but games show some artifacts that aren't quite as bad as the checkerboards I have seen a pic of but are definitely annoying. Is there anything I can do or is my card just one of those that has faulty pipelines? I raised the AGP voltage to 1.7V and aimed a 120mm fan at the card but it didn't help. Thanks in advance.

[Krowa 02]

Unfortunatly, there really is nothing you can do about it. In the softmod sticky there are 2 options you can do, but it isnt going to solve it most of the time. AGP voltage and temp have nothing to do with making the softmod work, if you artifact, you simply have fault pipelines, cant do anything about it :(.

[MrMarbles]

sometimes it helps to turn off hierchial Z or whatever it is called .. try searching (I am sure I spelled that wrong btw)

but there is no fullproof or guaranteed way of getting rid of artifacts unfortunately

[PCFreek14]

there is one way to fix it...... replace it. the only bad part is the restocking fee.

[KFB]

Thanks for the replies.
I realize now that the card just has bad pipeline(s) and I got the infamous checkerboard problem. I will not return the item just because it didn't take the softmod. Instead, I'll probably sell it on ebay and try again. Except now the prices have jumped up $50!

[tempest993]

Sounds odd, but thank you for not returning it just because it would not do what you wanted it to outside of spec.

[james.miller]

i personally dont see anything wrong with returning it.

If i brought a product and didnt like it - i'd return it. There is nothing wrong with the card in its original spec - he didnt damage it so there is no problem.

if he does return it, then somebody else will buy it and be very happy with it (assuming they dont want to softmod it)


If he killed the card by removing the shim, it would be a different story.......