6600 gt help, NEW

[Camacho111]

I just upgraded my rig 1 to a BFG 6600GT OC.

Before installing, I removed/uninstall the previous 5900xt oc. Then install the BFG 6600GT. Tried to install the driver but XP DID NOT reconized them...tried about a dozen times. OK

Backed up my files then freshly install XP again. Still no worky.

Should I return and get a new one? Or could it be my existing hardware that is not compatiable.

The only thing I can think of- is my PSU is not up to it. Generic 420watts, rails look fine in the BIOS.

thoughts, concerns, recommendations?

[consumer9000]

Well, assuming you have the MOLEX power plug connected to the videocard, and you are running the latest BIOS version, and have removed any traces of ATI or old nvidia drivers from your system, you should be able to install new drivers without issue. Windows will have to recognize your graphics hardware. Make sure your AGP settings are correct, that your BIOS is the latest and that your chipset drivers are up to date. Be careful when running an ATI TV tuner with a nvidia board, I had some problems with that initially, and ended up having to reinstall the ATI software only after getting the nvidia drivers installed and working. It's doubtful the board is defective...if you have a friend you might prove this to yourself by testing it in their system briefly. Good luck! :bang head

[Camacho111]

I return the BFG and got a PNY 6600GT. The PNY has a bit slower GPU and MEM clock. At first it didn't wanna load but some how it did after the second force shutdown.

I ran HL2 and it crashed, so I bump the system CPU and AGP voltage and ran for 5 mins then crash again. My feeling that my current PSU is crap. I figure thats why I could not run the BFG because of the higher clocking it has at stock form. Time for a real good PSU.

What you think? I've updated all drivers and such....

[consumer9000]

A new power supply definitely would not hurt. The amount of power drawn by the BFG vs. the PNY board is very nominal, and probably wasn't the issue. The only 2 powersupply brands that I can recommend are PC Power & Coooling and Antec. Most other brands perform very dissapointingly, and some online research will confirm this. (Check out the MaximumPC PSU showdown article)
For your system you would be best off with a >430W PSU...hopefully this will solve your problems. Let us know what happens. :burn:

[Camacho111]

Ran CS:S video stress and it finished. Gain only 20 FPS.

Play online for about 10 mins and crashed.

COD seems to work just fine online and single mode.

[ashenfang]

I don't think the PSU in the culprit. How many deivces are hooked up? HD, CD rom, fands ect? I have the PNY 6600gt, and a 350watt Enermax PSU, and have no problems. Just so you know, if your card can't get enough power from the PSU, the computer won't even boot. I checked this by removing the molex, turning the computer on, no boot. Put molex back on. Everything comes up normally.

[Camacho111]

I don't know now. Sometimes it crashes at start up. My system is just not stable enough. Also I went back to STOCK CPU speed. :mad: This is a fresh OS install too.

[consumer9000]

The only other thing I can suggest is that you try isolating any possible case ground short points. I too had similar problems to what you seem to be describing when I first installed my 6600GT. I ended up building my system out side of the case to trouble shoot it, and sure enough it was a case ground short which was causing my problems.
Symptoms:
Random lockups while booting, CPU speed resets while booting, lockups in windows, lockups while gaming/watching mpeg etc.
Very frustrating, and not entirely consistant. Every 1:4 boots would be stable, while the rest would simply lockup. Not sure what the deal is...see if doing what I did eliminates your problems.

[Camacho111]

It seems to work just fine now. I've dropped the MODEL DETAIL in CS and HL2 to MED. I thought I can run high setting on theses games. What gives?

I've monitor my voltage during game play and its just fine.

[Sentential]

What PSU are you using? It isnt normaly by any stretch for it to be crashing like this. Ive yet to see a single guy with this issue.

You wouldnt have to be running Service Pack2 would you?

[Camacho111]

Don't laugh....Stock Raidmax that came with my case. 420watts.

Yeah I got SP2.

[Sentential]

Don't laugh....Stock Raidmax that came with my case. 420watts.

Yeah I got SP2.
I blame the PSU and SP2. SP2 crashed every single game I own. First off do a complete reformat and do NOT install SP2 until you verify that the card is still crashing on 1.1.

If it still crashes on 1.1 then its the PSU, but Im more apt to blame SP2

[Camacho111]

I forgot to add before the crashes during gaming, I get "tape tearing". Sort of horizontial lines across the screen during heavy action. But this is at HIGH settings.

Now at MED settings it has a bit but not as heavy.

Damn I like SP2, it does a decent job at blocking ad stuff. I'm gonna dwell on the SP2 part.

Consumer9000 and Sentential thanks so much.

[Camacho111]

here a list on when it crashes.
-at boot, right after VGA load before system BIOS.
-during game play on HL2 ands CS:s at med and high setting.
-when programs are accessed. Outlook
-sometimes right after XP is loaded or start menu.

[consumer9000]

Like I said, those are the exact same symptoms I was having. Pull all your parts out of your case, and build your system on a (non conductive) desk, no mobo tray or anything. This will likely solve your issue, as I am 90% positive it is related to a ground/short somewhere in your setup. I know it sounds drastic but it was the final solution while troubleshooting this stuipd problem. Good luck.

[CordialSpam]

Check see if the heatsink on your video card is tight enough and it is contact with the chip.

Also check your memory slots..swtich them around and see what happens or use 1 stick at a time.

[Camacho111]

whoa....Removed one 512 stick, running only 2 x 256 sticks.

NO FREAkING CRASHES!

I'm gonna trying swapping slots. I need 1gb for my gaming.

Also I flashed to 1013 BIOS.

I'll keep you guys posted.

[CordialSpam]

whoa....Removed one 512 stick, running only 2 x 256 sticks.

NO FREAkING CRASHES!

I'm gonna trying swapping slots. I need 1gb for my gaming.

Also I flashed to 1013 BIOS.

I'll keep you guys posted.


NP :cool:

my cousin had exact same problem a while ago we figured out it was memory who was doing the trick.

[Camacho111]

Back to the drawing board. Still crashes!

I was able to do 10 loops on CS:S video stess test at full high settings. But tried high settings on HL2 but that crashes in the intro.

I've tried and older Antec 350watt with 5more amps at the 12v. The video tearing seems to gone away and XP seems to be a bit more stable. Unsure if the PSU is part of the cause. I also have a New Fortron Blue Storm 500watt PSU on the way.

[Camacho111]

This is what I got from the PNY tech support. I shall try it when I get home. very optimistic.

Mr Camacho,



NVIDIA has addressed the 3D rendering with the 6600 series *see the release notes* http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_downloads_winxp_2k_67.03.html . Also the 67.03 and 67.66 drivers are optimized for use with Half Life 2 where as the 66.93 drivers are optimized for Doom 3 and compatible games. We have determine the 66.93 Drivers do not work well with Half Life 2 and causes the issues your experiencing hence the updated driver.



PNY Technical Support

[CordialSpam]

Yea try that when you get home that may be causing your problem.

btw you got your mem put back and working well? and does it crashes only with HL2?

[JasonDTM]

71.24's and .25's did the trick for me... 67.03's would crash after a match or two in CSS

[Camacho111]

I dumped SP2! Seems to do the trick. :clap:

[Camacho111]

71.24's and .25's did the trick for me... 67.03's would crash after a match or two in CSS Where did you find 71.21 and .25?

Playing CS:S at all high settings now with 67.03 beta and dumped SP2.

But HL2 I got further but still crashed. I'm hope 71.21 can help this HL2 problem

[ashenfang]

you can find 71.21's and .25's over at http://www.guru3d.com I have heard that many people are having good luck with the 71.24's

One thing I have noticed though is that everyone's computer will handle each set of drivers differently. Just because 71.25's fixed all of "billy's" problems, doesn't mean it will fix yours, or maybe create more. Its just a game of trying them I guess. I to am still having trouble finding the best driver. I recently exchanged my PNY 6600gt for a BFG 6600gt OC. 66.93 work well in HL2, but in CS:S i get a little bit of image tearing. Not sure, but I might try the 67.03's.

[Camacho111]

Ashenfang, Our setup are very, very similiar. Did you have trouble with the BFG 6600gt during the install? mine didn't even wanna load XP.

[ashenfang]

When I first took out the PNY and put in the new BFG, I still couldn't get boot, just an XP flash screen, then a quick flash of a BSOD, then a reboot, so I reformated and reinstalled XP. Everything is stable now. My conclusion is that there was something wrong with the card, but also corrupted drivers. (possibly from a bad card?) Not really sure.

-edit, have you tried any of the two cards in your other system?

[Camacho111]

no, I don't wanna screw up my rig 2. I work from home sometimes, as i need least one stable machine working incase I go through ***** like this....


I may reformat once more and keep the drivers on disk. I don't think SP2 is fully out on my system. As I do think this is the major reason for crashes.

[consumer9000]

I've been running the 71.25 WHQL drivers without event for the past few days. The only quirk I've noticed with them is a hard (black screen) transition when switching to PureVideo mpeg playback. (Yes, I bought the nvdvd software, and it's worth it!) Aside from that, scores have improved, and I haven't noticed any glitches during testing or gameplay. :)

[felony]

have you guys really noticed a negative side effect to SP2?

I dont have nearly the same problems as you guys have been mentioning, but I do have some.

Is sp2 as big of a culprit in performance as some of you have stated?

let me know, i got nothing wrong with reformatting for a few fps .. haha

:bday:

[thinmanx]

SERVICE PACK 2 IS THE DEVIL.....id advise to reformat and lock SP2 out of updates. Service pack2 responds very badly to gaming systems especiually online ones. This will insure a clean registry from the start no spyware and no uneeded programs. See how it runs after this scenario. My AGP rig went to hell after i installed SP2...Reformat and reinstrall of XP made a huge difference. I also noticed when SP2 was installed it was using quite a bit more memory to run windows than previously....dunno I hate microsoft but i think XP without SP2 is very stable. Good luck man i plan opn getting 2x XFX Cards and hope i wont run into any probs

[Camacho111]

Finally it doesn't crash!

Installed my new Foltron 500 blue storm. when it tried to boot it didn't XP. Remove the floppy and CD-R. It booted. As it turns out the CD-R took a dump on me. I know this was the cause for the I game crashes.

The PSU correct the video tearing. I'd say for this 6600Gt you'll need at least 400watts solid for this card to work well.

3dmarks03 score suck though 6447. I'm gonna try 3dmark05 since it seem this card favors the newer games anyway.

Thanks for all the help. A bunch of knowledgeable guys- I tell you!

[Sentential]

HL2 but that crashes in the intro.
Once again...thats a SP2 issue.

[Sentential]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM THINMANX

[Camacho111]

Once again...thats a SP2 issue.
sp2 is gone!