9800XT artifacting? heat problem?

[Reign1]

I've had my 9800xt for about a year now give or take a month or two and lately I've been experiencing extreme artifacting (i.e. solid triangles and/or white dots in 3d games) I've never overclocked the core or memory; both always ran at stock speeds. I thought cooling could have been my problem within my case so I bought 4 80mm fans, set em to high and put them on the side of my graphics card. Still no difference. Should I be expecting a total meltdown of the card after a year or should it be running fine still? Is there anything I can try? ANY help would be appreciated to try to fix this problem.

My specs are:

2.6 ghz northwood *stock*
ati 9800xt *stock*
1.5gb pc2700 mem *stock*
antec 350w psu
2 seagate hds
2 case fans *stock speed*
4 80mm fans set to high

[redwraith94]

IDK a lot about graphical issues, but you can try turning the cards GPU and ram down 5-10% and see if that helps. It is possible that your power supply doesn't have enough juice on either of the 12v or 5v rails, so maybe you could try swapping the psu out for a larger one if you have one lying around? But, I will let other members comment on the psu, since I'm not sure.

Also, you could try putting some AS5 on the core, if it is a heat issue.

[Reign1]

Thanks for the reply. I'll try toning down the core and mem but should that be neccessary? I dont want to run less than stock when I paid $500 for that thing.
I was told the 350w would be enough but I'll buy a 450w if need be. Could the problem be that there is really bad airflow in my case? Theres only one opening in the back for the stock fan which is exhaust. the rest of the fans are just taking in air from within the case and blowing it on the side of my nic card..

Crudely drawn setup look like this:

http://img202.echo.cx/img202/4042/untitled2hu.jpg

[mista ting]

a 350watt psu is great for an 9800XT only if your going to buy a 6800 series you would probley need a bit more ;),

you should check if the HS&F is fully contacted with the GPU core.

[Reign1]

I neglected to mention I'm running dual monitors. Could that in some way have an effect on the graphics card? Would just running off one relieve some pressure? Its a 21 inch and a 17 inch.

[GerrFel]

Have you changed the monitor setup or resolution recently?

[Reign1]

Not really; I mean a few months ago I went dual monitor and these problems began arising. I've always ran one montior at 1280x1024, the other at 1600x1200. Think I should go back to one monitor? Could that be the problem?

[redwraith94]

possibly, I think you should get some more fans too, I hear that the stock hs on the 9800 is a little anemic, and reseat the hs, If you have any as5 lying around put some of that on the core, after cleaning it off. I am actually running an 9600SE w/ a pelt and to cool the pelt a stock hs/fan from an a64 3000(754) it works pretty darn well :) ...It's held on with tie wraps, and hasn't failed me yet, so maybe you could switch to a processor hs/fan lol! Oh yeah...

:welcome: Welcome to the Forums!!! :welcome:

[Reign1]

Thanks :)

Ordered some as5 and hopefully that'll keep the temp down. I'm thinking about raising the fan speed with atitool...

Maybe make some mods to my case for better airflow.

Thanks again guys.

[fabulouscoops]

The dual monitor set up does coincide with the start of the problem so I would suspect that first. However, When good components go bad over time, it may just be dust in the heatsink. I would give it a good cleaning and reset the card in the slot and see if that helps.

[Reign1]

Yeah I think it may be the dual monitors. What I think I'm going to do though is just clean the entire case out and see if that helps. Some of those fans are getting pretty dusty as well. Just can't live without my monitors ;)

[redwraith94]

I haven't tried dualies yet. It sounds like fun. I'll have to get around to that someday. ;) Also maybe if your card does not have a extra connector for power, maybe the dual monitors setup is drawing to much from other components on the card, I think the max for an agp slot is 25W? but I could be wrong...

[Pro*Banshee]

if you're running two monitors, both CRT's at high resolution, the RAMDAC on the card might be overheating, and since it's internal to the core, it might push the core high too, which would cause artifacting.

Try running 3dmark for a few hours (until heavy artifacting starts), then quickly exiting and seeing what the tempuratures on the card are through the ATI control panel. If they are higher than 60c (I know its' low but thats when I START to worry), then I would either remount the heatsink or look into buying a new one.

[dylskee]

I'm having the same trouble with my radeon 9800 pro!! I hade to clock down the core and memory speed and thats helping for now, i would like to figure out what happened though!!

[dylskee]

Well, i figured out why my 9800 pro is crappin out on me. I was re-routing some wires in my case and i found a heatsink at the bottom, it fell off my card!!!! I'm going to put it back on with some Arctic alumina epoxy, will the card return to normal or is the damage done? So maybe your having a heat issue with your card.

[redwraith94]

don't use the epoxy, then you can never upgrade heatsinks if you want to try for a higher oc later, it should have two push pin like clamps on it that snap into place, if not, I use tie wraps for my 9600se ;)

[dylskee]

It's This heatsink (http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=showMyPhoto&albumID=224765369&photoID=337006988&security=CpEagO)


Check out this artifacting!!! (http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=showMyPhoto&albumID=224765369&photoID=337229524&security=gkKRon)

I don't think i have to worry about upgrading that sink. I am trying for an RMA right now, hopefully i get it. I bought the card 5/7/04 so i might just make it.....

[veryhumid]

what kind of load temps are you getting? you can check in the overdrive tab after a good amount of time gaming, or use atitool. you can also use ati tool to manually set your fan speed. that might help as well.

[dylskee]

what kind of load temps are you getting? you can check in the overdrive tab after a good amount of time gaming, or use atitool. you can also use ati tool to manually set your fan speed. that might help as well.
Hmm, i don't have an overdrive tab, in the ati control panel? Well, i got an RMA # for a replacement card anyway. Thanks for the replies.