[Xtc4u]

Nothing but a complete headache. Noone seems to have any answers on how to resolve the issues I have so I'm switching back to my Nvidia card and never getting an ATI card again. Through all the posts I've done on the multiple issues since installing this card the best answer I got was I didn't know how to install the card. Screw ATI.

Isues: Exception errors, poor performance, bad quality, constant reboots, screen freezes all because I installed a Sapphire 9800 Pro. Even after a reformat the same issues are there. Never in my 10 years of putting together computers have I had something go this horribly wrong. What a complete waste of money. I will never again recommend an ATI card to anyone, not even my enemies.

[Commander_Kang]

Well I just read through your last post and I'm curious.What psu are you using and how many watts is it?

[Aslan]

Have you tried running the 9800 Pro in a different machine? I'm guessing that you are running it in your dual Opteron setup, and after doing a search, I found another person with similar issues and they say that they were told that your motherboard has compatibility problems with the 9800 series.
Also, it may have been that you just received a bad card and it requires an RMA.

Edit: http://www.videocard-forum.com/ati/Tyan_Thunder_K8W_S2885_and_ATI_Radeon_9800_Pro_pro blems_166083.html

Link doesn't work properly.

[Falcon-K]

yea i would just rma it if it didnt work in another computer, all companies have bad cards out there.

[Xtc4u]

well that's interesting. It must be the AMD rivers because the Tyan website has the 9800 listed as a compatible card. I'll give her a try in my MP rig. If it works I'll return it instead of goin for a exchange. Thank you very much. Its nice that I finally got a definitive answer to my issues.

[kct2]

Did you ever think to contact ATI? You have a fairly unique system (dual opteron) and it's possible there are specific steps you need to take to get the card working correctly.

Remember the operton platform is not intended for the desktop, it is a workstation/server platform. Not too many graphics workstations use GAMING cards. I doubt ATI even tests their gaming cards in these type of systems, just wouldn't be worth their time.

[Xtc4u]

Well it works in my MP rig just fine. I have been in contact with ATI over this issue. I'm giving til the end of the week before the card goes back. I don't see why i would need a 9800 in my secondary rig. What? A gamer can't game with a dual CPU machine? I'm wierd like that. I bought my MP rig and swore of single CPU systems after my first DivX DVD rip.

[Albuquerque]

Just a thought, but if it works in your OTHER rig, perhaps (just perhaps) it isn't ATI's fault? It's already been mentioned that it has been identified as a motherboard incompatibility, so perhaps you should be calling Tyan and asking them.

Tyan = good mobo company, so I wouldn't expect them to give you the third degree...

[kct2]

Originally posted by Xtc4u
What? A gamer can't game with a dual CPU machine? I'm wierd like that. I bought my MP rig and swore of single CPU systems after my first DivX DVD rip.

I said you have a WORKSTATION/SERVER platform. It isn't meant for games, trying to use it that way is essentially at your own risk; don't blame ATI if it doesn't work. I bet ATI's FireGL cards work great in that board.

If you look at the ATI website, opteron is not listed as a supported platform on the 9800pro spec page. It is, however, listed on the FireGL page.

I was simply trying to explain why opteron platform support wouldn't be at the top of the desktop driver team's priority list.

EDIT:
Oh, and don't think I am just a fanboy trying to defend ATI here, I'm pretty sure my next card will NOT be from ATI unless they quickly fix some serious driver issues (games not working)...but I have seen no claims from ATI about opteron support in catalyst drivers, so you should not expect it to work.

[Xtc4u]

wow. heh Tyans website shows it as being supported that is why I expected it to work. Just goes to prove to me that I should have looked into it more. Oh well. My bad I geuss I just wasted $200 for nothing. Am I upset about the money. Yup. What can I do though. send it back for a 15% restocking fee or sell it on ebay and risk not getting half of the money back. guess I got pwned by ATI and Tyan.

[kct2]

Have you contacted tyan? They claim it works, so they must have tested it (right?), so they must know what settings, etc. made it work.

Did you have fastwrites disabled? Having it enabled is known to cause all kinds of stability problems...

[DDR-PIII]

did you format ? you should always format when yoou put a new gfx card in if you want it to run right.

[Xtc4u]

I tried all kinds of settings. Only ones that work without getting the exception error upon boot is the default settings. I have contacted Tyan and waitin on non automated reply. I tried a fresh format and everything. I'm thinking its just not going to work without either AMD fixing the AGP drivers or ATI fixing the cats to work with the AMD AGP drivers.

[SharkDiver]

You have the latest BIOs for your MoBo right?

[Xtc4u]

Theres only 1 out for it except for a beta. I couldn't flash it even if i wanted to though. No floppy drive.

[dreIU]

What AMD drivers do you speak of? Is that something special for opterons? I didn't know AMD issued drivers for their CPU's.


Shouldn't we have a sticky on the process of installing a new video card... proper way of removing old drivers etc.

[kct2]

Originally posted by Xtc4u
I tried all kinds of settings. Only ones that work without getting the exception error upon boot is the default settings. I have contacted Tyan and waitin on non automated reply. I tried a fresh format and everything. I'm thinking its just not going to work without either AMD fixing the AGP drivers or ATI fixing the cats to work with the AMD AGP drivers.

The default has Fastwrites enabled. You say you 'tried all kinds of settings'...did you specifically try to disable fastwrites?

Check this out - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329903

I did a google search for the error you posted in the 911 area and found that. I'm not sure if it is related to the video card, but the error message is very close, and the timing of the error (before windows boots) makes sense.

Can you post your full system specs please.

Originally posted by dreIU
What AMD drivers do you speak of? Is that something special for opterons? I didn't know AMD issued drivers for their CPU's.


Shouldn't we have a sticky on the process of installing a new video card... proper way of removing old drivers etc.

The motherboard has a AMD AGP "Graphics Tunnel"; essentially it provides AGP functions that a northbridge would. So you need AMD drivers for it.

What order did you install the drivers? Video first, or AGP first?

[dreIU]

Originally posted by kct2

What order did you install the drivers? Video first, or AGP first?

Very nice find; I would definitely give that a try.

[Xtc4u]

If I install vid before AGP it locks up and reboots. I tried with fast writes disable and enabled. I tried 16 different combinations of the P and N factors. I got that trap error both before reformat and after reformat.

System specs are sig except add a TDK CD-RW and a Antec 550 Watt PSU.

[Buhammot]

It seems that the best way to get help is to flame out the company you are having issues with.. then you see the masses come to help... odd dont you think?