ATi Quality (or not...)

Big Dog · May 2, 2004, 10:14 PM

This will probably generate a lot of flames, but here goes.

I've owned two systems that both included ATi cards - the current an ATi Radeon 8500, and my wife's included an ATi Radeon VE.

After about a year and a half, my wife's system started re-booting for no reason. Using PC Doctor, it was determined the memory on the Radeon VE had gone bad.

Now...on my system, certain programs are starting to behave erratically, and I'm getting an occasional lockup in IE. PC Doctor reports...a possible video memory problem.

BTW, about 6 months ago, I purchased an ATi Radeon 9600, and...you guessed it...the memory was bad out of the box.

A friend who runs an IT department advised that the memory on especially the Radeon cards can have problems.

Are these three incidents indicative of ATi's QC (or lack there of), or just at coincidence.

System spec's: Both are Intel P4 1.8 and 1.4gz systems (both with intel boards), and both have APC BackUPS 1000's to protect againse brown and blackouts.

Judas · May 2, 2004, 10:37 PM

First... excellent choice on the APC unit..

.... second.... are these BUILT BY ATI cards?

The_Neon_Cowboy · May 2, 2004, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Dog
This will probably generate a lot of flames, but here goes.
I've owned two systems that both included ATi cards - the current an ATi Radeon 8500, and my wife's included an ATi Radeon VE.

Thats good I have/ have had a radeon 7200, 9600xt, 9500 pro, 9800 pro

No problems, BTW the 7200 is allmost three years old but still under warrenty!
(still plays the new games like ut2004 etc just fine)

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Dog
After about a year and a half, my wife's system started re-booting for no reason. Using PC Doctor, it was determined the memory on the Radeon VE had gone bad.

Now...on my system, certain programs are starting to behave erratically, and I'm getting an occasional lockup in IE. PC Doctor reports...a possible video memory problem.

BTW, about 6 months ago, I purchased an ATi Radeon 9600, and...you guessed it...the memory was bad out of the box.

ever think mabe pc doctor has the problem...

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Dog

A friend who runs an IT department advised that the memory on especially the Radeon cards can have problems.

Yea a problem called putting faster and better memory then spec'd, and then clocking it lower wich is actally a verry good thing. 3rd parties can use cheap ram and drop below spec especally if thier not on the ati QC approved list.

Well I'll tell you little secrect I used to work for a pc company, as thier lead tech(I'm certified in many things), never have I herd nor experienced of ati EVER haveing any such thing.

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Dog
Are these three incidents indicative of ATi's QC (or lack there of), or just at coincidence.

System spec's: Both are Intel P4 1.8 and 1.4gz systems (both with intel boards), and both have APC BackUPS 1000's to protect againse brown and blackouts.

are these home made or store bought/branded?

Quote:

Originally posted by Judas
First... excellent choice on the APC unit.. .... second.... are these BUILT BY ATI cards?

a good question can't blame ati for cards they didn't even build, any of the powerd by ati lines, ati only made the GPU that all....

only built by ati are in fact built by ati acording to stict standards and specs

**Roadee** · May 3, 2004, 12:42 AM

I think your problem may be with something else.......

PC Doctor is pretty much crap software, it only gives you an idea of what "could" be wrong. Not what "is" wrong. And I must say......if you ran it 3 times and came up with the same diagnosis on all 3 of them.......that is definately a problem with PC Doctor......and should tell you something.

Most of the problems that you mention are most likely due to the Windows operating system. I bet that if you did a fresh install of the OS.......and use all updated drivers......then most likely your problems will go away.

Also.......if you use old and out dated hardware......you cant expect the world of performance.

~~Turtle~~ · May 3, 2004, 12:51 AM

I have an 8500 Had it for 3 years!!! Never a single problem with any ATI products.

Rayder · May 3, 2004, 06:42 AM

The first BBA 8500 128DDR that I bought a couple years ago had memory problems within the first week of owning it (verified through the tests that you used to get in Win98 from the Device Manager) . Luckily that card was still within the 14 day return time at CompUSA, I exchanged it and the second 8500 was just fine. It's just been kicked out of my system for the 9800pro, not because of any problems. It still works.....

It's the only Radeon I've ever witnessed to have any kind of memory problems. I'm sure there can be bad batches though. It happens....

It could be that the PSU or motherboard is spiking power to the AGP port.....who knows. Overclocking doesn't improve their lifespan either.

Sorry to hear of your poor luck with Radeons.

Big Dog · May 3, 2004, 07:02 AM

Thanks for all of the responses. Both systems are Gateway systems, and use cards built BY ATi for Gateway.

On my wife's system, PD Doctor wasn't installed when the reboot problem started - so can't "blame" PC Doctor for theat. Ditto for mine. In both cases, I installed it to check the system components . Both cases, there were video memory problems reported.

On my system, I recently did a clean install, and used the latest hardware drivers.

Nothing is overclocked.

Will get a replacement card after work -

BOB050082 · May 3, 2004, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Dog
Both systems are Gateway systems, and use cards built BY ATi for Gateway

There's your problem right there. Speaking from experience, I once purchased a Gateway, It arrived two weeks later with no OS installed, and only half the components I asked for. It lost its novelty after about a week and turned into a piece of crap. It too had an Ati RAGE video card which did not function correctly. Gateway also refused to replace/repair/put in proper parts until they decided to pull out of Asia and leave me in the cold (take in mind this was about 3 or 4 years ago).

Getting back to ATi, all of the BBA ATi and partner cards I have owned have surpassed their nVidia counterparts.

Big Dog · May 3, 2004, 12:04 PM

Quote:

There's your problem right there.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone would slam my choice in systems.

This time around I'll opt for a Nvidia based card - given my experience with ATi - it's "three strikes and you're out".

nuG · May 3, 2004, 12:45 PM

Usually when its "three strikes your out" you should check something else to make sure it wasnt shorting out your card. The nvidia cards might do the same thing. I have owned on nvidia card. It sucked.

p0rChM0nK3y · May 3, 2004, 12:59 PM

Quote:

This time around I'll opt for a Nvidia based card - given my experience with ATi - it's "three strikes and you're out".

Either you're a fan boy who wants to make up a lie to make ATi look bad, or you have really bad luck. (btw, replace your system memory, i bet that will fix your problems.

pr0digal jenius · May 3, 2004, 01:47 PM

my vote is that it's gateway's fault...have you ever looked inside one?...the only machien with a sh*ttier wiring job i have ever seen was an HP Pavillion...not to mention that gateway uses proprietary cases which usually means 3rd party parts and shaved down or re-designed bulk order PCBs(ever compare a dell radeon 7000 to a retail one?...they aint the same )

Big Dog · May 3, 2004, 03:05 PM

Quote:

not to mention that gateway uses proprietary cases which usually means 3rd party parts and shaved down or re-designed bulk order PCBs

FWIW, Gateway uses standard form factor Intel mobo's, and OEM components. Nothing shaved down like what ComPuke does (come to think of it, some of Dell's slim-line cases will not handle off the shelf components either).

As to being a "fan boy", nope. What was stated is accurate. Three ATi cards crapped - that's either REALLY bad luck, or a possible QC problem with ATi.

As to memory problems - the only problems that the diagnostic software have revealed is that the VIDEO memory is bad. System RAM is o.k.

**Roadee** · May 3, 2004, 05:15 PM

I dont want you to think that I am picking on you or cutting down your choice of computers.....I just want to help you find the problem.

Gateway uses all proprietary and OEM stuff. The chances of you having a "built by" in a Gateway is slim to absolutely NONE. What you most likely have is the absolute cheapest OEM Radeon card made.....hard to say by who though.....who ever gave the lowest bid. Also....just because it has an ATI sticker on it.....doesn't make it "built by". So with this in mind.....your problems have nothing to do with ATI QC.

I am sorry to hear about your misfortune, and I hope that you get the problem fixed to your satisfaction, no matter what card you decide to use.

Seeing as how you seem to have made up your mind on what you are going to do and what the problem is......I will go ahead and close this thread to keep it from growing into a Flame Fest.