x800XL really slow....

jtrory · Sep 25, 2005, 11:17 PM

Hi everyone, looking for some much needed help.

On Friday I installed an x800XL 256MB card, installed the new 5.9 driver and controller, and games run about as smooth as a gravel path.

I have a 2.8GHz Pentium 4, over 1GB DDR RAM, a 350w power supply, and I have an LCD monitor so I want games to run at 1280x1024.

This is what I have tried so far:

- Lower in-game graphics settings. I have to put everything on medium for new games so they'll run smoothly.
- Adjust vid card settings through ATI controller. No dice.
- Defrag the hard disk. Nothing.
- Shut down all extranious programs, such as Antivirus and Firewall software. Anything running in the background. Makes a small difference, but not enough.

For example, I cannot play Half-Life 2 on higher settings. Only medium, which doesn't sound right for my set-up. Brothers in Arms I have to turn the detail way down and turn off antialias completely in order to get a moderately good frame rate. I have to admit, my 128MB 9600XT ran better than this thing does.

Any ideas? Should I contact ATI, or are they just going to give me the runaround for 6 months?

Sandok · Sep 25, 2005, 11:23 PM

Did you do a clean install? Drivercleaner? Etc...

And that PSU seems weak

ReDGuiTaR · Sep 25, 2005, 11:30 PM

350 watt PSU is on the low side, if you have more than 1 harddrive it s definately low.

jtrory · Sep 25, 2005, 11:34 PM

What I have running is a CD-R drive, DVD-ROM drive, and the usual hardware. One HD, one graphics card, one sound card... I guess that would be it right? There's nothing else special in there. Would 350w really not be enough? What would be? Any brand suggestions while we're on the topic?

Sandok, do you mean a clean install of the drivers? I removed the original drivers for my 9600XT before I even installed the X800XL itself. Then once I'd done that, I installed the drivers for the new card.

ReDGuiTaR · Sep 25, 2005, 11:37 PM

He mean download driver cleaner on this site and run it to remove every trace of old driver ( read the instruction first ) and reinstall the driver you need.

Dyre Straits · Sep 25, 2005, 11:37 PM

Just for what it's worth: I have a 400 W PSU in my system and I have GOBS of other stuff attached, too. I have FOUR HDs, 2 DVD/CD devices, I lost count of the fans, USB 2.0 Flash Card Reader...I think that's about it.

However, I, too have the X800 XL 256 and it plays everything GREAT! I'm almost through HL2 again on really high settings. I've tried a little bit of Far Cry at high settings, Morrowind I'm playing on 1600x1200x32 with AA turned up and distance about half way. It just plays smooth as butter.

Now, when I first installed the CAT 5.9s, I did have a problem. So, I uninstalled them, rebooted and let Windows re-detect my video card. Then, AFTER Windows finished with its default installation, I again reinstalled the CAT 5.9s and things are significantly better now. In fact, my latest 3DMark2K5 score -- with default settings -- nearly matched my previously posted high score with things overclocked.

So, do an uninstall of the drivers, make sure no other previous video drivers have been installed, then reboot the system and do as I did above.

Keep us posted.

jtrory · Sep 26, 2005, 12:34 AM

Well I just used Driver Cleaner Pro to remove all traces of the driver. Then I reset my system and reinstalled the CAT 5.9 driver, reset the system again... Brothers in Arms works a little better, HL2 is still just as jittery as before (when I enter a new area or turn a corner the game gets laggy - I have read this is actually a sound issue, but I'm not convinced since this problem only started occurring after I got a new vid card).

Dyre Straits · Sep 26, 2005, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrory

Well I just used Driver Cleaner Pro to remove all traces of the driver. Then I reset my system and reinstalled the CAT 5.9 driver, reset the system again... Brothers in Arms works a little better, HL2 is still just as jittery as before (when I enter a new area or turn a corner the game gets laggy - I have read this is actually a sound issue, but I'm not convinced since this problem only started occurring after I got a new vid card).

You may want to check to see if your new Video Card is sharing an IRQ with something that is demanding as much attention. I have problems whenever my LAN or Sound Card shares an IRQ with my video card. I really try to get my video card on its own IRQ if possible.

To check whether it's a sound issue, go into the Properties of your Sound Card and move the Hardware Acceleration Slider all the way to the left. Then try the game again. If there's no difference, then you know it's not that for sure.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Sep 26, 2005, 04:43 PM

I'd be looking at getting a good PSU around 400-450W abvously higher
is better make sure you get something with at least 22A on the 12V rail.
Though 24A or higher is reccomended.

You have to be careful what you buy becouse there is alot of "CRAP"
out there. Unless you actually can afford to pay the like $80 to 100+
for the premium brands of PSU's. Me I've never paid more then $40
for a PSU.

Even if it doesn't solve your problem (wich in many cases it has) it was
something that need done anyways so it's a win / win situation. I'm
currently useing a rosewill 450W model AP-500X I picked up for $34 off
of newegg.

Depend on the PSU also, and how well it was MFG and desingned. Most
off brand PSU'a are over rated so 350 watt could be something like 300W.
By 350 watter they ment the PSU can hadle that as a peak for a few moments
to minutes but not constantly. VS some marked 350W mean they can handle
350W and have a even higher peek. They look no diffrent and the labeling is often deceptive.

What is the model and brand of the PSU your system is useing now?

jtrory · Sep 26, 2005, 11:56 PM

I just updated my way-out-of-date sound card driver (I have Sound Blaster Audigy) to the one that supports OpenGL, in the hope that would fix the problem. No deal.

I don't know what happened to the reply I thought I'd posted, but to recap, on a quick double check I found that my PSU is a model 420ATX -12v, which makes it in theory a 420w PSU, right? Shouldn't that be good enough? Perhaps my sound card is just crappy....

Oh, and my PSU is made by Turbolinx.

ReDGuiTaR · Sep 27, 2005, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrory

I just updated my way-out-of-date sound card driver (I have Sound Blaster Audigy) to the one that supports OpenGL, in the hope that would fix the problem. No deal.

I don't know what happened to the reply I thought I'd posted, but to recap, on a quick double check I found that my PSU is a model 420ATX -12v, which makes it in theory a 420w PSU, right? Shouldn't that be good enough? Perhaps my sound card is just crappy....

Oh, and my PSU is made by Turbolinx.

Your PSU only have 16A on the 12 volt rail wich isnt good enough for current generation hardware. Keep in mind that cheap brand power supply voltage are rated when running at 25 degree celsius when it run more like at 40 in your case . So when it get hotter it only run at 60-75% of effectiveness ... 252-315 watt !

H3X4D3C1M4L · Sep 27, 2005, 08:09 AM

Get a bigger brand name, i.e. Enermax, OCZ, Antec, PC Power & Cooling, etc.. And you'll be far less likely to get burned

jtrory · Sep 27, 2005, 08:50 AM

I think what I need to do first is get my card replaced by ATI. The fan rattles too, so that should be enough to convince them to send me a new one. While I'm waiting I'll pick up a new PSU.Thanks for the brand suggestions H3X. Can I buy any of those and be confident they'll do the job, or am I looking for something more specific? Any actual PSU suggestions?

uipo · Sep 27, 2005, 11:20 AM

When you installed the cat drivers, did you get like errors? Where it says may not be installed correctly? I got those and mine has been running like crap also.

jtrory · Sep 27, 2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uipo

When you installed the cat drivers, did you get like errors? Where it says may not be installed correctly? I got those and mine has been running like crap also.

No I didn't get anything like that. There's a program on this website called Driver Cleaner. Download it and remove all traces of the driver, then reinstall it. Perhaps that will help. Or you may have a corrupt driver file.