Having Video Card Problems? READ ME FIRST

TwistedMetal · Mar 16, 2004, 05:23 AM

Drivers

Make sure you have the latest drivers for:

BIOS, Chipset, Video Card BIOS (if available), and Video Card Drivers

BIOS

AGP Aperture size: Try using 64MB or 128MB

AGP FastWrite: Recommended OFF

Chipset Drivers

Always make a Restore Point before installing, uninstall your current video card drivers, and then install new chipset drivers. If at all possible install them in SAFE MODE.

Video Card BIOS

Try using this as a last resort unless it states it will fix a problem.

Video Card Drivers

Try using different kinds of drivers, not just different versions. Like Omega's and so on...

Use Driver Cleaner http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/

Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, ATI Display Driver, Select All, Ok, and DO NOT REBOOT. Run Driver Cleaner, Select ATI, Clean, Close, and then Reboot. Now install the new drivers.

FastWrite

Yes, it supposedly does decrease your video card stability.

FastWrite has about a 10% chance of working correctly from what I have been hearing on the forums.

ATI recommends turning FastWrite OFF, except for the 9600. There are alot of issues with FastWrite OFF on that card.

If you are using a VIA Chipset, it's recommended that you have FastWrite ON. As it can cause some issues. I personally am using a VIA Chipset with FastWrite OFF. I have not seen a performance decrease and it does seem more stable.

I guess it's based on your motherboard, chipset, video card, and driver versions.

If you have RANDOM GAME CRASHES, you may want to try enabling/disabling FastWrite. As that is a known cause for crashes.

Enable FastWrite with Omega Drivers 2.5.22 (Based on Catalyst 4.2)

Start, Run, regedit.

File, Find, DisableAGPFW, delete DisableAGPFW, and then Find Next (F3). Repeat until it can't find anymore. BEWARE, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF THEM!

Power Supply

In some cases your power supply may not have enough power to run your video card properly. If you have a fairly old computer or having alot of leds, case fans, lights, and hard drivers. Try getting a new power supply, anywhere from 350w-500w. Don't go the cheap way with power supplies, they are the most important part of the computer.

RAM

In some cases your RAM could be bad. Run a memory test to find out or not. http://www.memtest86.com/

Cooling

Do you have enough case fans for proper cooling? Your computer or video card could be overheating.

Case Care

When was the last time you cleaned the inside of your case? Dirt can collect up and cause poor cooling conditions.

Overclocking

Are you overclocking?

You may have it turned up to high.

Your fans may not be able to handle the heat. Get better fans.

Refresh Rate

In some cases your refresh rate could be causing problems with your montior. Try raising or lowering it and try the refresh rate fix. http://www.radeon2.ru/refreshfix_eng.html

Windows

Make sure you have the latest patches and services installed.

Try formatting, installing Windows and all of the newest drivers fresh.

VPU Recover

In some cases this can cause problems. Try disabling it.

Omega Drivers

Try not using any 3rd party tweaking programs with Omega. RadLinker is OK.

You installed a Modded driver and it may not have worked. Remove the drivers and try using Normal.

Flat Panel Montiors

Your flat panel montior may not be able to handle 3D games.

Video Card Bad?

In some cases your video card could or could have gone bad. Try returning it to see if that is the problem.

If you need help

If you need further help, please post as much information as you can. Brands and models of all your hardware, operating system, and anyother info you have. The more information you provide the easier it could be to determine what the problem is.

Example:

ASUS A7N8X delx 2.0
AMD 3000xp
Saphire 9800 pro
1 GB Corsair XMS
420W Antec PSU
SB Audigy
WD 40GB HD 7200rpm
Windows XP

Mar 16, 2004, 05:23 AM	#1
TwistedMetal MC John-117 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 729 Rep Power: 0	Having Video Card Problems? READ ME FIRST Drivers Make sure you have the latest drivers for: BIOS, Chipset, Video Card BIOS (if available), and Video Card Drivers BIOS AGP Aperture size: Try using 64MB or 128MB AGP FastWrite: Recommended OFF Chipset Drivers Always make a Restore Point before installing, uninstall your current video card drivers, and then install new chipset drivers. If at all possible install them in SAFE MODE. Video Card BIOS Try using this as a last resort unless it states it will fix a problem. Video Card Drivers Try using different kinds of drivers, not just different versions. Like Omega's and so on... Use Driver Cleaner http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/ Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, ATI Display Driver, Select All, Ok, and DO NOT REBOOT. Run Driver Cleaner, Select ATI, Clean, Close, and then Reboot. Now install the new drivers. FastWrite Yes, it supposedly does decrease your video card stability. FastWrite has about a 10% chance of working correctly from what I have been hearing on the forums. ATI recommends turning FastWrite OFF, except for the 9600. There are alot of issues with FastWrite OFF on that card. If you are using a VIA Chipset, it's recommended that you have FastWrite ON. As it can cause some issues. I personally am using a VIA Chipset with FastWrite OFF. I have not seen a performance decrease and it does seem more stable. I guess it's based on your motherboard, chipset, video card, and driver versions. If you have RANDOM GAME CRASHES, you may want to try enabling/disabling FastWrite. As that is a known cause for crashes. Enable FastWrite with Omega Drivers 2.5.22 (Based on Catalyst 4.2) Start, Run, regedit. File, Find, DisableAGPFW, delete DisableAGPFW, and then Find Next (F3). Repeat until it can't find anymore. BEWARE, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF THEM! Power Supply In some cases your power supply may not have enough power to run your video card properly. If you have a fairly old computer or having alot of leds, case fans, lights, and hard drivers. Try getting a new power supply, anywhere from 350w-500w. Don't go the cheap way with power supplies, they are the most important part of the computer. RAM In some cases your RAM could be bad. Run a memory test to find out or not. http://www.memtest86.com/ Cooling Do you have enough case fans for proper cooling? Your computer or video card could be overheating. Case Care When was the last time you cleaned the inside of your case? Dirt can collect up and cause poor cooling conditions. Overclocking Are you overclocking? You may have it turned up to high. Your fans may not be able to handle the heat. Get better fans. Refresh Rate In some cases your refresh rate could be causing problems with your montior. Try raising or lowering it and try the refresh rate fix. http://www.radeon2.ru/refreshfix_eng.html Windows Make sure you have the latest patches and services installed. Try formatting, installing Windows and all of the newest drivers fresh. VPU Recover In some cases this can cause problems. Try disabling it. Omega Drivers Try not using any 3rd party tweaking programs with Omega. RadLinker is OK. You installed a Modded driver and it may not have worked. Remove the drivers and try using Normal. Flat Panel Montiors Your flat panel montior may not be able to handle 3D games. Video Card Bad? In some cases your video card could or could have gone bad. Try returning it to see if that is the problem. If you need help If you need further help, please post as much information as you can. Brands and models of all your hardware, operating system, and anyother info you have. The more information you provide the easier it could be to determine what the problem is. Example: ASUS A7N8X delx 2.0 AMD 3000xp Saphire 9800 pro 1 GB Corsair XMS 420W Antec PSU SB Audigy WD 40GB HD 7200rpm Windows XP __________________ [color=red][/color]