X800GTO Sudden Artifact Problem

[error_f0rce]

Hey all,
My Sapphire X800 GTO has been working great for the past 8 months or so, and was working great this morning. But this evening when it booted up I get this:

Here's what I've tried so far:
-Reconnecting cables, removing/reinstalling graphics card, check temps (normal), check o/c (off).

I've done a few mods (see specs), but nothing in the last 6 months, so what gives? ...any ideas?

(Getting sinking feeling this baby is about to bite the big one...)

[zekrahminator]

Sorry, I think that it's time to kiss your beautiful graphics card goodbye. A gigantic uber-heatsink might fix your problems, but really what's the point? Spend $30 to delay $200 later? Just spend $200 now and be happy, in my opinion .

[xylomn]

Flee for the hills shes gonna blow.... sorry me thinks that card be on its last legs

[zekrahminator]

Originally Posted by xylomn

Flee for the hills shes gonna blow.... sorry me thinks that card be on its last legs

Ah, ye talk like a true sailor, me hearty .

[error_f0rce]

:screams: ARRRRRRGGGG..... :burns effigy of SAPPHIRE logo:

Originally Posted by zekrahminator

Sorry, I think that it's time to kiss your beautiful graphics card goodbye. A gigantic uber-heatsink might fix your problems, but really what's the point? Spend $30 to delay $200 later? Just spend $200 now and be happy, in my opinion .

Yeah, she's got the Zalman VF-900, which has been good to me.... at least I can salvage that

[error_f0rce]

Ok, just reflashed to the default bios, reverting to the 12 actives pipelines.... no help there.

$&#$&*(&%$)%*$(*%($()*)@$

[error_f0rce]

Ok, also tried reinstalling updated drivers/software from ATi and nothing.....

Any suggestions for a new AGP 8x card around $200???

[ATIonion]

you sound intellegent...so this maybe worthless...but have you done a "hard cleaning" to the card......about every 6 months i have to go beyond the basic dusting and remove my card and clean it from head to toe....

dust settles in those hard to reach places...then when humidity hits that dust absorbs the moisture and becomes more conductive....idk about your location, but around here we have had rain for what seems like a full week...and just yesterday i had the same issue with my card and had to do the major cleaning....

of course when i do this cleaning i go ahead and clean the whole rig....

hope your card isn't on its way man..good luck...


oh btw....i think the x1950agp is around $200 or so, but its hard to find...

[xylomn]

Originally Posted by ATIonion

oh btw....i think the x1950agp is around $200 or so, but its hard to find...

I had a quick look on newegg, I aint from the us so i don't know where you all shop online but the cheapest x1950 agp they had was $249...

If you can get a x1950 for $200 though that will be a good deal, not bad card at all.

The same card is £152.74...ish over here which is about $294.87, damn you and your good prices lol

[tkpenalty]

Originally Posted by xylomn

I had a quick look on newegg, I aint from the us so i don't know where you all shop online but the cheapest x1950 agp they had was $249...

If you can get a x1950 for $200 though that will be a good deal, not bad card at all.

The same card is £152.74...ish over here which is about $294.87, damn you and your good prices lol

X1950PRO AGP
Its a good card, not a cut down high Range AGP Like the 7800GS was. Buy from OEM.
By the way, problem is, you can't use the VF-700 CU D:... Get it from powercolor = save costs on any aftermarket cooling.

Abandon Ship the captain screams! (zekrahminator)

[Kammster]

try underclocking the memory to 400 or 350 mhz.


my sapphire x800 gto is unstable under heavy stress above 450mhz or i its just my bad luck

[error_f0rce]

Originally Posted by Kammster

try underclocking the memory to 400 or 350 mhz.

Thanks, tried it, but it didn't help.

Originally Posted by ATIonion

have you done a "hard cleaning" to the card

Good call. So I just got done dusting it, cleaning the contacts, heatsink, etc.... still no luck. Was definitely worth a try though.... man, I was really hoping this card would last until I saved the money for the big leap to Conroe & PCI-e.... BAH!

SAPPHIRE-><-error_f0rce

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Let me know if you think of anything else.
( now scared to use computer at all because these #$^#&*@!% artifacts are going to burn into my LCD )

[error_f0rce]

Latest pic, notice 3 sections on fuzzy dice:

[UnexplodedCow]

Yeah, that card's had it. I had a geforce4 ti4200 that did that on the screen, and it eventually corrupted my board's bios.

[noneed4me2]

Just out of curiosity how high was your overclocks on the card and was it set to run at high speed always or only when you started a game? How long have you had the card? I ask cause i only overclock while I am running a game and was wondering if that affects the life of the gpu more.

[straybeat]

Originally Posted by tkpenalty

X1950PRO AGP
By the way, problem is, you can't use the VF-700 CU D:... (zekrahminator)

I've been using my old VF-700 on my Visiontek X1950 Pro since a day after I bought the card. It works fine and gave me a lot better OC.

Stray

[dolf]

Originally Posted by error_f0rce

Hey all,
My Sapphire X800 GTO has been working great for the past 8 months or so, and was working great this morning. But this evening when it booted up I get this:

Here's what I've tried so far:
-Reconnecting cables, removing/reinstalling graphics card, check temps (normal), check o/c (off).

I've done a few mods (see specs), but nothing in the last 6 months, so what gives? ...any ideas?

(Getting sinking feeling this baby is about to bite the big one...)

It looks bad (I think that it is memory related problem). Uninstall all the programs like ATITool and ATI Tray Tools and restart. Try also with other PSU just in case. If you haven't success with the previous - RMA it as soon as possible (if you can of course).

Good luck

[65tweet]

I'm 99% sure that’s a memory problem. More specifically a memory interface problem. I know because I have tortured video cards in the past and know what some problems look like. I have two possible fixes if I'm correct:

1. Examine the card closely and look for damaged / missing components. Focus on the solder traces going from the memory chips and follow them to the end. I know it can be tedious but you may find something.

2. Flash you card with a 128 Mb memory BIOS (or modify yours). If you are lucky the 128 Mb that is disabled will be on the damaged portion and your card will have full functionality (be it half the memory).

The only other thing I know that causes similar problems is over-tightening the cooling and damaging the GPU. From my experience this causes the pattern you are seeing all over the display though. However if it is the GPU that’s damaged (from over-tightening) it may be the memory controller but I don't think that's likely.

A question I have also is did you volt mod it? If so then something on the memory could be fried but I'm not sure what that would look like or even if it would keep working.

[65tweet]

Another thing just thought of too if you want to check for a damaged GPU. Carefully support the card and gently wiggle the heat sink. If still nothing loosen the heat sink and try again. Don’t have any 3D aps running if you do this though and temps should be OK for the short amount of time this should take. If the GPU is damaged this may cause the problem patches to move or go away. Just be aware of two things that could happen..

1. If the GPU is damaged this may make the problem worse.

2. When it’s loose and you’re not careful when wiggling, the heat sink could touch something and short out the card.

Just a thought hope this all helps and good luck. On the bright side though you have a valid reason to get a better card now .

[dolf]

Originally Posted by 65tweet

On the bright side though you have a valid reason to get a better card now .

I have always wonder why my moded X850PRO to X850XT PE and 9800PRO 128MB (XT PCB) moded to real 9800XT 128MB are so stable and without any problems . And now finally I know - it is because they are absolutely sure that X1950XTX with E6600 are comming shortly on their place after stopping even one of them .

[error_f0rce]

Originally Posted by noneed4me2

Just out of curiosity how high was your overclocks on the card and was it set to run at high speed always or only when you started a game? How long have you had the card? I ask cause i only overclock while I am running a game and was wondering if that affects the life of the gpu more.

<--- See my system specs for OC on the card.
I only ran them when playing games, which was definitely less than 100 hours since install, but when I played I'd crank the fan speed and it never got over mid 40's C. That Zalman VF900 has worked great for me.
I've only had the card for 8 months, but can't RMA it since it's has after-market upgrades. Granted I could flash the bios back, replace the stock cooling, etc, and lie about it to them, but I guess that's just not me There's always some risk involved with modding.... but tell that to my wife

[error_f0rce]

Originally Posted by dolf

It looks bad (I think that it is memory related problem). Uninstall all the programs like ATITool and ATI Tray Tools and restart. Try also with other PSU just in case. If you haven't success with the previous - RMA it as soon as possible (if you can of course).

Good luck

Great idea about the PSU dolf; I have an older Antec SmartPower 350w sitting around that I modded for a test PSU.... I'll give that a shot!

[error_f0rce]

Originally Posted by 65tweet

1. Examine the card closely and look for damaged / missing components. Focus on the solder traces going from the memory chips and follow them to the end. I know it can be tedious but you may find something.

Oh my... if I get really bored I might try that

Originally Posted by 65tweet

Flash you card with a 128 Mb memory BIOS (or modify yours). If you are lucky the 128 Mb that is disabled will be on the damaged portion and your card will have full functionality (be it half the memory).

Any recommendations for a compatible 128mb bios?

Originally Posted by 65tweet

The only other thing I know that causes similar problems is over-tightening the cooling and damaging the GPU.

I will try loosening the thumb screws on it, but the card isn't bent at all. Perhaps the strain was more than it could bear... if that's it, loosing it should do something (i.e. make it worse, better, different).

Originally Posted by 65tweet

A question I have also is did you volt mod it?

I haven't v-modded it.

[error_f0rce]

Ok, so any comments on this card?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131035

Looks like that's the one unless I can find anything cheaper or better for the same price.
BTW, what's up with this card only having 12 pipes???

[straybeat]

Originally Posted by error_f0rce

Ok, so any comments on this card?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131035

Looks like that's the one unless I can find anything cheaper or better for the same price.
BTW, what's up with this card only having 12 pipes???

I've been running the Visiontek version since it came out. It blows my X850 away gaming-wise. Now the wife is inheriting the Visiontek and I'm going for the 512 meg Sapphire when the next batch is out.

Don't know why they only made it available with 12 pipes, and there are none to upgrade to either. No 16 pipes hiding in the architecture.

Stray

Edit: The other "downside" which seems to bother some users, there are no sensors of any type on the card. So you can't track temps and things.