Asus 9800XT Artifacting

[stordoff]

I have purchased a 9800XT, and it artifacts at stock speeds (412/365). When i change this to 412/360, the artifacting stops. How can i avoid this?

 

[djbbenn]

So you get errors in Atitool too? I'd return the card if its artifacting at stock speeds. If you don't want to return it, you can set Atitool up so it will load the speeds you want on startup. Just save a profile of the speeds you want, then go settings/startup and check all the boxes. In the first pull down put the name of your profile, second one, put start menu (all users). It will then load it on startup. Or you can use a bios editor like Rabit and change the speeds and flash the card. But I would just retun it for a new card. Hope it helps.

-Dan

 

[zAAm]

Yup, either return it or check whether the cooling is properly attached. If it is making contact with the GPU, you could also just get better cooling?

 

[INSTG8R]

I would also say if your just getting Artifacts in the Tool I wouldn't bet the farm on it
I have gotten "artifacts" at stock speeds on my new X800XT but frankly I hold no weight to it cuz it was once and was 1 pixel.If its artifacting in games or 3Dmark THEN you gotta reason to be worried. I like the ATI Tool alot but I DONT use it as a Benchmark

 

[stordoff]

i checked the cooler and got better temps
but i still get artifacts in atitool at stock
i can't return it as it is second hand

any more suggestions?

 

[gR3iF]

downclock it

 

[zAAm]

Place a normal (big) desk fan so that it blows onto your graphics card just to check whether temps make a difference... But since you say the artifacting stops when you downclock the memory, it would probably not make a difference. Maybe make yourself some aluminium RAM sinks? Cut some out of an old heatsink from a 486 or sumthin...

 

[stordoff]

the back is covered with what appears to be a copper plate, which gets very hot as it is not connected to the main cooler. I placed copper ramsinks over this where the ram is which redued the number of artifacts, but did not stop them completly

Should i place more ramsinks on this plate? If i do, will thermal paste be suitable to hold then in place?

 

[zAAm]

Since you're going to place them on top of the graphics card thermal paste would be good. But if the ramsinks are hanging from the graphics card it should be attached with thermal adhesive...

 

[ADV4NCED]

Why dont you try mount a fan on that back plate or so that a fan blows onto that plate? A fan right in the centre will be better than a couple ramsinks. Maybe if theres space, put the ramsinks on and a fan blowing onto it?

 

[stordoff]

how would i attach the fan?

 

[INSTG8R]

Are you by chance using ASUS's Proprietery overclocking/fan control software? I have always steered clear of ASUS since they always seem to do something of their own with the ATI designs.My brief ownership of a 9600XT swore me off them forever(they NEVER follow reference design)

 

[stordoff]

no, i use atitool for overclocking

Why dont you try mount a fan on that back plate or so that a fan blows onto that plate? A fan right in the centre will be better than a couple ramsinks. Maybe if theres space, put the ramsinks on and a fan blowing onto it?

how would i do this?

 

[INSTG8R]

K I just know other users have had Issues with "Smart Doctor" or whatever they call it....

And BTW what kind of load temps are you seeing?

 

[ADV4NCED]

Well its kinda a home job thing and probably wont look the best, but I think I would take 2 small stands and stick 1 stand on each side of a fan so thats its perpendicular to the fan. Then make a foot or base for the stands to stand on, then glue it onto the backplate.

Like I said its a home job and wont look too good, but I'm sure if you're imaginative enough you can come up with something.

 

[stordoff]

load temps (as shown in atitool)
58c 51c

this is at 412/365

would a ATI Silencer 3 (Rev. 2) provide better cooling?

 

[gR3iF]

against stock almost

 

[INSTG8R]

load temps (as shown in atitool)
58c 51c

this is at 412/365

would a ATI Silencer 3 (Rev. 2) provide better cooling?

I think the Silencer would lower your temps but they seem fairly reasonable to me(now my 9800XT was flashed Pro so I had no temp sensor) but my new X800XT loads in the 65/55 range on stock cooling(have a Silencer 4 on the way)