Problem with ati x1950 pro crashing

[Dazzy2008]

My sons pc keeps crashing and vpu recover keeps kicking in.Has anyone had a similar problem to this as i'm putting it down to the graphics card but maybe i have missed something

Also im putting it down to the card as it seems to be running hot and the catalyst software is saying 67c running on stock speeds.

The pc is a core 2 duo E6300 , 2gb 667 ddr2, 450w power supply running windows xp sp2 at stock speeds

Any help greatly appreciated

 

[CH@NO]

maybe is the PSU. Generic PSUs cant feed very well high-end components like your son's card.

and maybe is the dust acumulated in the heatsink, It isolates it and fresh air cannot pass.

Check the fan speed with RivaTuner, I'm not familiarized with your son's model but my HD3850 runs hot 'cause It's fan speed is stucked in 25%.........with RivaTuner I changed that and now runs even 20C lower at 50%.

Check also if your son's case has a fan blowing air IN near the card, sometimes blowing fresh air directly into the card can push the heatsink's hot air into the card again generating more heat.

If the card is new maybe your son's case is too small, and the air cannot circulate properly, do some wire management and try again, also try to run the PC without the side panel of the case.

Hope I'll be clear.

 

[BUCK NASTY]

Download ATItool and use the fan settings to increase the fan speeds. Are you running the PCI-E or AGP versions of the card?

 

[Kursah]

Try increasing cooler fan speed, 67c at stock (idle at desktop?) is pretty warm...I had Powercolor 1950Pro Xtreme 256MB that never went over 55C...maybe consider better case airflow in that area, if you have a slot cover over the slot below the card, remove it, this allows better ventilation if it's a single slot cooled x1950pro.

There were a lot of this kind of issue with earlier 1950pro's...some had to underclock due to artifacts on the screen during 3D, but your issues don't seem that bad. Maybe slap a Zalman VF900 on it, or find an Arctic Cooling X2 cooler (that's what my Powercolor had). That should help...though those GPU's should be "okay" up to 90+C, my 1950xtx was promised by ATI at one point to run for 10 years at 100C...I'd never let it though! But the VRM's get really hot on those cards, if you get an X2 there's a special cooling plate for those VRM's, which is a really good idea to get...when the VRM's get too hot, it could cause instability in voltage supply, too hot is around 120C for that card iirc...very hot.

Hope that helps a little bit!

 

[zithe]

1. I'd remove all of the slot covers somewhat like Kursah mentioned.
2. I'd give old drivers a shot if you've updated recently. Maybe the new ones are messing something up, or you accidentally got AGP drivers instead of PCIe drivers (vice versa)
3. Again like Kursah mentioned, check the dust on your card. Sometimes dust can get into the fan and clog it up real good. I'd also get a can of air and try cleaning out the entire case to prevent airflow problems that may contribute to the problem.

Are all the fans in your case working well? If one dies or slows down over time it can cause problems. The temperature of the room can change things a bit too.

Good luck!