Check temps on VRAM chips (under load).
Underclocking (from Riva or Powertune) ?

Faster CPU/RAM = more load on GPU = less stability (and that applies to stock settings as well).

agent_x007 wrote:

Check temps on VRAM chips (under load).

- checks out OK. Also, ambient temp read by the GPU is 39C - ambient temp read by a senzor floating in the case is 31C.

agent_x007 wrote:

Underclocking (from Riva or Powertune) ?

- no over or underclocking.... BUT - I was using an nvstrap driver to unlock my 6800LE to 16/6 before installing the x800xt... then again, I did uninstall the nvidia drivers before plugging the x800xt in.... dunno.

agent_x007 wrote:

Faster CPU/RAM = more load on GPU = less stability (and that applies to stock settings as well).

The 3800+ is much, much faster then a 3.2GHz p4, and the card is perfectly stable in that machine. I even ran the 3800+ at 2800Mhz (12x233) and the system was rock solid... I guess the problem might be with the mainboard's chipset or chipset drivers. I've ran this card on i865 chipset before, and it was stable - but never on an i875... I'll try messing with the chipset driver and slowing down the system by reducing CPU speed and ram speed. If I had the time, I'd stick the card on my Abit IS7 (i865 / 478) with the same HDD and windows install to see what happens.

Guess high end 478 rigs are my Eleanor... I'll keep trying tough.

DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) was used ?
I would try underclocking to see if it's not GPU/VRAM at end of it's life 🙁

agent_x007 wrote:

DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) was used ?
I would try underclocking to see if it's not GPU/VRAM at end of it's life 🙁

I didn't use Display Driver Uninstaller or any similar program. Should I try one?

The GPU is fine, I am 100% sure since I re-tested it in on another (faster) machine and it works great. Before that I tested another similar GPU (X800 PRO) on the 478 rig in question and it behaves identically...

I suspect a driver / configuration / motherboard / chipset issue.

Maybe AGP slot is being overloaded power wise (for what ever reason ?).
Underclocking could help if the case.

I would try DDU first tho (it works best under Safe Mode).

I've had a lot of random issues with ATI video cards.

Something to note about the GPU temperature. I had a Hercules Radeon 9700 Pro that was crashing in 3D after 1 min. The temperature sensor (GPU-Z) only reported 40C. But since the heatsink clip was so easy to take off, I decided to reseat the heatsink anyways. Behold! Now it can run 3D properly.

I also have a Radeon X850 XT AGP that is also exhibiting strange behavior in 3D. While it does not crash, I see texture corruption. I'll probably reseat that and try again. It may also be a power delivery issue (rather power hungry).

I also have a Radeon X1950 XTX that is okay in 2D but crashes in 3D. I reseated the heatsink, but did not fix the problem. I'll probably try to bake it and see what happens.

Then there's my Radeon 2900XT's having problems.

🙁

dexvx wrote:

I've had a lot of random issues with ATI video cards. […]
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I've had a lot of random issues with ATI video cards.

Something to note about the GPU temperature. I had a Hercules Radeon 9700 Pro that was crashing in 3D after 1 min. The temperature sensor (GPU-Z) only reported 40C. But since the heatsink clip was so easy to take off, I decided to reseat the heatsink anyways. Behold! Now it can run 3D properly.

I also have a Radeon X850 XT AGP that is also exhibiting strange behavior in 3D. While it does not crash, I see texture corruption. I'll probably reseat that and try again. It may also be a power delivery issue (rather power hungry).

I also have a Radeon X1950 XTX that is okay in 2D but crashes in 3D. I reseated the heatsink, but did not fix the problem. I'll probably try to bake it and see what happens.

Then there's my Radeon 2900XT's having problems.

🙁

I've only really had issues with this system. Re-seating the heatsink won't do anything since the card works great in other machines.

Do you have the latest available BIOS installed on the motherboard?

yup...

I found the culprits. One of them is Abit's Game Acceleration Technology... and there's no way to completely turn it off. With it set to "turbo", the machine is more or less stable, but it will still occasionally hang. With it on auto I get the issue described above. Also, the X800XT is not the only card affected! Exact behavior is exhibited with my radeon 9800pro, x800pro and x1950 pro... the only two cards that work with the setting on auto are my HD 3650 AGP and my 9700 PRO....

The other is chipset drivers. I downloaded the latest i875 chipset drivers, they seem to install, but actually do nothing. Even after restarting, the installed CPU to AGP driver is dated 2001, while the one in the driver package is dated 2007. I had to manually install chipset drivers, device by device.

Guess I'm switching to the i865 based Abit IS7...

P.S. - the 3650 AGP is SLOW... the 128bit 2x340MHz DDR2 really kills it. At 1024x768 it is faster then a X1950 pro but at 1600x1200 (resolution I want to play at) the HD 3650 is slower then the 6800LE...