I'm having trouble with my video card again.
My old card died and I bought a new one. I had few choices, seeing as how I'm running an AGP machine. I ended up with a Radeon HD 2600, but am having a few problems that I hope someone can help me with.
Initially, it worked fine most of the time, but would occasionally fail when I tried to run anything that changed resolutions (ie, games). The monitors (I dual monitor) would go black and then lose connection. They would start trying to restablish their connection with the video card and a window would pop up, showing them cycling between Analog and Digital.
So, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to try and wipe the drivers and reseat the card (just to ensure it wasn't something physical). I reseated and replugged in the power on the card and then went about reinstalling drivers. I initially reinstalled the original drivers and then updated to the latest Radeon drivers (8.2, I believe).
I did this all on one monitor, thinking it would be easier that way and kept my second monitor unplugged. Once finished, I reattached my second monitor and now it won't 'recognize it.' Both monitors boot normally and I get the Bios info on both. The Windows XP screen comes up normally with the loading bar on both screens. Then, the second monitor loses connection and tries to restablish it, cycling between Analog and Digital. This wouldn't be so bad, but the original problem of switching resolution still remains. I've tried using both Windows properties and the Catalyst Control Center with the same results (both recognize the 2nd monitor, but I lose connection when I activate it).
So, I'm down to one monitor and still can't play anything. Does anybody have any ideas? The video card box recommends a 300-watt power supply and I've got a 330. I've got the latest Direct X (9.0c). I've tried switching the two monitors (so 1 is 2 and vice-versa) with the same result. In an ideal world, I would have both monitors and be able to game. I've tried lowering the resolution and a few other tricks, but to no avail.
Weirdly enough, WoW runs fine.
So, if anyone has any ideas, let me know.
Cheers,
-Jason
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11 comments:
You might want to consider visiting Raedon's website and see if there are any patches available for your model of chip. I had a similar problem with an Nvidia chip. I hired a technician to repair the problem and lost money for him to download patches.
If WoW works well on each of the monitors, try testing the resolution WoW's working at on the problem monitor; to my knowledge, that 'Signal Loss' problem is caused by using resolutions beyond the monitor's capability. Please comment on your results.
Oh, and by the way, you write awesome comic! it's Number 1 on my favorites list :D.
Maybe the Video Card is not getting enough power, so it shuts down one of their DVI connections (they're power hogs).
Try testing a larger PowerSupply.
It's most likely your power supply. Your system will need enough power to run the video and every other device. So with a video card that needs 300W minimum, and you have a 330, you don't have enough power to run everything else in the system. I would go with a minimum of a 650W power supply and you should be fine.
WoW will work on anything, including a 3 year old G4 iMac that is very temperamental and not very fast. Which makes me say, not for the first or the last time, thank God for macs. I wish you well, lord knows such problems are beyond me. Which is probably why I have a mac. :D
I just had a little more info to contribute, so here it is :).
Even if it isn't just a power supply issue, it's still a good idea to get a new one, because you could be overloading your power supply, and as a result it could fail suddenly. I've had this happen myself.
Try to Set the refresh frequency of your video card on something else, probably your monitor don't support the default on the resolution you are.
I also have a Raedon 2600 and have issues now and then. What I've done to clear most of them up is the Omega drivers. They're a 3rd party driver that actually does a better job than the ATI ones. WoW was consistantly screen tearing on me until I switched.. www.omegadrivers.net is the site.
Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. I plan on spending a couple hours this weekend trying to fix the problem. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I support the tips regarding the power supply, especially since i have heard that the new ATI cards are good for little else than sucking huge amounts of power. Anyway, if I may recommend something, get a Radeon X800 XT - very fast and very frugal, I have one and most new games dont pose much a problem, most run well enough in low-mid details ;)
Well, I tried to remove the power supply yesterday with no dice. I would have to remove the motherboard to get the thing out. At this point, I will either just get a new card or just splurge on a big new machine (my current one is 4-years old).
Thanks for all the advice :)
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