DescentBB

Ok, so it seems we have decided the power supply is most likely not the cause of my VC problem.

This is a copy of the ongoing email disscusion I am having with BFG... I suppose it won't hurt. Sorry for the nasty copy job... The start of the thread is at the bottom. What do you guys think? Why the older drivers? I was using 84.** with no problem for quite a while before this problem arose.
---------------------------------------------

Scott,

In order to perform a \"driver scrub\" you will need to perform the following steps:
ownload a program called Driver Cleaner PE (Professional Edition) from
<http://www.drivercleaner.net>. You will then want to enter 77.77 or 66.93 in
the search bar on <http://www.nvidia.com> and download the appropriate driver
from the site. Once you've obtained the program and driver you will need to
uninstall your NVIDIA drivers:

Enter your Device Manager > Display Adapters > Right-click on your card >
Properties > Driver tab > Uninstall driver

Once you've selected uninstall it will prompt you to reboot, allow this and
enter Safe Mode, using the F8 key while booting up. Once in Safe Mode you will
want to open Driver Cleaner and select NVIDIA, click Start. Once finished you
will want to run the driver setup and allow it to boot into windows normally
once complete.



Thank you,
Tony H
BFG Support







Scott wrote:


Tony H.

I performed all the DirectX tests and all tests passed. I Attached the
results text file. I hesitate to run a benchmark program as I do not
want to totally toast the card and render my computer useless. I have no

other video cards to replace this with. I have described the problem to
BFG product support, attached sample print screens for you to see. I
have also discussed my problem with several of my friends that are in
the industry and have much more technical expertise then I, showed them
the screen shots and they have told me to treat the card gently or it
will probably fail completely. I know you don't care what my associates
input is but I do. I don't want to destroy the card.
I will resend you the screen shots in case you need to see them. They
are attached as well as the dxdiag.txt

Thanks
Scott

BFG Support wrote:

Scott,
If you perform the Direct Draw and Direct3d DirectX tests are there any issues
with either of them or any key indications of an issue in any specific test
done in a benchmarking program, such as 3dMark05 or AquaMark?



Thank you,
Tony H
BFG Support








Scott wrote:




Hi Ryan
I have been doing some research on Power supplies, the readings I am
getting are not out of line for what is the industry standard. See
example below...

Idle Readings Antec TruePower 380W StarTech.com ATXPOW480HS
Rail/Fan Low High % Off Low High % Off
+3.3v 3.15v 3.23v -4.6% 3.15v 3.20v -4.6%
+5v 4.52v 4.65v -9.6% 4.81v 4.87v -3.8%
-5v -4.96v -4.88v +2.4% -5.06v -5.04v -1.2%
+12v 11.07v 11.19v -9.8% 11.43v 11.55v -4.8%
-12v -11.69v -11.56v +3.7% -12.07v -12.01v -.5%
Fan Speed 2008 rpm 2083 rpm N/A 847 rpm 856 rpm N/A

Load Readings Antec TruePower 380W StarTech.com ATXPOW480HS
Rail/Fan Low High % Off Low High % Off
+3.3v 3.06v 3.25v -7.2% 3.07v 3.30v -7%
+5v 4.49v 4.68v -10% 4.76v 4.87v -4.8%
-5v -4.90v -4.85v +3% -5.09v -5.01v -1.8%
+12v 11.07v 11.19v -9.8% 11.43v 11.61v -4.8%
-12v -11.69v -11.56v +3.7% -12.13v -11.94v -1.1%
Fan Speed 1939 rpm 2250 rpm N/A 912 rpm 1288 rpm N/A


Notice the +12 volt spec is the same as mine (in red). This would
indicate my power supply is doing what it is supposed to and I recall my

power readings have not changed since before I installed the BFG 5900
ultra. Everything points to a problem with the video card. Now, are we
done with beating around the proverbial bush? I would like to RMA
this card please.

Sincerely
Scott

BFG Support wrote:




Scott,
The voltage on the +12v is low, this could be causing some of your problem.
If the voltage is that low, it will cause these kinds of problems.


Thank you,
Tim S
BFG Support

Scott wrote:






Hi Ryan,

I already updated the drivers for the card to version 9.1.3.1 dated
6/1/2006
Here are the voltages...
Voltages for the +12 volt fluctuate from a low of 11.343 to 11.6**
seems predominate around 11.673
+5 volt steady at 4.945 to 4.999
+3.3 3.376 pretty steady
v-core 1.36 to 1.44

Thanks
Scott

BFG Support wrote:





Scott,

I suggest updating the drivers for the card then. also what are your

voltage readings for your power supply?



Thank you,
Ryan O
BFG Support

Scott wrote:








Hi Ryan, yes, it happens in all games, the more graphicly advanced the
worse it is. Halo, doom3, ect. If I drag a window across the desktop, it
makes the window \"dirty\" inside and leaves behind random colors on the
desktop. I have tried different monitors. My Bios and chip set drivers
are up to date. If I browse in a forum and scroll down a thread for
replies, it \"streaks\" the screen. I will try and attach a screen shot. I

am running an ASUS P4P-800e mobo with a 470 watt power supply, 1G ram.
The card has performed excellent up until now.

Thanks for your quick response.
Scott

BFG Support wrote:







Scott,

Does it happen with other games or only Halo? I would also advise updating the bios and chipsets of your motherboard.



Thank you,
Ryan O
BFG Support

Scott wrote:








Hi there, I have a problem with my card, nvidia fx 5900 ultra.
The screen colors are \"running or streaking\" when I scroll down screens
and in games like Halo the screens are unplayable. It started with
\"sparkles\" in the screen and has steadily progressed from there, getting

\"dirty\". I have reinstalled directx and updated drivers to no avail. I
reinstalled Halo but this problem is in all games and apps. Temps are
normal. I have never had a problem with a BFG card before so I am unsure

how to proceed.

Thanks
Scott

It's probably the drivers that BFG "approved" when the card was released. No harm in loading them but I'm sure they won't fix a thing, it's a hardware problem.

If you don't want to, you could argue that your card is supported by nVidia's latest driver and there's no need to revert since BFG refers to nVidia for drivers:

http://www.bfgtech.com wrote:BFG Tech Graphics Cards use pure NVIDIA® Unified Drivers for the best performance and stability.

Follow this link and then select Graphics Driver – GeForce and TNT– and then your Operating System

Doing a complet reinstall of a Driver isnt a bad idea, driver rot is equivilent to windows rot. However, I might investigate the PSU a tad farther, is it clean power? how bad are the fluxuations in voltage?

I wouldnt rule out a PSU just becuase the voltage readings fall into the norm, anything below 12v I dont like. Ive never been a fan of Antec PSUs, mainly becuase the power output always seemed sloppy, but thats based only on the two ive owned in the past, as well as a few mixed reviews. If you can, try swapping another PSU, drag another PC next to yours, and just swap the plugs, see what happens, cant hurt.

Do the 'Driver Scrub' its not as likely that that is your problem, but like the previous sugestion, it cant hurt.

Im hesitent to say its the GPU at fault, since your temps are all in check, according to your thread. but it is a likely problem too. Try the first two options, if those fail, just tell them you want to discuss your options with the next tier, and use the word tier, chances are theyre in India, that means a supe, if you cant get anywhere with the supe, ask the next tier, managers always fold

Ok, I did the driver scrub and the result?
------------------------------------

Hi Tony

I did the \"driver scrub\" just as you described, it was an interesting process.
However it resulted in no change. The problem remains.

Scott

How clean is the power from the PSU?

How do I tell? I don't know.

Use speedfan It has a handy dandy graph option, let that run for a few minutes, if the fluxuations are extreme, or very frequent, Id try a new PSU, ideally, there would be no fluxuations at all, but thats not true for any PSU out there. minimal fluxuations are ok, spread out, not all bunched together.


[edit]I as gonna show a graph of my system,but I cant seem to locate it at photobucket, and im on my laptop atm, so ill try to get one up this afternoon, should help at least in form of reference =)

I figured out how to graph it with my MoBo util... or it just decided to work.
Here it is, hope it is detailed enough.

Well, for some unexplained reason, the video has cleared up considerably, there are still some anomalys in Halo, random sparkles in the screen but I was able to play normaly and I am not getting any screen bleeding when I scroll down in forums. I played about 30 min. of Halo recording the voltages. The line on the graph represents about when I went in game.

That graph doesnt look to bad, not bad at all. Yeah, go ahead and just RMA the thing, remember, if he starts beating around the bush again, just ask for the next tier.

If you want to see if the PSU is really having trouble keeping up, put the system under some load, run a long game benchmark while the monitor program is gathering data, or play a game for a while. As long as it is a game that reaches near 100% CPU and video card use a good portion of the time it will show how well the PSU is holding voltages under load. My +12 runs between 11.98 and 12.05 idle, and my -12 runs -11.92 to -12.05 idle. Under heavy load both run around 11.86 to 11.98. I think regardless of RMAing your video card, you should think about getting a better PSU since the whole of your system depends on quality output from your PSU.

Its amazing how many good rigs are victem to the owner skimping or not doing any research at the PSU, it really is the one critical part of any system, it can either chew your PC apart, or make it go forever. My ePower Puma II holds about 12.48volts idle, and dips to about 12.3ish under load. beautiful part about it, it was cheap, a measly 31USD, price to performance, it wins hands down.

could this be a power supply crapping out?

Has potential

Do yourself a favor, try another PSU, this is the one i have, price seems to have gone back up on it. its a 450W, 530W peak. another plus is the 28Amp on the 12volt rail, a must have. its also inceredibly quiet, all around its a winner, even at 42.** whatever the change was

epower(tagen) Puma II

Ahhhhh. then it's Dupers fault, I bought the PS from him at a LAN. LOL j/k

We were at a LAN here at Klaymation's house and I got this card and needed a bigger PS, he saved me. It is a good PS, Fortron? Forsomething... Anyway, I finaly wore down the tech guys and they told me to call for warrenty replacement. I may just go for a new PS while I'm at it.
Thanks for all the input.

Good luck with the rest of the RMA process =)

as to the PSU, ive heard of Forton, never anything good, nor bad. seems like their happily sitting in the middle lol

The ePower Puma 2 is the best budget PSU out there, even rivals most premium models. many many overclockers prefer it becuase of that =D

IL wrote:My ePower Puma II holds about 12.48volts idle, and dips to about 12.3ish under load. beautiful part about it, it was cheap, a measly 31USD, price to performance, it wins hands down.

My Antec's is 12.04v. Remember, higher isn't better.

VonVulcan wrote:Ahhhhh. then it's Dupers fault, I bought the PS from him at a LAN. LOL j/k

We were at a LAN here at Klaymation's house and I got this card and needed a bigger PS, he saved me. It is a good PS, Fortron? Forsomething... Anyway, I finaly wore down the tech guys and they told me to call for warrenty replacement. I may just go for a new PS while I'm at it.
Thanks for all the input.

o_0

O.
M.
G.

.. I forgot all about that...

crap... where's that dead hampster....

RMA is in progress, new card should ship today or tomorrow.
FYI,
First they wanted me to send my card in before they would ship me a new one. I said WTF?!?!
So you expect me to be without my computer for a week or so? They said thats thier policy.
I said that this was not aceptable, they said sorry... I said let me speak to the next \"Tier\" please. All of a sudden
they mentioned they COULD pre-ship if I payed for shipping. I grumbled and said ok. $15 is kinda high but...
so they mentioned proof of purchase, which I don't have, they said they would take 3 pics of the card as proof... I sent 7.

Got an email today, said RMA was released to the WH and would ship in the next day or so.

the Tier thing always works =D

before the new card gets in, you'd want to make sure the circuit your computer is on is one that doesn't undervolt on a regular basis - make sure it doesn't share it with any major applicances.

LOL, Geez, I better install a new service box for the computer room. I don't think
the wall outlets in what used to be a bedroom share appliance circuits.
I have removed a lightbulb from the ceiling fixture, that may help.

Our local Costco has a good TrippLite UPS for $99 (Similar to this one)

Hi there, just thought I would let you all know, I recieved a replacement card today from BFG, a 6800 GT.

Is this better then my 5900 Ultra? The model number would suggest so.

Oh, so far it is working excellent, no screen anomalies what so ever.

I replaced my 5900U with a 6800 GT, its easily twice as fast.

Very good deal indeed

aye, quite good...thats almost like what PNY did with me, dead GF4 MX440 replaced with a GeForceFX 5700LE