Any IT/Graphics Card Gods on here?

Dazface · #1 11th August 2007, 19:03

.

Rick Sanchez · #2 11th August 2007, 19:09

The fan may well be spinning, but if you don't have enough PSU power, then that's about all it will do. Either that or the card itself is screwed.

Are you sure all the connections are right? You haven't missed anything have you?

Checking your PSU wattage is the best thing to do now. Undo your PC case and it should have it on the PSU itself, somewhere.

Rick Sanchez · #3 11th August 2007, 19:35

Well, if all the connections are correct, all drivers installed, PSU wattage fine, card installed correctly etc, then yeah, it simply has to be the card.

Sometimes you can f*ck up a card (or any PC component for that matter) by just touching it, because the static discharge. It's always best to use anti-static gloves, or touch the PC case for a few seconds before touching a component. Not saying that ruined the card, but just some advice for when/if you get another.

Arfed · #4 11th August 2007, 19:43

It should give beeps despite the wattage as I can't imagine the card using up much more power than a 9800 when idle.

Sounds like it's fried; that is exactly the response my computer had when my old 9800 went (blank screen, no beeps).

Rick Sanchez · #5 11th August 2007, 19:44

Though just because you don't have a PSU wattage if over 450, then don't worry, as it all depends on how much the other components in your PC are currently using up. With the card installed, you may still have over 100, for example, watts left in the PCU.

And if it's a low wattage PSU, they're really cheap to buy anyway, so nothing much to worry about.

Rick Sanchez · #6 11th August 2007, 20:43

Well, that is pretty low, but if all the components are low too, then that explains why it's working fine. Arfed's right, as by adding the other card, it's hardly loads more wattage, so I doubt that's the problem.

Fried card it is then.

SpaceMonkey · #7 11th August 2007, 20:55

The new generation of GFX cards really do hog power. If your PSU is 250w (or below) then you should upgrade it anyway.

Rick Sanchez · #8 11th August 2007, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Claypole

So it's not worth buying and installing a higher wattage psu and checking it's that before contacting the ebay seller for a refund?

Yeah, you might as well. Try comparing wattage between both your old and new cards beforehand, just to see what the difference is. But yeah, it's worth replacing that PSU anyway, as having such a low wattage will cripple you from buying anything more for your PC.

It sounds fried, but since the fan was spinning, that suggests that there might be life in it yet.

Having said all that, what is your PC, anyway? What specs is it? It may be worth buying a new PC instead of upgrading an old one which isn't worth the effort.

Rick Sanchez · #9 11th August 2007, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Claypole

Dell Dimension 4600
Pentium 4 3.06Ghz HT
1Gb Ram (4x256mb ddr pc2700)
Radeon 9800pro

At this moment in time, I can't afford to buy a new pc, but when I can afford it, then I'm going to build one myself. Probably a barebones system and add what I want to it.

Novatech:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/barebones.html

Nah, that's a good system, I wouldn't splash out just yet. Weird how that system came standard with such a crappy PSU, though.

Rick Sanchez · #10 11th August 2007, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Claypole

Goddy, did you buy that quad core pc from ebay?

I did indeed. Great system.

Though I may upgrade the PSU and graphics at a later date. Depends on what games I buy for it...

Rick Sanchez · #11 12th August 2007, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Claypole

Cool. Whats the spec again?

Why upgrade already, what's your current psu and graphics?

I would love to get Bioshock & Crysis, but the recommended specs will be very high to get a good frame rate.

Q6600 quad core.
2GB DDR2 RAM
Geforce 8500GT 512MB graphics.

The PSU is 480watt, which is more than enough for what I already have, but I would like better graphics in time (the card I want is a monstrous, power-hungry beast - http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/125117/rb/0). Although my PSU may be able to handle it, it's still very iffy, so I'll just cough-up and get a 800watt PSU or something to cover myself for future upgrades. Won't be for a while yet though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Claypole

Nice.

Just been looking on microdirect....£16 for a 500w psu.
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(5855)5...Connector.aspx

You get what you pay for with PSUs, so I wouldn't touch that with a bargepole.

Rick Sanchez · #12 12th August 2007, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by dualcore

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119988 is the one we have with an Asus monitor http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MO-004-AS

He said he bought the 2 together as they give an awsome result. Tech head things I dont understand I guess lol.

That card is mental! Though a monitor has no effect on games etc itself... do you mean visual-wise?

Rick Sanchez · #13 12th August 2007, 16:45

Well, I have a 22" Samsung LCD monitor. Fantastic for games etc, as the contrast ratio is a sweet 3000:1, coupled with a 2ms response time. Though how can a graphics card make the display better in games? I though it's all about performance...

PS: Though I already have a dreaded dead pixel with it...

Rick Sanchez · #14 12th August 2007, 16:54

Well you seem to know a lot, yourself, dualcore.

Rick Sanchez · #15 14th August 2007, 13:58

Decent stuff you bought there, Tim.

I had to take out my other hard drive as I noticed my PC was hanging a bit with it in. Consuming too much power I guess. Bit pissed by that, but as said before, PSUs are pretty cheap, and I'd only have to lash out about £40 for around 700watt.

Arfed · #16 14th August 2007, 14:01

Try setting up your comp to turn off hard drives after 3 minutes inactivity

(can still use it when you have to then)

Rick Sanchez · #17 14th August 2007, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arfed

Try setting up your comp to turn off hard drives after 3 minutes inactivity

(can still use it when you have to then)

True, but it's just some half-corrupted, 80GB piece of crap I used to transfer a few files over. After that, it was more of a dirty parasite than anything...

Rick Sanchez · #18 15th August 2007, 16:22

Pesky card! Damn it to hell, I say.

Rick Sanchez · #19 15th August 2007, 16:52

Nvidia have always been great for me. The first ATI I bought it fried. Never bought another since. Besides, I hear they're fidgety and temperamental.

So, I suggest anything Nvidia, really.

SpaceMonkey · #20 15th August 2007, 17:09

I had bad overheating problems with my first ATI (even after i replaced the heatsink/fan with a proper one), then the 2nd one had memory problems which caused graphic corruptions. Currently have Nvidia and never had any problems.

Arfed · #21 15th August 2007, 17:41

My 9800 was sent back and replaced three times. Haven't had any troubles with my 6800GS sofar.

Rick Sanchez · #22 15th August 2007, 17:50

Yeah, ATIs seem to be nothing but trouble from what I've heard/experienced.

The 7800GS is a good, solid card for the money. Get it.

Rick Sanchez · #23 15th August 2007, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Claypole

Now for my next question, is there much difference between the GS & GT versions of the 7800, if so would it be better to buy a 7600GT?

GT.

That, and I've heard GT is usually better than GS anyway.

SpaceMonkey · #24 22nd August 2007, 21:43

I cant recommend the 7800GS enough. Go for it!

Rick Sanchez · #25 22nd August 2007, 21:48

7800GS vs 7600GT - well, GTs are better, but the GS in this example is a slight bit above the GT, so will probably have better performance.

Yeah, 7800GS.

Karail · #26 22nd August 2007, 22:03

I would have said the 7800GS however the Novatel 7600GT seems to have a much faster core and memory speed (560MHz/1400MHz vs 430MHz/1300MHz). I am a little confused as to why the Novatel one is so much faster than the other 7600GT model. Can anyone spot anything special about this model?

peaceseeker · #27 22nd August 2007, 23:47

I have an ASUS 7600GT model clocked at 560/1400, and it run games very well, although some of the latest games such as 'Colin McRaes DiRT', is completely unplayable with more than my own car on the track, but a lot of people complain of the same problem with that game.

I'm playing Tomb Raiders two latest at the moment, well when I can, and it runs like a dream, also 'Flat Out 2', is excellent and as smooth as.

The GT's are better quality components and can be clocked higher than the GS's. I can over clock my card stable to 590/1486.

By the way ebuyer is an excellent site to get your PC goods, all my stuff comes from there, easy returns policy, rarely a refusal if you "made a mistake and ordered the wrong goods"

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