Asus X1950 pro

[Bluey]

Hi, Since building my system 2/3 weeks ago I have encountered the same problem with the GFX card. - Execute game to run my monitor goes into standby (black screen) with motherboard, fans still running, then system reboots either with resolution reset if running the card with ATI and Catalyst with VPU Recovery enabled or straight back to desktop if running Just the ATI drivers or VPU disabled. Also if I use the Asus drivers then same thing happens ( reboots straight back to desktop ).

I had a easy straight forward build and always get single beep boots and good posts. Infact apart from this problem the system runs very stable.
I get no problems with playback or converting video files.

Tempratures are all good -
CPU on boot 28 and under load 39 - System 32 on boot 38 under load
GPU 39 then after crash/reboot 51- RAM 38 then after crash 44. (obviously slowly dropping)

I have enquired about this on the asus forums and there are other people with similar and the same problems, but as yet no answers that have helped.

As stated above I have tried a number of drivers as I really thought that was the problem but now I am not so sure.

I know these cards are power hungry but surely this isn't the issue with me? , especially with such a light hardware configuration as mine is at present.

Anyway, any help or general feedback would be greatly appriciated.

Alex.

[Bluey]

If any more info needed to get some feedback I'll be happy to oblidge.

[Ferral]

Sounds like the refresh rate / resolution on the monitor. Mine does the same thing if I go above 60 hz in 1024x768 as I have an old crt attached at the min (I have the Sapphire Radeon X1950 Pro). Get a program called ReForce and force the display to stay at 60 hz in resolutions above 800x600 :

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1847

This program works on 2000/XP but unfortunately not on Vista. You can force the refresh rate in the drivers on Vista however.

Hope this helps

[Bluey]

Cheers for the reply.
I dont think this is the issue with my problem . I am using 1280x1024 @ 60 Hertz, which is the max my monitor can go to, also have tried 800x600 @ 75 and 60 Hertz which this monitor easily handles and had the same problem.
I did try your tools just to comfirm the monitor refresh rates and resolutions and they are what is stated in the manual.

I think the gfx card must be faulty, so I will be requsting a RMA in the week for a exchange for this or another card.

Cheers anyway

Alex.

[Barrichello]

Check my old post out here Bluey - http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=93220

I have had nothing but trouble with my X1950pro - i have tried everything -using a better cooler with VRM heatsinks, tried additional fans on it, running fan speed on ati tools at 100% - if im lucky i get 10 mins of gaming before i get the dreaded blackscreen.

The only area i think that i might explore is getting a better powersupply (ill need one anyway when i get a DX10 card i think) Seems to be alot of talk about how not having enough power is also a factor.

My psu is only 500W but it has +12v1 = 16A and +12v2 = 17A, where as alot of people say you need min 30A on +12v rail, not sure if this means total of 1 and 2 or just having 1 12v line of that amount, anyone able to shed some light on this?

Another quote from Sapphire moderator said....

"you need a minimum of 30a+ sustained amps on the 12v rail to run correctly. If the PSU has dual rails then BOTH rails need to be rated at 22a each for a combined sustained total of 30a+ - The Enermax Liberty Series is a perfect example of such a PSU"

If thats the case bluey maybe its cause our psu's are not up to it?

[Bluey]

Hi Barrichello and thanks for your reply.

my psu has +12v1 @ 16a and +12v2@18a. I am told by zalman that the psu will be able to substain adaquat power for this GFX card.

Regardless of this the only way I can be sure the gfx is faulty would be to buy a new psu, I haven't really got the money but the card in question is just sitting in my new build (£600 worth) as I have reverted back to my old P3 system.

I had been looking @ the Enemix Liberty series also as weel as the OCZ GameXStream and a few Tagan's with 4 +12v rails.

I post back here if and when I do.

[Barrichello]

cheers Bluey. Im looking at the enermax Infiniti which has

30A,+12V1@28A,+12V2@28A+12V3

http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_in...0011b8b5044ffc

At least the above should be able to run a 8800gtx when i finally get round to getting one

[Bluey]

I have ordered an Enermax Liberty 500W PSU
with +12v1=22A and +12v2=22A - 384W (32A)

If the card still dosen't work then I will be RMA'ing it for another card.

Any suggestions ? Maximum £120

[Bluey]

Well I installed the Enermax Liberty PSU and had it running with no problems for over 2 weeks with many reboots but no power downs, then when the new ati 7.5 drivers came out I decieded to power down before updating and then ran a game and the monitor went straight into standby.
I uninstalled the drivers and installed the new set (7.5) and the games run with no problems, shutdown, reboot, run game, and standby ?

I have had enough, problem is I am not convinced, still, it is the gfx card, as in the 2+weeks I had the system running non stop I was playing games for upto 6 hours straight with no problems and good steady tempreatures.

Anyway I sent back the Gfx card and the Motherboard for RMA/testing, I hope they find a fault as I am at a loss, I still haven't properly finished my build yet as I was hoping it was either a PSU or gfx driver problem.

Is there anyway that a gfx card can have instability problems with a certain Motherboard ?. Certainly a new one on me but cant work it out.

[Dreaming]

I'm having the same problem, seems to be down to overheating...

So I'm going to put an x2 accelero on it (microdirect are seemingly selling them for £5!!) until christmas perhaps when I'll get a dx10 card.

It does seem to be a design flaw though. I have the sapphire version. See my thread here: http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=109517

Mine is very hit and miss too, seems to work for hours but then one day it will just kill off the monitor. Using ati tray tools at the moment and have reconfigured the fan settings - but now it's completely ruined my quiet PC . Mine is idling @ 54*C

[Bluey]

Well I have now recieved my RMA reply for scan informing me that there is no fault found.
I cant believe it, maybe I should of sent it back after 2 days like some inexperienced newby and exchanged for something else, but no I took my time, rebuilt, reinstalled all latest chipset/board drivers and waited patiently for the new ati drivers. Now I am being told that I will have to pay for the tests as they found no fault.
They are carrying out further test, which I am very greatful and hopeful of as I have spend near £700 with the addition of the new PSU for a system that dont fuction.

Although not rude I was quite irrate on the phone and would like to thank the technical team for there patience and understanding.


As for overheating, when the card works the GPU temprature maxed at 63 regardless of 30 minutes or 6 hours gaming, and idles at 39,so I cant see that being the problem.

[Bluey]

When I try to view RMA history within my scan account I get the message - You currently have no RMAs.
I know the retesting has probably not yet taken place as the priority is initial testing, but shouldn't I be able view my RMA's and the details of the original testing.

Would appriciate if someone could shed some light on this when they have the time.

Thank you.

[Dreaming]

Well I have now recieved my RMA reply for scan informing me that there is no fault found.
I cant believe it, maybe I should of sent it back after 2 days like some inexperienced newby and exchanged for something else, but no I took my time, rebuilt, reinstalled all latest chipset/board drivers and waited patiently for the new ati drivers. Now I am being told that I will have to pay for the tests as they found no fault.
They are carrying out further test, which I am very greatful and hopeful of as I have spend near £700 with the addition of the new PSU for a system that dont fuction.

Although not rude I was quite irrate on the phone and would like to thank the technical team for there patience and understanding.


As for overheating, when the card works the GPU temprature maxed at 63 regardless of 30 minutes or 6 hours gaming, and idles at 39,so I cant see that being the problem.

Apparently it's not the GPU processor overheating (where the temp sensor is) but some of the memory doesn't have proper contact with the heatsink due to a design flaw? *shrug*

Certainly whatever it is it seems to be a documented problem with the x1950. (I went on Sapphires forum and some of the mods are so rude to people - saying if they don't have an enermax infinity then it's their fault the card doesn't work!)

p.s. the charge for testing is why I didn't accept an RMA from scan with mine, like I said my plan now is to install an aftermarket cooler. If all else fails contact Asus? I'd check their forums too (I checked sapphires)

[Bluey]

Your right there is many posts concerning this problem and I have infact also been on the Sapphire boards even thou my card is Asus and was recommended the Enermax Liberty PSU as I was on many other forum boards also.
As for the Asus forums there are also quite a few with the same problem as mine but there is no solution.

I understand that the Sapphire version of the x1950pro has the original Ati cooling solution where as the Asus card has a much better cooler attached but the problem still remains with some of these x1950pro cards regardless of the reseller.

It certainly seems a very strange problem, as I stated I can infact get the card running flawlessly after re-install of drivers, but as soon as I turn off the computer whether it be overnight or just a for a minute upon reboot the card signal fails and monitor goes into standby/sleep as soon as i execute a game or graphics testing program.

I am at a loss, which is why I sent back my motherboard as well for testing, hopeing that was infact causing the vga error after a shutdown and boot.

Anyway I am still awaiting re-testing results/feedback and am keeping my fingers crossed something turns up.

[Bluey]

Hi could could do with some help!

When I try to view RMA history within my scan account I get the message - You currently have no RMAs.
I know the retesting has probably not yet taken place as the priority is initial testing, but shouldn't I be able view my RMA's and the details of the original testing.

Would appriciate if someone could shed some light on this when they have the time.

Thank you.

[Dreaming]

Hi Bluey, I seem to have resolved the problem on mine with a temporary fix;

underclock the CPU and memory (580cpu to 500, 700cpu to 600) and set the fans up high (100% rpm @ 55*C). The other day I had the fan set manually to 40% to test and as soon as counter strike loaded a map it died. So definately a temperature related issue on mine. Not sure about yours as it has all these drivers going on.

Will be investing in a PCI slot blower though.