B U R N O U T

[ArmedDrunk&Angry]

A couple of days ago the Logitech mouse started going on and off.
Then it got worse and would just not work at all.
So I've been using the crappy little ball mouse from the other computer and it works fine.
Last night was on 13MEUs server and found Wumwutts, had a few words and left.
I went to TG and had no sound, a rare but not unheard of problem.
Restart BF, still no sound.
Monkey around with control panel etc and get sound working but mic very loud and on at all times.
Join battlearena and jagged black lines came across my screen and then an error box flashed through the PR graphics then disappeared.
I tried to ESC but nothing happened and then a momemnt later it crashed to desktop.
So I turned off the PC and restarted.
Nothing ....goes to a safe mode screen.

I am guessing my GPU bought the farm and the PC won't boot normally without it.

I have a PCI Express outlet and want to know for 200 US or under ...what card should I get ?

[thepalerider]

I like pricewatch to check before I buy.
If your using on board graphics and the GPU failed you would have a Black screen. There is hope if you see something.
If your using a Card let it cool off. Check it is seated all the way and maybe clean its contacts by pulling it in and out a few times. Check your power supply with a cheep tester if you have one. Check all your fans and make sure inside your case is clean. The power supply is the weakest link. I've had two fail in the last year and a half(2 PCs)but thankfully they didn't damage anything else.
As for cards I've used ATI for years and now that AMD bought them I've been very interested in the new motherboard innovations in the pipe. Built in integration with the motherboard GPU units and add on cards looks good.I would love my next motherboard upgrade to give me DX10 while letting me use my current PCIe card (ATI1950XT)

Bamboo posted this about the Radeon HD4850:

Originally Posted by Bamboo

@Bluewolf
If you want the forum to take a look at the stuff you are considering, go to newegg.com and create a public wish list and post a link for us. That way we can help you pick the right parts at the right prices. Lots of good tech guys here happy to help.

Newegg.com - Once You Know, You Newegg

You may need to make an account, but you shouldn't have to put in a credit card or anything. Just an e-mail and password.

I would recommend with the above list you add an aftermarket CPU cooler as well, because the q6600 really likes one. (I have a q6600 running cool at 3.0GHz with an aftermarket cooler). Also add some good thermal paste in. The new stuff from OCZ is getting 1st place in a lot of hard core tech site reviews.
Newegg.com - OCZ OCZTFRZTC Freeze Extreme Thermal Conductivity Compound - Thermal Compound / Grease

Here is a link the the 4850s on sale
Newegg.com - Radeon HD 4850, Radeon HD 4000 series, Desktop Graphics / Video Cards, Video Cards & Video Devices, Computer Hardware
If you live in another country, I'm sure they should have rebates on some of them as well. Just remember the factory overclocked ones should be out any day now, and after rebates will probably be around $199.
Examples:
Powercolor preparing a 2GB HD 4850 card
Sapphire's Toxic HD 4850 comes soon
Sapphire's new HD 4850 pixellized

And I was wondering why you are choosing the MSI motherboard. They make decent stuff, but they just can't seem to put out as good of boards as Gigibyte and Asus. Especially with regards to BIOS updates. Not saying they don't make decent boards, just that the ASUS and GIG almost always place higher in tech reviews.

He's right on about Newegg.

[Spinkyone]

Originally Posted by ArmedDrunk&Angry

Last night was on 13MEUs server and found Wumwutts, had a few words and left.
I went to TG and had no sound, a rare but not unheard of problem.
Restart BF, still no sound.

I managed to get on 13MEU last night (eventually), I hope someone found that little **** and banned his arse, ended up with people tk'ing him constantly just to get him to leave...

Anyway I have had a load of hardware issues recently and some of the links in my thread might help you in determining the problem:

http://www.realitymod.com/forum/f27-...e-crashes.html

The tests I used are quite good in finding the exact nature of the problem although there are plenty of others out there.

[ArmedDrunk&Angry]

I have had overheating problems with the GPU and knew it was on it's last legs but I just wondered if anyone else had some hardware problems after playing with a know user of hacks.
I know it is paranoid but I curse a hacker and then my computer crashes, makes ya wonder.

I am just going to get a new GPU as the power supply seems OK, no problems with it to date.

[ArmedDrunk&Angry]

OK
Safe mode
WTF is that ?
The PC would only open in safe mode, tried all the other options.
So I bought a nVidia GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB and plugged it in.
Ran the install and restarted.
Still only opens in safe mode and screen is slow and in low res.

Do I have another problem besides the burnout GPU that I replaced ?
Everything else seems to work fine but as I'm typing this I get a balloon telling me new hardware is installed and needs a reboot to work.
I have rebooted 5 times, twice with power off for 1 min then restart.

Help !!

[[R-DEV]Masaq]

The screen will only ever run in a low res in safe mode as it runs on a basic video driver to ensure compatibility.


Your first port of call should be to load windows in safe mode and check the event log to see if there's any critical errors reported for the crashes you experienced.


M.

[Spinkyone]

Did you remove your old drivers first? As I'm guessing the driver CD that came with the card might be older than those you had installed in the first place?

Try removing the drivers completely and use the latest drivers from the manufactures website.

[ArmedDrunk&Angry]

USing add remove programs I looked for the 3party addon drivers I had for the 6600GT card but did not find them.
I removed the file called Nvidia drivers even though I think it was the new ones.
I then loaded from the CD and restarted.

I don't know what the event log is or how to find it.

I called nvidia and I am running 26A when my new card calls for 28A so that might be the problem.
But I have no sound, the properties windows list no sound device and I have an Audigy sound card that the headphones are plugged into.
I am suspecting that the power supply is not delivering full amperage and therefore the video card will not power up so windows defaults to the safe mode.
As much as I hate to do it, I now have to buy a new power supply I think but first I am going to wait until the IT guy at my job comes back from vacation.
I spent 200 on the video card so I had to go cheap on the mouse and the cord is about 6" long so my whole set-up is cramped and crude.
Thanks for the help.

BTW: is there a way to get the machine to tell me exactly WHY it only starts in Safe mode ?

[Spinkyone]

Hmm ok, you should remove your drivers via device manager + you will be able to check on your sound card there:

Start > Settings > Control panel > System > Hardware tab > Device manager

Find your graphics card like in this Pic...


...and you should be able to check the status of your sound card here also.


You can find your event logs in this location but they can be hard to understand:

Start > Settings > Control panel > Administrative tools > Event viewer

Click on the system log and look for critical errors (red cross) or warnings...find that event and if you're lucky you might be able to get help by clicking "For more information, see Help and Support Center" but that is honestly a load of shit.

[Spinkyone]

One other question, how are you powering your new card? I'm guessing if you used your PSU with a 6600GT you didn't use a 6 pin PCIe power connector and are using two molex leads via a converter?

If you have used the molex connector converter make sure that you use a dedicated power line, e.g. take all the hard drives/ DVD etc off that line and just use that on your graphics card as that should boost the power a bit.