Video card works but doesn't

[extreme_gamer]

I've a Evga GeForce4 Ti 4600 that 'somewhat' works. I decided to continue messing with it since I can't get a refund for it, because it wasn't working properly when I received it from an Ebay auction. When I first put in the video card, there were lines (pink) running down the screen. This was by installing the video card the proper way. Un-installing old drivers (old video card GeForce 2 MX 400), popping in the 'new' 4600 and installing the latest drivers. I noticed the lines the first time I booted up with the 4600 in when I got to the Windows XP start-up screen. I just went ahead installing the video drivers, restarting, only to find the problem worse... I messed around with a few options but nothing seemed to work. So I let the video card sit for awhile while I thought PayPal was going to refund my money, well, they didn't.

So now, I decided to work on it! What I did was just shut down (without uninstalling drivers), taking out the MX400 and putting in the 4600. Well I saw the lines and colors from the POST to the Windows XP start-up screen. When I got to the 'choose profile' place, everything appeared clear. XP installed its own drivers and had me reboot. The problem returning. I restart, and I hit F8 to get to advanced options. I choose the 'Enable VGA Mode' start-up for XP and that loads correctly to the profile selection. I open up my profile and everything still looks fine. (640x480x8) I go and attempt to change the video settings, (1280x1024x32) which turns the screen black forcing me to use the 'Reset' button.

Another restart, booting into XP normally and I get a black screen, forcing me to hit the 'Reset' button again.

So here I am now, booted in 'Enable VGA mode' and typing this thread
(640x480x32[?]) with no visual problems.


My theory is that, simply, something physically is wrong and unable to fix. =\
Another theory is that, all I may need to do is to flash the Video Card...
~~~~Which sounds too good simple be true =(





Your thoughts?

Thanks,
EG

[Peter M]

Looks like you got a bad RAM chip on that card.

[tony_j15]

i concur with Peter on this, doesnt sound like a software problem. Sorry man

[extreme_gamer]

Now what of the chances of it working? I made a thread a month or two ago about the same problem, me trying to do whatever I could to fix it, but nothing worked.... contacted the buyer and a long PayPal situation, when recently (a few days) PayPal decided no on a refund.


NOW SUDDENLY.... it's working! I think! *knocks on wood*

I knew about the 'AGP Aperature Size" option in the BIOS, but I didn't think of trying it out. It was set to 128MB when I went in there, so I figured, well, maybe not ALL of the memory chips are bad. I set it to 32MB and voila, no more lines or anything! =D

So I kicked it back up to 128MB and still no lines or problems... I even ran an Aquamark test without it freezing.

I'm going to try installing the latest video drivers (61.77?) and see if the card still works... right now the drivers are 52.16


Could it just be the card got 'rattled' during shipment but it just had to be told how to do it's job?