Posting problems with Radeon 9700 Pro

[grandchehaw]

Well my Radeon 9700 Pro came in the mail today. I was so excited to install this into my system. I was able to get my computer to come right up. I have the latest Catalyst drivers installed. I was installing a game so I could put the new card thru its paces and I had to reboot. This is where my excitement ended and I was regretting purchasing this card. I can't get the damn thing to post again. I was so fed up with it that I walked away for an hour and came back and I was able to boot the system. I decided to shut it back down to see if I could get it to boot again and I can't. What is going on? I have an Antec TruePower 330WPSU powering a DVD drive, CD-RW drive and 2 hard drives. The documents recommend a quality 300W PSU which I have. I am running an Epox EP-8KHA+ with an AMD XP 1900+ processor. I hope someone has an idea before I chuck this card in the trash can and put my 8500 back in. I have been fighting with this card all day.

[poopeyhed2]

Hi
A little more information about your system is need.

Please see my thread for solutions.

[grandchehaw]

Well what kind of information are you looking for?

[poopeyhed2]

Doh!, sorry I was in a rush for dinner, let me do a little research on my part, I'm sorry.

[poopeyhed2]

Ok, since your board is at AGP 4x, you won't need to change 8x to 4x.

Next step. Turn off Fast writes in the BIOS and set aperture size to 64 megs (if you have 256 megs of ram) or 128 (if you have 512). Since you have Cat 3.1, install the control panel. Go to the SmartGart tab, make sure fast writes is disabled and go to Troubleshoot, and disable "Enable Write Combining" Try to benchmark here, if it fails, do this:
add .1 voltage to the AGP
if that doesn't work
add .1 voltage to the ram
that should do it...

Good luck!

[grandchehaw]

I went into the BIOS and disabled Fast Writes. The aperture size was already set to 128. I have 512 MB of memory. When I saved the changes and tried to reboot the system it would not post. I thought I would put my old video card back in there for the time being so I could do some work but it is also doing the same thing. It will not post either. So this looks like it might not be the 9700 Pro's fault. I took out my NIC and my sound card so there are no other cards in the computer. I have also reseated my memory. The only thing left I have to check is the processor. Before I installed the video card I moved my computer into a different case. I have a Volcano 7 sitting on top of my 1900+.

[rpertusio]

To elimate (or pinpoint) your PSU as the cause of this issue,.. unplug all your "unnecessary" components (CD drives, Hard drives, NIC, sound card..) and see if it POSTs. If so, you may (1) be drawing too much power with everything in, or (2) one of the components you pulled is flaky.

That volcano 7, have you plugged into your PSU or the motherboard? (I can't recall if the Volcano 7 has the option to use a molex connector to your PSU.) If you are drawing the power from the motherboard (instead of PSU), that could be causing the problem.

Also, just to make sure... you've plugged the R9700 into the PSU, right?

Have you accidently shorted the motherboard to your new case? If you pull the motherboard from the case, and run everything on a non-conductive surface, will it POST? (pull it out and run the motherboard on your desk.) If it does, then you might assume your motherboard was shorting through to the case.

- rp

[poopeyhed2]

Have you tried a different power supply?
Like rpertusio said, are you sure that you didn't short the mobo in the new case?
Take a look at rage3d.com forum as well.

[grandchehaw]

Ok. Its a slightly different ball game now but so far with the same results. My new mobo arrived. Its an A7N8X. I was able to pull it out of the box and get it up and running three times. So I decided to hook everything back up and nothing. It wouldn't post. I unplugged everything and it still won't post. Yes I have a Sparkle 350W PSU that I know works. Nothing. I tried the 9700 in a different box and it came right up and it working fine. I have tried a different stick of memory. With the A7N8X it has a voice that tells you what is wrong with the board. Well so far that isnt working either. I have a speaker plugged in. I am getting no beeps. Right now I am going to take my XP processor out and try a Tbird 1400 and see what happens.

[grandchehaw]

Well guys...sorry for throwing you a curve ball like that. It looks like it was the CPU. I removed my 1900+ and put a Tbird 1400 in there and its currently installing WinXP. What really sucks is my gut was telling me proc from the get go but I wouldnt allow my self to believe it becuase that is a retail proc that has been working since day one. I bought it from Newegg about a year or so ago. Well the good news is since it is retail I should be able to get it covered under the warranty. Well lets hope. I planned on getting a new proc as soon as uncle sam cuts me a check. I will post back once I am 100% operational.

[poopeyhed2]

If you still have the CPU can you add a little more voltage because I did that with my friend's memory and it stopped with the lock ups. It's good that you've troubleshooted it, and now we all gain knowledge from your experience. BTW, congrats with your FAD!!

[grandchehaw]

Thanks. I will try that. I will need to find out how to contact AMD if that doesn't work. I need to get this box and my other one back up. I have been slacking with FAD for the last few days.

[eagle1]

Yes you have. Don't let me catch you in FaD!!!

Sorry to hear about your cpu though.

[grandchehaw]

LOL. Well my main box is back up and running. Better than ever. I love the 9700 Pro. I can now max out all of my game settings and play em the way the designer intended. This box is also crunching for FaD. Now I just need to get my other box back up. That is on top of a short list to do today.

[eagle1]

Cool! You are using the T-bird?
What games have you tested the card with?
I'm planning to wait for the Radeon 9800 to come out then buy a 9500 Pro or 9700 cheaper!

[grandchehaw]

Yeah I am using the Tbird 1400 for the time being. I plan on getting a new XP chip when I get my tax return. That should be with in another week or two. I have played MOHAA, UT03, CS, SimCity 4, and RTCW. It was a late night last night putting the system thru the paces. I set everything I could find in each game at the max. I got a really good deal on the 9700 Pro from a guy on AnandTech that I could pass up. The 9800 looks just as impressive as 9700. I would have to imagine that nVidia is going nuts right now.