WTF, colored lines on black background?

MtX · 13th Aug 2005, 05:01 AM

I had a Radeon 9800 256 modded to XT with a Zalman ZM80C-HP custom cooler. It was working perfectly on Monday and I was playing games with it. Gave it to someone today and when he installed it and loaded up his computer, he found colored lines on a black background. This card has been used for a year and has been rock solid. Temperatures never went above 60 C either.

His computer specs are fine and he is using a 480W PSU. Heck, he was running a nVidia 6800GT OC before. And yes, he used Driver Cleaner to uninstall the nVidia drivers. He tried reseating, cleaning the AGP slot, trying out different power connectors, increasing AGP voltage (with a different card first), to no avail.

So WTF, why would this happen all of a sudden?

My only solution right now is unflash, unmod, try it out, if not, RMA back to ATI. But problem is if it cant even boot up how can I unflash? Would I need a computer with integrated graphics and an AGP slot?

Ishtim · 13th Aug 2005, 05:57 AM

MtX

Question... If it cant boot, then how is their lines on a background?

Somethings fishy

Does this system work with other cards?

Did the system from which the card in question was removed still work (boot) with the card?

More info please...

1031982 · 13th Aug 2005, 06:11 AM

Sounds like the the AGP port...

MtX · 13th Aug 2005, 06:52 AM

What I mean is, it boots, but you cant see anything because of all the lines, so basically you cant do anything. Apparently the system worked with a 6800 GT OC before he tried out the 9800. Also, he's currently using a FX5200. I am pretty sure his system was always working.

He told me he cleaned the AGP port.

1031982 · 13th Aug 2005, 11:46 AM

But cleaning the AGP port does not mean that it will work.
This is what it's like: Here is a TV that the cable input jack (F type connector) doesn’t work. Let’s clean it. Goodie, I can see some of the picture!

See, the connector is still not working, just like the AGP port is not working. It could be the controller or a line that the R9800 uses more then the nVidia cards do, but I still think it's the port.

Bestia(ry) · 13th Aug 2005, 12:27 PM

Moved to tech support board.

*errm* .. why don't you just put it back into the system it was running in flawlessly over that one year?
If there're the same colored lines, you'd know for sure that it's the card.
I doubt it would be the AGP-port, a year ago a 3DLabs VP760 died on me the same way (colored lines and boxes).

Chai · 13th Aug 2005, 04:49 PM

Yup, 99% card related problems, not the motherboard.

Max_87 · 14th Aug 2005, 02:22 AM

I think it should be the card, not mainboard

I doubt your PC can even boot if the AGP slot is damaged.

13th Aug 2005, 05:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
MtX Warming up Join Date: 11 Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 110 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 5	WTF, colored lines on black background? I had a Radeon 9800 256 modded to XT with a Zalman ZM80C-HP custom cooler. It was working perfectly on Monday and I was playing games with it. Gave it to someone today and when he installed it and loaded up his computer, he found colored lines on a black background. This card has been used for a year and has been rock solid. Temperatures never went above 60 C either. His computer specs are fine and he is using a 480W PSU. Heck, he was running a nVidia 6800GT OC before. And yes, he used Driver Cleaner to uninstall the nVidia drivers. He tried reseating, cleaning the AGP slot, trying out different power connectors, increasing AGP voltage (with a different card first), to no avail. So WTF, why would this happen all of a sudden? My only solution right now is unflash, unmod, try it out, if not, RMA back to ATI. But problem is if it cant even boot up how can I unflash? Would I need a computer with integrated graphics and an AGP slot? __________________ DFI NF3 Ultra-D Venice 3200+ @ 2.4GHz w/ SI-120 & L1A Patriot 2x512 XBLK TCCD WD Raptor 74GB Seagate 160GB SATA ATI X850XT @ PE w/ VF700Cu Audigy 2 ZS Antec TrueBlue 480W Windows XP Pro SP2 h e a t !

13th Aug 2005, 06:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,546 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	Sounds like the the AGP port... __________________ Running : ASUS A7N8X DELUXE, AMD 2700+, 1GB DDR 3200 Duel Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 320 GB HDD, Zip 100, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, nVidia GeForce 7800GS (AGP), Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.

13th Aug 2005, 06:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
MtX Warming up Join Date: 11 Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 110 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 5	What I mean is, it boots, but you cant see anything because of all the lines, so basically you cant do anything. Apparently the system worked with a 6800 GT OC before he tried out the 9800. Also, he's currently using a FX5200. I am pretty sure his system was always working. He told me he cleaned the AGP port. __________________ DFI NF3 Ultra-D Venice 3200+ @ 2.4GHz w/ SI-120 & L1A Patriot 2x512 XBLK TCCD WD Raptor 74GB Seagate 160GB SATA ATI X850XT @ PE w/ VF700Cu Audigy 2 ZS Antec TrueBlue 480W Windows XP Pro SP2 h e a t !

13th Aug 2005, 11:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,546 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	But cleaning the AGP port does not mean that it will work. This is what it's like: Here is a TV that the cable input jack (F type connector) doesn’t work. Let’s clean it. Goodie, I can see some of the picture! See, the connector is still not working, just like the AGP port is not working. It could be the controller or a line that the R9800 uses more then the nVidia cards do, but I still think it's the port. __________________ Running : ASUS A7N8X DELUXE, AMD 2700+, 1GB DDR 3200 Duel Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 320 GB HDD, Zip 100, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, nVidia GeForce 7800GS (AGP), Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.

13th Aug 2005, 12:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bestia(ry) Fenrisulfr Join Date: 11 Oct 2004 Location: Lyngvi Posts: 2,217 Reputation: 1510 Rep Power: 21	Moved to tech support board. errm .. why don't you just put it back into the system it was running in flawlessly over that one year? If there're the same colored lines, you'd know for sure that it's the card. I doubt it would be the AGP-port, a year ago a 3DLabs VP760 died on me the same way (colored lines and boxes). __________________ Gods. Men. Beast alike.

13th Aug 2005, 05:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ishtim Super Moderator Join Date: 14 May 2003 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 3,604 Reputation: 2688 Rep Power: 35	MtX Question... If it cant boot, then how is their lines on a background? Somethings fishy Does this system work with other cards? Did the system from which the card in question was removed still work (boot) with the card? More info please...

13th Aug 2005, 04:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,044 Reputation: 3845 Rep Power: 70	Yup, 99% card related problems, not the motherboard. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/ Intel E8400 @ 4GHz \| Abit IP35 Pro \| Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX \| Asus EN8800GTS 512MB \| WD Raptor WD740 \| WD 5000AAKS x2 \| Antec TPII-480 \| EMU 0404 PCI \| Dtek FuZion CPU \| Swiftech MCW60 \| Swiftech MCR320QP \| Swiftech MCP350 \| Dell 2001FP \| BenQ G2400W \| Logitech G5 \| Logitech G25 \| Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

14th Aug 2005, 02:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
Max_87 h@x! Join Date: 11 Aug 2003 Location: Sarawak, Malaysia. Posts: 10,981 Reputation: 1747 Rep Power: 33	I think it should be the card, not mainboard I doubt your PC can even boot if the AGP slot is damaged. __________________ Max_87 Tech ARP http://www.techarp.com Intel E8400 @ 4.2GHz / Abit IP35 Pro / G.Skill F2-8000CL5-4GBPQ / Radeon X1800 / Seagate 7200.9 120GB / 7200.10 320GBx2 / WD5000AAKS / Silverstone ST56F