Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Feel I need to get this off my chest, but not expecting any magic solutions.

Last week I put together my first home built PC - Antec case, ASUS NForce3 Mobo, A64 3000, 1 Gb Ram, ATI 9800 Pro, 160Gb SATA Maxtor, etc - and I was amazed how easy and quick it was - about 3 hours building (reading guides of the fly!).

Had to break off for a day and then loaded software - XP Pro loaded in under 25mins :) . All working fine until I decided to try running a game to check out the 9800 Pro. Loaded the COD UO demo and complete garbage on the screen. Tried Rome TW demo and same problem plus card hung and recovered by VPU recovery.

Off to Rage3D forum and followed hints like changing AGP voltage, upgrade Mobo Bios, setting to 4x AGP - no differences.

This morning I try again. works OK for a couple of mins then locks up again. Beginning to smell a rat here! Tried unplugging non-essential devices in case PSU is wimpy - no change.

To cut the story short(ish) looking under the 9800 I noticed that the fan ain't running :Yikes: . Tried various molexs in the case - no difference. Now assuming that the fan is duff and need to RMA.

To make matters worse Microdirect's returns line is shut at weekends so I can't get an RMA no and can't post it until Tuesday :( (busy Monday) - so my nice new £700 PC is currently a big black paperweight. :(

Maybe I should've stuck with NVidia!

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Obvious question, but the cable for the fan on the video card is plugged in to the small socket on the card itself right?

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Yes! Is the fan supposed to spin freely - ie it will not turn by hand!

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

That means the fan is totally buggered. ANY fan is supposed to spin freely, otherwise expect the system to overheat within minutes.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Thats what I figured! Back to Microdirect and test their RMA process!!

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Good luck with the RMA, let us know how it goes!

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Out of interest I did some digging into the 9800 Pro and think that mine has been misassembled (or similar).

I have attached a photo of my card.
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/at...tid=3673&stc=1

There is a photo of another 9800 Pro on a review page :
http://www.rojakpot.com/article/ATI/.../128mb_old.jpg

It seems to me than the fan blades on mine are the opposite to the ones on the reviewers card! Of course mine may have a different fan motor, but looks odd though.

Any one else with an ATI manufactured 9800 Pro with fans facing the same as mine?

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Yeah you seeem to have a different fan than mine.
Good luuck in getting it sorted out.
Tell them about what you have noticed when you send back the RMA.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

It's also completely different from mine, mine has copper heatsinks front and back on all the ram and gpu.... Any my fan lights up blue while it's running.

I think it's just different manufacturors fans. Still let us know how you get on.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

looks like they updated the fan for one that had less blades to it, as your's has 7 compared to the reviewer's 13 (both a strange number nevermind)
If you've purchased the board recently it is highly likely that it'll be a r360 based card (underclocked 9800xt) rather than the original r350 that was the 9800 series. It's also a smaller heatsink it would appear (why i dont know as they had issues with the reference cooler before). The fan should be able to spin with a little effort and have a distinct pulse like feel to it.
Out of interest is there a temperature read out in the driver control panel somewhere (indicative of a r360 base core).

If you happen to have a case fan to hand it maybe worth directing one directly at the card leaving a few cm's of clearence to see if that helps with its stability for now.

K

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

When it was in the system I tried the ATITool from techPowerUp and that indicated the card doesn't have a temp monitor on board. Can't remember what speed core was reported. Anyway, the card is back in it's box waiting for an RMA form!

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Good luck. I hope it gets sorted out quickly for you.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Update -

After about half a dozen attempts yesterday I finally got through to Cust Servs at MDirect after another 20 min 0870 hold (at work luckily).

Once through the lady was helpful and polite and I now have an RMA number, so off to the PO to send recorded delivery.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

:mad:

Microdirect have just replied saying the fan is running normally and they can't find any fault - £11.75 to get your card back !!!! :mad:

I have replied asking why they think I would have sent it back if the b****y thing was working and to supply a digital photo of the card to verify they haven't changed the fan.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Well tell them that it keeps locking up your PC. Then they *SHOULD* run benchmarks on it or give it a diagnostic to verify there's a fault. If not, then it could be your motherboard or the memory.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Update

I have got the MD techie to admit that the fan now 'spins freely' which it didn't when it left me (see earlier post 3).

I have thanked him for FIXing my card and asked for it back.

I will see whether they still persist with their 'no fault' story!

I feel an entry to the Romulus2 website coming on when this is finally resolved.

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

It could have been a tiny screw which holds the fan in place which wasnt in properly and caused the fan to stop spinning.

They may have just screwed it in and viola - fixed...

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

OK, this is getting stupid! Why did I bother with Microdirect :(

MD are still refusing to admit they have fixed anything, despite



The extract above is from a email I have sent FTAO the customer services manager (if they have one).

Speaking to Trading Standards and a legal advisor there is very little I can do but pay their 'no fault' fee. Otherwise it would be my word against theirs in the small claims court!:td:

I have tried appealing to their common sense / better nature, but am not holding my breath -

I would not recommend them to anyone right now :mad:

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

Please tell me you haven't already sent this email.

Look at it from their point of view - you've just told them that you're gonna pay if they hang on!!!

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

I just want my card back!

Also, legally it would be very difficult to get any redress if I went down that route.

Both TS and my legal advice line said the quickest resolution was to pay the money and then see if I can prove they conned me!

Re: Frustrating ATI Radeon problem
 

No response from MD to either return my card or get payment details for their 'ransom' :mad: They've now had the card for two weeks and have no reason to keep it.

Spoke to my Visa company yesterday who are mailing the forms so that I can reclaim the cost from them and let them kick MD's butt :D