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#1 2005-02-26 6:49 am
- Aurik
- Member
- From: MB, Canada
- Registered: 2001-02-20
- Posts: 655
Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
In a period of approximately 6 months, I've lost two ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128Mb Video cards in my newish Dell.
Both times the problem has been the same: My computer will be running fine and at some point, I'll need to restart it due to either a system update, or due to WIndows sucking up too much RAM 
Upon restarting, my video is all messed up, with artifacts all over the screen.
What I'm wondering is if Radeon cards are notorious for having a really short lifespan? Or if Dell is just sending me crappy hardware?
My second card just went tonight. I was uninstalling a program, and it recommended that I restart, so I did. Windows loaded to the desktop as usual, but I had artifacts all over the place, and then I got a black screen with nothing on it.
I'm able to still use the computer if I use the onboard video instead of the video card.
My software is all up to date, including windows updates and driver updates.
Anyone else having issues like this?
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#2 2005-02-26 7:44 am
- Marathionman
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- From: The land of Snow
- Registered: 2001-10-31
- Posts: 2045
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Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
Did you buy the card from Dell preinstalled? If not it may be that your power supply is not powerfull enough or it is going bad. Dell is know for selling really small wattige power supplys. Some think this is so people will have issues it they upgread there Dell them self.
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#3 2005-02-26 9:03 am
- Aurik
- Member
- From: MB, Canada
- Registered: 2001-02-20
- Posts: 655
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
Yeah, it was a preinstalled card..
How would I go about checking the wattage on the powersupply?
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#4 2005-02-26 9:55 am
- Marathionman
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- From: The land of Snow
- Registered: 2001-10-31
- Posts: 2045
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Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
Try a differint one.
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#5 2005-02-26 9:59 am
- dv
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
Wattage of the power supply is labelled on the side of it, there's a sticker. To run a 9800 Pro happily, you'll need at least a 350w unit, iirc, maybe 400w, and the lead from the power supply to the video card shouldn't be plugged into anything else.
It could also be some kind of overheating - there isn't a lot of margin for error in Dells when it comes to airflow, since they use, imo, underpowered fans to get extra quiet. Clean out all the dust before you replace the video card again.
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#6 2005-02-26 10:33 am
- Aurik
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- From: MB, Canada
- Registered: 2001-02-20
- Posts: 655
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
The onboard video works just fine.
I don't really have an extra video card I can try. I guess I'll call Dell and get them to send me another one....since it IS on warranty and what not. 
Heck, it's not even paid for in full yet.
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#7 2005-02-26 11:25 am
- Orion
- Bovi-sapiens
- From: America's Dairyland
- Registered: 2000-09-12
- Posts: 2958
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers for the card? I had something similar to that happen with my FX 5900 vid card. A reinstall of the drivers took care of the problems for me.
Farming is easy when your plow is a pencil and you are a thousand miles from the cornfield. -Dwight D. Eisenhower
Don't curse the farmer with your mouth full.
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#8 2005-02-26 11:34 am
- BBq_Woa!
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- From: Above
- Registered: 2000-11-18
- Posts: 2519
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
What you are reporting is burned RAM on the 9800... this is caused by a flaw of the card's circuitry, which is usually tested for (by quality OEM manufacturers, like mine) but ignored by others (like Dell or Alienware circa 2000)
Send the card back, they have to replace it if it's under warrenty.
Buy a card seperately and it will almost certainly not have any problems.
Also, dont buy computers OEM. If you must, however, go with small, trusted manufacturers in your area.
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#9 2005-02-26 11:37 am
- Aurik
- Member
- From: MB, Canada
- Registered: 2001-02-20
- Posts: 655
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
Orion wrote:
Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers for the card? I had something similar to that happen with my FX 5900 vid card. A reinstall of the drivers took care of the problems for me.
Yeps...I've tried that...didn't work.
Thanks Bbq...that's what I was thinking. I'll give them a call yet today.
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#10 2005-03-07 12:16 am
- Switcher
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- From: Beantown
- Registered: 2004-02-18
- Posts: 1202
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
I had similar problem with my nvidia that I fried because of power problems since then I have a nice APC with auto voltage regulator and can see how crappy the grid is around here. ATI is usually much better quality than nVidia as reliability goes my 9700 is jut humming along after two years while some of my friends changed their nvidia boards twice already.
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#11 2005-03-11 2:41 am
- Aurik
- Member
- From: MB, Canada
- Registered: 2001-02-20
- Posts: 655
Re: Radeon 9800 Pro Cards SucK? Or Dell Offers Crap Hardware?
Update for those of you who may be interested....I called Dell, and the sent out a replacement card. All systems are "GO!" and everything seems to be working well. (As well as Windows works anyways )
Again, thanks for the input
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