4600 ti help please!!

My system is a Dell 8200, 2.53Gp4, 512 ddr(400)ram, 4600ti(128meg). Lately
my video has been flakey. On boot-up there will sometimes be dots in
vertical rows over the display. Sometimes there will be a single thick (2")
white bar at the bottom of the display. I think my cards cooling is not
working well. If I open the case and cool the card things seem to get
better. If I am running fs2004 or other "demanding" apps I have a problem.
If I am just surfing etc. no problem. The card fan seems to be working.
I've checked the connections, cleaned dust etc. System memory is ok
(memtest86). HDD is ok. Questions a
1) Do you agree that my 4600ti is to blame?
2) If so what is the recommended replacement card for my system? I
believe my system is underpowered for the newer cards.
I know this is a lengthy post, thanks for the help!!

-Phil

"Philip Sternklar" wrote in message
...

" I think my cards cooling is not working well. If I open the case and
cool the card things seem to get better. "


Before you spend lots of money on a new card, perhaps you should try this:

http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...rce4cooler.php

What I don't understand is why your having trouble with the video cooling now
when you didn't have any trouble in the past with the same cooling.
Usually defective video memory will cause stray pixels like you discribed.
Maybe your video memory is going bad and can't handle as much heat as it could
in the past.
You could try a test. Install coolbits for overclocking. Then under clock just
the memory and test a few games. The memory shouldn't get as hot by doing that
and it should tell you if the memory is part of the problem.

When you mention at start up sometimes seeing these defects is it after Windows
loads or right when you turn the system on? If its right when you turn the
system on then the drivers are not loaded yet for the video card so it would be
hardware related for sure.
The video card does not use the same graphic engine in windows as it does when
your playing games. When your in Windows it uses 2D and in most games it uses
3D.

The vertical dots and white bar are during the BIOS load, before the Win XP
welcome screen.
-Phil
"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
What I don't understand is why your having trouble with the video cooling
now
when you didn't have any trouble in the past with the same cooling.
Usually defective video memory will cause stray pixels like you discribed.
Maybe your video memory is going bad and can't handle as much heat as it
could
in the past.
You could try a test. Install coolbits for overclocking. Then under clock
just
the memory and test a few games. The memory shouldn't get as hot by doing
that
and it should tell you if the memory is part of the problem.

When you mention at start up sometimes seeing these defects is it after
Windows
loads or right when you turn the system on? If its right when you turn the
system on then the drivers are not loaded yet for the video card so it
would be
hardware related for sure.
The video card does not use the same graphic engine in windows as it does
when
your playing games. When your in Windows it uses 2D and in most games it
uses
3D.

Thanks for the replies. Any thoughts about the 5900 vs. 6800gt (new,
cheaper 6800) vs ati 9800? Once again thanks.
-Phil
"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
What I don't understand is why your having trouble with the video cooling
now
when you didn't have any trouble in the past with the same cooling.
Usually defective video memory will cause stray pixels like you discribed.
Maybe your video memory is going bad and can't handle as much heat as it
could
in the past.
You could try a test. Install coolbits for overclocking. Then under clock
just
the memory and test a few games. The memory shouldn't get as hot by doing
that
and it should tell you if the memory is part of the problem.

When you mention at start up sometimes seeing these defects is it after
Windows
loads or right when you turn the system on? If its right when you turn the
system on then the drivers are not loaded yet for the video card so it
would be
hardware related for sure.
The video card does not use the same graphic engine in windows as it does
when
your playing games. When your in Windows it uses 2D and in most games it
uses
3D.

The vertical dots and white bar are during the BIOS load, before the Win XP
welcome screen.
-Phil

That would mean the problem is most likely just hardware related because the
video drivers have not been loaded yet. Also if you have just turned on the
computer and are seeing problems I doubt that it is just heat related. It takes
a little time for the memory anf the GPU to build up some heat so why are you
seeing problems right when you start the system.
I still think something is going bad on the card and the heat is making the
problem worse. I would still take the card out and clean both sides of the edge
connector on the card with a pencil erasor. I would also inspect both sides of
the card while it is out for any kind of damage such as leaking components etc.

Thanks all. It was the card. Replaced it with a 9800 pro 128meg. All is
working well now.
-Phil
"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the replies. Any thoughts about the 5900 vs. 6800gt (new,
cheaper 6800) vs ati 9800? Once again thanks.
-Phil

I'm still using an overclocked 4200, but am waiting to see what happens
with
the new 6600. I think you might be better off waiting a bit longer if you
can.
The 6600 will have the most recent DirectX features, and hopefully great
performance at a reasonable price.

If you can't hold out then a 9800 Pro or anything by Nvidia with around
the
same peformance should be fine for a while.
I would do some google searching for benchmarks before buying any graphic
card
though.

PRIVATE1964 wrote:


I still think something is going bad on the card and the heat is making the
problem worse. I would still take the card out and clean both sides of the edge
connector on the card with a pencil erasor. I would also inspect both sides of
the card while it is out for any kind of damage such as leaking components etc.

Pencil eraser? I have never heard that one before. Wouldn't the
eraser nub leave some residue on the contacts?

Although that's not the craziest I've heard... Way back in my Amiga
days, I had a problem with a sidecar HD on my A500... tech support
actually told me to take out the control card, and wash it in warm water
mixed with powder laundry detergent, blow-dry thouroughly, let sit for
an hour, and then plug it back in...

Amazingly enough, it solved my problem!

Ryan

Pencil eraser? I have never heard that one before. Wouldn't the
eraser nub leave some residue on the contacts?

It actually works very well to clean off the surface of the contacts without
damage. You have to use some common sense though like make sure to blow off the
tiny bits of erasor before putting the card back in the slot. It shines up the
gold contacts like new.


tech support
actually told me to take out the control card, and wash it in warm water
mixed with powder laundry detergent, blow-dry thouroughly, let sit for
an hour, and then plug it back in...

That sounds a bit more risky to me then a pencil erasor. : )

This normally meant or sign, your card is failling. It may last for while
longer or might go bad really quickly.
Suggest to prepare for the next step - either exchange / RMA / replacement
etc. soon.

CapFusion,...


"Philip Sternklar" wrote in message
...
The vertical dots and white bar are during the BIOS load, before the Win
XP welcome screen.
-Phil
"PRIVATE1964" wrote in message
...
What I don't understand is why your having trouble with the video cooling
now
when you didn't have any trouble in the past with the same cooling.
Usually defective video memory will cause stray pixels like you
discribed.
Maybe your video memory is going bad and can't handle as much heat as it
could
in the past.
You could try a test. Install coolbits for overclocking. Then under clock
just
the memory and test a few games. The memory shouldn't get as hot by doing
that
and it should tell you if the memory is part of the problem.

When you mention at start up sometimes seeing these defects is it after
Windows
loads or right when you turn the system on? If its right when you turn
the
system on then the drivers are not loaded yet for the video card so it
would be
hardware related for sure.
The video card does not use the same graphic engine in windows as it does
when
your playing games. When your in Windows it uses 2D and in most games it
uses
3D.