New system lock ups...

[DWright]

Put a new system together, parts listed below, and I just wanted a bounce this off you guys to see if you can see why whenever I run a game after about 3 mins or so come artifacts start showing up and then the video just locks up. Has anyone had issues with a similar setup?

P4P800 Deluxe
P4 3.0C
Mushkin 1 GB|PC3200 Dual kit x2
Windows XP
Leadtek WinFast A380 Ultra TDH ( 5950 ultra )

No other cards installed. New OS installed 2 times. Only happens in 3d applications. Latest Video drivers used as well as the ones that came with the video card. Default BIOS settings.

Please Advise and thanks in advance.
DWright

 

[mechBgon]

First, confirm that your video card's fan is running properly. Open your case and aim a house fan into the side if you think your system might be overheating the video card (how's your case ventilation?).

Secondly, what power supply are you using (brand & model) and do you have your video card's auxiliary power pigtail plugged into the power supply (sorry, I know that's a dumb question)?

 

[DWright]

I have a Antec 400w Power Supply. From all of my research that seemed enough and a good powersupply.
Thanks for your response

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, no worries on the power supply

The artifacts and lockup sure sound like an overheating problem on the video card. Here are my ideas:

• Confirm that you have a 4-pin power plug hooked up to the connector on the end of the video card, to provide it with power straight from the power supply itself
• Since the fan pulls air in from below, leave a couple vacant PCI slots below the AGP slot so it can pull air easily
• Confirm that the fan on the video card is, in fact, functioning
• If problems persist, try aiming a house fan into your open case to boost the cooling of the video card, as a fact-finding step
• Try a different video card temporarily, to confirm whether it's your 5950 that's the root of the problem or not
• Consider RMA'ing the card if everything seems right but it still malfunctions

Good luck bro

 

[DWright]

Thanks for your response!

I ran memtest a number of times and never got a fail, so I think its safe to say that the ram is clean.

I checked all connections and that the fan is actually working...plus this happens after only about 3-5 min of use...not sure how much heat this sucker generates but I suspect that in that amount of time it shouldnt be locking up.

I think I'm starting to think that I need to RMA this video card. ack.

Any bios settings that I might check?

Thanks again for your help

 

[mechBgon]

I think you're right and the card has a problem. One possibility I thought of, after looking at how it's built, is that maybe one or more of the video card's memory chips isn't making good contact with the heatsink (for example, maybe they missed a chip when they were applying thermal epoxy to them prior to installing the heatsink). Hopefully you have another card you can throw in there while you're getting the 5950 replaced

 

[Fern]

Chipset drivers installed?