New video card crashing system...

[unevendozen]

Howdy all...

I was under the impression that PCI-e 2.0 video cards were backwards compatible with 1.0 motherboards. Is this not correct?

I have just installed a new video card, the XFX 9600GT Alpha Dog with 512MB of DDR3 ram. Now my computer will not stop crashing. It completely freezes after a few minutes of operation. And when booting, it gets stuck at the "Welcome" screen for XP. Hangs there for a minute or so. Then sometimes boots (only to freeze later).

I have updated the drivers to the very latest available on the XFX website.

Also, when putting in the new card, I swapped out the PSU for a new 650W Antec NeoPower. I cant see that being the issue tho.

Thanks.

 

[Foxery]

Have you tried the new PSU with the old video card, or vice versa? Make sure it isn't something silly like forgetting to plug in the extra CPU power or the extra video card power.

There are also multiple versions of PCIE "1" - 1.0, 1.0a and 1.1. See if your motherboard's BIOS or manual specifies which one you have. I think one of the revisions addressed compatibility problems like this.

 

[unevendozen]

I will try putting the old card back in.

Can the MOBO be upgraded via firmware from 1.0 to 1.1 or is it a hardware thing?

 

[RoboPC]

Its a hardware thing. Big thing to remember is the plug the 6pin PCI-E power (into the video card). Its also possible the card you got is a dud.

 

[unevendozen]

Definitely the card. I put my old 7600GS back in and it works perfectly. Boot up is speedy and the puter is stable. I dont think there is anything wrong with the card itself though. One of the few times I was able to get it up and running, COD4 looked amazing. I think its just a slight compatibility issue.

Now the question is..... is there anything I can do here? Besides getting a different card or a new mobo? Or if it is a compatibility issue, is it hopeless?

 

[Slugbait]

Hard to give advice without specs.

But I digress...check for a mobo BIOS update, that alone might resolve the problem.

 

[xxxFrogg]

Ok, I'm a little new but when you said," I was under the impression that PCI-e 2.0 video cards were backwards compatible with 1.0 motherboards. Is this not correct? "
It seems to me like you got that backwards. 2.0 slots in the motherboard are backwards compatible with cards requiring PCIe 1.0. To run a card requiring 2.0 you need a 2.0 slot on the motherboard. The reason behind this is that PCI express 2.0 has double the bandwidth than the 1.0. So the answer to your question as phrased is No.

*Edit- this is incorrect. See below

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: xxxFrogg
Ok, I'm a little new but when you said," I was under the impression that PCI-e 2.0 video cards were backwards compatible with 1.0 motherboards. Is this not correct? "
It seems to me like you got that backwards. 2.0 slots in the motherboard are backwards compatible with cards requiring PCIe 1.0. To run a card requiring 2.0 you need a 2.0 slot on the motherboard. The reason behind this is that PCI express 2.0 has double the bandwidth than the 1.0. So the answer to your question as phrased is No.

Frog, that is incorrect. Newer cards can work with older boards and newer boards can world with older cards, its backwards compatible in both respects. You only get PCIe 1.0 speeds however unless both components are PCIe 2.0.

 

[SergeC]

Driver cleaner in safe mode.

Reformat if that doesn't work.

If it still is flaky in a fresh OS install, then something is wrong.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Look for an updated bios for your new card. Most manufacturers have released bios updates to make them more compatible with older mb's.