Video card problems, I guess

[petsfed]

I just bought a new pc from Ascendtech, a barebones setup.

The thing is, despite being brand new it has some pretty frustrating video card issues. At least, i presume its video card errors, based on the fact that the blue screen that Windows 7 gives me references atikmpag.sys. The issue is less that I want somebody to fix the problem for me, I'd rather learn what's going wrong, but the problem is that I haven't been current on this stuff since 2004.

Where's a good place to start, other than properly installing the newest drivers?

What typically happens is I'll start up a game and between 1 and 2 minutes after starting it, the screen will freeze up, go black and (if I'm lucky) the system will BSOD. In the meantime, the audio will continue until the rest of the system hangs, creating a sound loop. This NEVER happens outside of games, and the graphics are just fine until the freeze. And honestly, it seems like it takes the same amount of time every time.

My system:

Intel Core I7 930 @2.80 GHz

MSI X58M LGA1366 Mobo

6GB DDR3 3x2GB 1333MHZ PC3-10600

ATI Radeon HD4850 1GB Dual DVI (I don't actually know the manufacturer, as its OEM, might call ascendtech on this one)

Running Win 7 64bit

[Cpl Ledanek]

this discussion maybe relevant,....personally I'd call the system builder.

good luck

[EricW]

hhhmmm i found went something like that happened it was my motherboard or, the card isnt seated right open it up and push the card down a little more and see if there is a response. its best to do that when the PC is off and unplugged

but it might not be that, it could be something totally different.

Edited September 17, 2010 by EricW

[JohnTC02]

I agree with Cpl Ledanek, as this is a new machine and still under warranty I would return it to where you bought it in case there is a hardware problem.

Apart from that all I can think of is have you checked the system temps, if it's overheating you may experience what you mentioned above, having said that I would be surprised if a new PC was getting that hot.

[ROCO*AFZ*]

Make sure if it's a newer card that the extra power plugs are plugged into the card. Some cards will set an alarm and others will seem to work but randomly fail until the card burns itself up.

[petsfed]

I'll double check that one. When i first booted it up, all I got was red text on the screen telling me to plug my video card in correctly. So i thought I had that one solved.

[CR6]

Also check the cooling fan on the video card - may be overheating, which again you should bring back to the store you got it from. This is unacceptable

What brand/model video card are you running?

[petsfed]

Its listed up above. In the very first post. Where I indicate all of my known hardware specs. Its OEM, so I know nothing about it, it was what the builder put in, and they say its ATI brand.

[Rocky]

Overheating or faulty GPU.

[petsfed]

Well, there's an issue with the case too (the tabs that hold the power button in place were snapped off during installation, so it dangles, precariously from its wires) so I have to send it in anyway. But I suspected as much. I think I'm going to fully install The Witcher so they've got a test case that doesn't use Steam.

Incidentally, to lend credence to the claim that its a faulty GPU, if I want the game to keep running, I have to turn up all of the graphical settings until it positively chugs, in what I suspect is Direct X 10 territory. I did this with Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising the other day, and it failed to crash, even though my framerate was in the single digits. Irritating, but interesting. Its only an issue when my framerate gets above 30fps, or with DX9. At which point everything goes south. Funny, when you think about it.

[petsfed]

Got it back from the manufacturer yesterday. It runs like a dream now. So whatever they did, that did it.