ATI card + nVidia chipset?

[Fernito]

Is it possible that a ATI card (specifically Radeon x1900XTX) can't run on a mobo with a nVidia chipset (specifically nForce4)?

I'm having a lot of troubles with it :(

[Orochi Avlis]

There shouldn't be any compatablity problems.

[Damien_Azreal]

I'm doing it right now. :)

ATi x800 on a Nforce board.

[Assault]

I have nForce4 and Radeon 1900XT, works great.

[Steve]

I'm doing it right now. :)

ATi x800 on a Nforce board.

So am I :)

[Fernito]

Hmmm... then, what could be my problem?

I'm running a X1900XTX on an Asus P5NSLI mobo, and the system crashes VERY often when gaming (something like every 15 minutes of playing).

The system doesn't even turn on at the first attempt. I mean, when I first turn on the computer after some hours of being off, it throws 1 long and 3 short beeps (that means bad video device).

It's not a video card problem, since I have tested it on two different computers and works fine.

Could it be a power problem? I'm running an Antec SmartPower 2.0 PSU, 450 Watts.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Assault]

Did you try updating your motherboard drivers? How about updating your Bios? I updated my Nforce4 because 1900XT needed the latest update. Also, check if your computer isn't overheating.

[Fernito]

I checked out and I already have the latest drivers installed, as well as the latest BIOS.

Overheating... maybe... the northbridge gets unusually hot (about 60ºC or more). The video card is 50ºC when idle, and about 80ºC when heavily gaming, but I guess that's normal.

[Assault]

80ºC is not good, that’s about when my old computer started resetting itself.
What fans does your PC have? Check that they are working.

I got two 12cm fans on each side of the PC and a heatsink to keep it cool. It doesn't get over 55ºC.

I'm not sure this is the issue, but you should check into it.

[Fernito]

No, you misread :)

The computer temperature is fine (except for the mobo's northbridge), it never goes up 45ºC.

80ºC for that video card is normal, as you can see in the attached picture.

This problem is very strange... could it be a power problem? The most powerful 12V line of my PSU supports 17A. In the card specs it says that I should have a 12V line that supports 30A, assuming full load.

[Assault]

Oops.

I don't about what your line should be. I know very little about that and would rather not guess.

Of cores it could be the problem, if you got a lead, check it out. Also, there is always a chance you have something defective with your motherboard. Try maybe connecting another 3d card to your motherboard and run a game, see if it still causes problems.

[Fernito]

if you got a lead, check it out..

What's a lead? Sorry for my ignorance :confused:

Yeah, I already tried another card (a nVidia 6800GS or something) and worked fine. And, as I said earlier, it can't be my video card since I tried it on different computers and worked fine.

So, if you guys run an ATI card on a nVidia chipset, I guess there are just 2 possible causes:

- Power lacking.
- Defective Mobo.

Fortunately, I can replace the mobo, and a PSU isn't very expensive (at least, not as much as that video card :o)

[Assault]

"If you got a lead" is like saying "If you got a clue". So if you think the line problem is what’s causing this, try fixing that somehow.

Either than a Mobo problem, it could also be the CPU, but I highly doubt it.

When I first bought my computer, it came defective. I didn't know what the problem was. I downloaded files over the internet and they came as something else, games would run funny, compressed files wouldn’t open and I would get lots of physical memory dumps. After a weak of testing, I found out it was the motherboard. The store changed it for me with no problem and everything worked great. It's very rare for a mobo to go bad, but it sure is possible.

[Fernito]

"If you got a lead" is like saying "If you got a clue". So if you think the line problem is what’s causing this, try fixing that somehow.

I see now, thanks for the pointing :)

I'm pretty sure it can't be the CPU (E6300), since I already tried it on a friend's mobo and worked great. Also, it haven't caused problems when I have run SuperPI, Prime95 and so.

It's also strange that the computer doesn't turn on at the first attempt, and that should definitivelly be a mobo problem, or power lacking for the video card, I don't know.

I'll try it on a friend's 600W PSU. If it doesn't work --> motherboard replacement ;)

[Assault]

One last thing, incase you have a large Hard Drive (250mb and up) try changing the Bios to NOT skip the RAM count when you boot the computer. Some Hard Drives need a second to start spinning. Just thought I'd point this out.

Good Luck, let me know when you fix it.

[Fernito]

Oh man, I didn't know that... yeah, I've got a 320GB HD. Thanks for pointing that out ;)

Anyway, the BIOS throws the video problem beep (1 long and 3 short), so that shouldn't be the problem. Or may be yes? Don't know, so I'll change it :)

I'll keep ya informed!

[Assault]

You can skip it manually about two seconds after it starts counting though, you don't need to wait for it to count the whole way through.

[Fernito]

HAHAHA... It took about 2 minutes to count the whole thing :D

That didn't solve the problem though. I'll try the PSU thing, and if that doesn't work, then it MUST be the mobo.

[peoplessi]

Have you updated the BIOS? If not, it is not the newest. I would have chosen another mobo, as P5B or Deluxe(own) version of it.

[Fernito]

Yeah, but it's difficult to get mobos here, there aren't too many that support Core 2 Duo. The mobo that came from USA arrived broken, and I prefered to buy a new one.

Anyway, the problem seems to be solved (I hope!) :D

I just put the card in the other PCI-E slot, and now works fine!

The funny fact is that a friend of mine (that doesn't know ANYTHING about hardware) said: "Eh, what's that other slot for? Why don't you try the card there?"... and it worked! :p :doh:

[Fernito]

After some hours of playing F.E.A.R at max settings :D

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5153/feartemperaturakz1.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=feartemperaturakz1.jpg)

[Assault]

Is it fried?

[Fernito]

No, that card tolerates up to 105ºC :o

Damn... it worked great the first day, but no longer :(

It started to crash again. Then, as in the beginning, I'll try the new PSU.

[Assault]

Did you just buy this computer? If so, why don't you just let the store fix it for you, they should do it for free.

[Fernito]

Ahhh... it's a long story :(

OK, I live in Chile. Technology in Chile is still too expensive (for example --> X1900XTX in USA: $354; in Chile: $500), so I decided to buy the computer in USA (newegg) through a friend, and then he sent the computer to Chile.

So, as you can see, sending back the computer would be a big pain in the ass :(

[Assault]

Ahhh... it's a long story :(

OK, I live in Chile. Technology in Chile is still too expensive (for example --> X1900XTX in USA: $354; in Chile: $500), so I decided to buy the computer in USA (newegg) through a friend, and then he sent the computer to Chile.

So, as you can see, sending back the computer would be a big pain in the ass :(

I know what you mean, same crap goes over here. However, because of problems like these I buy my computer hardware here. Expensive, but I need my warranty. Also, things like these can break over shipment.

[Fernito]

Yeah, just like my old mobo :( It arrived broken, don't know why nor how (not physically broken, it just didn't work).

Al least, now I learned the lesson :)

OK, I'll keep you informed about the machine status ;)