Connect3d ATI Radeon 9550 AGP 256MB keeps resetting and crashing

This may seem familiar to forum regulars, I've seen similar threads. Basiaclly my problem is that I have bought a Connect3d ati Radeon 9550 AGP 256 MD graphics card, but whenver I try and play a game, there is a click, the monitor goes black and says there is no signal, and I have to reset.

I have updated my BIOS, and my chipset and ATI drivers, still same problem, plus it crashes sometimes while I'm online.

My mobo (Gigabyte GA-7VT600 1394 KT600 chipset) Has seemingly had issues with 9600 ATI cards, could it be a similar thing?
I've read about PSUs being a problem, I have speedfan but don't really know what it's showing me, could anyone interpret? (My power supply is 300W)

Can anyone help me with this? I'm beginning to think I've forked out for a rubbish card, is that the case?

(By the way, I can include my DxDiag if that would help?)

I use a 9550 and while its far from the fastest card on the market, it does me proud.

I recon its down to psu.

And did you remove all drivers and software for your old card before installing your 9550?

I did indeed remove all the old bits - I've used search and add/remove to check for Nvidia material, nothing to be found.

As for the PSU, it's an 'A one' (I think) 300W ATX 2.03P4, Model 300x. The specs on the side read:
+3.3v = 14A
+5V = 30A
+12V = 10A

Speedfan says:
VCore1: 1.70V
VCore2: 1.33V
+3.3V: 3.22V
+5V: 4.89V
+12V: 12.67V

Temp1: 35C
Temp2: 29C
Temp3: 47C
HDO: 31C


The game I've been using to test it is Myst V. I managed to get into the game yesterday by selecting new game pronto, but as soon as i went to change the graphics options it blacked out. I've found Doom3 blacks after a few seconds of the title screen, but I thought it was due to a bad install, so I've deleted that, might reinstall. Unreal tournament 2004 had some weird graphics effects then decided it's CD Key was corrupted when I first installed the card, but in my naivete I hadn't scrubbed off all the Nvidia stuff at that point. Haven't addressed that yet, was waiting till I solved this card issue.

Run scandisk on your hard drive just in case there is any data corruption.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting! Does that mean when it tries to go for Polygons or something complex it just can't draw what it needs from the PSU? Will I need a whole new case, or can I pop a new PSU into the one I have?

Cool, I'll have a look at the case later, see where it comes apart. You're right, it did come with the case. So I want 300W with at least 15/20A on the +12V rail and preferably two +12V rails?

(Now I come to think of it, with my old Nvidia card I used to have this problem whilst playing Uru, I guess insufficient power would explain both, and explain why it's more frequent now I have a more powerful card..... Fingers crossed!)

I've been looking through some sites like Antec, finding it hard to find out how many amps they put on the rails. Is there a thread or site that can simplify my searching?

PS Rik, I did Scandisk a couple of weeks back, think it would be worth doing again?

I've been recommended this by a friend: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=102994
It may have a naff neon, but does it look like it'll do the trick?

By the way, during the week it's hard for me to get to a computer regularly, so I may be away for a couple of days at a time till next weekend, but i'll keep checking in. Thanks for all your help so far!

My latest crash gave me the Blue Screen of Death, which said:

The problem seems to be caused by the following file: ati2dvag
The device driver got stuck in an infinite loop. This usually indicates problem with the driver itself or with the device driver programming the hardware incorrectly.
Tech. Info.:
*** STOP: 0x000000EA (0x821E2020,0x82D434C0,0xF8C65CB4,0x00000001)



Does that help at all?

Another friend has suggested the driver has become damaged by the crashes, so I'll reinstall after I've put a new PSU in. What do you think of the one I posted the link for?

There was one review further down by paul robson:
"Whilst on the face of it, this power supply seems to be able to cope with a reasonably high spec system, in reality it isn't; the outputs listed in other reviews is the peak output, not its continual output, which means that the power supply is only capable of sustaining the stated power outputs for very short periods of time.

I'm running an athlon 4400+ with Radeon x1800xt, under any kind of load, this power supply couldn't cope causing frequent crashes. If your system is going to be used for gaming or other processor / graphics intensive applications I'd suggest you spend a little more and get a named PSU which states both the continuous and peak outputs.

Don't pay too much attention to the wattage of the power supple (550W in this case) in modern systems its the Amps which count.

On the up side, if your system isn't power hungry, this is a reasonable power supply, plenty of connectors for all devices, including SATA, it's by no means silent but its reasonably quiet, the fan is large enough to keep it running cool."


Then again, his was the only review covering that subject out of the 38 or so, and like you say, the majority seem to rave about it. It's very tempting.....

I also found this: http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/90615

I've seen reviews of 430W TPII that says Antec tends to run hot, though....