Survey: ATI Radeon 9700

[Nic]

Originally posted by PreservedSwine
Nic, doesn't that seem just a *little* presumptuous? Everything I've heard from those who have been to and visited ATI is in direct contrast to your theory. Have you spoken to anyone who has been there?

My *faulty* card was manufactured by Sapphire Technology, not ATI.

Furthermore, what conclusions would you draw, when a card that is physically perfect (no signs of damage) simply doesn't work and short circuits your PSU causing the overcurrent circuits to shut it down?

This has happened to others also, not just myself. As far as I can see, what I said is correct. These cards cannot possibly have been fully tested during manufacture, though some testing will have taken place, but not enough to pick up this particular defect. Maybe ATI has better testing with cards that they manufacture themselves, but I suspect not.

Sometimes manufacturers get it wrong and then have to change their manufacturing methods to put things right. I have worked in the electronics industry for over ten years, and I can tell you that even large companies get it wrong and make assumptions to cut costs, regardless of how good you think their methods might be. Also, you can't tell much from a factory visit unless you are phsycic, and have a deep knowledge of the product and testing strategy. In this case the evidence speaks for itself. Take a look at this thread ...

Radeon AWI 9700 Pro - DOA

 

[PreservedSwine]

Originally posted by Nic
My *faulty* card was manufactured by Sapphire Technology, not ATI.

Furthermore, what conclusions would you draw, when a card that is physically perfect (no signs of damage) simply doesn't work and short circuits your PSU causing the overcurrent circuits to shut it down?

Frankly, I wouldn't draw any conclusions. I'd form a hypothesis, but that's about it. Right now, i feel that most of the hardware related R9700 problems are due to the shim being too high, not allowing contact between the heatsink and core...but these are just my thoughts......most problems are simply software conflicts and poor configuration issues. Being in an industry where I see thousands upon thousands of PCB's every year (not computer related- Pool & Spa) I have an *small* idea of how some customers feel that if they have an issue, and find a couple others who may have another unrelated issue, yet w/ the same symptoms, they'll draw conslusions that are far off base. I'm not saying that's the deal w/ you or other R9700 owners, it's just something to keep in mind...Facts are, EVERYONE (Manufactures) sends out a bad part on occasion. This doesn't mean the QC was poor, it simply means something broke. It happens. Since it happened to you, it's perfectly reasonable for you to assume it happens to many others. It sucks, and it's some bad luck as well. It just opens your eyes to what may happen, no matter what you buy....

On another note- Glad to hear you R9800PRO installation was flawless- enjoy :grinthumb

 

[Antiorganic]

If your video card is running slowly, it might help you to ensure that your card was actually running in AGP mode. I'm not sure how to do this on an ATI card, owning only an nVidia GeForce 3 myself, but certain motherboards, VIA-based in particular, will not run in AGP mode unless you have the AGP bridge drivers installed (there's a reason they give you a driver CD with the motherboard). If you don't have the AGP driver, the bus will only operate at PCI speeds, giving you a whole lot less bandwidth to play with. This could easily explain any slowdowns.

 

[agissi]

Originally posted by XtR-X
In the BIOS did you set the correct aperature size (32MB, 64, 128, 256)? How about AGP 1/2/4/8x? Running in DC mode?

Also, I'm not exactly positive but there are some settings in the BIOS that toy with your vid card, in addition to those above.

Yepp that was all done

 

[XtR-X]

Give me a few days as I will look into this. I'm waiting for my processor and my case to arrive. I already have my 9700 Pro, though, I hanve't used it yet. It's made by Saphire.

 

[acidosmosis]

MOST of the time the Radeon 9700 Pro has problems because of the motherboards incompatibilitys, drivers, bios, etc. If the 9700 Pro is the problem then a simple RMA would fix that problem. If you got it back and the replacement card is ok, then it is usually something to do with your hardware, drivers, software, etc.

Test the 9700 Pro in another system and see if you have the same problems. If so you may want to be RMA it.

 

[XtR-X]

Is RMA sort of like flashing the BIOS or something? What does it stand for?

 

[poertner_1274]

RMA is when you send it back to the manufacturer to have them fix it under warranty and send you a new device.

It also stands for Return Merchandise Agreement

 

[Arris]

No problems for me.

- Lian-Li PC-50 midi aluminium case(2xAdda Case fan @ 2000rpm)
- Abit NF7-S V2.0 motherboard
- Athlon XP 2100+ Thoroughbred B (AIUHB) @ 2.00Ghz (10x200)
- SLK-800 with 80mm Thermaltake SFII (3600rpm)
- 512mb OCZ EL-DDR PC3500
- Sapphire Radeon 9700 Pro 128mb
- Creative Audigy 2
- 2 x Seagate Barracuda IV ATA100 40gb 7200rpm
- 550w Antec True Power PSU

I also had the 9700Pro running in the GA-7VAXP KT400 board at 8x AGP with no problems.

 

[agissi]

Humm maybe its the chipset? (nForce2). Thats weird..

 

[XtR-X]

Originally posted by poertner_1274
RMA is when you send it back to the manufacturer to have them fix it under warranty and send you a new device.

It also stands for Return Merchandise Agreement

Lol, it sounded more like a program but now 'RMA' sounds familiar.

 

[poertner_1274]

Heh, no problem.

 

[agissi]

So an "RMA" is pretty much my only option?

 

[XtR-X]

I'm very dissapointed... in myself.

I've learned an extremely valueable lesson... never run accross your carpet with your video card to show a friend.

Completely... staticly charged the card.

 

[Arris]

Originally posted by XtR-X
I'm very dissapointed... in myself.

I've learned an extremely valueable lesson... never run accross your carpet with your video card to show a friend.

Completely... staticly charged the card.

Eeek
Sorry to hear that. Hope it wasn't a brand new expensive card :blackeye:

 

[novicegamer]

My 9700 pro wont work in 8x and im not sure why
3.06 P4
gigabyte 8knxp (from memory)might be wrong
enermax whisper 431
2048 crucial twin moss pc3200
kingwin mid tower
WD raptors on raid 0
SB audigy with live drive
zalman cpu cooller
MSI 52x cd rom
msi 52x24x52 cdrw
off brand dvdrom
altec lansing 4.1 w/sub
nec acucusync 125f

 

[agissi]

Originally posted by XtR-X
I'm very dissapointed... in myself.

I've learned an extremely valueable lesson... never run accross your carpet with your video card to show a friend.

Completely... staticly charged the card.

OH NO That better not have been your new 9700 Do you know if it works or not?? Man...Oh man.....Thats gotta suck if it doesnt, I feel for ya.

 

[XtR-X]

Yes, I posted it here because it was the 9700 Pro that I never got to fully test out. I got an RMA and am shipping it back today. unch:

 

[agissi]

Wow, you can do an RMA just like that? I'd never think of an RMA, I'd just go buy a knew one I never even knew about this RMA stuff..so what do you do, call them up, say what happened and get yourself a new card just like that?

I wouldnt think they'd give you a new one considering what happened.

 

[XtR-X]

From newegg, just click on the Request RMA, give em a little info, they give you a number, you ship the part(s) back and make sure you write the RMA number on the outside of the box.

That simple, I thought it would be tougher, but it's easy and this is my first RMA.

Of course, I didn't say that I statically charged my card, I just said that it's defective.

Plus, they've got alot of RMAs for messed up 9700 pros.

 

[agissi]

Plus, they've got alot of RMAs for messed up 9700 pros.

True, true...Nice one