coloured squares (7900GT)

[ajay]

I'm getting loads of coloured squares in various games. When I run 3d mark 06 the sequence with the flying ship flashes all different colours but strangely the deep freeze runs perfectly.
Also I'm getting the same problem whenever smoke appears in Call of Duty 2. This game was shipped with the card!
I returned the card to Novatech but they said that it ran perfectly for them, even when they ran the 3d mark 06.
I have tried to register the card with XFX but the page seems to be unavailable.
If it's not the card what else could be causing this problem?

[GIBSON]

Messed up drivers. I recommend you delete the nvidia drivers. Run drivercleaner and then install the latest drivers for your card.

[Bio-Hazard]

I'll have to second the driver issue.......;) If it was one of the typical 7900 problems things would be much worse with video lock-up's and flashing screens requiring hard reboots.

[werty316]

What drivers are you using now? Try the latest on nVidia's website v91.47 (http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_91.47.html) or try the previous build v91.31 (http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_91.31.html) or the betas v91.33 (http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_downloads_winxp_2k_32bit_91.33.html).

[sikkony]

Does running different drivers help fix the artifact problem? I thought it was a hardware issue or does the newer drivers help the hardware issue?

[GIBSON]

Does running different drivers help fix the artifact problem? I thought it was a hardware issue or does the newer drivers help the hardware issue?
No, most likely something got corrupted in your drivers. You need to completely REMOVE them. That means removing them in the software control panel, and letting drivercleaner run. Afterwards install the latest drivers and you should be fine. Just installing the latest drivers without deleting the old ones will probably have no effect.

[sikkony]

No, most likely something got corrupted in your drivers. You need to completely REMOVE them. That means removing them in the software control panel, and letting drivercleaner run. Afterwards install the latest drivers and you should be fine. Just installing the latest drivers without deleting the old ones will probably have no effect.

I would not say those screenies are driver corruption, at least in my opinion. Clearly hardware fault.

[GIBSON]

I would not say those screenies are driver corruption, at least in my opinion. Clearly hardware fault.
No, I say 95% chance it are the drivers. Hence why when he returned the card they said they couldn't see any artifacting. You know why? Because the card is OK and the problem is on his comp.

[ajay]

Thanks for the replies,
I cleaned out the old drivers using driver cleaner and the graphics are vastly improved.
However I still have the odd patterning around.
In the first picture for instance if you look at the bottom panel where the fps are displayed there are some purple squares across it.
And in the second, should the water have all those squares on it?

[GIBSON]

Are you experiencing it in games as well? If not the problem might be in the 3dmark install.

[werty316]

One thing to check also is your videio card temps to make sure they are within a reasonable area.

[ajay]

The graphics chip is running at 43 deg.
I must say generally the graphics are a lot better but I still get random squares. For instance on the first pic which is GT Legends these squares only show up when I click the mouse button. Weird eh?
The second one is FS X which is only a demo so it might be a bit flakey. However these squares dont show up like this unless I make the weather rainy. The card is working harder under these conditions I suppose.

[Kougar]

Well, hopefully XFX Support will get to everyone tomorrow. :)

Ajay, if I may ask, what is the clock speeds on your card? I see artifacts like that on cards overclocked slightly beyond their limits, so I'm guessing you have one of those extreme factory overclocked model cards? If it's running at it's rated clock rates, then it appears to be a card that simply cannot handle the factory overclock, and you should get an RMA for one that can.

[ajay]

Well, hopefully XFX Support will get to everyone tomorrow. :)

Ajay, if I may ask, what is the clock speeds on your card? I see artifacts like that on cards overclocked slightly beyond their limits, so I'm guessing you have one of those extreme factory overclocked model cards? If it's running at it's rated clock rates, then it appears to be a card that simply cannot handle the factory overclock, and you should get an RMA for one that can.

I think it is a slightly faster version. How do I find out the exact figures? Can I slow it down to see if that makes a difference?
This still doesn't answer the point that Novatech tested it and couldn't find any fault.

edit: just looked on the site it's 520mhz core and 1500mhz memory

[Kougar]

Go to your display properties, click the advanced button, and the nVidia drivers should tell you the 2d and 3d clock speeds, 3d being the only one you are interested in. ;)

I forgot that Novatech tested it the card though. Did you make sure they tested for the artifacting, and not simply were testing to see if it worked?

By the way, what PSU are you running your rig on, and what is the processor? Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the affected games?

[xfxsupport]

Dear Ajay, This appears to be faulty memory and I recommend contacting the retailer for a replacement if you can. If that is not an option please contact our support team at www.Xfxforce.com => Support => Help Desk and submit a support ticket. You can reference this forum so that the technician can see the issues presented in your screenshots (excelent work I might add).

[ajay]

Dear Ajay, This appears to be faulty memory and I recommend contacting the retailer for a replacement if you can. If that is not an option please contact our support team at www.Xfxforce.com => Support => Help Desk and submit a support ticket. You can reference this forum so that the technician can see the issues presented in your screenshots (excelent work I might add). Curtis

Thanks for your reply, I am reluctant to send it back to Novatech as they have already assured me that it is not faulty.
This cost me £7.50 postage and I lost the use of my computer for a week.
Is it possible for you to OK the replacement with them or is it better for me to deal with support?
I would like to have a minimal down time as it feels like one of my arms has been cut off!

[ajay]

Dear Ajay, This appears to be faulty memory and I recommend contacting the retailer for a replacement if you can. If that is not an option please contact our support team at www.Xfxforce.com => Support => Help Desk and submit a support ticket. You can reference this forum so that the technician can see the issues presented in your screenshots (excelent work I might add). Curtis

I have just tried to register my card for support but get a page unavailable.
Is there some problem with the site?

[werty316]

Just try at another time as it works now.

[ajay]

Just try at another time as it works now.

Maybe it's the UK site but I'm still getting this

[werty316]

It worked fine for me. Try a different country.

[zachig]

Damn...what's happening to these 7900GTs!!! :confused: :???: That's another faulty 7900GT!!! I'm starting to be afraid that I might get a faulty 7900GT, as I'm currently waiting for the 2x7900GT SLI set from XFX (that I've won here at Bjorn3D).

I really hope that I'm not hysteric, and everthing will be fine with card when I'll get them.

Anyway, ajay, you should open a problem ticket in xfx site and I'm pretty sure XFX will help you out...:wink:

GOOD LUCK, then...:mrgreen:

[ajay]

I have loaded Coolbits and when it displays the clock speeds I get 520 Mhz core and 750 Mhz memory.
This card was sold as 520/1500.
Should these figures be displayed or is it right at 750?

And I still can't register the card at the XFX website.

[werty316]

750MHz is right as it is double pumped since it uses DDR memory for a total speed of 1500MHz(750MHz x 2 = 1500MHz ;))

[ajay]

Thanks werty, at least one thing's right :lol:

[xfxsupport]

Dear Ajay, Were you able to submit a support ticket? Please let us know. There may be some popup settings in your browser that may be hampering the page from loading. From the description of how you paid for the card I am assuming you are in the UK and if you are having difficulty in going through the local site please try changing to North American support. We can still assit you there and our support teams are linked so if we have to service the card we can connect you to the proper personnel.

[ajay]

Thank you for your concern. I have now managed to get a support ticket .
It seems that I was putting s/n in front of the number because that is how it is on the card. I now realise this is short for serial number and not part of the code.

I received was looks like the stock reply that any complaint gets on the 19 September. One of the things it said to try was graphic driver 91.29. I cannot find this on Nvidea's site and replied to that effect and since then there has been a deafening silence.

I have just tried my card at 450mhz memory and got this result.

[Kougar]

Please verify your OS matches this driver... ;) nVidia 91.29 forceware drivers (http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/NVIDIA/Nvidia-Forceware-9129.shtml)

Interesting pic... :shock:

[ajay]

Please verify your OS matches this driver... ;) nVidia 91.29 forceware drivers (http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/NVIDIA/Nvidia-Forceware-9129.shtml)

Interesting pic... :shock:

I was tempted to shoot him in the back right between the coloured squares.....

Just loaded 91.29, still getting odd patterns like for instance the background on this screen

[werty316]

I am all out of ideas but if you made a ticket just RMA the card.

Also if you want ot try download and run "Memtest" as it might be a heat problem with your memory but probably not. Not sure if this was mentioned yet but try another video card if you have one or can get one.