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Problem - XPS 400 ATI X600 Hypermemory
I basically bought this computer only to play the higher end games coming out. (I'm a gamer to the core). I trusted ATI so I went with the ATI X600 Hypermemory card.
Currently I'm playing Everquest II. The first day I played it, it completely locked up and eventually I got some wierd looking binary type screen. I called tech support and they had me do a few tweeks, and it started running much better.
However it's been about week later, and now a whole new video problem has arisen. While playing EQ2, the graphics will lock up momentarily, but strangely enough I can move the mouse. The monitor will turn off, and about 10 to 15 seconds later, the game will pop right back on, like nothing happened. I've called tech support about this issue, but there's really only so much they can do.
In an effort not to give up, I did some research by looking up this issue on a google search. It turns out that ALOT of people that own this card are experiencing the same exact problem. Basically what is happening is that some glitch is causing the driver not to communicate correctly to the VPU, so there's a setting in the Catalyst to tell the vid card to "reset" which it does, causing my monitor to turn off and on.
If this is truly the case, then Dell has a nice little problem on their hands, because no driver out there from ATI fixes this problem. If anyone is experiencing something similar, chime on in.
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Posted December 24th, 2005 15:00
Actually your wrong. When checking out with my system it was the 2nd out of the 3 cards offered to me. The X800 was the best one I could have chosen. EQ2 is running with the 9600's, so I disagree with your assessment.Graphically when it runs, it performs very nice. The whole point is that there's a flaw with the driver on this particular card documented many times if you look out on the web.769
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Posted December 24th, 2005 19:00
Here are the current video choices for the XPS 400, and the same ones available when I purchased mine about 3 weeks ago:
128MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X300 SE HyperMemory [Included in Price]256MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X600 SE HyperMemory [add $40 or $1/month2]256MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800 [add $150 or $4/month2]Powerful graphics for games and other multimedia applications256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800 GTX [add $430 or $12/month2]Since the XPS 400 has only been out a short while, I doubt much has changed. I am very happy with the x600SE, but it is not the best choice for hard core gamer.
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Posted December 25th, 2005 04:00
Ok. Awesome. Your the man, but that information doesn't help me whatsoever.
The card. It has a problem. Here is one of many snipets on the web I read on this problem. http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/forum/drivers/15552-problem-ati-radeon-x600-series-display-driver.html It's important to note that this person plays an entire different game than me and has the same problem.
If anyone actually has something to contribute on a fix to this problem, can you please post it in this thread? Thank you!
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Posted December 26th, 2005 03:00
To DKI :With all due respect, you put yourself into a VERY awkward position on the forum claiming that you bought a computer "only to play the higher end games coming out" ... and that you are "a gamer to the core" ... and then concomitantly making mention of the x600 because you "trusted ATI", whatever that might mean. I'm sure your problem is frustrating you. But you have at once claimed to be all about off-road Hummers pimped-up to the nines while letting us know of your purchase of a Ford Focus with 15" wheels.So, if you are prepared to allow someone to assist with your misunderstanding, as well as help correct your problem, here goes:(1) You need to drop the Catalyst drivers altogether. Catalyst provides a cute little GUI for driver settings but gets no respect, and lots of bashing, as a base driver system.(2) You need to install a tried and true ATI Radeon driver control panel (MINUS Catalyst) from an older driver base such as Catalyst 5.5 . Note you will not be grabbing the Catalyst version of this, despite the name.(3) I am encouraging you to download the 26.0 MB version of the Windows XP driver 5.5 from ATI. Dated 05/17/2005. I would include a link but ATI doesn't store their drivers in neat hyperlinks. Just go ATI.com and use the left pane to expand to Drivers&Software/WindowsXP/Radeon/PreviousDrivers.(4) Don't bother to do any of the above unless you are going to uninstall, clean out, and start fresh with a Radeon-to-Radeon driver changeover in the proper way. This would involve some prep, including using Driver Cleaner Pro v1.2 (free), being physically disconnected from the internet, operating some of the time in Windows Safe Mode, and temporarily disabling any and all antivirus/protection monitoring software.(5) I frequently publish in these forums the steps required for (4) above, it's less than 20 steps, and not painful, but users report a very high success rate in using these steps. Ask here in this thread if you want me to publish the steps for your diagnostic switchout of drivers.There may very well be a problem with the card, but as you surmise, it is likely a problem with the drivers. The only way you will ever know for sure is to take control of the driver system on your machine.769
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Posted December 27th, 2005 06:00
Don't let the door hit you in the ...769
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Posted December 27th, 2005 13:00
Can't agree more CTskydiver ...
This guy didn't want to accept help from anyone (read his replies above, to anyone who responsed). I don't know why such posters bother to ask a question, if they already know everything. :-)
Note also his claim of a "universal problem with MMORPGs" -- he hasn't read the release notes on successuve ATI drivers obviously.
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Posted December 27th, 2005 14:00
*sigh*.....Your avatar says it all..
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-tech-support&t=493050&p=1&tmp=1#post493050
http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=tech_support&message.id=103976
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=Techsupport&message.id=270989
The Catalyst 5.1 and 5.2 drivers fix the problem, however you lose performance graphically. However it's still a fix, so people who play these games will just have to grin and bear it for now.
Well let's see how much flaming the new post will bring...
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Posted December 27th, 2005 16:00
sorry I cant answer your question about the driver except to repeat what the other poster said about using an older driver. which you agreed with, and then argued with (scratching head,hmm). anyway I felt compiled to let you know that the only violation of forum rules in this thread has ocurred in your post - what you wrote above after the word 'Umm,'. You'll do best to make sure you are signed in, then use the 'Edit this Post' dropdown menu to edit out your comment there. Other wise you run risk of having your account bannished.
You can use the same edit function to delete any other embarasing comments, also. But it only works for what you have written.
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Posted December 27th, 2005 19:00
Well let's see how much flaming the new post will bring...nicely put.
Its a shame to see some of the best technical minds in this field shooting barbs at each other. On the other hand, I for one am hopeing these great resources keep helping us not so advanced users. Please keep up the great work folks.
yatesd
30 Posts
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Posted December 24th, 2005 12:00
I have the x600SE in my XPS 400 and it ran the demo version of Need for Speed Most Wanted flawlessly.
That being said, it is my understanding that the x600SE is a very basic video card for games. That is why the price is so low. When you bought the system there were two or three much more expensive options that would have catered to hard core gamers.
As for me, I bought the computer for video editing, some business use, and figured my wife would let me buy at least one cool game. So far I have been happy.