Radeon 8500

[max_payne_99]

I need a little help here. I am at my wits end. I have a Radeon 8500 64meg video card. My problem is that it likes to lock up my entire system when playing games with somewhat heavy graphics (ie. Motocross Madness 2, Need for Speed). I have the latest drivers, unless they updated in the last three days, and I am downloading Direct X 9. Is there anything that anyone can think of that would cause this, and possibly how to fix it?

[tlr online]

It sounds like a driver conflict. Reinstall DirectX9 (although I'm not sure the 8500 supports DX9.) Won't hurt to install either way.

[max_payne_99]

It does support DX9. Still downloading, though. Stupid bad connection. I hope I can get this card to work, before this particular game comes out... :D

[Bokkie]

Hi Deano, you can also try to download DirectX 9.0a (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A19BED22-0B25-4E5D-A584-6389D8A3DAD0&displaylang=en), it may help http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[max_payne_99]

Doing that as I type :D . I downloaded it from there and it didn't work :mad: , so now I am downloading the full 32 megger :rolleyes: .

[Highjinx]

The Radeon 8500 is a DirextX8.1 card not DirectX9. It cannot process do all the newer features Dx9 supports in hardware.

If it slows down with all the bell's and whistles on that's ok just lower the requirements some what, if it locks up fully, I would unstall the drivers including any old video drivers you may havbe on your system and reinstall them after a cold boot. Ensure all antivirus and cleansweep type utilities are disabled when installing the drivers.

[jaywalker]

Hows the cooling on your pc.. When you hit the graphics hard the heat in your pc will increase, in some cases very dramatically http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[max_payne_99]

Just sitting here it the temps are:

CPU: 119 F
CHA: 86 F

I don't know if these are low or high or normal or what.

[max_payne_99]

It's weird. I tweaked a few things and now it doesn't lock up as much, the graphics get really screwed up. The only times it has locked up since that is on the screen saver. :rolleyes:

[Highjinx]

What VPU & Mem clock speed are you running at. Could it be that you have overclocked them?, thus running into thermal problems as Jay has suggested.

The 8500 came in two flavors, the retail and the LE versions.

The retail card was clocked @ 276/275, where as the LE at 250/250. Is it possible that the vendor had clocked it higher?

[max_payne_99]

I really don't know. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

To be honest, I'm tired of screwing with it. I just put in an older card I had. :rolleyes:

[Highjinx]

Deano,that's a pity....your 8500 card is an excellent one. I have the 128mb Retail version(275/275) on a lowly P3 1Ghz with a 100mhz Fsb and it runs like a charm.I'm using the latest Catalyst 3.5 drivers. I've played RTCW at 1600x1200 with all the features turned on without a slowdown.

If you ever decide to reinstall it, try using Powerstrip....it will give you the option to run it at a slower speed, till you sort out the problem.

You can also disable "fastwrites" via the bios of your mother board.

[ 02. July 2003, 10:10: Message edited by: Highjinx ]

[max_payne_99]

Thanks for the tips. I'll probably try again sometime soon, depending on how well this card pushes AoD. I might wait for a couple more driver versions, though. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/bash.gif