Missing/Weird Textures on Sapphire 9800 Pro

NosferatuNosferatu Arizona
edited November 2003 in Hardware
Hello,

I recently bought a Sapphire 9800 Pro from NewEgg. 3DMark2001SE and 3DMark2003 worked fine. ~14,800 in 2001se, and ~4,750 in 2003. I didn't notice any texture problems during the tests, but then again I didn't watch 100% of them.

Anyway, I went to test out Counter-Strike and found some missing textures on de_aztec. Mainly on the edge of the stairs at CT spawn or ramps leading out of the water.

Ignore the image quality since I used 50% JPEG compression to conserve bandwidth. I haven't tried it on any other maps, but it seems to be only this texture on aztec. It happens on all the ramps where the texture is placed... i don't see any other textures doing it. I'm using the latest Catalyst 3.9's.

Is this a problem with the card, drivers, or something else? This card is a refurb./oem! Is it unfixable and would it be best just to return it and buy a retail (or just simply OEM, non-refurbished card?). I also know that the PCB is a carry over from the 9700 Pro. Is this bad, is there a noticeable performance difference between the 9700 Pro PCB and 9800 Pro PCB (red?).

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • madmatmadmat
    edited November 2003
    I would say that it's a texture problem with either the map or the drivers.
    I've had similar problems with maps on CS that weren't stock maps especially when using DX textures instead of OpenGL.
    I'm running against the grain with the rest of the site and using an FX 5900U but I'm going out on a limb and betting that you're having a similar problem.
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited November 2003
    Try installing the Catalyst 3.7 series of drivers to see if that clears things up. It may be a problem of corrupted video drivers... or it could very possibly be the texture problem outlined by MadMat.

    Before blaming the hardware though, I'd definately re-install display drivers.

    You will want to follow this guide to removing and installing ATI Display Drivers: Rage3D FoolProof ATI Driver Uninstallation/Installation Guide
  • NosferatuNosferatu Arizona
    edited November 2003
    Hmm, 3.7 fixed it but... adjusting the vsync setting brought it back. It seems almost random. Also, what's up with the vsync bug? I have it set to always off for OpenGL. However, when I ESC out of HL/CS then come back into the game, instead of 100fps its back to 60fps... like vsync is on. Also, it's a royal pain to alt+tab, windows key, esc, etc. out of HL/CS and get back into it. Have the Cat's always had these problems? Nvidia drivers seem to have no real problem with it except for the mouse cursor showing after... and that's fixed by a simple esc->resume.

    I'm using 3.9's now and the vsync bug still exists... and the missing texture one seems to happen somtimes. I can't track down exactly what's causing it though...

    :banghead:
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    probably the drivers. You could (if you wanted to) reformat and reinstall with the catalyst 3.7s, to be sure that you've removed any and all traces of the 3.9s. I've had problems with the 3.9s in multiple games, so...

    Other than that, It seems like a minor problem to me (at least judging by the few shots I looked at), so I'd just live with it until ATi updates the drivers.
  • NosferatuNosferatu Arizona
    edited November 2003
    Well, it's happened in both 3.7's and 3.9's.

    The videocards i've owned in the past are:

    - 3DFX Voodoo4 4500 PCI (32MB)
    - Nvidia GeForce4 Ti4200 (128MB)
    - ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB)


    So i'm not a fan boy of anyone. However, from what i've seen now my GeForce4 has had no problems at all. Would any of you recommend me simply not being cheap and laying down the cash for a retail 9800 Pro or 9800XT? I need to make a decision quick since I've got 14 days now to return it to newegg for a refund. I don't really want to go for the GeForceFX 5950 since it hasn't got too many good reviews, plus some say it's still pretty loud.

    What would you guys recommend? Formatting is out of the question... I've got way too much data to back up. A format for the simple purpose of installing a videocard doesn't outweigh the time it would take.

    Thanks in advance.

    P.S. Other Radeon 9800 Pro owners: Can you alt+tab or hit windows key to get out of CS/HL to the desktop, then get back into the game without any problems... and still have 100fps? Is anyone having the same problems as me?

    Like I said before, I know this card is a little different from other 9800 Pro's in that it uses the 9700 Pro PCB as well as an admittedly ****ty cooling solution. Added to that it's a refurbished one that came OEM barebone. Newegg's "refurbished" cards are basically their open-box returns that aren't tested, but put right back up for sale as "refurbished".
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    You could try a new card, although I don't think it'll matter. Have you overclocked the current card (I didn't see any mention of it)?

    If so, back it back down to stock.

    IF you get a 9800XT, I'd get the ASUS one. Having dealt with both ATi's and ASUS's tech/RMA departments, ASUS's is far better, and the HSF on the ASUS card appears to be better to me, anyhow.
  • NosferatuNosferatu Arizona
    edited November 2003
    Nope, haven't OC'ed it at all. My GF4 Ti4200 is an Asus, i've had no problems with it... but that probably doesn't have much to do with Asus at all.

    It just seems like the drivers are buggy, but I've read they have gotten quite good... so i'm confused. The main game I play is CS right now... so its the most important to have working well. However, I also play Q3A and America's Army... i'll also probably buy Halo for PC and UT2003 once I get a good card that's working w/o major issues. I do consider the 60fps bug, not being able to alt+tab, windows key, esc, etc. out of CS/HL a major issue FYI.. it might seem like i'm blowing it out of proportion but when you play CS for a few hours each day, that type of bug gets old very, very, quick. :(

    Also... i've noticed some people claim "Built by ATI" cards are better... what's the story with this? Just manufacturer pride with nothing behind it?

    The card seems to work fine with CS 1.6/Steam from what i've tested, 1.5 has the "60fps" bug and you get back into the game once focus is lost from the CS window. :scratch:


    I'm leaning towards the PowerColor Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB right now. I've read they follow ATI's specs set for the card very, very, closely so the card is rock solid. I know this cannot be said for the 9800Pro. I have now since it doesn't even use the "right" PCB!
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited November 2003
    What do you mean 60fps bug? From when you alt+ tab and then come back in does it turn vsync back on? Give the Catalyst 3.5-3.6's a try. Back when i used to play cs on my Radeon 9700 NP they used to run cs perfect.

    al
  • NosferatuNosferatu Arizona
    edited November 2003
    Al_Capown had this to say
    From when you alt+ tab and then come back in does it turn vsync back on?

    Yup, exactly. :banghead:

    I'm even closer to returning the card now. It came clocked WELL below stock 9800 Pro. speeds. I set it to the correct speeds and the benchmarks improved a lot.

    15,699 - 2001se
    5,417 - 2003

    However, it's giving me weird crap (artifacts?) in AA:O when in the plane doing the "live jump" as training.

    I think I'll just buy a PowerColor 9800 Pro from AllStarShop. Probably not newegg as they say you can only take a replacement for that card, and no returns. I'd rather pay $30 extra and have the piece of mind if the drivers were a problem with my system, rather than the card, I can return it for my money back. :hrm:
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    Return it. Don't buy a Powercolor. I've heard their tech support is crap.
  • NosferatuNosferatu Arizona
    edited November 2003
    Geeky1 had this to say
    Return it. Don't buy a Powercolor. I've heard their tech support is crap.

    How's ATI's? Asus started producing Radeon's starting with the 9800XT correct?
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    ATI's tech support is some of the worst I've ever dealt with. The only time I've ever recieved a response is when I needed to RMA something.

    Their RMA department is OK though.

    ASUS's tech support & RMA dept. is great. I've never had a problem with them. And they started producing ATi-based cards when the XTs came out, yes, but they produce cards all the way down to a 9100/9200 (can't remember which).
  • NosferatuNosferatu Arizona
    edited November 2003
    Ah crap, looked at their site and they don't have a 9800 Pro. :-/ I can't justify paying $500 for a videocard although its tempting. :werr:

    I ended up fixing the texture problem by playing with some driver settings. :hrm:

    Card works fine now. I figured out the weird alt+tab/esc bug only happened when I started a CS game by running from a shortcut and going through all the menus to start a LAN server. When I joined through HLSW, no problems... could alt+tab out with no issues. Odd.. but I don't think it's specific to this card. I have a feeling its more of a HL issue. Steam works fine even when starting a LAN server after launching from a shortcut.
Sign In or Register to comment.