Graphics Card (or drivers) issue. ATI 4870

[FortuneSmiles]

right - I only have one card so the hotfix would not apply. I have noticed something that seems to be fairly consistent. Many of the issues seem to be tied to going into power saver mode. This often happens immediately on attempting to do something like installing a program, switching users etc. Much of the time I see the "entering power saver mode" message on my screen and I can sometimes bring it out only to have it re-enter immediately. On other occasions I just go straight to black. I can usually distinguish whether I can bring it out or not by whether the backlighting on my Saitek Eclipse II usb keyboard has gone out. When the backlighting is out - I can't bring the pc out of power saver mode (or whatever state it is in) when it's still lit I often can. Last night I had it go black right at the point of reboot for a system restore. It did not reboot - just hung there with a black screen (and keyboard backlighting off) until I hit the case reset button. This kind of thing happens alot.

 

[sygnus21]

There's a lot that has to be right for power saving mode to work correctly, including drivers. I also believe there's something in ATI's drivers that hinder power saving mode, though for me, nothing drastic. I just get warnings that my drivers has caused a problem with power saving mode. And I only see that message when I look into my event logs. At any rate, I've turned mine off, for now.

But yeah, drivers need to support Power Saving Mode (PSM). Sometimes I think this is the last thing that's looked at during a driver release. I had PSM issues using Logitech's mouse/keyboard drivers as well.

 

[FortuneSmiles]

I've turned power saver mode off and it still happens.

 

[razorhasyou]

Hi!
I got the exactly same problem as you. The only thing that works for me is to use a driver <8.9

Download the 8.8 from this place and let me know if it works
Catalyst™ 8.8 Display Driver for Windows Vista (64 bit)

 

[zeromaster]

check you bios settings see what your pci latency timer is set too see if you can lower it. also if you have a mps table version setting in your bios make sure its set correctly i have seen the issue on my 4870 and resolved them simply with some bios adjustments. Ati's drivers are kinda crap right now. But on the bright side ati is pretty good at rolling out newer driver versions quickly unlike nvidia and there lack of much updating at all. configured correctly the 4870 is an awesome card but id bet your issue is in the bios and simply a setting

 

[sygnus21]

check you bios settings see what your pci latency timer is set too see if you can lower it. also if you have a mps table version setting in your bios make sure its set correctly i have seen the issue on my 4870 and resolved them simply with some bios adjustments.

configured correctly the 4870 is an awesome card but id bet your issue is in the bios and simply a setting

Could you be a little more specific?

I've never seen where the PCI latency timer had to be adjusted with regards to video cards. In fact done wrong, the results could lead to incorrect timings for the whole system. So please explain. Also, what's mps table version setting?

Thanks

 

[zeromaster]

check you bios settings see what your pci latency timer is set too see if you can lower it. also if you have a mps table version setting in your bios make sure its set correctly i have seen the issue on my 4870 and resolved them simply with some bios adjustments.

configured correctly the 4870 is an awesome card but id bet your issue is in the bios and simply a setting

Could you be a little more specific?

I've never seen where the PCI latency timer had to be adjusted with regards to video cards. In fact done wrong, the results could lead to incorrect timings for the whole system. So please explain. Also, what's mps table version setting?

Thanks

Your correct pci latency really shouldnt be messed with but if by default its set higher than it should be youll get a black screen with a 4870 i did just messing around with it

as for mps table version setting it stands for multi processor specification.
I was puzzled on this too when i first saw it my options give me disabled 1.1 and 1.4 but thething is if not set to the correct one you will get things like stopping at the windows starting bar and locking up and thing like not booting at all i had to try all three settings just to get windows to boot. although I found the setting to be frustrating i eventually set to 1.4 and all started ok set to 1.1 i got lock on boot and a general freeze during the bios run through when disabled

 

[FortuneSmiles]

Thanks - I'll give it a try. I have a pretty good Gigabyte mobo with a tweaking tool. I have a good quad chip and 4gb ddr3 1600 ram.

 

[jaggerwild]

Sorry not to highjack this thread,

But have the same issues, after a reboot Vista wants to re-install its own drivers(this is after it has been running normal/good). I have 4870X2 Vista home basic 64bit. This is my second set of ATI cards I will not be sending them my money again!!! Nvidia may be dummied down but there problems are far less also less frequent.
I have done over ten install from XP SP3 32bit to Vista SP1 64bit, I've installed drivers so many times my head spins. Everything from 8.8's and up, I also use driver sweeper to make sure it is a clean clean of the old drivers in safe mode. Then boot normal for new ones, still the same bull**** over and over /Rant.

 

[sygnus21]

@ jaggerwild,

Could you be a little more specific about your problem? Are you doing crossfire with two 4870x2’s? Are you overclocking? It would also help if you "completely" filled out your system specs; like how much RAM, MB model#. Every little bit helps.

Things to do –

BIOS update for MB?
.NET installed?
Install Catalyst drivers using custom install
Turn off Anti-Virus scanner

 

[jaggerwild]

Yes I have net frame work fer get witch version(windows and Vista) also java, also two cards(or)one no matter still errors out.I have sent one back thinking it was the problem they found nothing . Latest direct X drivers.

4gigs of G-skill two sticks 1100 mhz also tried 4 gigs 1088 of dominators, MB is a gigabyte-X48-DQ6 Bios F8a. I don't use anti virus and yes I overclock but even a fresh install none overclocked everything updated the the drivers installed after all else (they don't even load properly) had these cards not cost so much I would have tossed them out a window by now(I got some anger issues cause of this) . I know I do not know it all but do highly overclock as this is my hobby, I know the risks. I do have water blocks for these cards but as yet do not want to install them.I have two different cards one is a Radeon 4870X2 and the other is a Visiontech 4870X2(can't see if this could cause it)? I have tried the top drivers ferget who makes them.
Need more let me know and thank you for the offer to help me, as ATI seems content to just make money not care for thier customers........./Rant:D

 

[sygnus21]

ATI's crossfire has issues no doubt about that. Have you tried to load loading up the drivers with just one card installed and does it work? Also what exactly is the issue you're having? What error do you get when trying to install the drivers? Can you post a screen shot of error(s)?

Thanks

 

[jaggerwild]

Yes,
I've tried both. I was getting bad corruption so as of right now only using one card (RMA-ing the other) the kid I bought it through tested it out on his system and said it worked fine? I had corruption every where with it in the lead position, as of right now when rebooting or booting I get a display device drivers missing?

Only thing other that I missed is my 42' LCD HD TV I'm using(Insignia/Best Buy) I have tried using it in regular mode or with the dongle that comes with it for HDTV(using this now). Also my build is a naked build, no case just water pumps and mother board, ETC.... I tried grounding everything with a wire.

Right now I have three OS'S two VISTA 64 HB and one XP/32/SP2 none seems to make a difference. I had 3870X2 in CF-X no problems (except a normal little things/not like this) they had water blocks on them.
I've also tried using a second PSU to see if this was an issue as two cards plus everything else seems a lot, in this respect only thing I could see causing it would be my current PSU has 5 12v rails, but the second unit made no difference. I do thank you all And PLEASE FEEL FREE to ask me any questions even if they are basic and could seem as I should know them...........
THANK YOU!!!

 

[sygnus21]

Have a look at this post - Rage3D Discussion Area - View Single Post - Catalyst 8.12 Discussion Thread

Read the entire thread here - Catalyst 8.12 Discussion Thread - Rage3D Discussion Area

Other then that, i'm out of suggestions for now.

Good luck

 

[jaggerwild]

OK,
I'll read up on it seems like a lot of BS with these drivers. So I'm clear the issue I have is an error that begins with vista login " Display device disabled" something about incompatible drivers. also their is a yellow triangle next to the primary display device in system/device manager.
In XP no CCC at all, sorry for writing the books the last two postings but was trying to give as much info as possible.
Thank you again!
Keep any and all ideals coming! I like this forum and have found a lot of info from it, this is why I joined (always wanting to learn new stuff) I have learned a little binary/Hexadecimal numbers as my work uses it sometimes.

 

[FortuneSmiles]

OK. I finally got my computer mfg to respond to tech calls. CyberPower PC has horrendous tech support. They never answer and you can only leave messages - which they do not respond to. 4 weeks and nearly a dozen phone messages and three e-mail messages later they called me back and suggesting that I probably have a bad video card. So they set up an RMA and sent me a new Sapphire HD4870 w/512mb DDR5 to replace the H.I.S. version of the same card. I removed the drivers and then tested. My test is to try and launch Windows Media Center. Any attempts to launch this program with the graphics drivers installed and resolution set at 1920x1200 (that of my Dell monitor) sends me straight to what appears to be hibernation of some type (black screen, backlighting is my keyboard goes dark). Whatever it is I can't bring it out without a hard reboot. In any case - the test had Windows Media Center working again with the drivers removed. In then shut down, removed the H.I.S. card, installed the Sapphire card, rebooted and installed the new 9.1 drivers as downloaded from the Sapphire website. I then tried to launch Windows Media Center and got the same black screen hibernation state as with the other card. Looks like it's not the card.
Other things that sometimes send me to this hibernation state include:
- Attempts to do anything that requires the admin password
- switching users (occasionally)
- logging off (occasionally)
- the system being idle for some time
and others.
What else could possibly be the cause of this?

 

[sygnus21]

Can you fill out "My System Specs"? I know you have them in the first post, but... and it would be a lot easier for eveyone else.

Now...can you try a different resolution to see if you get the same issue? If not... have you tried finding drivers for your monitor?

 

[jaggerwild]

Also,
Can you try to hard boot the monitor Fortune? I also reset mine by unplugging it then replugging it. In the device management program are you getting error code 43?
Especially list the power supply here as it does make the difference, I have sense started posting over at AMD forums...... Not that it helps but I feel better!

 

[sygnus21]

I have sense started posting over at AMD forums...... Not that it helps but I feel better!

CATALYST Drivers - Rage3D Discussion Area - maybe this will help you feel a lot better :D

The AMD forums are slow compared to Rage3D

 

[Techymike]

Pull the video card, uninstall all the software related to the video card and in bios set up for the on board video if the Motherboard has that. If it does not have on board video then disregard this note. If the system works without the video card then the problem lies with the driver for the video card. If everything does not works with out the video card then you have a motherboard problem. Seeing how you are under warranty, perhaps letting them solve the problem would be less headache for you. There are known issues with ATI that they are trying to work out. The example of this is the sytem cooling fan selection in 8.12 as the 4870x2 has this fixed yet the other models do not work correctly for the fan in over clocking. THis might be another problem in the way ATI has set up the Catalyst.