X1950XT, artefacts and VPU Recovery

[MasterBlaster76]

Hi all. I've recently started playing Team Fortress 2, but it keeps dropping out with the VPU Recovery message (there are also artifacts in game). The only other game this happened with was Mass Effect (but that was fixed with a patch). Some people have suggested turning off VPU Recovery - is that safe, or will it force the card to continue working when it shouldn't? My GPU's temperatures are fine though, so it isn't overheating that's causing the problem.

This never happened with Nvidia, not once. No artifacts either. When I get a new GPU, I'll be going back with Nvidia! This isn't the only issue I've had with this card either.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Edit: I am getting minor artifacts in other games, but not as bad as TF2, and no VPU Recovery message either.

Edit: Tried reinstalling CCC and ATI Display drivers, now I'm getting this message:


Could not load file or assembly 'CLI Implementation' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.'

I've installed drivers before many times, without this happening, so it's unlikely to be something I've done.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

On the plus side, I'm not getting VPU Recovery message anymore, but that must be because CCC isn't working properly? Still getting loads of artefacts with TF2, will try different game now to see if it's better. If it is, then there's some sort of conflict between my GPU + TF2.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

No one? I played HL2 and only noticed one artifact in quite a lengthy session! But with TF2, they're popping up all over the place.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Can't anyone help?? I'm getting heavy artefacts in other games now, but the temperatures aren't going that high under heavy load: 85-89 degrees, which is warm, but reasonably safe isn't it?

 

[The_gas]

VPU can actually be very handy. Most times, if your graphics card/driver is crashing vpu recover can kick in and prevent you having to restart windows.

It sounds as if the card is on the way out, but just try these steps first.

Uninstall all ati drivers
download drive cleaner pro from 3dguru
run it, check all ati boxes
restart
install ati cat 8.12

Do the artifacts still occur?

If so its probably best to RMA the card, either that or buy a new one, maybe a directx 10.1 card like a ATI HD4850. Best price vs performance card around, in PC world at ?120.

Im waiting for enough money to oder a new card myself, as one of mine died a few days ago. Ill be sellig my other card maybe on ebay for around ?40-50 plus delivery. It will be a massive step up for you compared to that card. And its much cheaper than buying a new one, let me know if your interested. 2900xt 512mb.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

VPU can actually be very handy. Most times, if your graphics card/driver is crashing vpu recover can kick in and prevent you having to restart windows.

It sounds as if the card is on the way out, but just try these steps first.

Uninstall all ati drivers
download drive cleaner pro from 3dguru
run it, check all ati boxes
restart
install ati cat 8.12

Do the artifacts still occur?

If so its probably best to RMA the card, either that or buy a new one, maybe a directx 10.1 card like a ATI HD4850. Best price vs performance card around, in PC world at ?120.

Im waiting for enough money to oder a new card myself, as one of mine died a few days ago. Ill be sellig my other card maybe on ebay for around ?40-50 plus delivery. It will be a massive step up for you compared to that card. And its much cheaper than buying a new one, let me know if your interested. 2900xt 512mb.

Thanks for your help mate. So, if I buy a new card - a more powerful one - will it have to work less hard to produce the same results that the X1950XT does, leading to cooler temperatures? I think I'll go back to Nvidia: I've never had a single problem with any of their cards and I've had quite a few. ?120 isn't a bad price at all: could you suggest me an Nvidia DX10 in that price range, preferably one that runs reasonably cool?

 

[The_gas]

Thanks for your help mate. So, if I buy a new card - a more powerful one - will it have to work less hard to produce the same results that the X1950XT does, leading to cooler temperatures? I think I'll go back to Nvidia: I've never had a single problem with any of their cards and I've had quite a few. ?120 isn't a bad price at all: could you suggest me an Nvidia DX10 in that price range, preferably one that runs reasonably cool?

Erm, I'm not an expert with Nvidia cards. In terms of price, ?120 won't buy you as good a card as the 4850, here is what i found for ?120 from Nvidia.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-172-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1009

If you are willing to spend more, you can get a better card for your money from Nvidia.

I have bought from overclockers before, and can highly recommend them for reliability.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

I dunno about Pounds, but the radeon 4850 for $190 is very powerful.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I dunno about Pounds, but the radeon 4850 for $190 is very powerful.

I want to go Nvidia though, I've had around four cards from them, no problems at all (I didn't even know what an artifact looked like - other than one from Indiana Jones or something), but with my first ATI card? Nothing but problems. And just as I've discovered Team Fortress 2, I can't even bloody play it because this stupid card decides to prematurely pack up on me (or at least keep dropping me out/covering screen with artifacts - cost me a few super headshots last night).

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Well unless you're willing to shell out for something like the GTX 280, the team green simply isn't very competetive in the mid range atm.

However, you can get the 9800GTX from nVidia for around the same price as the 4850, and around the same performance. Its a generation old, but who cares when it has the power.

 

[The_gas]

Best price i have found on a gtx is ?170, so just an extra ?50. Its not as powerful as the 4850, but its still a step up from what you have.

You will need two 6 pin adapters from your psu to power the gtx, not sure if it will come with those maybe Kshits knows that answer?

It is required to have a mininum psu of 500w, but 600w is recomended.

The 4850 needs 450 Watt or greater power supply with one 6-pin power connector recommended.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Best price i have found on a gtx is ?170, so just an extra ?50. Its not as powerful as the 4850, but its still a step up from what you have.

You will need two 6 pin adapters from your psu to power the gtx, not sure if it will come with those maybe Kshits knows that answer?

It is required to have a mininum psu of 500w, but 600w is recomended.

The 4850 needs 450 Watt or greater power supply with one 6-pin power connector recommended.

Is connecting it less complicated than it sounds?

 

[The_gas]

Is connecting it less complicated than it sounds?

No idea mate, you will need two 6 pin adapters to power it though, check your psu.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Well unless you're willing to shell out for something like the GTX 280, the team green simply isn't very competetive in the mid range atm.

However, you can get the 9800GTX from nVidia for around the same price as the 4850, and around the same performance. Its a generation old, but who cares when it has the power.

Would I be better off sticking with ATI then, since I don't want to go much above ?120?

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Yeah AMD / ATI is basically dominating the mid range market scene atm.