Video Card Issue, HIS ATI Radeon X1650 Pro, AGP 8x

Sup guys.

So, I built this comp in mid 04' and had installed an ATI Radeon 9550 AGP video card in it. Now, my system worked great, real great, for a good while until it got a hold of a virus that fucked the whole thing up. I ended it's processes and what not and hunted it down and manually removed the damn thing (I believe I even posted the ordeal on here, which means I've been coming to this site for too long since that seems like forever ago. ) And then I kept getting an error message every time I logged into windows telling me some video file could not be found. So I tried reinstalling the drivers and whatnot and ended up shutting my display adapter off, (the backup one or whatever), and lost my screen. Tried a fuckload of shit to get it back on with no avail, including removing and replacing the card, etc. etc. Sent it to a tech to try and save my shit on my HDD (instead of wiping it myself), and they had to wipe it anyway and sent it back to me... broken. Ever since I got it back my computer was slower, it got faster if I did a restart after the initial boot-up, but it was still not as fast as it was before and was much more glitchy. My video card driver always had problems, but the one from the software CD for my card was always my best bet, any updated drivers simply made the problems worse. Many games fucked up and crashed, others worked but not nearly as smoothly as they should have. Many are games I should have been able to play on max settings with no troubles whatsoever. So anyway, I still have this card and finally got around to getting an update, feeling my problems would finally be solved and hopefully have my speed restored. My computer is currently struggling to run correctly with a new card, and now I feel as though my problems with my old card may have been unrelated to the card itself.

Now, for the part I am actually looking for support with. I got a new AGP 8X/4x (backwards compatible) HIS ATI Radeon X1650 Pro Video card for my aging AGP system. I first installed my new 500W PSU and my new HDD, and ran them both and tested everything with great success. The new PSU was a good deal, for $20 from Newegg, so I went with it and decided on this new card, since I would now meet the power requirements I wouldn't have with my prior 300W PSU.
I put this sucker in, and everything went smooth, no troubles getting it in, even with it's large size (two PCI slots in size, large heatsink/fanshroud/fan. Needs external power, plugged in nicely, no issues). I had already uninstalled previous display drivers and everything, before putting this card in. I logged onto windows and put the software CD in, installed the display driver + Catalyst contol panel and restarted. Things seemed to work alright, but I was a bit skeptical, because I expected some of my previous speed to be restored, when it wasn't. I changed a few settings and restarted.
When I did, I ended up with a horrid looking screen, with the smallest possible size, and a 4 bit color mode, that I could NOT change to anything else. Upon opening Catalyst Control, I noticed it would no longer even detect my display settings or that I even had a display, and I could not get it to. Restarting after that just led me right back to that every time. I uninstalled the drivers and my screen resolution and everything went back to normal, and changeable.
So I tried this on both HDD's, I tried using the most updated version of the drivers, I tried switching back to my old PSU despite it's incapability (restarted and froze alot, things you would expect from not having enough power, so I switched back), I've tried clearing my CMOS, and I tried changing BIOS settings and altering the AGP aperture size (tried 256, 128, and 64. Any smaller and I might as well not have a new card), I tried updating my BIOS to the lasted version (My BIOS has always needed to be updated, because my CPU didn't support the old version, though it never gave me any problems, except when my video card would fuck up and Microsoft would try to tell me that that was the problem, obviously it wasn't.) That seemed to help the speed by an almost unnoticeable amount, but the problem persisted. I also tried re-fitting the card (taking it out and putting it back in) a few times, as well as even blowing out the agp slot with an air compressor (checked to make sure there was 0 moisture before-hand, no worries). To no avail. I've tried numerous software things, such as installing only the latest .net framework updates (since the catalyst control panel requires 2.0 to be installed) on the new HDD without any other updates besides SP2 (needed for the latest framework) since the driver seemed to work better before updating. I tried changing various settings in the Catalyst control panel, I've tried doing all the updates (my other HDD is fully-updated anyway and it does it to both of them) on the new HDD, to no avail. I've also tried just the adapter and had the problem happen, but it doesn't always do it right away like it usually does with the Catalyst control panel.
Also, when it fucks up and goes into 4 bit mode after a restart, if the control panel is installed, it will claim the current adapter version does not support the control panel version, despite the fact that they were installed together. Also, many times, it doesn't go to the 4 bit resolution, or at least not in the first few restarts like it normally will, before I uninstall it again. Instead, it will show little glitches and be fucky in different ways. One time it seemed to be working great until I got into windows and all of my icons were gone except for the ati ones. But they would appear in the start menu when scrolled over in a certain way, and also if you clicked them and dragged them, they would appear while dragging, but re-disappear when dropped.
This last time, on my new HDD, I have the drivers installed and they are working decent with just SP2 and the .net framework updates. BUT, the system was freezing and restarting, and I got it to stop by changing AGP speed to 4x instead of it's auto-detected 8x, when I had a chance to do so, before it restarted on me. I still lose if I run it that way, even if it runs fine. I don't know how well it would take a game either.

So I need some tips or advice if anyone has some. I don't want to RMA, because I just don't feel the card is the problem. While it actually could be, I still wonder about my old card and all the problems I have with that one. Because of that, I don't want to jump to the conclusion that the card is at fault, and get a replacement with the same problem. Anyone able to help me?

Here are the card's requirements:
450W PSU recommended to ensure normal system operation where a number of other devices are installed.
Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon, or compatible with AGP 8X (0.8V), 4X (1.5v) or universal agp 3.0 bus configuration (8X/4X) (2 free slot space)
256 MB of system memory, or more recommended.
Windows OS

My Current Specs:
500W PSU
Intel Celeron (My Mboard is meant for Pentium 4/Celeron, so I doubt the celeron has a compatibility issue.) Speed: 1.7 GHz
512 MB Corsair RAM
Windows XP
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MBoard - Soyo. Intel Pentium 4 (socket 478), DDR, Prescott CPU support, 533/800 mhz FSB, 8X AGP VGA Graphics slot.

Any other spec questions, let me know. I just mentioned the things I thought could be of use. (for instance, left out audio spec) I would greatly appreciate any help.

Ok, Mr Cool...............

A quigkie................ check the heatsink on the cpu - when it is cool........
l betsya there's no paste.


You'll doubt me.. l know. Zybch or one of the others will chip in.
l would guess that from the spread of symptoms that the chip is frying. Not dieing just overcooking.
Everything says memory timing errors the - mobo ram - could be screwed or the timings off but i guess you would have memtested.


Just an idle thought - you should be able to pick up a decent used 'upgrade' P4 cpu on Ebay for pennies and gain a worthwhile performance boost.

Actually I have a new motherboard sitting right in front of me. I got bills to pay right off the bat here on the beginning of the month, so I am holding off on the processor and RAM I'm going to be buying from Newegg. After having bought those and installing them and the motherboard with my new HDD, V-Card, and PSU, my computer will pretty much be a completely different computer. Perhaps it will work after my upgrade. I'll find out for sure soon, if not, then it's gotta be the card. The only thing I'll be re-using from my old comp will be the RAM + the new RAM, two different pin sets, but this motherboard has dual memory channels supporting both types. I'll try it without the old ram if it doesn't work first, obviously, but other than that it should work flawlessly after the upgrade.

Also, I know my CPU Heatsink has thermal paste on it for two reasons:
The first: I built the computer myself and I know for sure it had a thermal pad on it.
The second: After I cleaned my computer out a few months ago, I also cleaned the heat sink and fan for my CPU, and I thoroughly cleaned off all of the old thermal paste from the heat sink and the die, and then I applied Arctic Silver 5 on there CAREFULLY before putting it back together. I'm careful with that shit cause I know it has silver in it.

I honestly don't think my CPU heat is a problem at all, I do however, suspect it or the RAM, or the motherboard could have a problem of some manner.

I guess I really don't know. I'm not too good with computers, I know what I know, but I don't consider that to be much. I have an affinity for electronics in general, but I'm lacking in the knowledge department.

What I'll do, is simply tough it out until I get the new set up going, and I'll update you guys with what I find out. I appreciate the help.

Thermal pads are utter shite. Scrape that crap off and squirt on some silicone based stuff (if you're poor) or AS5 (if you're not).

Been awhile. After my complete upgrade. My computer worked flawlessly. The end problem was actually my ram. My old ram was fucked up. My new motherboard actually wasn't able to have ddr and ddr II ram at the same time, (seems obvious why) so I just installed the new ram. My comp has been working flawless since the new mobo, ram, and cpu. Also, I suspected my old ram was the issue after I upgraded, so when I went to build my fiance a new computer out of some of my old one. (since hers was ANCIENT!), I bought her new ram, used my old cpu, psu, mobo, and video card, and installed the new ram. Works just fine. That proves it was my old ram. I'll know what to look out for next time.

One of the biggest issues I come across with RAM is that there are many people and companies selling 'high density' RAM which won't work in around 80% of motherboards out there.

Whenever I buy any DDR RAM I always specify Low Density.
Isn't an issue with DDR-II.