Problem installing 7950GT PCI-E

[Trevor]

Current Specs:
CPU: AMD X2 3800+
GPU: GeForce 7600GT 512MB
PSU: Generic 420W (came with case)
HDD: Generic 300GB
M/B: GA-M55SLI-S4
RAM: 2x1GB Corsair Value Select

I bought this 7950GT from Here(newegg link) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143090) see no reason it shouldn't work with my M/B, but when I install it, it has a power connector (my 7600 does not) and I was a little unsure of what to do with it, since the 6-pin end fit into the GFX card, and it has two 4-pin ends. So I plugged on the the 4-pins into an extra power connector I had hanging off my Disk Drives cords, and boot my PC up. But the screen is all messed up. I can see on the first boot screen where it normally shows the memory stats for my 7600 that it now shows the proper things for this 7950. BUT since the screen isn't working properly, something has to be wrong.

I can load all the way into windows and I figured I try to install the drivers that came on the disk with the card, but when its almost done (maybe it is done :Q) my monitor loses the signal or something...

Any Ideas as to what the problem might be ? I'll try posting a pic of it soon.

[Trevor]

Anyone have any ideas ?

[wyz135]

Try connecting the VGA-cable properly, this once happen to me, I spent the whole day to dismantle my Computer and built it back and I realise I didn't connect the VGA-cable properly. If this way won't work, I think is the Graphic Card problem, a 420W power supply should be no problem.

[Trevor]

Well I don't see how I could've connected the vga cable wrongly. But that is the first thing that came to mind when I saw the screen.

But i'll try it again and post back.

*edit:
Nope, made sure everything was plugged in correctly, including the VGA->DVI connector from my monitor. Still getting bad signal >.> :(

[Mike]

I'm not exactly sure what you're problem is...can you post a picture of the screen?

[Trevor]

Heres some pics...

Pic 1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/drac2gunz/BadView5.jpg)
Pic 2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/drac2gunz/BadView4.jpg)
Pic 3 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/drac2gunz/BadView3.jpg)
Pic 4 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/drac2gunz/BadView2.jpg)

oh and I just installed a new OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU, which has 2 dedicated PCI-E power cables. So that is what Im using now.

[Radiator]

Hmm... it worked fine before you installed the drivers , right ?
Uninstall the drivers and download the newest ones from www.nvidia.com .

[Trevor]

Hmm... it worked fine before you installed the drivers , right ?
Uninstall the drivers and download the newest ones from www.nvidia.com .

The 7950 I got has yet to work... correctly atleast. My system obviously recognizes it, but I'm stumped as to why the screen is messed up... Cords are all connected properly, unistalled drivers, etc.

[Radiator]

You said you installed drivers from the disc . Try installing the newest drivers for your video card .

[Trevor]

Well I tried it all, read tons of guides. After contacting the e-mail support for BFG, they said to RMA it, so its on its way to them. Hopefully my next one will work :Q

[Radiator]

It might have been a faulty card , so the new one should work .

[Trevor]

My RMA came yesterday. But its a 7900 GTX OC 512MB and not a 7950 GT OC256MB as I sent them ... Seems to have overall higher clock speeds and performance, but Shader Model: 3.0 and less vertices...

Anyone able to say if its a better card ? I'm getting tired of dealing w/ BFGs support.

[Radiator]

It's the same chip , but the GTX is faster , because of it's higher clock speeds .

[Pinchy]

7900GTX OC is better than the 7950GT ;), especially with the 512mb vs 256mb. They both have Shader Model 3 by the way and the same amount of vertices. You did well :D!

[Radiator]

Old thread ... lol .
The 7900 GTX is simply clocked higher than the 7950 GT .

[Trevor]

TY for your response. I've been enjoying the 7900GTX quite well :) BF2 looks awesome at 1280x1024 8xAA 16xAF maxed out settings (except for lighting/shadows, if you play BF2 you know why). During regular play it barely drops below 100FPS and rarely see it go below 60. Idles about the same as my 7600GT did, 30-40c and underload I haven't seen it pass 50c.

*edit: I just played the UT3 Demo for like 4 hours straight agianst bots :S and was getting ~40fps, which was quite playable, and that was at 1280x1024 nTune forcing 8xAA 16xAF, and it was using almost always 100% of my 3GHz cpu (AMD X2 6000+) so I think the bots may of affected that, so if I ever find a server w/ <100 ping to me it may be higher FPS.