Looking for help with obscure x1900 issues

[droshack]

Ok, not sure where to turn on this one. I will try to be concise, but there is a lot to cover. I have looked all over but have not found anyone with a similar issue. So am hoping someone might know of a solution or a place to look/ask.

Machine specs:
AMD x2 4400 w/XP-120 heatsink with AMD drivers -disbaled CnC
Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe bios 0311
ATI branded Crossfire edition x1900 & Saphire x1900 xt both with Zalman vf-900's
X-Fi Fatality
2 gigs OCZ platinum edition ram
2x Seagate 200GB 7800 RPM drives (non-raid setup)
Dell 2405 LCD
XP Pro SP2 + all updates
DirectX 9C (have also tried the new April '06 DirectX refresh)
All drivers & bios for CPU, MB, soundcard are up to date
No overclocking (but have been able to play oblivion 10+ hours with the 4400 running at 2.6Ghz and the x1900's at XTX speeds)

The main issue is that no matter what I have tried, if I have the ATI CCC runtime (cli.exe I believe) loaded into memory (at startup as is set by the Catalyst installation or through the restart runtime shortcut in the start menu) then any 3d application I run causes the system to hard crash. The computer blanks and shuts off comepltely. I then have to unplug the power and reconnect to get the system to boot again. If I disable the
runtime (through msconfig) then 3D apps will run no problem. Initially not such a big deal since I dont want the CCC bogging my system down during gaming. However, any options I set in the CCC do not take effect when in a game. AA, AF, Adaptive AA, etc do not function in any game I have tried (FEAR, COD2, Oblivion, GT Legends tested so far). It would also be nice to test options while the runtime is in effect so I can test the settings and performance. If I try to set AA or AF in a game then the system slows
down to a crawl, much more than should be expected for what is a decent system. Let me list what I have tried so as to not waste anyones time.

-Fresh install of Windows with Catalyst 6.3 and .Net 1.1
-Fresh install of Windows with Catalyst 6.3 and .Net 2.0
-Fresh install of Windows with Catalyst 6.4 and .Net 1.1
-Fresh install of Windows with Catalyst 6.4 and .Net 2.0
-Check of the D3d...Dll to make sure I am running the retail version
-renaming the debug version to ensure the retail is being used
-Tried every conceiveable option combination in the CCC
-Running XP with stock install all services and bootup crap
-Running XP with the hog services removed (restore, auto update, ceative bloat, etc)
-Tried one x1900 versus 2

No matter what, I can load up a game and configure options and such on the title screen then I load a game and it loads the level then as soon as the 3D engine kickes in the computer crashes and it shuts off comepltely. In COD 2 the level loads and I get the text on the black screen and hear sound, but as soon as the black curtain is removed and the 3d scene is rendered the system crashes. In oblivion, as soon as the loading screen goes away I can see the level for about .5 second then the system crashes. With all these games, If the Cli.exe is not loaded at Windows startup, then the game runs like a charm... but without any of the features that I set in the CCC (including I believe the crossfire functionality.) I seem to be able to force xfire with the AFR-Friendly rename... but then I get temp increases... but no performance increases in these games listed.

Additionally, I am not able to use the ATITool as when I run it is says my video card or bios or whatever is not recognized and I should contact my manufacturer. Lastly, in COD2 when I get it to run without the cli.exe in the background I get insane graphical corruption in most levels. It looks as though there are polygons ripped and stretched across the screen for brief moments then it looks fine for a second then happens again as I move my mouse around. Once again this happends no matter what options I try... AA, AF, vsync, textures, resolution, optomized for SLI, GPU_sync at 0,1,2,3, etc, etc, etc. There is no everheating and this is at stock speeds for all components.

Sorry for the long post, I may have forgotten some details, so ask If I can provide any more info. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea what to try or do or what could be causing this. Hardware seems ok, the CPU and cards have worked fine with other systems... the MB is the only thing I have not tested with other components... but It seems to be in good order.

best regards,
-d

Forgot to add the power supply: Am using an Aerocool Turbine 550 watt... has worked beautifully for 2 SLI rigs and seems to power the two cards when not using the CCC/cli.exe stuff

 

[bobrownik]

your power supply might be too weak

 

[droshack]

oops, I cant use ATI tray tools... as explained above. ATI tool works fine.

I also had the same problems before I installed the zalman's on the video cards.

if the power supply was not enough then i would not have had the same problem witth just one 1900. and my pwr supply is up to spec for the xfire combo according to the ati site and the dual 12v rails and 38a rating of the psu

 

[phide]

Sounds similar to issues an acquiantance and I have had for the past few months (read: day one). How do you have ATI Tool configured? Have you set it so that 3D applications push the clocks/voltages to the correct settings? Are you running it alongside the CCC, or have you simply verified that it works?

ATi Tray Tools doesn't have the required information for X1K cards. When you install it, make sure you select "Disable Overclocking" in the install wizard. Otherwise, the result is the BIOS related error message.

 

[droshack]

not sure what I did, but I got the tray tools to work... i will try the install options as you suggested when i reinstall xp (done it 5 times in the last week trying to sort this out.. wont be the last time). i think the thing that changed was the AMD dual core hotfix patch from windows.... but that does not make sense. also did some messing about with .net and 1.1 vs 2.0...

with tray tools and the new 1.2 COD 2 patch I am able to get it running... I have yet to test the various settings with tray tools though...

time to go test out AA, AF, etc with tray tools. I cant find any options in Tray tools for xfire. is it enabled by default? is there a registry switch I can use? If i can get the tools to work then f$#@ the CCC, i just hope i can recreate what I did to get them working.

 

[BBA]

I had issues with .net 2 and CCC

Edit: Had the wrong function posted before:

CLI.exe is the ATi task bar applet that shows next to the system clock.

 

[Mysterae]

I reckon it's your power supply. Here's my experience of it. There should be a sticky for stuff like this!

The reason I think it's your power supply is the system shut down you get.

if the power supply was not enough then i would not have had the same problem witth just one 1900.

Your logic is wrong here. If you only have one card installed, that's obviously less load on your psu.

Look at this way - when your system is set up as it should be, with CCC controlling all the AA and AF, the stuff that requires power, that's extra load on your psu, lots of amps, enough to trip the psu. By killing CCC or interrupting the ATI 'chain of command', you can't set AA and AF and other stuff, but uses less power, so no psu trip.

That's my 2p

Oh, and I hope you haven't installed Cats 6.4. Rumor has it they alter the bios of the X1900's on the fly, and makes it really difficult if not impossible to overclock. If a XT has been flashed to XTX by a user, it could spell trouble when the 6.4 cats try to update it.