Radeon 4770- Having some issues here...

[Cypher7]

This is kindav long, but I tried to add as much detail as possible in order to recieve an accurate solution to the problem. If anyone could provide a solution then that would be absolutely amazing!
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I got a new graphics card 2 days ago (Saphire Radeon 4770), and after I got it in the case and got the drivers installed (from the disk), just a few problems started to occur once I tried to play games. Originally the moniter would just shut down and go into ''power saving mode'', and I would be forced to restart the pc. After messing with a bunch of settings, the games would shut down and I would get an error message saying ''VPU Recover has reset your graphics accelerator as it was no longer responding to graphics driver commands'' with the options to send an error report or not to under it.

This is the first time I have changed or added hardware to my pc (besides a psu which the Geek Squad guys did a few years back), so I really have no idea what to do. I did go to ATI's website to download the drivers, but that didnt seem to help. What I did download was the Full Catalyst Control Center Suite, since besid it it said to download that if you need both the drivers and ccc.
(http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx)


When I was installing the card, It came with a wire (power wire I think)
and an extra adapter type thing. Since we did figure out that it was a
power wire, but couldnt figure out where one end of it went, we just
put one of the extra power wires that was laying around in the pc
onto the card. The one we plugged in was the same kind that came in
the box, but the other side just went straight to the psu. Could this
have anything to do with the problem?

While I was still having the ''going into power saving mode'' problem,
someone else took a shot at fixing it. I think he did download the
drivers again, could this of had any effect on the problem?


Like I mentioned, this is my first hardware change. And with all these
problems not letting me play games, I'm getting really annoyed at
all of it even though it's probably something really stupid I'm missing.
A solution would be extremely appreciated!

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Also wanted to add, I was able to play some games last night. But for some reason I can't play some of the ones I was playing last night...

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Someone else was able to play a few games by changing the resolution on my desktop to go as high as possible (1680x1050), then setting the resolution in games to 1280x1024. It did work for one night atleast...

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So far I've tried playing Half Life 2 EP 1 and 2, Empire Total War Demo, Zombie Panic Source (HL2 mod), and TF2. I was able to play all of these last night excluding the ground battles in Empire Total War (I've actually been able to play the sea battles since I've had the card). The only problem I've had with the sea battles occured at the very end of a match when randomly crashed when I zoomed in too close (which I had been doing a good bit of anyway). Anyway, this morning the only ones I can play are Half Life 2 EP 1 and 2. I've checked the settings that I remember having last night and everything seems to be like it was, yet they still dont seem to want to work.
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Also, would it be wise to uninstall my old vidoe card drivers? Even though I may end up trying out duel moniters using my old card for one screen (if that would work).

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I'm drawing lines for extra questions that I don't feel like puttting into paragraph form

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My old card was a Geforce 6150LE. And heres a link to my pc info on Amazon. The only modifications have been a new psu (430w) and the new card this thread is practically about.


Edit: Nvm on the Half-Life EP 1 and 2 working. They worked this morning but I just tried to play them again and I got the same VPU error message I get everywhere else.

 

[knothead34]

ok have you tried saphires website for technical support forums? have you called saphire to see if you can talk to someone live with help with this problem? can you post a picture of how your card is plugged in right now? when geek squad replaced power supply was it equal to more more watts then the one you had? im just trying to think of stuff off the top of my head.

 

[Cypher7]

ok have you tried saphires website for technical support forums? have you called saphire to see if you can talk to someone live with help with this problem? can you post a picture of how your card is plugged in right now? when geek squad replaced power supply was it equal to more more watts then the one you had? im just trying to think of stuff off the top of my head.

Would it be best to contact ATI support or Saphire support? I have not tried Saphire tech support, but I have been waiting til ATI support opens back up monday.

Ill try and post a pic in a little while.

The psu they installed hasnt had any issues for the past few years. But this one did have more watts than the previous.

 

[htphm42]

Also, would it be wise to uninstall my old vidoe card drivers? Even though I may end up trying out duel moniters using my old card for one screen (if that would work).

Well there's your problem . Yes you do have to uninstall your old graphic card driver especially if it's for an Nvidia card and you now have an ATi. Also, doesn't your 4770 have dual DVI output? You could just plug in the other other monitor via the second dvi port.

Edit: just wondering, but what kind of psu do you have?

 

[Cypher7]

Well there's your problem . Yes you do have to uninstall your old graphic card driver especially if it's for an Nvidia card and you now have an ATi. Also, doesn't your 4770 have dual DVI output? You could just plug in the other other monitor via the second dvi port.

Edit: just wondering, but what kind of psu do you have?

I have been considering that, but I havent had the chance to try it since the card only one VGA to DVI adapter (I think thats the one, I maybe getting the 2 adapters mixed up). There is a spot on the back of my pc though were the old plug would fit it. Its where I used to have it before I got the 4770. Would that work as well, or does it having to be going into the video card?

I have some sort of Antec 430w psu.

Also, what might I use to get rid of the old drivers? Or where could I find them?

 

[htphm42]

Well most monitor have dvi ports now, so if you're going dual monitor and buying a new monitor, then all you need is just another dvi cable. The vga port on the back of your pc is probably for the integrated graphic. It will not work if you have your 4770 in. To get rid of old driver, the best way is to do a complete reinstall of window, although you could get away with just going with control panel's add/remove program and uninstalling it there.

 

[Cypher7]

To get rid of old driver, the best way is to do a complete reinstall of window, although you could get away with just going with control panel's add/remove program and uninstalling it there.

Nothing under Add/Remove progams with the name Nvidia in it.

And how tedious would reinstalling windows be?

Or, how reliable would a guide like this be?

 

[htphm42]

If you reinstall window, you'll lose all your data/programs. Thus, most people tend not to do so. You could use a guide like that, although I personally never have tried it. Still, it's worth a shot I guess.

 

[knothead34]

keep us posted on what you did to fix the issue. i would call saphire directily its a saphire card so i would call them.