Hi there. I posted this both on the Apple support forums and the MacFixit forums but found no answers. I just found this website and I'm praying that someone here can help.
I recently bought an open box special ATI X800 XT video card (Mac version, not flashed) to use in my G5 dual 2.0. I'm using a VGA monitor via an ADC-VGA converter, and have my TV hooked up using a DVI - S-video video out converter. This setup worked fine with my previous card, a stock Radeon 9600 Pro.
With the new card installed, with drivers installed first from the CD and then from an update downloaded from ATI, and the latest ROM version (109), I get artifacts on my monitor - basically dots (mostly green) that appear and disappear, but that get worse when I drag a window or when I use the computer for a while (in which case the dots end up as loosely-formed columns about 3cm wide). Also, the TV out is really jumpy - it seems like it's switching resolutions constantly. My room is cool and the fans on both my computer and the card seem to be working fine, so I don't think it's a heat issue.
The artifacts disappear when I safe boot (as I had to in order to install the ROM update), but they're there if I log in as another user with no login items. I've been able to get rid of them (but not the jumpy TV picture) by using the ATIcellerator II program to underclock the card by around 2%, but I paid a fair bit of money for this card and I'd like to use it without underclocking. ATI's support via their website is a joke: I registered the card and then filled out a "ticket request," describing my problem in detail, only to find that they basically barred me from sending it to them by requiring that I indicate the manufacturer of the card (it's ATI, of course) on a pull-down menu, and then not providing any choices on the menu (which stopped me from proceeding). Ridiculous. I could phone, but I'm in Japan and with the time difference it's a pain in the ass.
The problem existed in OS 10.3.9 and continues in 10.4.3. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this, or how it might be fixed? The fact that the card works fine in safe mode makes me think it's a software conflict, possibly an issue with a kext file, but I can't figure out what it is. I've removed my startup items and still get the artifacts when not safe booting. Help!?
I recently bought an open box special ATI X800 XT video card (Mac version, not flashed) to use in my G5 dual 2.0. I'm using a VGA monitor via an ADC-VGA converter, and have my TV hooked up using a DVI - S-video video out converter. This setup worked fine with my previous card, a stock Radeon 9600 Pro.
With the new card installed, with drivers installed first from the CD and then from an update downloaded from ATI, and the latest ROM version (109), I get artifacts on my monitor - basically dots (mostly green) that appear and disappear, but that get worse when I drag a window or when I use the computer for a while (in which case the dots end up as loosely-formed columns about 3cm wide). Also, the TV out is really jumpy - it seems like it's switching resolutions constantly. My room is cool and the fans on both my computer and the card seem to be working fine, so I don't think it's a heat issue.
The artifacts disappear when I safe boot (as I had to in order to install the ROM update), but they're there if I log in as another user with no login items. I've been able to get rid of them (but not the jumpy TV picture) by using the ATIcellerator II program to underclock the card by around 2%, but I paid a fair bit of money for this card and I'd like to use it without underclocking. ATI's support via their website is a joke: I registered the card and then filled out a "ticket request," describing my problem in detail, only to find that they basically barred me from sending it to them by requiring that I indicate the manufacturer of the card (it's ATI, of course) on a pull-down menu, and then not providing any choices on the menu (which stopped me from proceeding). Ridiculous. I could phone, but I'm in Japan and with the time difference it's a pain in the ass.
The problem existed in OS 10.3.9 and continues in 10.4.3. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this, or how it might be fixed? The fact that the card works fine in safe mode makes me think it's a software conflict, possibly an issue with a kext file, but I can't figure out what it is. I've removed my startup items and still get the artifacts when not safe booting. Help!?