My main fs2004 PC blow up !!!!!!!!!

Hi,

(I don't know if I should of put blew up or if blow up is OK. Depends on how you read it)

Well things are just getting worse all the time.

Maybe someone can tell me if this has happened to them. I noitced last week that my main fs2004 server, while doing a flight, all of a sudden started making this humming type sound coming from the speakers. Everything froze on it and the clients. I had to reboot everything. Today it made that noise again, but this time when I shut it down and rebooted, no picture came up on the monitor. I did check the monitor and it does work.

Did the graphics card, which is an ATI Radon 9800 from about 4 years ago, blow? Or can it be the motherboard itself and making the picture not appear? I did notice that when I was turning on the power to the PCs, this server which is one of these big, clear case ones, would light up a blue light from somewhere in there, for just a second or two, then go out. As though it was saying power is on. Now, after this blow up today, I do not see that light coming on when I add power to the unit (not booting up but just turning on the wall power to the PCs).

Thanks

Randy :(

Try checking your power supply with a voltmeter.

Hi,

That might be more than I would want to try. Might blow me up. The PC, does go thru the booting up sounds and lights, but just no visuals, so no way to know if it finished booting or not.
Randy

The computers power supply:D Not the one from your wall. Measure the supply`s output continuesly when your computer is booting up.

Just a guess;)

I have a 9800 Pro. These cards seem to be very sensitive to heat.

I have had problems in the past with this card due to overheating. I have a huge heatsink and fan on mine and still it will overheat if there is not sufficient airflow.

Mine would crash to blackscreen, sometimes preceeded by audio stuttering and continuing after the crash. (Not the sound card. It was happening with on-board sound as well)

I moved the system to a cooler room, took the case door off, and directed a 14" fan at the case from about a foot away.

Problem solved.

Hi,

I just tried the PC again, after being off all day and its cool down in the gararge anyway, but no go. I am taking it into the shop tomorrow, so we will know soon what the heck happening. Maybe the graphic card was to hot and blew. If they say its shot, I will regardless of what new card I get, use an outside fan.

Any thoughts as to a good graphics card that is either as good or better than the Radon 9800X something. Of course I see that there are many, many new cards out there, I am using for now fs2004 and want a nice and not to $$$ card for that game.

Randy

Others would be able to advise you better than I. My machine is a relic by todays standards. My card slot is AGP if that tells you anything.;)

I had the 9800 same thing happen to me, its sounds like your graphics card has seen its day :(, But I am no professional

Damien

Personally, I would go with an Nvidia card if you have to replace the current one. I dont mean to start an Nvidia vs. ATI war, but I think that there is substantial evidence out there on any neutral FS forum that the Nvidia cards just plain work better over-all.

If you have an ATI 9800 in your machine, you have an AGP slot... so be careful about what you get to replace it. PCI-E is the newer standard....... but your mobo might not (likely does not) have that format available to you.

The GOOD news about that is that with the move to PCI-E for the new cards... the older AGP cards are now far cheaper. They will limit you as to speed... but going from the 9800........you still have lots of room to improve.

I had an ATI 9800XT 256 meg card. It needed constant attention to using canned air and blowing out the dust that accumulated amazingly quickly in the fan's NARROW heat exchanger slots.

If you move up to one of the newest cards for the APG format, I think you'll be VERY happy with the increase in visual quality/performance you'll get. I also had an ATI X1600XT 256 meg... and it ran lightyears ahead of the 9800XT (the 9800XT was the "top card" at the time I bought it). Now I am running a Gainward Bliss 7800GS+ AGP 512Meg Special Edition card....(now overclocked) and THAT one is absolutely amazing.

I've used both ATI and NVidia cards... each company has it's quirks. And I've received equally poor custormer service out of BOTH companies and had about equal driver problems. "You say Po TAE to and I'll say Po TAH toe."

best,

...............john