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Troubleshooting Video Card Problems - Part 1: Driver Issues
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Posted by: Ion Silverbolt
TROUBLESHOOTING VIDEO CARD PROBLEMS
PART 1: DRIVER ISSUES
- Solutions compiled by Paul Olinger, Jr (Ion Silverbolt)
Probably the most common type of lockups or crashes a user can have is related to the video card somehow. In an effort to help make video troubleshooting a little easier, I have decided to devise this guide to cover all the known bases for troubleshooting video problems. Part 1 will deal exclusively with driver issues. In part 2, I will cover several BIOS settings that have been known to help with video compatibility. Part 3 will deal with those really nasty advanced or bothersome fixes that may help with your video card problems well as some system optimization tips that may help kill the graphic crash or lockup problem. Each part will have links at the end of the article if you need more information or help in finding a driver(s).
DRIVER ISSUES
Finding the right driver can be a pain these days. Just ask anyone with an NVidia card. With so many drivers to choose from, which one is the most stable? Sometimes one driver may fix a certain problem only to introduce another.
To top that off, a lot of users have a non-Intel chipset such as VIA, AMD, ALi, or SiS. Most of the time, it is necessary to update these chipset AGP drivers to ensure proper video card operation. This is the driver you will want to update first before even installing a new video card driver.
CHIPSET DRIVERS
Usually the best way to go with chipset drivers is to download the latest non-beta AGP chipset drivers. Betas should be used only when they address a certain problem which should be specified on the manufacturer's website of the chipset vendor. This is the first thing you should do in video troubleshooting if it applies to you. If you're unsure what chipset you have, check your motherboard manual. If one of the above chipsets is on your board, you may need to update the AGP miniport driver for the Northbridge chipset.
Some chipset drivers can also be installed in a less optimal mode. The VIA AGP chipset drivers give you the option to install in either normal or turbo mode. Turbo mode is what you want, but if you're having stability problems with your video card, reinstalling the driver in normal mode may help. If the latest video card driver and more stable BIOS settings (Covered later) still don't help with your video card, this may help out.
VIDEO DRIVERS
What was once an easy task is somewhat more difficult these days. With 3D graphics card giants dueling it out, a lot of pre-release drivers abound all over the net. Some of these drivers may boost performance or help with certain incompatibilities. For the most part, they should be avoided unless you're looking to boost your performance a bit. For the most part, the latest drivers from the card manufacturer is the best option.
Still what is a good driver to one person may be a bane to another. It can depend greatly on the hardware the user has such as the type of chipset, motherboard, or other hardware device.
Question: So what is the best driver?
Answer: 9 times out of 10, you'll get the best stability by using the WHQL(Windows Hardware Quality Labs) Certified video driver for your video card. WHQL drivers have been extensively tested by Microsoft to to ensure the driver is stable. Most manufacturers have the latest driver, and an older driver that is WHQL certified. If you're trying to troubleshoot video problems, your best bet is to have the WHQL driver installed and attempt to look elsewhere as the cause of your problems. (Such as chipset drivers or BIOS issues).
When a driver is installed, the manufacturer usually adds some settings you can adjust to improve compatibility. Usually found under the advanced tab in the "display settings", several different options may appear here. The one most used for video troubleshooting is the hardware acceleration tab. Lowering this bar to the left may help increase stability. (At the cost of some video performance). For the most part, this is a temporary fix and there should be a better way to obtain video stability without cutting performance down.
OTHER DRIVERS AND UPDATES TO CONSIDER
Sometimes other devices can have a hissy fit when it comes to a particular video card, or just happens to be in the right setup. This in turn may cause your graphics card to cause lockups. Since most computer components share the same Bus, they can sometimes conflict. Normally this isn't a problem but an old or poorly written driver can sometimes be the cause.
Updating your sound card driver can sometimes help with video problems. Usually because it's not the graphics card or driver that is the problem. A lot of times, the graphics card is blamed because the offending hardware or driver causes the system to lockup and video is the only thing showing there is a problem. It's not a bad idea to check for driver updates for all your PCI or ISA cards including network card drivers, TV cards, hard drive controllers, modems, etc.
BIOS Updates often help fix problems with graphics cards or other troublesome issues. Check the manufacturer's website for your motherboard or the venders website if you have a brand name PC like Dell or Gateway. Read any FAQ about your motherboard or model number of your computer. If there is a compatability issue with your motherboard and the video card you're using, it may be listed there. This may save you a lot of wasted time.
On the bright side, there may be a newer BIOS for your motherboard that may fix problems with a particular video card, or video cards in general. Other peripherals that have their own BIOS may also be updated sometimes such as disk controllers. Some graphics cards as well still have the option to update the BIOS on the video card which in turn may increase stability or fix a compatability issue.
GAMING AND SOFTWARE UPDATES
There are times when the problem isn't your hardware or drivers at all. There could be a bad line of code in a game or application that doesn't agree with your video or sound card. Or you might just need to update to the latest DirectX to properly run an application. The version of DirectX needed by an application is usually stated on the product specs. That version of DirectX or higher should work. You may also need to update your video card driver after installing a new DirectX version. Usually the manufacturer will release the new driver just before the release of the latest DirectX.
Game or application patches usually address a lot of issues with graphics. It's a good idea to check the websites of the software or game manufacturer for patches or fixes to the product you're having trouble with. They also usually have a list of known crashes and errors and may provide more insight as to what the real problem is.
HELPFUL LINKS
Chipset Vendors
AMD chipset Updates
VIA Chipset Updates and FAQs
ALi Chipset Updates and FAQ's
SiS Chipset Updates and FAQ's
Other Patches and Updates
Microsoft's DirectX Download Page
Windows 2000 AGP fix for AMD Athlon Processors
- END OF PART 1
GO TO -> TROUBLESHOOTING VIDEO CARD PROBLEMS PART 2: BIOS SETTINGS
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