6600GT Issues Created 18 years ago2006-01-13 21:52:05 UTC by AJ

Well, this is a last ditch attempt before I take the card back to the store. The guys on IRC were stumped to say the least.

Recently, I purchased an nVidia 6600GT to replace the GeForce 4 that died. Unfortunately, I'm having problems with this card. During startup, before it gets to the Windows login screen, the screen will switch off, as if it were going into sleep mode. This behaviour also occurs when loading maps and when loading HL2 (not the game, just the menu). Here's the clincher though: this behaviour is totally random!

Sometimes I'll get straight into Windows unscathed and be able to load HL2 and play for hours and hours, with full shaders and effects. At other times, I don't even get to login. This eliminates a possible overheating issue - a graphics card wouldn't overheat during startup or before any 3D graphics are loaded. There are also absolutely no artifacts on the screen as would happen if it were overheating (thanks m0p).

I met all the minimum system requirements for the graphics card. I'm running the latest drivers, and I've even formatted to no avail. There are no strange programs running at startup. I tried increasing the AGP aperture size via the BIOS from 64 to 128 which seemed to fix the issue. Unfortunately, loading a map in Hammer an hour ago caused the problem to show itself again. My guess is that there is a problem with the card itself - the GeForce 2 that I replaced the GeForce 4 with temporarily worked fine. Have I missed something? I really want to map!

That happened to me to, i bought another one and it still did it. So i got a 6800 GS and it works great.

Hmm. If there isn't a huge price difference between the 6600 and the 6800, I'll get the 6800. The store said they'd replace the 6600 if it is faulty.

It very may well be faulty - I had to deal with a Radeon 9600 XT that gave me the most inexplicable errors, including (but certainly not limited to) the problems you were describing. I'd post screenshots of what it did to in-game textures, but I don't want to scar you for life. Mind you, I find it odd that an NVIDIA card would malfunction like that...usually it's ATI cards that are more prone to do so.

I have a 9600XT and it performs solidly. My old 9000 performed without a hitch as well.

I think the problem may be a driver conflict. If you havent already, uninstall the old drivers, run Driver Cleaner and then download and install the latest nVidia drivers.

I formatted before installing the latest drivers.

I guess that rules that out then. If you want a 6800 series card, they are significantly faster than the 6600 series cards.

www.driverheaven.net

Make a post on their forums, they are fraking awesome at tech support.

the 6600gt is just a shade lower than the 6800 - i researched before i bought my own. ive had mine for a month now but i dropped my computer box and damaged it so now im getting warrantee :
but it works fine except my cpu is dragging it down......sometime this year i will upgrade to a pci express comp with a 7800gtx

I hate dealing with graphics cards. Something always doesn't seem to work with them. Why can't they just fuction properly? It's truly a mystery to why there are so many problems with them. I'm running a BFG Tech 6800GT-"R" OC (custom card). It took me weeks to finally tune it to a good performance level. Usually, drivers AREN'T the problem like people tell you. It usually has something to do with the actual card. Kinda dissapointing at times.

Well, there's one thing I totally forgot to do: update the mobo's BIOS. I'm stuck on my GeForce 2 at the moment.

EDIT: BIOS is now updated (a massive upgrade, from 1010 to 1013!! ZOMG - last updated 2003, which is just fantastic). Thanks for that proggie HrnyGoat, should come in handy.

the 6600gt is just a shade lower than the 6800

The 6600GT has 8 pixel pipes and 128bit memory while the 6800GT has 16 pixel pipes and 256bit memory...quite a big difference.

Hey if that card doesnt work out for you and you need help deciding on a new one I made a ranked list of all the cards http://www.overclock.net/graphics-cards-general/54675-graphics-card-ranking.html

Try to eradicate the possibility of over-heating by opening the case and pointing a beastly desk fan at the graphics card.

My 9800 is always freezing and breaking.

Well, I had that initially and it still did it Alex. I can't see how it'd be over-heating though, it doesn't make sense.

Sounds like it's faulty alright - if the shop says they will replace it - go for it. Maybe add more disposable income and get a 6800 ?

OH! Turn off restart on error, or w/e you call it.

I believe its in BIOS.

the 6600gt is just a shade lower than the 6800

The 6600GT has 8 pixel pipes and 128bit memory while the 6800GT has 16 pixel pipes and 256bit memory...quite a big difference.

notice the '6800' NOT '6800gt'
try to remember that there are several types and when someone says a model they dont mean the exact type.
for example, 7800 doesnt equal 7800gtx
and notice on your link that there is only one nvidia card between 6800 and the 6600GT and thats the 6800LE which is a waste of money

Luke: Its turned off, its in XP's settings.

between 6800 and the 6600GT and thats the 6800LE which is a waste of money

6800LE isn't a waste of money. You can unlock pipelines and overclock it. If everything works perfectly, it should almost equal to 6800GT. But there's always a chance that it'll broke, and there goes your 100euros..

Ive had a similar problem with my 6800 model. My computer would reboot, compared to your monitor turning off. What I did was uninstall the driver, then system restored before instaliation of the card, then reinstalled the driver. It worked for me. ( Did you get rid of your old driver from your previous video card before installing the card itself?)

I have a 6600GT and i havnt experienced any sort of problem, what monitor do you have? Maybe its something to do with the refresh rate? or resolution? try running in safe mode...isolate the problem before assuming it is the card, it could be a corrupt driver, but it sounds like a bad card

It could easily be a faulty card...or it could be the new nVidia drivers. NV has been releasing some real PoS drivers since June or so (The ones they forced me to use with the BF2 release were horrible and BSOD'd every few minutes) - Either return the card and see if it's replaced with a working one, or try rolling back to an earlier driver version.

It shouldn't be a driver problem when Windows is starting, though. Check your connection, check the fan connection, check the temperature, and make sure you have enough power to run the device. (I'm running on a 205w power supply, NV and the card manufacturers usually recommend 230-50.)

Yah, im getting sick of BSODs :/

Im running a 300w power supply on a 6200, with 82.12 drivers...

Haha, 300W :D.

300w isnt enough, ill probably upgrade for 420w to 500+

the 85.98 driver works fine for me....but then i dont play bf2

500 watt's here. anything under 300 isn't going to do it

or, just go get older drivers from their website

Eeh, 300W is perfectly fine to run 6600GT.

My specs:
Athlon xp2700+ 2,2ghz
PC-2700 512mb + PC-3200 512mb
Leadtek Winfast A6600GT
DVD/CDRW
2x HDDs
And I'm running this with 300W. No problems.
Of course, there are pretty crappy PSU's out there.

Haha, 300W

Tss.. i'm using a 250W psu

btw my modem is fucked at home so i can only log in while i'm in school.

I was on a 250W PSU, but that was before I got the card. I'm on a 500W PSU now.

Apparently there's nothing wrong with the card! I'm taking the computer in on Friday to see what the hell's going on (I can impress 'em with some PHAT MAPPING SKILLZ!!)

Well, the guy wasn't in for some reason (tells me to go in on Friday and isn't there, wtf) so I brought the card back home. The BIOS update did squat - soon as I booted, I got pwned. Rebooted a second time, went through the BIOS and managed to get into Windows. Now, I'm gonna guess that it may be shitty drivers from nVidia. I was gonna get the Omega ones, but they haven't been updated since the middle of last year and they have no plans to update them apparently, which sucks arse.

I'm really confused here. Need help plz, kthxbai.