A real CAT 3.8 Problem

[Fossil]

Okay, you have read the rumours about exploding monitors and stuff, but here is what the cat 3.8 did on one of my systems. I have two systems with a KVM switch so the monitor is common. One system is P4C800E with a 9800 Pro and the other is my trusty old CUSL2-C with a Radeon 8500. Both had the CAT 3.8's installed. I won't bore you with the details on what I was doing on the CUSL2-C other than I use it as a file server.

One day when I was on the CUSL2-C, the picture in the monitor narrowed for a split second and went back to full screen. I thought it was a voltage spike and was concerned. About an hour later it did it again. I immediately transfered the critical files to the other computer and continued to work thinking my power supply was failing. Now with MBM on so I could watch, it did it again. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary so I shut the computer down and put in a spare Antec 300 watt power supply. It did it again. I shut the computer off and used my other computer till i had time to figure out what was going on. I came across a forum topic about exploding Monitors with the CAT 3.8's. Now that seems kinda drastic and thought it was just the Nvidia fanboys trashing ATI. I kept reading other posts including the response from ATI and figured oh what the hell, and went back to cat 3.7 on the CUSL2-C. Problem Solved

The CAT 3.8's work perfectly fine in the P4C800-E 9800 Pro, but I definately think there is a problem with 8500 64 retail card and the 3.8 CAT driver.

[Mikki]

Nice find and a nice bit of troubleshooting Fossil. Glad you got it sorted before something got damaged or something...;):)

[RamIt]

Works fine with my 8500 and 3.8's.

[Fossil]

Well Ramit, i thought it was the KVM switch but when I moved the cables around, it still did it. Must be something it doesn't like with that set up. And I really don't feel like doing a complete reformat and set up when the Cat 3.7 works fine

[Thor]

Just use the Cat 3.7s for now, hell, I'm still using 3.6s on my main rig, but my other one is using 3.8s and no problems with it.

[Fossil]

Yes Thor your probably wondering why I need cats 3.8 on a file server. Well my nephews play on that computer and every 6 months or so I check for new drivers to keep it up to date. I was going to buy a LCD monitor but I am waiting for the newer ones to come out with a lower response time so I bought a KVM switch. I am still in love with my CUSL2-C and I having a hard time letting go. My nephews are going to give me back my BH6 computer in exchange for my CUSL2-C cause those kiddies games demand a faster computer. It will be a sad day when the CUSL2-C goes out the door.

[Paragon]

I'm with you Fossil, I've read literally hundreds of posts concerning issues with the CAT 3.8's and don't feel all of these people are caught up in the hype to the point they'd post something if it weren't true.

My post here (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=1195) details an issue that started after I loaded the 3.8 drivers, and once after removing them...I used CAT cleaner after the second time to try and make sure I got all of the remanants off and it hasn't happened again.

Something for sure appears to be happening be it the CAT 3.8's or something else, it's just happening on too wide of a scale not to have some merit!

[SupermanCK]

i have one problem ever since i installed 3.8cat
while i am playing counterstrike, the screen would go blank for 1-3 seconds and then it would resume back up...don't know why it does it...but now i have the Omega driver installed still the same...i might have to go back to ATi's 3.7cat...but so far my 20" LCD is working perfectly fine...i assume what is causing the blanking screen is that the card gets hot and the VPU watcher kicks in...but i am not overclocking the card...so i don't know what is going on...btw...i have the 9800pro ultimate from sapphire...silent video card...but i know it gets way too hot for touch...burnt me a couple times already

[dbwillis]

I got that same card SupermanCK, it does get hot!

[Thor]

Originally posted by Fossil
Yes Thor your probably wondering why I need cats 3.8 on a file server. Well my nephews play on that computer and every 6 months or so I check for new drivers to keep it up to date. I was going to buy a LCD monitor but I am waiting for the newer ones to come out with a lower response time so I bought a KVM switch. I am still in love with my CUSL2-C and I having a hard time letting go. My nephews are going to give me back my BH6 computer in exchange for my CUSL2-C cause those kiddies games demand a faster computer. It will be a sad day when the CUSL2-C goes out the door.

I hear ya. My CUSL2-C is now my workstation at work with a P3-1Ghz. Super stable and fast for it's time. Still kicking, and until it dies, I don't think I will ever let mine go. :)

[poMONKey]

my rig likes cat 3.4s best... i had prob with 3.8s as far as choppy graphics during a couple of games... nothing else. so i went back to 3.7.

then i did some testing and i get better scores with 3.4s than any other version. i tested aquamark3, 3dmark(s), x2 demo... i know they made some 2D improvements in later versions, etc...

i havent tried any omegas since 3.5 and 3.6, or flashed his bios for the card ( i read too many posts of peeps f-ing up their cards doing this )... im too much of a gamer and want that extra 4-6 fps that omegas just dont give me. or the last 4 versions of catalyst drivers :eek: