9700 Pro - Burning Smell - Now only color blocks - Ruined?

[Telson]

Hi all,

I have been using my ATI Radeon 9700 Pro for a year or two. I just
bought a new PC case, so I moved over my motherboard and all
components.

I connected everything up, turned on for the first time and, for about
two seconds, there was a burning smell and a small amount of smoke
from around the metal plate that is near the video out of the 9700.

I shut down, waited, and started up again.

Instead of the BIOS messages, the screen displayed blocks of color
(mainly black) in repeating patterns (so making vertical lines of
color down the screen). No discernable words or pictures, just the
same repeated blocks of color.

As the bootup progressed to the Windows XP load screen, the color
blocks changed.

When the PC reached the Windows XP login screen (well, I assume that's
what it was trying to display), the color blocks were mainly white but
otherwise unchanged.

Looking at the videocard I don't see any areas with visible damage.

When I pulled the 9700 Pro and tried another video card, everything
displays fine.


Question:
So, uh, at the risk of asking a somewhat obvious question... reckon
the 9700 Pro is fried and not easily repairable? Or is there some
"reset switch" equivalent?


Thanks!
--Morton

 

[Kent_Diego]

Question:

So, uh, at the risk of asking a somewhat obvious question... reckon
the 9700 Pro is fried and not easily repairable? Or is there some
"reset switch" equivalent?

Try to RMA the card. ATI will likely send you a new 9800 Pro to replace it.

 

[Sleepy]

Hi all,

I have been using my ATI Radeon 9700 Pro for a year or two. I just
bought a new PC case, so I moved over my motherboard and all
components.

I connected everything up, turned on for the first time and, for about
two seconds, there was a burning smell and a small amount of smoke
from around the metal plate that is near the video out of the 9700.

I shut down, waited, and started up again.

Instead of the BIOS messages, the screen displayed blocks of color
(mainly black) in repeating patterns (so making vertical lines of
color down the screen). No discernable words or pictures, just the
same repeated blocks of color.

As the bootup progressed to the Windows XP load screen, the color
blocks changed.

When the PC reached the Windows XP login screen (well, I assume that's
what it was trying to display), the color blocks were mainly white but
otherwise unchanged.

Looking at the videocard I don't see any areas with visible damage.

When I pulled the 9700 Pro and tried another video card, everything
displays fine.


Question:
So, uh, at the risk of asking a somewhat obvious question... reckon
the 9700 Pro is fried and not easily repairable? Or is there some
"reset switch" equivalent?


Thanks!
--Morton

the card is quite clearly damaged - you cant *reset* a burned out component.
theres no reset switch anyway. there is the slight possibility that the
damage is restricted to VGA output and that the DVI output is okay - so use
that - with a DVI to VGA converter if its a CRT monitor. RMA an old 9700Pro?
I imagine ATI would find that very funny!

 

[Paul C]

Push for a 7800 GTX

Try to RMA the card. ATI will likely send you a new 9800 Pro to replace it.

 

[NightSky 421]

the card is quite clearly damaged - you cant *reset* a burned out
component. theres no reset switch anyway. there is the slight possibility
that the damage is restricted to VGA output and that the DVI output is
okay - so use that - with a DVI to VGA converter if its a CRT monitor. RMA
an old 9700Pro? I imagine ATI would find that very funny!

You never know, stranger things have happened at sea. ATI was offering a
three year warranty on retail cards, so I guess it would depend on when it
was purchased. As I recall, the 9700 Pro was introduced in the fall of
2002, so it may or may not still be in warranty. Worth a shot anyway.

 

[Kent_Diego]

the card is quite clearly damaged - you cant *reset* a burned out
component. theres no reset switch anyway. there is the slight possibility
that the damage is restricted to VGA output and that the DVI output is
okay - so use that - with a DVI to VGA converter if its a CRT monitor. RMA
an old 9700Pro? I imagine ATI would find that very funny!

You can still buy a new 9700 Pro from distributers. I RMA'ed a 9700 Pro a
few months ago and ATI sent me a new 9800 Pro. If the 9800 Pro ever has
trouble, I will RMA it as well.

-Kent

 

[Telson]

Thank you for all the replies, everyone!
Ok, that's fine. It didn't seem likely, but I figured that I should
ask, just in case.
Rats, I meant to mention that I had tried that -- same results.
Thanks for the thought though.

You can still buy a new 9700 Pro from distributers. I RMA'ed a 9700 Pro a
few months ago and ATI sent me a new 9800 Pro. If the 9800 Pro ever has
trouble, I will RMA it as well.

I submitted a request, so we'll see what they say! I think it was
bought in April 2003, but I can't remember for sure.

Thanks again.
--Morton