FX5900 issue

E

edlance

Geek Trainee
I just bought PNY Verto FX 5900SE 128MB. Install went just fine (using the latest detonator drivers). The card works, although I have to admit, I'm a bit dissapointed in the performance...didn't get the increase I expected over my old TI-4200. That I can live with, however what has me so bugged out is high contrast areas, especially text (such as this black text on white background). There is so much ghosting of the letters it is almost impossible to read. It's like each letter has its own drop down shadow. It's horrible.

I run at 1024x768 on a 19" Samsung 955DF monitor. Text on the old TI-4200 was very sharp and clear. I've changed refresh rates, I've checked for electrical interference, etc, etc. I've searched the net for possible solutions, everything I can try to no avail.

Anyone experienced this with these cards? Anyway to fix it?

I'm on the verge of taking it back (if Compusa will let me) and just droppig the cash on an all out ATI Radeon 9800XT. I'm very dissapointed that this card performs like this.
 
The 5900SE is a cut-rate performance card, so, if you can, yes, I would take it back just because of the performance.
 
Big B said:
The 5900SE is a cut-rate performance card, so, if you can, yes, I would take it back just because of the performance.
Click to expand...


Yes, I realize it is not quite as fast as the full blown 5900. 700MHZ memory clock vs 850MHZ. The GPU core is 390MHZ vs 400MHZ. I can't justify the cost for the full blown 5900, ultra or 5950. Still, all the reviews of the SE (actually, Nvidia XT designation) have shown the SE to be overclockable quite easily to approach the speed of the 5950. In fact, the SE cards actually have lower latency memory than the full on 5900 and 5950...2.2ns vs 2.8ns.

Either way, I fixed my problem...took the 5900 back and got an ATI 9800 Pro 128MB. Same price.

All I can say is WOW! What a difference. My 2D text, etc is clearer than I can ever remember it being. 3D performance is about what I expected it to be. If the ATI cards continue this trend in the future, I'll consider myself an ATI convert.
 
ATi has been known to have crisper text, but I also think that you probably did have a bad card anyway. Either way, the ATi was a better choice due to the price/performance ratio.
 
Other things to look for besides the clock/mem speed on a card is the memory controller. the 5900SE may have a 128bit controller instead of the 256bit one the the "true" 5900, and that makes a HUGE difference.

In any case, the 9800 Pro is a great card and you will be very pleased with it, I can guarantee it.

There's absolutely no need to oc it for now since it's already extremely powerful.
 
harrack52 said:
Other things to look for besides the clock/mem speed on a card is the memory controller. the 5900SE may have a 128bit controller instead of the 256bit one the the "true" 5900, and that makes a HUGE difference.

In any case, the 9800 Pro is a great card and you will be very pleased with it, I can guarantee it.

There's absolutely no need to oc it for now since it's already extremely powerful.
Click to expand...



Just for the record....the Verto FX5900SE is indeed a 256 bit controller. No matter, I'm happy with the ATI.
 
Ok sorry bout that.

not quite up to par with nvidia as I am with ATI.

ATI has like 4 versions of the 9800SE so it's hard to keep track.
 
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