ATI is a large video and processor chip designer who sells the manufacturing rights to their chips to third parties. MSI is a video card manufacturer who makes the R3870X2, with has two 3870 chipsets on one card. The card itself is large enough to take up two slots; one for the data buss and another slot for the cooling fan and heatsinks. As you may have surmised from the oversized cooling arrangement, heat is a constant issue with the card and can cause a lot of problems.
Instructions
1. Check the back of the computer to ensure that the cables are properly attached. The power cable must be seated properly in the back of the computer or the video card may get intermittent current. Check the video cable and make sure that it is properly seated as well; the video can become fuzzy if either cable is loose. Inspect the cooling vent on the graphic card itself. Remove any dust or lint with a blast of compressed air.
2. Start up the desktop and wait for Windows to load. Once the computer is on, run the Windows Update program and update Windows and all the drivers. Graphics cards and their software are as complex as the operating systems that run them. Windows must be properly updated and free of glitches for the graphics card to run at its best. The other drivers must be updated as well, as a problem in the north bridge can prevent the R3870X2 from accessing the RAM. Restart the computer once the files have been installed.
3. Go to MSI's website and download the latest drivers for the R3870X2 (see References). Install the drivers and then restart the computer to allow the new files to propagate. Run the computer through a several complex game programs to make sure the drivers are working. If the computer still has problems, turn the computer off and remove the side panel. Look for dust build-up on the graphics card and the fans. Use the air can to blast the lint and dust out.
Tags: back computer, card itself, graphics card, make sure, video card