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Replacing the GPU in the field...

So the video glitches which I mentioned in my last thread have one upped, and started throwing up an ATI Graphics Driver error message then black screening, which is making me think that there is a much deeper problem than outdated software (I am suspecting GPU, as evidenced in the title, although I am going to upgrade first just to make sure).

So my question is - I know there are a limited number of supported graphics chipsets for the axon - the ATI HD2900 etc... Should I be in the pickle that I think I am in (finding myself with a dead GPU in the near future, or at least finding myself with a GPU that is not stable enough to count on in a show), in the middle of the ocean and needing to pick up a new one up PDQ will any manufacturers board do provided it is of the correct chipset? Is there a specific brand of boards that HES use for the axons? I would like to stay as close to genuin as possible, but would also like to know that if I jumped off the ship and went to the local computer shop and bought a card with the correct chipset that it would work...

Anyway, any assistance would be appreciated

Mac.
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    I used the recovery image, so it should be fine in that respect...

    As for the improperly encoded content... It would not surprise me at all if that were the case... I suppose I will have to dig out the old disk to 'downgrade' so I can access CMA and try again.

    Thanks

    --edit/update--

    Okay, I deleted all the custom content, got through the upgrade, now instead of just sitting there and doing nothing with the blue AXON screen, after about 2 minutes - the outputs of the graphics card just disappear, the monitors loose sync etc.

    Pulled it out of the rack as well, just to check everything was seated correctly - the GC has X1900 on the back near the serial number
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    I can see your viewpoint now after seeing what High End charge for a normally $150,- card.
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    I don't mind the price, I have a fairly decent budget.... it is more a time issue... Deliveries to ships can take weeks, and when your shows depend on video content weeks feel like years, so if I can walk off of the ship and into a computer store and then expense it, it is a lot more convenient (even if it does take money out of my pocket for a couple of weeks)
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    Clyde,

    Street prices on those cards were never $150. They were closer to $450. Remember there are many variations of those cards with different clock speeds and RAM.
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    yes they were around that price back then and now they are not. $150 at the most for old outdated power hungry Top of the range HD2900XT now.
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    Clyde,

    As I explained back in Post #9 in this thread, the video card market is tumultuous to say the least. Any given model is only available in quantity for a very short period at the beginning of the cards introduction to the market. That means we have to buy all that we are going to buy of that model card when it is first released....unfortunately at full price. This includes Service Replacements.

    I know the street prices of the few of these cards you can find have of course dropped, but our cost on them sure hasn't as we had to buy them early on at full price.

    Also understand that there isn't just one HD2900. There are many many flavors of it produced by all of ATI's partners. They all present themselves to the driver as a different model internally. Thus it is critical to have the specific flavor of card that we shipped with as a replacement, or alternatively, the specific model that we are currently using.
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    It still doesn't explain the nearly 75% markup between a $450,- graphic card to the $775,- High End charges and High End wouldn't have bought them at "Street Price" so the margin is even bigger.
    "Thus it is critical to have the specific flavor of card that we shipped with as a replacement, or alternatively, the specific model that we are currently using."
    which could be the HD1900xtx , HD1950xtx, HD2900xt, HD3850 series from either Asus, ATI or HIS at the moment from what I gather. Which means about 50% of the ATI top range cards available will definately work according to your logic.
    Its not that I don't agree that High End should sell spare parts but at least keep the price in acceptable range.
    Its still just a computer - nothing more nothing less
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    Clyde,

    I'm not going to get in a debate or argue the situation with you. I just wanted to provide you and others a bit more insight that might not be obvious.

    To correct a few points here:

    1. Believe it or not on a lot of those cards we had to buy above street price as we bought through specific channels within ATI to enable us for a higher level of support from them that was necessary.

    2. I may not have been clear before. Some models we bought from ATI, some were from HIS and some from Asus. For example we shipped with an ATI X1900XTX, that doesn't mean the Asus or HIS versions of that card will be detected or work properly.

    3. I understand the thinking that it is just a standard computer, but it really isn't. That is why I have gone into a lot of detail in this thread explaining a lot of things we normally don't disclose. You can't just open these up and slap in any replacement part you want and expect it to perform properly as you might with a desktop computer. We very carefully choose and test the exact components we use based on a lot of research and testing. In addition, there is a lot of code written around the specific models of video cards that are detected for example as we have a high level of integration deep into the cards.

    I've explained the situation as clearly and openly as I can. I understand you may not be happy with the situation, but I've given as much explanation and insight as I can.

www.etcconnect.com