Video memory test fail.

[ThinkPad]

The PC doctor video test shows that the ATI MOBILITY FIRE GL T2 memory test failed. Any insight as to why this happened would be greatly appreciated.

I have linked a screen shot as well

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l201/ ... oard02.jpg

Thanks

[rkawakami]

A video memory test should be designed to verify that the graphics chip can read and write data correctly with the memory assigned to the chip. That memory can either be built into the graphics chip, be a separate bank of memory (from main memory) or be a portion of the main memory itself. For your particular ATI video chip, it appears that it has 128MB of dedicated DDR memory (integrated into the graphics chip or attached as separate memory in a multi-die package). If the memory inside the graphics chip has developed an error, then you would have to replace the entire ATI chip. Why this happens is usually due to a manufacturing defect which has taken some time to develop into a hard failure. Other causes can be attempting to operate or overclock the system beyond its design parameters. In those cases, the "defect" may be fixed by reverting back to standard operating conditions or permanent damage may have resulted.

I would assume that something caused you to run the PC Doctor video test in the first place, yes? Something like seeing random bits/blocks/lines on the screen?

ref: http://ati.amd.com/products/Mobilityfglt2/index.html

[ThinkPad]

Is there another test to see if the video memory is in fact corrupted? There is nothing wrong with the screen, I just decided to run the tests because I had a little mishap yesterday with the laptop slipping off the bed. The screen and everything works fine...

[GomJabbar]

Unless you are experiencing problems, I would not be too concerned by it. Make sure you are using the latest video driver, and it wouldn't hurt to make sure your BIOS is up to date. Are you using the latest version of PC Doctor?

Note that PC Doctor has reported this error erroneously with some ATI adapters in the past. See following. I know you are not using this same card or driver, but I would still be suspect of your error message unless you are experiencing problems.

Symptoms corrected by the latest video driver (ATI Radeon 200M, X300, X600, FireGL V3200) for Windows 2000/XP - ThinkPad R51e, R52 (1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1870), T43/p (26xx), Z60m

Symptom corrected by Version 8.163.1.1.1-060121a-030334C
(Fix) Video memory test in PC Doctor for Windows fails.

You can check the following link to see if you are up to date on your drivers. You can get your drivers from links in the following webpage. Drivers and software - ThinkPad T42, T42p

[ThinkPad]

I just ran a graphic intense software in highest resolution (Doom 3) and has no issues at all, everything ran smoothly.

I also think I have an outdated bios which I shall be updating. I guess its nothing to really worry about...

Thanks for the information.

[ThinkPad]

I just updated to PC Doctor 5 and all the video tests came out clean! another whew

[rkawakami]

If you ever try testing the video memory again, I'd recommend the DOS version of PC Doctor. That way you won't have Windows interfering with your tests:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-56222 (bootable CD)
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-43283 (diskettes)