ATI 9000 Pro with Catalyst 3.4 to 3.6 problems

Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 pro cards (or the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs using Catalyst 3.4, 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, I get flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especially in the snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get textures ripping and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any other manufacturer's programs. I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-sync and it didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars of textures it appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision are turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing and Madden 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had that with each of my different systems. I thought everything was happening because my machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvision filtering but that turned out not to be the case. My previous system was as follows: Abit BH6 (original) motherboard 256 meg of RAM 600mhz Slot 1 Pentium 3 o/c to 800mhz My current system is as follows: Asus P4P800 motherboard 512 megs of dual DDR400 RAM Pentium 4 2.4c o/c to 3.2 Ghz So my system nowdays should be plenty fast. I even get over 36fps in FS2004. I thought perhaps my system was overheating, especially the memory, but I put Thermaltake copper cooling kits on my DDR memory and heatsinks on my ATI 9000 Pro. However, it doesn't seem to help. Anyone have any ideas? I'm actually thinking it might actually be the Catalyst drivers, especially the newest ones because it appears that anisotropic and smoothvision filtering take place regardless of my settings. There's no place to turn it off. Thanks for any thoughts or ideas. Nathan

Hi Hmm, I can't help you much except to say that I have used Catalyst 3.4-3.6 on my ATI Radeon 9800 Pro with no problems, so I don't think it has anything to do with the drivers in it self. You seem to o/c quite a lot and you describe that most games don't run as they should - maybe you should try to not o/c and see how things go. Question is also do you really need Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision? I turn it off to get more speed. [DTO]Pvt.MoneyShot P.S. I have had some heating problems that was solved by adding some extra fans in my tower, but other than that it runs like a dream. "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:e7b5b.8335$[email hidden]... > Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 pro cards (or > the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs using Catalyst3.4,

Quoted text (11 lines)

> 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, I get > flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especially in the > snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get textures ripping > and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any other manufacturer's > programs. > > I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-sync and it > didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars of textures it > appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision are > turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing and Madden > 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had that with

each

Quoted text (17 lines)

> of my different systems. I thought everything was happening because my > machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvision filtering but > that turned out not to be the case. > > My previous system was as follows: > > Abit BH6 (original) motherboard > 256 meg of RAM > 600mhz Slot 1 Pentium 3 o/c to 800mhz > > My current system is as follows: > > Asus P4P800 motherboard > 512 megs of dual DDR400 RAM > Pentium 4 2.4c o/c to 3.2 Ghz > > So my system nowdays should be plenty fast. I even get over 36fps in

FS2004. > I thought perhaps my system was overheating, especially the memory, but I > put Thermaltake copper cooling kits on my DDR memory and heatsinks on myATI > 9000 Pro. However, it doesn't seem to help. > > Anyone have any ideas? I'm actually thinking it might actually be the > Catalyst drivers, especially the newest ones because it appears that > anisotropic and smoothvision filtering take place regardless of mysettings.

Quoted text (7 lines)

> There's no place to turn it off. > > Thanks for any thoughts or ideas. > > Nathan > >

Thanks for the reply. I tried using the computer at the default 2.4Ghz and it didn't help. "Jesper Bentzen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:3f563a0d$0$411$[email hidden]... > Hi > > Hmm, I can't help you much except to say that I have used Catalyst 3.4-3.6 > on my ATI Radeon 9800 Pro with no problems, so I don't think it hasanything > to do with the drivers in it self. > > You seem to o/c quite a lot and you describe that most games don't run as > they should - maybe you should try to not o/c and see how things go. > > Question is also do you really need Anisotropic filtering andSmoothvision?

Quoted text (10 lines)

> I turn it off to get more speed. > > [DTO]Pvt.MoneyShot > > P.S. I have had some heating problems that was solved by adding some extra > fans in my tower, but other than that it runs like a dream. > > "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:e7b5b.8335$[email hidden]... > > Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 pro cards

(or > > the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs using Catalyst > 3.4, > > 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, I get > > flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especially inthe > > snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get texturesripping > > and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any other manufacturer's > > programs. > > > > I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-sync andit > > didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars of textures it > > appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision are > > turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing andMadden > > 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had that with > each > > of my different systems. I thought everything was happening because my > > machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvision filteringbut

Quoted text (17 lines)

> > that turned out not to be the case. > > > > My previous system was as follows: > > > > Abit BH6 (original) motherboard > > 256 meg of RAM > > 600mhz Slot 1 Pentium 3 o/c to 800mhz > > > > My current system is as follows: > > > > Asus P4P800 motherboard > > 512 megs of dual DDR400 RAM > > Pentium 4 2.4c o/c to 3.2 Ghz > > > > So my system nowdays should be plenty fast. I even get over 36fps in > FS2004. > > I thought perhaps my system was overheating, especially the memory, but

I

Quoted text (17 lines)

> > put Thermaltake copper cooling kits on my DDR memory and heatsinks on my > ATI > > 9000 Pro. However, it doesn't seem to help. > > > > Anyone have any ideas? I'm actually thinking it might actually be the > > Catalyst drivers, especially the newest ones because it appears that > > anisotropic and smoothvision filtering take place regardless of my > settings. > > There's no place to turn it off. > > > > Thanks for any thoughts or ideas. > > > > Nathan > > > > > >

My issue was almost the same - Playing mohaa would work fine for about the first 5 minutes - then some bits would appear, flashing at random. Then a texture or two would turn a neon hue. Come to find out the Radeon card was over heating - granted its a 9200, I picked up for $90. But still - it should work out of the box. The heatsink was over 140 degrees F after a hour of game play. My case is very ventilated (8 x 80mm fans), my case may reach 80 degrees F and cpu hardly every reach 110 F so I returned it and got a GeForce FX 5200 and haven't had a problem since. Looking back, this card was built by Powercolor... a seemingly offbrand builder of ATI cards. I should have inspected the card more closely before buying it. The heatsink itself was about the same size as the one on my Via KT400 northbridge. "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<QGy5b.9260$[email hidden]>...

Quoted text (84 lines)

> Thanks for the reply. I tried using the computer at the default 2.4Ghz and > it didn't help. > > "Jesper Bentzen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:3f563a0d$0$411$[email hidden]... > > Hi > > > > Hmm, I can't help you much except to say that I have used Catalyst 3.4-3.6 > > on my ATI Radeon 9800 Pro with no problems, so I don't think it has > anything > > to do with the drivers in it self. > > > > You seem to o/c quite a lot and you describe that most games don't run as > > they should - maybe you should try to not o/c and see how things go. > > > > Question is also do you really need Anisotropic filtering and > Smoothvision? > > I turn it off to get more speed. > > > > [DTO]Pvt.MoneyShot > > > > P.S. I have had some heating problems that was solved by adding some extra > > fans in my tower, but other than that it runs like a dream. > > > > "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:e7b5b.8335$[email hidden]... > > > Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 pro cards > (or > > > the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs using Catalyst > 3.4, > > > 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, I get > > > flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especially in > the > > > snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get textures > ripping > > > and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any other manufacturer's > > > programs. > > > > > > I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-sync and > it > > > didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars of textures it > > > appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision are > > > turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing and > Madden > > > 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had that with > each > > > of my different systems. I thought everything was happening because my > > > machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvision filtering > but > > > that turned out not to be the case. > > > > > > My previous system was as follows: > > > > > > Abit BH6 (original) motherboard > > > 256 meg of RAM > > > 600mhz Slot 1 Pentium 3 o/c to 800mhz > > > > > > My current system is as follows: > > > > > > Asus P4P800 motherboard > > > 512 megs of dual DDR400 RAM > > > Pentium 4 2.4c o/c to 3.2 Ghz > > > > > > So my system nowdays should be plenty fast. I even get over 36fps in > FS2004. > > > I thought perhaps my system was overheating, especially the memory, but > I > > > put Thermaltake copper cooling kits on my DDR memory and heatsinks on my > ATI > > > 9000 Pro. However, it doesn't seem to help. > > > > > > Anyone have any ideas? I'm actually thinking it might actually be the > > > Catalyst drivers, especially the newest ones because it appears that > > > anisotropic and smoothvision filtering take place regardless of my > settings. > > > There's no place to turn it off. > > > > > > Thanks for any thoughts or ideas. > > > > > > Nathan > > > > > > > > > >

Not sure overheating is the problem- actually ATI cards don't make as much heat as some of the GeForce cards do, and the Radeon 9000 doesn't have high cooling requirements. I get similar things happening with a Radeon 9700 Pro in OpenGL games like Medal of Honor (texture tearing and artifacts, although very briefly and it's not very often but still looks ugly), yet this doesn't occur in D3D- except BF 1942, for some reason I've seen a very wierd artifacting there too, although it only occurs on some maps (like Berlin). I haven't messed with the clock of the card ever. My guess is its a driver problem if not some underlying hardware bug. If it were overheating/overclocking or just fried, I'd see it in every game, I would think. Perhaps ATI is making too agressive of optimizations and "broke" something, or their OpenGL drivers just need more work. Also, the AGP voltage might not be right. I just don't know enough about these things to say for sure. Curiously enough, I've seen the same problem with Battlefield and a GeForce FX... so who knows... might be something on the motherboard. It would be great to find a utility you could test the "health" of your videocard, memory, etc. Look for failing transistors or parts, and so on, because the problem is disconcerting. "oldsupportguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted text (18 lines)

> My issue was almost the same - Playing mohaa would work fine for about > the first 5 minutes - then some bits would appear, flashing at random. > Then a texture or two would turn a neon hue. > > Come to find out the Radeon card was over heating - granted its a > 9200, I picked up for $90. But still - it should work out of the box. > The heatsink was over 140 degrees F after a hour of game play. > My case is very ventilated (8 x 80mm fans), my case may reach 80 > degrees F and cpu hardly every reach 110 F so I returned it and got a > GeForce FX 5200 and haven't had a problem since. > > Looking back, this card was built by Powercolor... a seemingly > offbrand builder of ATI cards. I should have inspected the card more > closely before buying it. The heatsink itself was about the same size > as the one on my Via KT400 northbridge. > > > "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<QGy5b.9260$[email hidden]>... > > Thanks for the reply. I tried using the computer at the default 2.4Ghzand

Quoted text (7 lines)

> > it didn't help. > > > > "Jesper Bentzen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:3f563a0d$0$411$[email hidden]... > > > Hi > > > > > > Hmm, I can't help you much except to say that I have used Catalyst

3.4-3.6 > > > on my ATI Radeon 9800 Pro with no problems, so I don't think it has > > anything > > > to do with the drivers in it self. > > > > > > You seem to o/c quite a lot and you describe that most games don't runas

Quoted text (9 lines)

> > > they should - maybe you should try to not o/c and see how things go. > > > > > > Question is also do you really need Anisotropic filtering and > > Smoothvision? > > > I turn it off to get more speed. > > > > > > [DTO]Pvt.MoneyShot > > > > > > P.S. I have had some heating problems that was solved by adding some

extra > > > fans in my tower, but other than that it runs like a dream. > > > > > > "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > news:e7b5b.8335$[email hidden]... > > > > Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 procards > > (or > > > > the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs usingCatalyst > > 3.4, > > > > 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, Iget > > > > flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especiallyin > > the > > > > snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get textures > > ripping > > > > and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any othermanufacturer's > > > > programs. > > > > > > > > I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-syncand > > it > > > > didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars oftextures it > > > > appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvisionare > > > > turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing and > > Madden > > > > 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had thatwith > > each > > > > of my different systems. I thought everything was happening becausemy > > > > machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvisionfiltering

Quoted text (18 lines)

> > but > > > > that turned out not to be the case. > > > > > > > > My previous system was as follows: > > > > > > > > Abit BH6 (original) motherboard > > > > 256 meg of RAM > > > > 600mhz Slot 1 Pentium 3 o/c to 800mhz > > > > > > > > My current system is as follows: > > > > > > > > Asus P4P800 motherboard > > > > 512 megs of dual DDR400 RAM > > > > Pentium 4 2.4c o/c to 3.2 Ghz > > > > > > > > So my system nowdays should be plenty fast. I even get over 36fps in > > FS2004. > > > > I thought perhaps my system was overheating, especially the memory,

but > > I > > > > put Thermaltake copper cooling kits on my DDR memory and heatsinkson my > > ATI > > > > 9000 Pro. However, it doesn't seem to help. > > > > > > > > Anyone have any ideas? I'm actually thinking it might actually bethe

Quoted text (12 lines)

> > > > Catalyst drivers, especially the newest ones because it appears that > > > > anisotropic and smoothvision filtering take place regardless of my > > settings. > > > > There's no place to turn it off. > > > > > > > > Thanks for any thoughts or ideas. > > > > > > > > Nathan > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

"nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<e7b5b.8335$[email hidden]>...

Quoted text (16 lines)

> Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 pro cards (or > the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs using Catalyst 3.4, > 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, I get > flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especially in the > snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get textures ripping > and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any other manufacturer's > programs. > > I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-sync and it > didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars of textures it > appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision are > turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing and Madden > 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had that with each > of my different systems. I thought everything was happening because my > machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvision filtering but > that turned out not to be the case.

I am getting a similar problem in Spearhead and Breakthrough singleplay. I get small white boxes on the ground where an enemy is standing when I shoot him. Tried changing all settings, resolution, reducing Windows acceleration, installing newest drivers, etc... no luck. Also... I am also getting a crash to the briefing room when I am in the 3rd Breakthrough mission (Flush out the bunker - after mine clearing by tanks). It is when I enter the room with the winding staircase heading up. Dell Dimension 8200 P4 2Ghz 512 MB RAM NVidia GeForce 4 ti4600 Windows XP Home Nothing is overclocked. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Robert

[email hidden] (Rob) wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted text (9 lines)

> Dell Dimension 8200 > P4 2Ghz > 512 MB RAM > NVidia GeForce 4 ti4600 > Windows XP Home > > Nothing is overclocked. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. > > Robert

The general consensus here is the older motherboards may contribute. I have an Asus A7a and it has lots of graphic flaws in F1 Challenge and F1 2k2. Others here with the same motherboard said their similar problems went away after buying a newer mb. dave henrie

Hmm, are you running an original version of the game? I have seen the problem you describe on a pirate version of the game, but on my original there is no problem. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro and it runs without problems ( I had a few heat related issues, they were solved the instant I cooled things down with my 8 fan chasis) "Rob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in messagenews:<e7b5b.8335$[email hidden]>... > > Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 pro cards(or > > the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs using Catalyst3.4, > > 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, I get > > flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especially inthe > > snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get texturesripping > > and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any other manufacturer's > > programs. > > > > I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-sync andit > > didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars of textures it > > appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision are > > turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing andMadden > > 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had that witheach > > of my different systems. I thought everything was happening because my > > machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvision filteringbut

Quoted text (23 lines)

> > that turned out not to be the case. > > I am getting a similar problem in Spearhead and Breakthrough > singleplay. I get small white boxes on the ground where an enemy is > standing when I shoot him. > > Tried changing all settings, resolution, reducing Windows > acceleration, installing newest drivers, etc... no luck. > > Also... I am also getting a crash to the briefing room when I am in > the 3rd Breakthrough mission (Flush out the bunker - after mine > clearing by tanks). It is when I enter the room with the winding > staircase heading up. > > Dell Dimension 8200 > P4 2Ghz > 512 MB RAM > NVidia GeForce 4 ti4600 > Windows XP Home > > Nothing is overclocked. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. > > Robert

"Jesper M. Bentzen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<3f732ca6$0$13263$[email hidden]>... > Hmm, are you running an original version of the game? I have seen the > problem you describe on a pirate version of the game, but on my original > there is no problem. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro and it runs without > problems ( I had a few heat related issues, they were solved the instant I > cooled things down with my 8 fan chasis) > Yes, the game is a pckaged version bought from Best Buy (actually Future Shop, but they are the same company). The key to getting rid of the problems with the graphics was to uninstall all things MOH and then reinstall. No white boxes on the ground. I am now going back and forth with their technical support about the crashing to the briefing room. Thanks for all the assistance folks. Robert

My god ppl, take your side cover off and you don't need any case fans.... "Jesper M. Bentzen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:3f732ca6$0$13263$[email hidden]...

Quoted text (13 lines)

> Hmm, are you running an original version of the game? I have seen the > problem you describe on a pirate version of the game, but on my original > there is no problem. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro and it runs without > problems ( I had a few heat related issues, they were solved the instant I > cooled things down with my 8 fan chasis) > > "Rob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > "nathantw" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:<e7b5b.8335$[email hidden]>... > > > Does anyone have the following problem with ATI Radeon 9000 pro cards > (or > > > the other cards in general) when using EA Games programs using

Catalyst > 3.4, > > > 3.5, and 3.6? For example, in Medal of Honor, including Spearhead, Iget > > > flashing red squares showing up on the walls and floors, especially in > the > > > snow. In F1 2002 (with GTR Racing) and Madden 2003 I get textures > ripping > > > and flashing everywhere. I don't get this with any othermanufacturer's > > > programs. > > > > > > I've tried using the Omega drivers without luck. I've tried V-sync and > it > > > didn't help. In the case of the ripping and flashing bars of texturesit > > > appears to come on whenever Anisotropic filtering and Smoothvision are > > > turned on. This is especially true with F1 2002 and GTR Racing and > Madden > > > 2003. As for the flashing red squares in Medal of Honor I had thatwith

Quoted text (29 lines)

> each > > > of my different systems. I thought everything was happening because my > > > machine wasn't fast enough for anisotropic and smoothvision filtering > but > > > that turned out not to be the case. > > > > I am getting a similar problem in Spearhead and Breakthrough > > singleplay. I get small white boxes on the ground where an enemy is > > standing when I shoot him. > > > > Tried changing all settings, resolution, reducing Windows > > acceleration, installing newest drivers, etc... no luck. > > > > Also... I am also getting a crash to the briefing room when I am in > > the 3rd Breakthrough mission (Flush out the bunker - after mine > > clearing by tanks). It is when I enter the room with the winding > > staircase heading up. > > > > Dell Dimension 8200 > > P4 2Ghz > > 512 MB RAM > > NVidia GeForce 4 ti4600 > > Windows XP Home > > > > Nothing is overclocked. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. > > > > Robert > >

On Fri, 03 Oct 2003 01:09:56 GMT, "Dirty Harry" <[email hidden]> wrote: >My god ppl, take your side cover off and you don't need any case fans.... But then my PC sounds like a vacuum cleaner :-/ Andre

"Dirty Harry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:E%3fb.7206$9l5.7186@pd7tw2no... > My god ppl, take your side cover off and you don't need any case fans.... But then you get more dust and noise, and spoil the designed airflow, which often results in hot spots, especially in the crowded area where AGP and PCI cards are jammed.. If it were as simple as you suggest, nobody would run with side covers. In fact, some people have tried it both ways and found temps were actually lower with them on. YMMV.

My Overclocked Barton and my overclocked radeon 9800 seem to run just fine, no case fans=less noise, as fas as the dust goes, you'd have to put a filter infront of all your fans to stop that, but that would also stop the airflow...hmmm. "Skid" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:k2hfb.208238$[email hidden]... > > "Dirty Harry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:E%3fb.7206$9l5.7186@pd7tw2no... > > My god ppl, take your side cover off and you don't need any casefans.... > > But then you get more dust and noise, and spoil the designed airflow,which > often results in hot spots, especially in the crowded area where AGP andPCI

Quoted text (7 lines)

> cards are jammed.. > > If it were as simple as you suggest, nobody would run with side covers. In > fact, some people have tried it both ways and found temps were actually > lower with them on. YMMV. > >

"Dirty Harry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:XWhfb.10861$pl3.9027@pd7tw3no... > My Overclocked Barton and my overclocked radeon 9800 seem to run justfine, > no case fans=less noise, as fas as the dust goes, you'd have to put afilter > infront of all your fans to stop that, but that would also stop the > airflow...hmmm. Nah, so long as you use the proper material for a filter it won't disrupt the airflow. I cut a piece out of woman's nylons (no jokes please) and use that. Stretch it tight over the fan and hold it in place with an elastic band. Works great.