Author Topic: video problems (Read 341 times)

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **on:** May 02, 2002, 06:51:22 PM »

I have serious video problems with my computer and AH since I upgraded and I'm trying to return to AH. As soon as I select an arena, the screen flickers like crazy, and when I get to the tower, my computer locks up solid, I have to hit the reset button and reboot.

FIC PA-2013 motherboard rev 2.0 (2MB cache)
AMD K6-III+ 550 CPU
Visiontek GeForce 3 Ti 200 64 MB video card
Creative SB Live! 5.1 soundcard
Seagate 8.4 Gig ATA 33 HD
Zoom 56K v.92 external modem
384 MB of PC100 SDRAM

By the way, I posted this in the technical help area too.

Animal · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2002, 07:42:29 PM »

Man, you need to replace that motherboard, CPU, and hard disk ASAP. Nice video card though, its worth more than the rest of the system

As for your video problem, you forgot to mention what video drivers you are using, what version of windows, directx...

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2002, 10:33:37 PM »

If I could afford to replace the damned thing I would. Unfortunately, I just spent $15K on equipment for my business, which holds a higher priority rating than being able to play AH.

Windows 98, DirectX 8.1, latest NVidia video drivers, VIA 4in1 4.38, and the VIA patches. The BIOS is JI4.33.

Puck · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2002, 11:15:44 PM »

You obviously need to reconsider your priorities. $15k would buy a very nice AH machine, and give you something to do in the cooler besides play with your ball.

I had trouble running AH on my AMD K6-2 500. The video card wasn't the problem, it was the CPU. The K6s have some flaky routines that do not work or play well with DirectX8.

I ended up re-orienting an Intel machine to get past the tribbles. AMD fixed most of those problems when they started the first Athalon cores, though.

bloom25 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2002, 02:46:16 AM »

The GF series cards do not behave well with some early VIA chipsets. Given what you've already tried to resolve the problem, there is something else I would try:

GF series cards often did not work properly on the early VIA chipsets when the AGP bus ran at 2x or 4x rates. Install the VIA AGP driver in "Normal" mode (if this is still and option). This forces AGP 1x. If this isn't an option anymore, this option MAY also be in the bios or available with a driver tweaking utility.

Beyond this, I can't think of much else you can do.

214thCavalier · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2002, 01:03:33 PM »

Try an earlier Nvidia driver latest is not always best or the most stable.

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2002, 01:07:47 PM »

I'm waiting on replies from FIC and VisionTek. Meanwhile, I'm taking Lephturn's advice and trying the "certified" drivers.
Thanks

Lephturn · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2002, 02:00:03 PM »

Oh... and if those don't work... go earlier.

My "always works" version for TnT - GF2 cards on Win2k is the 7.58's. For 98 I'd give the 7.78's a shot if nothing else works... even though you have a later card.

Oh... and go to http://www.guru3d.com and follow the link to Detonator Destroyer. It will let you clean out all traces of other driver versions when you are switching driver sets. Especially important when switching to older drivers.