Author Topic: geforce 3 runs in PCI mode  (Read 430 times)

Offline Kaz

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« on: February 17, 2003, 10:17:40 PM »
I have an nvidia geforce 3 AGP card but it's running in PCI mode for some reason. I updated my mobo BIOS but no luck, what else could be causing this?

noted kbman

Here're my specs

P4 1.5Ghz
asus p4b533-vm mobo
512MB DDR 133Mhz RAM
SB Live! value ed.
nvidia geforce 3 64MB

Gonna try that agp aperture thingy now....
« Last Edit: February 18, 2003, 12:25:09 AM by Kaz »

Offline kbman

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2003, 10:58:48 PM »
Howdy Kaz,
                   No expert here but my 1st guess would be when you updated your BIOS that your AGP aperture setting in the BIOS was somehow changed below the size needed by your vidcard and therefore Windows decided to use PCI mode by default. Reboot your machine and use whatever keypress you need to go to the BIOS and look for AGP aperture size, probably in Chipset Features section and set it at least to the amount of memory on your vidcard, preferably larger ie. twice that much and then test it for stability. I have had this happen with another setting in the BIOS on an older machine that completely hosed it and nobody from Tech Support at MS could help me because they aren't allowed to tell you to go into the BIOS or recommend that you do anything in there expressly because you can hose your box if you screw around in there. Catch-22. This was before I knew very much about computers and was so frustrating and infuriating that I vowed to learn enough to build my next machine myself. Havent spent 1 minute on the phone with a Tech Support "professional" since, thankfully. My ears start to smoke just thinking about it.

Anyways, try that and see if it helps and perhaps someone who knows more than I will post in the meantime. Good luck!

kbman

Oh and BTW, whenever you have any type of question about your machine you need to post ALL of your specs for ALL the hardware in your box and anything else that could possibly be related to the issue at hand. This allows people to actually give you an answer that could be a solution. Otherwise it's all shots in the dark.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2003, 11:07:07 PM by kbman »

Offline Kaz

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2003, 10:13:59 AM »
I tried the aperture size thing but it didn't work. Some info I left out, it's a Gigabyte geforce 3 3000. Went to their site, the bios for that card is dated early 2001 I downloaded it and flashed the card just in case but still no luck. Went to Nvidia's site but I already had the latest version 41.09 reinstalled it just in case but it didn't work. I'm thinking of just dumping the it and getting a new card now heh.

Offline Siaf__csf

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2003, 12:15:24 PM »
I doubt it has anything to do with your videocard, it's your motherboard that's causing the trouble.

You can test this easily by installing another (loaned) videocard. If it shows normal AGP, then ditch the card. If not, it's time to either fix or replace your mobo.

Offline kbman

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Calling Bloom25!
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2003, 12:58:56 PM »
Hmmm,
            That MoBo is exceptionally well regarded by many HW sites on the web. I was hoping to build my next system around one. It could be that it's just a bad one and needs to be returned for another. I would love to see Bloom25's thoughts on your problem. You could go and purchase a new vidcard from somewhere with a good return policy(no restocking fee) and try Siaf's suggested test.
One other point is that the latest version of Nvidia reference drivers is quite often NOT the best choice especially if you aren't running them on the latest generation Vidcard. I am not convinced that this is your problem at all though because as Siaf stated, this type of problem is almost certainly related to the MoBo itself or the BIOS.

kbman

Just had another idea...go get Sysoft Sandra. (free demo version)
It's probably the best diagnostics and benchmarking utility available and see what it says about your system. It has a tips and hints feature that may provide some useful info and can also generate full reports so that those knowledgable can have more complete information to help you with.
« Last Edit: February 18, 2003, 01:09:35 PM by kbman »

Offline Kaz

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2003, 02:34:25 PM »
Thanks again guys, don't have another AGP card lying around so my best bet would be to buy another vid card and see if I get the same probs (one with a good return policy as kbman mentioned). In the mean time I'll try sandy girl n see what she has to say.

Offline Kaz

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2003, 04:25:10 PM »
I got sandy, played around with her for a bit and this it what she told me.

Tip T2513 AGP Bus is unused or AGP card not fully AGP compatible.

Tip T2525 Current AGP data rate not optimal.

Offline blackfalcon4

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2003, 08:19:22 AM »
Kaz,

 In your bios, make sure that primary vid display is set to agp not pci (default is pci),any vid shadowing or cacheing disabled, assign irq to vid, aperture 128mb, agp 4x and fast writes enabled.
Oh yea and use the nvidia 30.82's. Can get them here Drivers    

 Hope it helps
« Last Edit: February 19, 2003, 08:22:28 AM by blackfalcon4 »

Offline Kaz

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geforce 3 runs in PCI mode
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2003, 08:59:14 PM »
Tried that stuff you mentioned blackfalcon still no go so i bought a new card ati 9500 pro and still the same problem so it's the mobo that has the faulty agp slot. asus p4b533-vm, i'll return it, didn't buy it too long ago hopefully next one will work. thanks for all the help guys i appreciate it really.