"RickB" wrote in message ...
They sent me the same email. Since I posted I've done hours of research on
the net. Here is what I've found:
1) The problem is not confined to ATI. Nvida cards have the same issue.
For normal use/fsb there were no errors other than some trouble
with USB 2.0 enabled in BIOS (P4 Soyo board).
For myself...same everything...
ATI-7500 64mb had no error (ran card 6 months)
ATI-8500LE 64mb had no error (ran card 2 months)
ATI-9500pro 128mb error on any fsb overclock
although some rare startup graphics glitches...
which leads me to suspect the ATI card BIOS and
not just their vga driver. Oddly...no graphic startup
glitches since I removed the manuf. shim under card
fan and used a bit of arctic silver to mount to video processor.
Also quite a bit cooler to touch backside of video card where
the video processor is located.
(chassis 35c, P4 45c)...but video glitch came up at much lower
temps and is stable now at default fsb.
**had to disable BIOS setting for USB 2.0 mainboard support,
but only to "setup the card with winxp", also disabling all the
usb devices until AFTER card drivers installed helps in cases.
2) The problem is most prevalent on XP, although it can show up on 2000.
Not tried this, but will do some more testing over weeked to see
what card bios or video drivers may be better. Win98 or WinME
will be more forgiving to fsb speeds and processor overclocks
than Win2k.
3) The problem is aggravated by video drivers that "push" a card to its
limits.
I suspect just one timing error or synchoniztion setting,
could be some new critter/feature introduced lately by
the video card.
4) There is currently a lot of finger pointing going on between the video
card companies, Microsoft, and the MB manufacturers.
I don't think it;s MS, the cards most effected are newer than the OS's.
Possibly the MB manufacturers...won't be first time I've seen mainboard
BIOS's that don't work/recognize/synchronize AGP slots for video....this
is usually more in line with address spaces not assigned correctly.
As for video card companies...I don't think they test on all the boards
and not many boards test with cards as they come out. Should be some
3rd party "validating" facility for sound and video confirmations w/boards.
But yes...the BIOS's are likely not set perfectly, and video drivers are
set with way too many options (gui etc)...just a plain jane that works!
5) Some people think it's a power supply problem. I tend to doubt this for
2 reasons. 1 - if it were a hardware/PS problem, the OS wouldn't matter and
2 - I have a 550W power supply. 550W is way overkill for a machine with a
video card, a controller, 4 DIMMs, and a sound card. I have monitoring
software that shows plenty of capacity to spare.
I can see power to video a problem a few years ago...but you can set
the voltage in BIOS now, and the ATI already has an extra power connector
for the 9500/9700/9800...what is that?...window dressing?
In my case, I still point the finger at ATI.
Some goes to the via (in my case) miniports for the agp...
too many critters involved here.
mainboard and bios...via chipsets and drivers...and ati (for one thing)
The fact remains that I had a
system that had NEVER displayed any issues until I upgraded to newer
drivers. Uninstalling and going back to previous drivers did not solve the
issue. This morning, I once again uninstalled all ATI drivers, rebooted,
manually removed all ATI registry entries, and reinstalled the drivers from
2/28/03. I have been crash free for 3 hours (did I just give myself the
kiss of death?). If my machine continues to be crash free, then it was the
registry settings that were causing the issues. ATI should be more careful
about removing their own garbage remnants from the registry, at the very
least.
Many programs leave "garbage" in the registry,
there should be a fine for littering! Then they_all
bitch at MS or the users....just sloppy programming
for the install/uninstall functions...no excuses for that.
This site has the best information on the issue:
http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=64
Thanks Rick...but I have done most of that and more.
I don't think the gpu is cooled properly....for one thing.
Also the default mem/gpu clock timings in vid card bios
maybe too aggressive (high). I am actually going to try
dropping then about 10% and see if higher fsb is ok then.
Most of my concern is overall stabiltiy and not highest 3D.
In the old days...underclocking gave longer cpu life/stability.
I have the ATI retail 9500pro, it's biggest value here is great
color, sharp edges on graphics and dual monitor html editing.
Some games played...even the ATI 7500 was good enough
and the 8500 was quick but not as clear colors.
Ok...thanks for the info, good luck!
--
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