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Is my Mentor GeForce4 MX440 knackered? (long)



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 13th 03, 02:05 AM
Andy Jones
external usenet poster
 
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Default Is my Mentor GeForce4 MX440 knackered? (long)

I have a new computer system that is less than 1 week old, built from
new components

PC System Configuration
--------------------------------------

Windows XP Pro
Epox Motherboard
512MB PC133 SDRAM
Intel Pentium 2.4GHz 400FSB, 512k cache.
120GB HD
Mentor GeForce4 MX440 64MB Core Clock 275MHz, RAMDAC 350MHz


(core clock could be 250MHz, it's stated twice on the box and is
different!) If I have a look at the clock frequencies that the board
is running at in the Nvidia applet it states the default frequencies
(by adding the registry key), the freqs are Core Clock 275MHz, and
Memory 400MHz. This card does not have a fan on the gpu, just a
passive heatsink.

These seem to be different stated frequencies on the box, is the card
being overclocked by the Nvidia drivers, and has the card been cooked!

Sony 21" GDM-500PS Monitor
Directx 9.0b

The above system is not overclocked. (well I've not intentionally
overclocked it!)

Summary of Problem
--------------------------------

I didn't bother installing the drivers that came with the clone Mentor
GeForce4 MX440 card, went immediately to nVidia.com and download the
drivers 52.16. Within the space of a week, after re-visiting Nvidia to
check driver version, another version of the drivers has appeared
version 53.03 which I've just installed. Same problem occurs with
lastest drivers. I've also installed the drivers which were originally
supplied, version 45.23 same problem occurs.

To test the system after first built, I installed Unreal Tournament
2003, and played a few games, for a few minutes all was well, no
problems detected. I also installed Carmegedon TDR 2000, no problems
noticed.

I tried playing the Unreal today, and at startup, when Unreal
displays the animation of the player bursting through the Nvidia
shield, "The Way It's Meant To be Played" the screen flickers and
flashes, at the menu screen, the screen occasionally flashes, and the
game is unplayable. It looks like you can see the polygons/triangles
being drawn. Carmeggedon seems to play okay. Quake III Arena produces
small horizontal lines over the screen.

I've uploaded some snapshots of these Quake III and Unreal sessions to
the following webspace

http://www.cyrusconsultants.demon.co.uk/quakeiii00.jpg
http://www.cyrusconsultants.demon.co.uk/quakeiii01jpg
http://www.cyrusconsultants.demon.co.uk/quakeiii02.jpg
http://www.cyrusconsultants.demon.co.uk/quakeiii03.jpg



Occasionally the Unreal does not start and fails with an assertion
error.

I'm not too sure if it's my imagination, but I occasiionally see
different coloured pixels where they shouldn't be, flickering
especially noticable on Carmeggedon on the menus, eg like little
insects buzzing around.

Occasional pink ring displayed on Windows XP Welcome to Windows Logon
Screen, also displayed on Unreal Tornament first startup logo.

I've also got a few strange out of place pixels/colours/and bars on
the Windows XP Pro startup screen.

Since originally installing Unreal Tournament, Windows XP has been
doing it's general Windows Update thing, and I've installed Flight
Simulator 2003/4.


Things I've tried to resolve problem
-------------------------------------------------------

On another machine, of much lower speciifciation I have a GeForce2 GTS
32MB, and I don't see these different coloured pixels where they
shouldn't be, flickering especially noticable on Carmeggedon on the
menus, eg like little insects buzzing around.

Unreal T 2003, plays okay, abit slower.


I've removed the GeForce4 MX440 64MB and replaced with the GeForce2
GTS from the lower spec machine and replaced the GeForce4 MX440 64MB i
the lower spec machine, and I'm also seeing corrupted pixels on the
screen on the older lower spec machine.

None of the above problems are observed with the GeForce2 The drivers
are the same, the only difference is the hardware graphics card, and
the GF4 card did function correctly initially!

On a side note, I'm surprised that the GeForce4 does produce anymore
fps with my opengl test program, both the GeForce2 and 4, both produce
85 fps!?

Can I assume the GeForce4 MX 440 64MB is knackered? It looks like
failing/failed memory to me!

How can I prove this to the supplier, as they will just fob me off,
with crap, of configuration directx, opengl, Unreal patch etc etc

Is there a video card memory tester?

I'm just about to restore the initial configuration from an image
file, I made before installing any applications, but I'm certain this
is a duff GF4 card!

Any suggestions help appreciated.

AJ
  #2  
Old December 19th 03, 08:51 PM
Andy Jones
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 01:05:34 +0000, Andy Jones
wrote:

big snip


The card was faulty, and was replaced very quickly by vendor, no
questions asked.

AJ
 




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