AGP 8X + Radeon 9700 Works Great!!!

[Mootorks]

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading alot of posts of people not getting their new AGP 8X motherboards and Radeon 9700's to cooperate. Well, I just recieved my parts yesterday, including:

ATI Retail 9700 Pro - DLJ Systems
ASUS P4S8X - Knowledge Micro
P3 2.53 - googlegear
Corsair XMS 512 CAS2 PC3200 - googlegear

After a quick assembly, I'm proud to report everything runs smoothly!! So far I've tested my system with various games and 3DMark, and I have yet to experience a problem! Jedi Knight II and SOF II run beautifully at 1280x1024 with 4XAA and 16XAF. All this running at AGP 8X. I would like to chat more, but i must return to playing video games

-Mootorks

 

[Rick67]

Mootorks,

Glad to hear everything is working out for you.

I've purchased the exact same components as you. I'm also going to be receiving my mobo from Knowledgemicro.com on Tuesday.

Are you using the mobo BIOS that came with your mobo or did you download a beta version off the web? Also, do you think you can tell me what P/N (Part Number) your Radeon is? It's on a little white sticker on the back of your card. One more thing if you don't mind. Is your Corsair XMS memory XMS2700v1.3?

Thanks and keep us posted if anything pops up!

 

[Mickey21]

No, he put right there that it is a Corsair XMS3200 Cas 2 not a XMS2700...........
Got the same chip btw it is great... Havent gotten my P4S8X though....

 

[Rick67]

Oops! Sorry about that, I thought it said 2700.

 

[Mootorks]

Rick67,

I'm using the Bios that came with the motherboard. Apparently the reason the P4S8X was initially delayed was to correct the AGP 8X compatibility. As a result almost all the motherboards available are loaded with the newest beta bios 1003a. This is not even available on the ASUS's website.

As for the pin number... hold on let me get a flashlight... Ahh

1029420610 063360

I'm not really sure what you can gleem from the PIN number, but there it is for your convenience.

As for my ram, as mickey mentioned, it is PC3200 CAS2 ram with a version number of 1.1

If you have any other questions let me know.

Back to gaming

-Mootorks

 

[BLiT45]

Hiya Moortorks (sp?)...

I am actually planning on getting the same exact setup you have, same memory, everything. I was initially turned off the PC3200 since I heard the new SiS 648's don't really support it officially, and it could have issues. I wanted to ask, how are you running that memory, is it in DDR333 mode? Ummm...why did you choose to go with the PC3200 instead of the PC2700? Also, (sorry about the questions I don't want to interrupt you gaming too much), also...were you thinking of overclocking the processor, and why did you choose the SiS over a Mobo that would be more easily overclockable if so? Did you like the Mutiol (sp?) speed added between the North and South bridges feature, or was it something else?

Thanks, if you can't reply to all of the questions, that's ok...

 

[Rick67]

Mootorks,

Have you ran your system through all the standard stress tests? Any problems?

 

[Mootorks]

Hello All,

Sorry it took me so long to reply. Being a Penn State student, i had a few drinking obligations this evening Regardless, to answer your questions...

Blit45, My ram is currently running DDR333 at the most aggressive timings. Initially however, for installing windows XP the ram was set to the SPD settings in the BIOS. I have since changed them to run at aggressive timings. I have not tried the DDR 400 setting. Once the Radeon 9700 issues are settled I will experiment with DDR 400. Until then a stable DDR333 suits me fine.

As for why I chose the ASUS P4S8X, it was not because of the overclocking. If I wanted overclocking features I would have gone with the ABIT IT7. I choose P4S8X because I wanted a motherboard that would last me two years or so. Being a college student, I can not afford to buy the latest and greatest hardware every six months or so. My previous computer was a P3 800, so this upgrade was a long time coming. I wanted this upgrade to last me a the next two years. Therefore since the P4S8X had the most features (integrated firewire, USB 2.0, ATA 133, and AGP 8X), and a great performer to bat, it was an obvious choice. I am confident this motherboard will last me for the next two years.

Rick 67,

Yes i have run a few tests and have indeed run into problems. However I am not overall concerned with these problems. The most egregious errors I have encountered are known errors. These include instantaneous crashed running Dungeon Siege, Warcraft III, and the no text box issues in Battlefield 1942. However from reading the Rage3d forums, i am confident these errors will be fixed with the next release of drivers. Even though these errors are significant, I am willing to let them slide since A the card is new B i spent alot of money and I want this card to work C the card works great in JK2, SOF2, RTCW, Q3, UT.... Without a doubt this is by far the most superior system I have ever built, even with the errors.

-Mootorks