Ahh.. Did I install my graphics card correctly?

[iceliquid]

Note this is not a new card, just recently aquired it, bare card only w/ original cd.

I just acquired an Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT2 Value by Creative Labs and having some troubles running MDK2 on it. Which makes me concern for future potential problems and I don't believe it's an hardware problem.

Clue 1: I haven't played MDK2 on my previous card (matrox g400 32mb dual head) but used it to test the card to make sure it's 3-d was fully functioning, and it was. Now when I put in this new card and download the Win2k drivers from Creative's website and test MDK2's "Test Settings" feature, it reports 3.15 average FPS.. LOL
When MDK2's Launcher comes up, the only driver option is gives me is "Default OpenGL Driver" and according to the manual on the CD for the card, which isn't the latest, under 3D Featuers, it says "Single pass multi-texturing support (DirectX 6.x and OpenGL ICD"

And I also notice that the CPU is maxed out when the test is run, which didn't happen before with my G400. I suspect it's not using the TNT2 card but instead is using the CPU, which wasn't the case with my G400.


Clue 2: according to Creative's website, prior to installing the newly download software for Win2k,

)"

<< This release requires the following files to be pre-installed prior to installing this release:

* Microsoft DirectX ver 7 or higher
* Microsoft DXMedia ver 6 or higher
* Latest Creative drivers build 634 or higher
>>




Clue 3: Using, DirectX Diagnostic Tool available from Win2k (Run command - dxdiag.exe), I've learned that I do indeed have DXMedia 6.1 and according to Microsoft's website and others from the forum, I also do have DirectX 7 installed, which makes sense. But I have no idea what they mean when they say,



<< Latest Creative drivers build 634 or higher >>





Under the Display tab in the diagnostic tool, The &quot;Test DirectDraw&quot; works fine but run into some trouble when I attempt to &quot;Test Direct3D&quot;. I get this message towards the bottom of the Notes screen:



<< Direct3D test results: Failure at step 18 (CreateDevice): HRESULT = 0x80004002 (No interface) >>



This is after seeing the test in which a 3-d cube is shown rotating.
Update: I remember that my agp was running at 2x even though it's capable of running at 4x. How can I bump it back to 4x?

Can you guys please offer some insights? This is a newly reinstalled win2k OS. TIA!

 

[iceliquid]

any suggestions?

 

[corkyg]

Put the G400 back in. TNT cards sucketh greatly.

 

[iceliquid]

corky-g, did not know TNT cards sucked that much

But for various reasons, I need the G400 in another computer, mainly this one I'm on now.. LOL

 

[gtd2000]

I wouldn't say TNT cards sucketh greatly, in fairness it's relative.
I have been experiencing problems with MDK2 and my Geforce 256, a lot of strange 180 degree turnarounds when going into the next stage etc after loading..
It is generally very smooth and fast though...but I am experiencing very big slowdowns at certain points - which does not happen in other games.
What resolution are u playing at - and is that a TNT2 M64 version? If so going about 800x600 supposedly is a big slowdown..probably better with 640x480 on an M64

 

[iceliquid]

gtd 2000, the DirectX Diagnostic Tool does indicate that it's an NVidia Riva TNT2 Model 64.



<< probably better with 640x480 on an M64 >>



I had originally tested it at higher resolutions and gradually decreased it with the same result. The cpu is maxed in each situation and I get about 2-3 FPS on each setting. I think I'm truely missing something.

I downloaded the 5.86 mb file from creative's site here and installed it. But I did not have any prior Creative Labs software installed. I think this could be the missing link. Ideas?

 

[gtd2000]

Have you tested the card with another game?

 

[iceliquid]

testing it w/ Microsoft Age of Empires and it worked. I also have Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, but never tried installing nor played it before so I don't know if it's a 3-D game.

 

[gtd2000]

Are you using cable or a 56K?

 

[iceliquid]

have dial up but connect at 26.6

BTW, I remember that when I had the G400 in, I believe I was running it at 4x on the AGP, but not I recall seeing a setting somewhere when I was diagnosing it that the TNT card was running at 2x.

 

[puffpio]

you should try some reference drivers rather than that creative stuff

other than that...i dunno..get dx8?

 

[iceliquid]

pio, reference drivers? where can I obtain them? I'm not much of a gamer sometimes I feel pretty clueless to all this OpenGL 3D stuff

 

[gtd2000]

Well, get the latest drivers Here then install them.

Goto a site such as Tucows and then goto the Games downloads and get something like Halflife or Quake II or III demos to test out your gaming performance in 3D

To benchmark your card/system search for a download for 3DMark2000 and then &quot;benchmark&quot; your system.

 

[iceliquid]

Hot Diggity!!!! Those drivers did it! Thanks gtd 2000

I really appreciate you taking the time and going through and helping me. A truly kind and generous soul.

MDK2 runs smoother than my G400, which was really surprising! I've never been into 3D gaming much but I was quite impressed with this tnt2 value. Man, and that's a low end card, can't imagine what the newer ones can do

Just gotta troubleshoot a few things and I think it'll be hummie sweet tunes. i.e. just as MDK2 finishes it's test run and is about to show the FPS rate, the computer resets itself... doh!

 

[gtd2000]

There is a patch for MDK2 at Tucows also, I've just DL'd it but not yet tried it out.
Look under Games/downloads/Patches.

The nVidia TNT range of cards are very good for 3D apps and you should be quite happy with it indeed

The main critisism they get is for 2D image quality. However, I can't really say I have any complaints with either my old TNT 16MB or my current GeForce 256 32MB

People generally buy them to play 3D games so it's not that big a deal.