Asus P4S800 Mobo with graphics artifacts

[yhelothar]

So I'm trying to get this old gaming system set up. It's an Asus P4S800 mobo with a 3GHz P4, SiS648 chipset, AGP8x, GeForce7800GS, Thermaltake w0009 420W PSU

It gets a shitton of graphics artifacts. I tried plugging the 7800GS in an athlonxp system, and the artifacts were gone.

Is the mobo broken? Or could it possibly be some bios setting? Or PSU?

I'm running the latest bios. I tried AGP4X with no luck. It does this without the FSB oc'ed.

 

[Mr.Wolfclaw]

Could be the psu not giving enough juice or the AGP slot going bad.

Also, have you checked that the AGP slots speed is set at 66mhz, some on auto go a little higher and can screw up cards.

 

[yhelothar]

I tried plugging in another PSU... no luck.
I downloaded the latest bios since I read that the latest one has an AGP/PCI lock... I also tried keeping the FSB at stock.

 

[e-drood]

2002 or 2003 mfr --- northbridge heatsink may be partially separated & may need new thermal interface pad + retaining pins/screws

and/or carefully examine ALL electrolytic can capacitors on m.b. for splits & leaks (remember gell like not liquid)

lastly, when was last time you removed hsf from cpu, cleaned/replaced tim & remounted hsf? (pls do not ref servers as real intel passive hs is massive & solidly screwed onto m.b. for lifetime service / ditto lesser brother amd servers)

finally purchase newest production agp graphics card - as periodic required replacement...

 

[yhelothar]

I replaced the thermal paste with some OCZ freeze on the northbridge/CPU heatsink.
How do you examine the capacitors for splits and leaks?

 

[e-drood]

re: north / south passive heatsinks --- also check white or black push-pins/springs for stretching/elongation that loosens h.s. - function of age

re: there are numerous electrolytics ( some larger, many smaller ) leakage usually at motherboard surface through rubber end disk - but can also be split drawn alum shell if gas formed inside capacitor --- using bright small focus torch/flashlight (maglite) or inspection light look at each cap, top and bottom areas for any "wetness" or unusual shiny surface --- sometimes easier to see in bright room / sometimes easier to see in darkened room --- try both inspections --- ALL caps, all over m.b.

re: agp m.b. slot --- check for cracked plastic shell --- if shell ok - "turn over" m.b. and examine soldering of agp contact pins (clearly defined on bottom of mobo) for corrosion, separation from m.b. surface or loose pin (no solder)

finally if you can't find any other defects, examine graphics card (1) re-mount heatsink fan assembly (2) check electrolytic can capacitors for leakage (3) re-install graphics card into m.b. agp connector and after seating GENTLY & ONLY SMALL DISTANCE Rock Graphics Card Side-to-Side while looking at agp connector shell for cracks (if cracked loose signal/power contacts w/ graphics card ONLY ROCK SMALL AMOUNT

new agp graphics cards are not expensive $45-$90 range and 50% of time will solve problem --- rest of time it is motherboard issue

older mobo's develope solder corrosion & leaking caps --- bga chips can be remounted using new solder balls (by specialist firm) and leaking caps can be removed and replaced...

you need to spend time looking at m.b. & vid card for problems

 

[e-drood]

question - have you used same d-sub (or dvi) cable when you checked vid card in amd system?

go into mb bios again and set asus default bios values

last question - the amd system you tried was likely properly grounded/earthed

when you experienced artifacts, was asus mobo in case? or sitting on bench top?

 

[Prey2big]

The artifacts you are describing is a known bug with the SiS-chipsets from that era in combination with GeForce 6000- 7000-series video cards.
I have an old SiS 645DX (Asus P4S533) mobo with a GeForce 7600GT. It's hopeless, I've tried many many drivers and BIOS'es.

Try to pick up a used i865PE or i875P mobo for like ~$10. I did, and they overclock very well aswell.

 

[yhelothar]

Thanks for the advice.

Ah I've been shopping for an i865/i875p board. Old boards go for so much on ebay... $50-80. Where did you find one for $10?

 

[e-drood]

finally someone writes - let go of sis chipset

yes as above +++ you want i875p chipset mb (asus p4c800-e look for)

this is oldest chipset supported by ms win7 os (& w8 os soon)

for my own interest i am still maintaining a p3 & i875p/p4 3.2 o.c.'d (on water) & no issues for 5-yrs / yes 5-yrs --- p3 runs xp & i875p/p4 runs w7 w/o issues

max ram for i875p is 1gbx2 - do not populate all 4 slots - ddr1 max 1gb stick - samsung or micron or kingston no corsair / old ocz...

many old mobos recycled in hong kong --- shamshiupo golden computer center & also 2-blocks over toward garden bakery complex the old computer parts heaven 3-floors...cusl2-c & tusl2-c available & p4c800-e appear various shops...

old intel mb's good / old asus mb's good & faster - p4 3.0 & p4 3.2 final stepping (not prescott!)

 

[Prey2big]

I was browsing online auction-sites for several weeks and saw a few 865PE/875P mobos come and go. Price range varied in the $1-$30 area.

I got mine from www.tradera.com , I think it's swedish only though.