Do I have a bad video card, or am I doing something wrong?

[freshspace]

I need BIG time help, friends. I just purchased VisionTek 5632 ? 32mb DDR, AGP from Newegg.com. I wanted to go with Radeon 7000 64MB SDR w/TV because of similar price and my good experience with Radeon. However, because of the overwhelming praise by everyone for this card, I wanted to try this card out (and also because Radeon 7000 is "powered by ATI"). I had reservations, because I previously had problems getting VisionTek Nvidia (GF2 MX200 32MB and MX400 64MB) cards to work properly. Well, I am having the same problems. I'm not sure if this card is defective or if I am not installing it correctly. I received the Rev C. card with Infineon 5.5ns chips.

Here are my specs:
Windows XP Professional version (with all the updates)
AMD K6-2 380Mhz (with heatsink and fan)
Soyo MB (5EMA+ v1.1)
250 watt NSpire power source with 2 case fans
3 x 128MB PC100s (2 are Kingston ValueRam, and 1 generic)
20GB IBM 7200 RPM hard drive
Award Bios
I am running my monitor at 1024 x 768.

I thought it was the BIOS. I have gone through the MB manual and "tweaked" the MB to the best of my ability. I?ve tried setting the AGP Aperture at 4mb, 32mb, 64mb, 128mb and it doesn?t help. I have also tried various DIMM timing settings to be 70ns, 60ns, normal, fast, medium and turbo. It is not helping. I've tried the WinXP driver (WinXP recognizes it) and it is not good. I've used the Detonator 23.x driver and it is not good. I've gone to the internet and downloaded the latest Detonator 27.x driver from the VisionTek site and it is no good. (When I was installing the 27.x Detonator, my WinXP said the driver did not pass the WinXP compatible test or something like that.) I went to the SOYO internet site and downloaded the latest drivers for the mobo and it is not helping.

FYI, I installed Radeon 32MB SDR PCI (retail) into my nephew's Compaq computer and it is as fluid as liquid. The Windows Media Player's visuals are stunning. However, with my GTS card (w/DDR memory), the visuals lock up and always goes through frames. I just played FIFA 99 and the "bleachers" in the stadium looked like a "skewed checkerboard." The video on my old Compaq with P2-266mhz and build-in 4mb video memory looked better. The graphics of built-in video systems at stores look 1000% better than my card. I am so so so frustrated! Since I just purchased this card about 2 weeks ago, I can always return it. However, I have to make sure that the card is defective. In addition, I have to go through RMA procedure and have to pay for the return S&H with insurance. The additional cost will and the current agony has totally defeated the purpose of buying "cheaper" through the internet. Most importantly, I don't want to run into the same problem in the event that I am responsible for the problems. There could be nothing wrong with this card. As for the mobo, I don't think there's anything wrong with it because everything works fine. My memory seems to be fine as well - the system recognizes all 3 sticks. Can someone help me, PLEASE?

 

[bunker]

One of your problems is that the 5632 requires an AGP 2.0 slot and your motherboard has an AGP 1.0 slot.

 

[WarCon]

One of your problems is that the 5632 requires an AGP 2.0 slot and your motherboard has an AGP 1.0 slot..........🙂

Bunker - can that damage the card? Is it being overvolted right now?

 

[bunker]

Couldn't tell you if it will cause any damage.

The only reason I know this is I tried to get a Visiontek xtasy card to run in my older system and it wouldn't work at all. Did some research and found out that was the reason why.

 

[freshspace]

Bunker and Warcon,

Thank you for your replies. Bunker, this is the best solution that has been suggested to me so far.

1. Can I get my card to work correctly by adding some sort of adapter? If not, do I need a new board (and a new chip, obviously)? I was thinking about upgrading, but not this soon.

2. Warcon makes a very good point. Will it hurt my videocard? I assume that if I don't want to spend the money for a new motherboard and a chip, then I have to get a cheap video card that has AGP 1.0. Where can I get something like this? If I get a PCI card, will all the problems get solved? I can get a PCI card now to use with this system, and can save my videocard for the new system to come.

3. Could something else potentially be wrong? To be honest, the AGP 1.0 to 2.0 may be the only problem. I really don't think there is anything wrong with either the motherboard or the videocard. Things are working, but it is just that the video seems to go through a "filter" that slows it up... a lot. But, actual playing of my games hasn't really been a problem.

It would be great if I can get more input. Thanks.

 

[freshspace]

Hi friends,

I went to CompUSA yesterday and spoke to one of the "techs" there. He was a bit confused because he said these video cards should be "backward compatible" and that even if my computer has AGP 1.0 slot, my video card should work. In addition, in my Bios, I have enabled the AGP 2x function. He said this should be fine. He further said that my "directX" may have some problems. He advised me to run dxdiag and I did. The system (under each tab) told me that there were no problems. The tests were "okay." The spinning cubes would "stop" for a split second here and there.

Are we back to square one?

 

[DaiShan]

It may have damaged the card, but I don't think that it would have (I think it doesn't supply enough power to the agp port) I don't think that card will work at all with your board, a pci card should work fine untill your upgrade, but I would suggest buying the cheap pci card and returning this card because by the time you decide to upgrade prices will have fallen. Also normally I make it a policy not to listen to what the crapusa guys say, I had one tell me once that I could put ddr into my kt7a (he really wanted to make a sale I guess)

 

[bunker]

Compusa guy doesn't know what he's talking about. I got my info from Visiontek, not a guy who says "it should be backwards compatible".

The change you made in your bios has nothing to do with AGP 1.0/2.0. The change you made references the speed at which it runs, 1x, 2x, 4x.

*Edit - Email visiontek, they'll be your best source of info.