Hey all,
I bought a new MSI FX5600-TD256. I have an Abit AT7 Max MB with 512 MB PC2700.
I have an Athlon 1.33G. I'm running Win2k.
I'm running the latest VIA 4in1 drivers (4.49p) and Detonator 45.23.
All things seem ok for a while, but the problem is that the computer crashes often. Either BSOD or freeze within seconds of me starting them. e.g. 3dmark2001 se, freezes when I hit the benchmark button, while Nascar Racing 2002 BSODs as soon as I start driving for a few seconds, UT2K3 usually freezes on map switch.
The only thing that hasn't crashed on me so far has been 3dmark 2003 but that may be because I haven't tested it that often.
Ok a bit more background....when I first inserted the card I couldn't get the 3D stuff to work at all. Dxdiag would give me errors like "Tested failed at step 8...out of memory". Eventually, after a few installs of DX9 and the card drivers, as well as restoring my win2k partition from a backup image, I managed to get the 3d working.
Finally I thought, but wait, somethings wrong...the graphics was very jerky, and i was getting pawltry 5400 in 3dmark2001se and only 1200 in 3dmark2003. Plus in game frame rates where only marginally better (read 20%) better than my 2.5 year old card I was using before that :-/
Eventuallly, I went back to my backup partition image. Very carefully I reinstalled everything. (Even removing all traces of my drivers of my old card using Driver Cleaner). Things were going ok, once I had installed everything, i.e. all new drivers (Detonator 45.23, DX9.0b, VIA 4in1 etc.) that's when all this crashing starts. I tried other detonator drivers but actually the 45.23 ones were actually the most stable.
The VIA 4in1 drivers are definitely affecting performance, the ones that came with my motherboard are 4.37v and they give more stability (still crashes in games but not in 3dmark2001se). The more recent ones give my way better performance in 3dmark2003 can't actually tell if it gives better performance in 3dmark2001se since it doesn't run.
Also, I was able to compare Nascar Racing 2002 in both D3D and OGL modes, and the difference is quite amazing. In OGL mode, there are no crashes (nor in anyother OGL game, like Wolfenstein - ET, Medal of Honor AA etc), and the frame rate is 110-120FPS.
But when I switch to the D3D rendered for Nascar (using same settings), for the few seconds the things actually works before BSODing, I only get 70-75FPS.
So basically I think: a) I'm not achieving my best DX performance
b) I'm getting issues with crashing, but only in DX9.0b.
Anyway ideas on how to improve either?
I bought a new MSI FX5600-TD256. I have an Abit AT7 Max MB with 512 MB PC2700.
I have an Athlon 1.33G. I'm running Win2k.
I'm running the latest VIA 4in1 drivers (4.49p) and Detonator 45.23.
All things seem ok for a while, but the problem is that the computer crashes often. Either BSOD or freeze within seconds of me starting them. e.g. 3dmark2001 se, freezes when I hit the benchmark button, while Nascar Racing 2002 BSODs as soon as I start driving for a few seconds, UT2K3 usually freezes on map switch.
The only thing that hasn't crashed on me so far has been 3dmark 2003 but that may be because I haven't tested it that often.
Ok a bit more background....when I first inserted the card I couldn't get the 3D stuff to work at all. Dxdiag would give me errors like "Tested failed at step 8...out of memory". Eventually, after a few installs of DX9 and the card drivers, as well as restoring my win2k partition from a backup image, I managed to get the 3d working.
Finally I thought, but wait, somethings wrong...the graphics was very jerky, and i was getting pawltry 5400 in 3dmark2001se and only 1200 in 3dmark2003. Plus in game frame rates where only marginally better (read 20%) better than my 2.5 year old card I was using before that :-/
Eventuallly, I went back to my backup partition image. Very carefully I reinstalled everything. (Even removing all traces of my drivers of my old card using Driver Cleaner). Things were going ok, once I had installed everything, i.e. all new drivers (Detonator 45.23, DX9.0b, VIA 4in1 etc.) that's when all this crashing starts. I tried other detonator drivers but actually the 45.23 ones were actually the most stable.
The VIA 4in1 drivers are definitely affecting performance, the ones that came with my motherboard are 4.37v and they give more stability (still crashes in games but not in 3dmark2001se). The more recent ones give my way better performance in 3dmark2003 can't actually tell if it gives better performance in 3dmark2001se since it doesn't run.
Also, I was able to compare Nascar Racing 2002 in both D3D and OGL modes, and the difference is quite amazing. In OGL mode, there are no crashes (nor in anyother OGL game, like Wolfenstein - ET, Medal of Honor AA etc), and the frame rate is 110-120FPS.
But when I switch to the D3D rendered for Nascar (using same settings), for the few seconds the things actually works before BSODing, I only get 70-75FPS.
So basically I think: a) I'm not achieving my best DX performance
b) I'm getting issues with crashing, but only in DX9.0b.
Anyway ideas on how to improve either?