FIC 503+ and Matrox G200 problems

[Doug L]

Does anyone know of issues with the FIC 503+ and Matrox G200? This runs well with the older Matrox drivers (4.12) . But I get nothing but hash when I install the latest (5.52) Matrox powerdesk

 

[Vette73]

I have a PA-2013, same as the 503+ just ATX and my board ate up my first TNT card, tried two more new ones before vender cut me off. My friend has a 503+ and it ate up 2 VooDoo 3-3000agp cards. Fic boards suck, even heard they had problems with there first Athlon board, will never buy from them again, also have more problems with my board but I think you get the point, using a savage 3d 8MB card right now, also the trident 3d blade card worked good on this board to. Heard there is a problem if you have 16mb or more?

 

[Doug L]

Got a post on another board that recommended that you update the VIA drivers (latest 4in1 driver set) and update the Matrox BIOS. I did that and it works!

 

[chucky2]

Check out: http://forums.matroxusers.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/009047.html

I've also found that one needs to install the AGP driver from VIA (http://www.via.com.tw/drivers) in Turbo mode before installing the drivers for the G200 on the VA-503+. After installing the vid. drivers, then re-install the AGP in Turbo mode again. That should solve the frequent "crash on reboot" problem after installing the G200 drivers.

Hope this helps!

Chuck

 

[Rankor]

There was an issue regarding earlier PCB revisions of both the FIC VA-503+ and the PA-2013. These earlier revisions would fry certain models of the V3 (especially the V3 3000). I guess I was lucky. I had a V3 2000. Latest PCB versions of the board don't have this problem. How convenient.

But get the latest 4-in-1 Drivers and when installing the AGP VART to install in Normal mode (w/c is 1x AGP).

Also check the mobo bios and disable Read Around Write and Write Cache Pipeline in the Chipset Features setup.

Like one suggested before, update the bios for the G200 and probably update the bios for motherboard (if you want to live dangerously).

I've had problems with the 5.52 drivers and I don't dare trying beta drivers. I've been using 5.41 drivers with no problems.

In my experience, the G200 as well as the G400 are very picky on power and AGP bus noise.