MAJOR Video Problem with PCCHIPS M810LMR PLEASE HELP!!!!

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

OK, first things first.
WinXP, Duron850, 256MB Crucial PC133, 20gig, using onboard lan, sound, video


Alright, the problem that I'm having is that I can't get ANY 3d game to work. In windows, its as stable as a rock, never crashes, never freezes. As soon as I try to play any game which requires 3d acceleration, the screen goes blank and the system reboots. I have done all the drivers as per instructions here on this BBS(ie I loaded all drivers using win2k compatability mode) to no affect. I then ran dxdiag and ran the direct3d test, and in doing the direct x 7 test, it passes fine, but as soon as it tries to do directx 8 tests, it goes for about 2 seconds and then either freezes or reboots my computer. Does anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening?

Cigar

 

[Boonesmi]

what power supply are you using?

 

[jcmkk]

have you used dx8 on the same system with a different OS before?

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

It's a 250W PS, not sure if its AMD approved. Someone else suggested I try another PS, so I'll give that a shot. I thought it weird though that directx8 would require differnent voltages and currents than directx7

No, I haven't had a chance to replicate the problem in Win98 or Win2k. Its exam season, etc. I'll try that too.

Any other suggestions greatly appreciated.

Wes

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

UPDATE:

Ok, I tried my 350W amd approved enermax ps. No effect. I tried win2k. no effect. I tried win98. No effect. I'm beggining to thing I need a new motherboard(ie I got a lemon) anyone else have any ideas?

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

Does anyone know if its possible to uninstall directx8.1 in windows xp and install directx 8.0a?

Please LMK

Cigar

 

[Jethro666]

1. Carefully remove PCChips motherboard from case
2. Remove Duron, RAM, all cards
3. Now it's time for a choice:
A. If you know where Osama is hiding, Fed-Ex Piece Of Chips motherboard to him as U.S. revenge
B. Place PCChips motherboard in Weber kettle grill, soak with charcoal lighter, burn. Repeat until totally melted/ashed.

4. Spend the $100 you should have spent in the first place to get a motherboard that actually works, and won't make your life a living He!!


- A friend who went cheap with PCPOSChips once, learned the hard way. (and makes his living in IT troubleshooting computer problems and fixing dbases- so no "New B idiot- you lack the skill to unleash PCChips power" comments please)

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

thanks you for your not so informed opinion. you really have no idea as to why I have a pcchips mb. Go away.

 

[DIRTsquirt]

Dear Monica's Juices
I to have a pc chips mobo I use for a game server.. the SIS video wont work with any 3d accerleration games I found I had to install a voodoo 2 to get some of them to even install. Then i removed the voodoo and am able to run the servers by bat files. and configs..
My board is 1.5 years old.. I have heard that the new sis chip is gameable.. I cant confirm that and I wish you luck...And I feel your pain as I have been there myself

 

[Peter]

Did you check your RAM? The extra load from the 3D graphics unit may well reveal flakiness in the DIMMs that would go unnoticed normally. www.memtest86.com

regards, Peter

 

[Jethro666]

Dear Cigarsmokedbymonicalewinskithatcontainsnotobacco:

"Thanks you for your not so informed opinion. you really have no idea as to why I have a pcchips mb. Go away."

My "opinion" is shared by anyone who has ever had the misfortune to use Piece of Chips, the revenge of the 3rd World on America.

I have a REALLY good idea as to why you use them:
a. You wanted to save some money
b. You didn't bother to read any reviews or do a search on PCChips, as you would have seen everyone hates them

I got my Piece of Chips to work, and here's what I found: the board is inferior- my Q2 scores went up 25% when I switched to a name brand Intel BX board for the P2-333 I had at the time.

All the time you're wasting trying to get that thing to work, you could've earned the money you saved. Happy Holidays!

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

Since you know all the answers, perhaps you can tell me how your posts help me to solve my problem.

Go away, you ignoramous.

Oh, and peter, thanks for the post. I checked my ram using the above program, and it had errors! I took ram out of my other computer, threw it in, and now my "crappy" motherboard works great! Not bad! $65 shipped for a socket A mb with onboard modem, lan, and video, which is rock stable. This PC cost me $300, and is really good.

So it was not the motherboard afterall.

Cigar

 

[Peter]

So much for Jethro's "expert" opinion (based on ONE attempt and hearsay, apparently) ... know your way around your stuff, and you'll be fine with PC-Chips gear. Approaching 100 systems built from them, no more no less problems than with twice as expensive "brand" stuff.

regards, Peter

 

[Jethro666]

Peter:
"Approaching 100 systems built from them, no more no less problems than with twice as expensive "brand" stuff."

LOL.

I told you I got the thing to work fine, but that the performance with the same RAM/VGA/CPU/Soundcard/HDD was 25% slower than a name brand Intel board.
To me, that is a BIG problem.
Yes I suppose if you want crappy sound, graphics, gaming performance these boards probably work OK- but the net is full of people flaming them for being junk. They often times use off brand chipsets, always bargain bin components.
I suppose you could say a Geo Metro works fine as a car too, but I'd still say it's a POS.
If you've built a 100 of these ghetto rigs, I feel sorry for your clients.

Cigarfoundin gutterbutplentyleft:
"Go away, you ignoramous."
Let's see- who's the ignoramous? Jethro: uses Epox8KHA+/Athlon XP 1600+/GF3/SBlive & doesn't have to ask for help to build a box or Cigar: Uses PCChips/Duron/onboard sound and video and needs tech to point him at the hardware problem (I'm guessing your RAM isn't name brand either?)
I see your point, you've obviously done your homework.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

Hey... even though I'm not planning on buying another PC Chips mobo when I upgrade, I'm happy with the one I got. When I bought mine, I just picked the cheapest socket a motherboard the place I bought my stuff from. I was smart about the memory and put nice Micron in it though. Out of the past 11 months that I've owned this mobo, I've never had one problem with it. Sure, I don't use the onboard sound, but it's nice to know I have that if my SB Live 5.1 goes out on me. Sure, I could have spent another 50 bucks on an asus or an abit, but my mobo has earned the $95 I paid for it when I bought it new.

 

[Jayczar]

In the red corner: Jethro with Epox and in the blue corner
Cigar smokin Clinton with PC Chips.

Available on Pay per view on for $59.95

 

[onefast49fordf1]

i know that pcchips boards are not the best, but for someone who is starting out building there own puters its a fairly simple setup. i built three, and there all up and still working. longest over a year. i just built a shuttle ak31a hope this works as long and as well.

 

[DoctorBooze]

Yeah I'm getting fed up with people bad-mouthing (I wonder, if it's on a forum, is it bad-fingering?) any and all "value" or "entry-level" equipment. PCChips, ECS, SiS and ALi are forever being blamed for problems. ECS are the #2 motherboard manufacturer in the world. If their kit was honestly much worse than others', they'd be out of business. Now, it's true it may not perform as well as the best brands, but you have to expect and accept that in a value line.

Those of us who don't feel the need for the very highest performance, or want the best value for money, will quite happily pay half as much for a system with 10% less performance, as long as it's similarly stable - which it will be.

Err, this sounds a bit like the never-ending AMD/Intel wars usually do...

Sorry all, I'll get my coat.

 

[Jethro666]

DoctorBooze:
Although I admire your doctorate of gin, I have to disagree with you.

The POS Alton/PCChips board I had was based on the fine ALi "BXCel" chipset.
If you could get past the "Please to install frying pan bus master device driving program-code" type instructions, you were still likely to find hardware incompatibilities.
Once you got it to work, it was like having a much slower computer due to the inferior AGP slots.
Osama is easier to find than an address/email/phone# for the PCChips/Alton/PCWave "motherboard" manufacturers. (at least that's the way it was)

Oh well.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

I hate to wade back in, but I don't really think you know what you're talking about. Incompatabilities due to frying pan bus master device driving program-code is chipset related. There seems to be quite a few people Jethro who like their pcchips/ecs/amptron mobo's, despite what you said about your opinion shared by anyone who has ever had the misfortune to use Piece of Chips. You even blasted me for not doing my research 'cause I didn't know what others had said about pcchips. It seems you did the research, but came to the wrong conclusion. Which is worse?

(BTW, I did do my research, and was troubled by the problems related to pcchips mobos, but found that the M810LMR board IN PARTICULAR had far less people complaining about it.)

So what your saying is that the board you paid 2x for which has nothing onboard performs better? WOW!!!!!! I nominate you for the next nobel peace price for you brilliant deduction abilities!!!! THIS BOARD IS NOT USED FOR A POWER USER. IT IS FOR MY MOTHER IN LAW. SHE USES AOL FOR GOD'S SAKE!!! SHE HAS GRANDCHILDREN AGES 6-10 WHO PLAY VERY FEW 3D ACCELERATED GAMES. THIS BOARD IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY MOBO. IT WAS MY RAM. Which brings me back to my first responce to you, "You have no idea why I have a pcchips mobo."

I say it again. Go Away. The only use you have had to me was bumping my thread so that Peter could help me.


EDIT: BTW, if you took the time to read my first message, I think you'll notice My RAM is crucial. This is generally highly regarded RAM on this board, although you seem to know quite a few people who disagree with the people on this board (ie you say everyone hates PCCHIPS while a bunch in this thread alone have said they like their PCCHIPS)

 

[Jethro666]

"but I don't really think you know what you're talking about"
You are right, I have been fooling people all these years in IT/IS. Please do not tell them, they may want the consulting fees back. :-(

PCChips once fired me, so I have been bitter since. I know they make the best motherboards. (who doesn't?!)

I tried, but you and the others have won out. I don't see why Abit/Asus/Tyan,etc. are even still in business. They cost twice as much, and give a you 10% better performance if you're lucky.
Change is in the air, you and your friends are the catalyst. Soon, "PCCHIPS Inside" will be a more important tag on the box than "Intel Inside".

:*-(

 

[lsman]

i have not read about the other BBS, so don't know about winxp and 2000 driver. Your CD that come with the board may have only win2k driver.
there are winxp on pcchips 's website. (expect slow slow download time)

May be someone can give us some input on directx, the driver has a directx software, hiding in some folder. i am not sure about the verison (not 8 or 8.1). So i will think that with directx 8, the hardware (on board video) will not take advantage with the software (or the other way around). am i correct or not? if its true, why use the default verison (come with CD) of directx and be stable?

Edit: sorry, i now read that you find out the RAM is the problem.