MSI-KT7 Turbo Direct3D Problems... ***solved***

[akiraxtc]

Hi all,
I have a problem with my newly built AMD system, here's the quick spec:
AMD T-bird 850 mhz not overclocked
MSI KT70Turbo Non-Raid
128 MB PC100 Micron
Nvidia TNT2 16 MB (Yes i know it's kinda old..), on slot 0 (AGP)
NIC on Slot 1
Aureal Vortex AU8830 on Slot 3

Now my system would crash everytime i fired up any Direct3D application such as 3Dmark 2000 or Any games that used Direct3D... No blue screens.. just hard lockup.
I tried removing ALL other device except the video card, no go. I tried using the reference driver (Detonator 6.50) from Nvidia's website.. no go too.
I noticed that My video card is using IRQ 11, which is also shared by the USB Host controller. Would that cause the problem? I tried to change the IRQ manually but windows wouldn't let me. I changed it through the Bios (Assign IRQ to VGA and disable Assign IRQ to USB) and The damned USB controller's IRQ is still tailing the VGA Controller's!!

Any suggestions on this will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks


Update
I finally found the problem after doing selective program install.. It turned out that somehow installing the Via service pack (both 4.28 and 4.29) corrupts the directdraw files so that it would not enumerate any devices that needs it. I knew this when I tried to do a Video Test on Diablo II and it crashes when it tests DirectDraw. Then i tried to configure Blade of Darkness' D3D settings and it crashes again... and uninstalling the Via service pack did not solve the problem. So as a last ditch i reinstalled WIndows ME WITHOUT Via's service pack and it's been working flawlessly ever since.

 

[bv]

I've had this same problem with a KT7A board. Have you tried changing the 'AGP Driving force' value?

..and I quote:

"Lots of users complain about general stability during OpenGL and Direct3D games. Newer VIA based mainboards (KT133) have an option in the BIOS called AGP Driving Value. This option defines the signal strength of your AGP port. You might want to set this value to manual and set it at the value 'EA'. It can solve stability issues for a lot of users in heavy 3D scenes."

Otherwise, DirectX8 (perish the thought) and the latest drivers managed to eradicate the last couple of errors (it was an ATI Xpert2000 video card)

 

[akiraxtc]

Yes i did change it to all possible value to no avail...
Do you think if i flash the bios to the newest beta it'll solve the problem?

 

[akiraxtc]

Oh and by the way the crash was not ON the game... it even crashes when starting it up... initializing direct3d i think

 

[Slappy5]

Nooooo way, you tried all possible settings? On my K7T PRo 2a there was over fifty different settings in agp drive force value. Perhaps you're thinking of the wrong parameter? Otherwise, you're a far more patient man than I, ack >;p

 

[akiraxtc]

Yes i am a patient man... but not when it comes to fixing 2 computers at once... another one with Win2k problems and the other one with AGp conflicts

 

[Mem]

I think your Soundcard might be the problem,Aureal soundcards have had issues with AMD boards,there is a certain driver(reference Aureal driver)you could try but I forgot which one it is.Btw I`ve used the TNT1 card & now GF2 MX with no problems in my MSI K7T PRO board,but I`m using SBLive card.Also what Via drivers are you using & have you installed the AMD/Win2000 patch? It`s also best to keep slot 1 empty(nearest to AGP slot).

 

[akiraxtc]

i'm using the 2048 reference drivers for the Aureal card, and i'm using Via 4.28v driver. ANyway the sound card is not supposed to be the problem i think... since i already took them all off except for the video card only.
I'm not using WIndows 2000, i'm on Windows ME

 

[Mem]

OK so you`re using ME,anyway have you tried BIOS tweaks like try disable all video shadowing,as I`ve said leave PCI slot 1 empty,try going through the Geforce FAQ guide since most of this will be the same for your TNT2 card so is worth a try.

 

[akiraxtc]

bump for update

 

[Regalk]

It may be a problem with the VIA drivers EXCEPT I have yet to see any problems with my IwillKK266 and A7V both with Via 4.29. I run everything on this planet with 3D and NEVER get a crash. Both systems with SBlive and GF2MX/Radeon and WinME.