My system isn't working right ...I feel like crying!

[Ruroni]

I am currently running on an ABIT KT7-MAX2 (VIA KT400)
Athlon XP 2400+ @ default settings
2x512mb Corsair XMS DDR3500C2 I've ran memtest86 for 15 passes and I got zero errors, anywhere.
ATI Radeon 9800non Pro CAT 3.8 BIOS Flashed to pro
80 Gig Samsung HDD ATA100
Windows XP SP1 w DX9.0b

After installing CAT 3.8, I used the 3D tab to set my image quality settings all the way on quality. I was running fine for the whole day yesterday and today (getting my 125FPS in Q3A without so much as a flinch or a waiver on the FPS).

Then, I went in the BIOS setting of my motherboard and I set the CAS from 2.5 to 2 and when I restarted and went to play Q3A the FPS would dip down into the 80s it even hit the 30s a few times. So I figured I made a mistake setting the CAS to 2. So i went back into the BIOS and set the memory back up to 2.5 and rebooted, and then went back in the BIOS and set both the FSB and timing options to "BySpeed" setting. When I booted back up, I launched Q3A and it didn't fix my problem. I then removed my RAM and installed some Samsung DDR333 I happen to have handy and still unstable FPS. So I removed the Samsung RAM and installed the Corsair again, and then I cleared the CMOS with the jumper. My FPS are still all over the place (I had it locked at 125), and now I can't get that consistency anymore; it even flickers all over the place with the setting all the way on performance... (both on 800x600 & 1280x1024 with high OR mid settings) I even unistalled Q3A and reinstalled Q3A. I even tried playing around with some of the BIOS settings to see if something would happen, but no...

I ran Aquamark3 and 3Dmarks03 and I scored 34k on Aquamark an 5296 on 3dMark03...
I played the UT2K3 demo on default settings (I downloaded and played it,didn't do anything more than stats fps). The maps were the first 2, I think antalus and Asbestos. I had my cat 3.8 quality settings at BALANCE... the AVERAGE FPS fluctuated from 65-125, does that seem right?

No background program is running except for All seeing Eye and Nortan AntiVirus

I feel violated, as if I've wasted my money getting a 9800... This is my favorite game, and the only other acceptable FPS for Q3A is 333 (for me), but I can't even do 125FPS any more

Can anyone help?

 

[rbV5]

Its probably just some settings you changed if it was working fine before. Is your memory running Async to your CPU by spd?

 

[ronnn]

try system restore, has worked for me in the past

 

[Ruroni]

Originally posted by: rbV5
Its probably just some settings you changed if it was working fine before.

Yeah, but I changed everything back to th way it was. I even cleared the CMOS (Dumped the BIOS) with the jumpers...

Originally posted by: rbV5
Is your memory running Async to your CPU by spd?

Yes, the memory is Async... it runs at 400mhz and the CPU runs at 266Mhz

Originally posted by: ronnn
try system restore, has worked for me in the past

System restore? I didn't do anything to windows... And I don't have a restore disk... I'd have to reinstall windows... But I don't want to do that, unless I'm pretty sure that it would fix my troubles... But I really doubt reinstalling windows would fix it; I'll save that as a last resort before I get rid of the 9800 and put the TI4600 back in there...

 

[Ruroni]

Against my better judgement, and out of desperation I went ahead and performed a clean install, and I'm getting an average of 65fps, even though com_maxfps is 125; and this is with the image quality settings at balance (default)... so now i'm really frustrated. I'm angry at myself for buying an ATI... I should've known better

 

[gunblade]

I think it is more of a user error than vendor's error. I doubt it has anything to do with Ati.

 

[Ruroni]

Originally posted by: gunblade
I think it is more of a user error than vendor's error. I doubt it has anything to do with Ati.

Why are you talking? If you have nothing to say then don't reply, please.

I mean, I don't mean to be rude, but if you can't notice, I'm upset. The last thing I need to read is something like that. If you have some suggestions, then lets hear them, other wise move on to other forums where you can flame all you want (defending ATI, belittling other users, or whatever it is you think you're doing here).

 

[BenSkywalker]

Against my better judgement, and out of desperation I went ahead and performed a clean install, and I'm getting an average of 65fps,

Vsync?

 

[SectorZero]

Try uninstalling the drivers. Run Driver Cleaner, and install the Cat3.7's
See if that helps.

Troubleshooting is a slow painfull process sometimes. Don't give up hope. It's just a puzzle you have to solve to before you can advance to the next level.
Once you figgure this out, you'll have valuable info to share with the rest of us.

Keep us updated dude.

 

[VIAN]

why dont you try clearing your CMOS

 

[KillaBong]

When I get that fed up, I just reformat. Do it if you can.

 

[rbV5]

Yes, the memory is Async... it runs at 400mhz and the CPU runs at 266Mhz

For best performance , don't you want to run your memory sync'd with your CPU? Seems like when you started changing your memory timings, things went South.

 

[lordtyranus2]

Can you give PCMark a try? If you are getting similar PCMark scores to what you used to get, I don't think the problem is with the RAM or the CPU settings.

 

[Ruroni]

VIAN worte:
why dont you try clearing your CMOS

I did, several times...

KillaBong worte:
When I get that fed up, I just reformat. Do it if you can.

I did.

BenSkywalker worte:
Vsync?

Where is that option? BTW my FPS dip down to the 30s and jump all over the place up to the 125s.

rbV5 worte:
For best performance , don't you want to run your memory sync'd with your CPU? Seems like when you started changing your memory timings, things went South.

Short answer: I don't know.
Long answer: I have heard both ways, some say it matters, some say it doesn't. Someone once said that since my procesor is so far behind the memory I would actually get best performance letting the memory run at it's best, and the CPU at its best (ASync). So I left it at what the MoBo does by default, run the system ASYNC. I'll try SYNC'n just for kicks & giggles, but I doubt that changes anything...

lordtyranus2 worte:
Can you give PCMark a try? If you are getting similar PCMark scores to what you used to get, I don't think the problem is with the RAM or the CPU settings.

I have never used PCMark before, so I wouldn't know if it's being consistent, but I'll try it anyways...

I did use Sandra 4 and it has a burn in feature which I let run for nine hours, 66 passes. But that didn't give me any kind of report!

I guess at least I know my system is "stable" enough to run the burn in for that long without crashing.. Does anyone know if that tells me anything? (like, it's not my system it's the video card, anything at all)?

SectorZero, I'll try it. And I'll be sure to report through and through, until this matter is resolved satisfactorily... ...Even if that means I'd have to go with an nVidia card.

 

[SigmaOrionis]

 

[SigmaOrionis]

Did you try going to the Smartgart tab in the ATI control panel and turning Fast Writes to OFF. Also some people have to set AGP to 4X. I hope this helps.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Getting FPS that dip sharply like that almost sounds like clock throttling. What are your CPU temperatures like? And what kind of cooling are you running? You might want to try reinstalling your CPU's Heatsink/fan and see if that does anything.

 

[Ruroni]

Originally posted by: SigmaOrionis
Did you try going to the Smartgart tab in the ATI control panel and turning Fast Writes to OFF. Also some people have to set AGP to 4X. I hope this helps.

The fast write was already off, but I did switch to AGP 4X, it seems to have helped a little (now the FPS are not jumping wildly from 30 to 125; more like from 90-125) but still, I wouldn't say my problem is solved because I can't maintain 125FPS in Q3A...

 

[Ruroni]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
Getting FPS that dip sharply like that almost sounds like clock throttling. What are your CPU temperatures like? And what kind of cooling are you running? You might want to try reinstalling your CPU's Heatsink/fan and see if that does anything.

According to Sisoft Sandra 2004, after running the "Burn in" test for 66 passes; 9 hours, my CPU has temperatures of 44degree Celcius. I use the Zalman 7000Cu HS&F. But I'm desperate enough to try anything, so I'll BRB, after removing my CPU and slapping in another just to make sure it's not something CPU releated...

 

[Ruroni]

I changed my CPU and still nothing, It still dips down to 40FPS (even with AGP 4x)...
I'm beggining to wonder, is the Radeon supposed to be able to handle 125FPS @ 1280x1024?
Are tehre no tools or diagnostics for me to check if there is anything at all wrong wtih my Video Card or any other part of my system? Like I said I ran Memtest86 for 10hours and got 15 passes with zero Error, plus I did the "Burn in" test with Sandra 2k4 for 9 hours 66 passes...

I'm feeling desperate now... Like there is no way to fix this, or something.

 

[Ruroni]

Originally posted by: SectorZero
Try uninstalling the drivers. Run Driver Cleaner, and install the Cat3.7's
See if that helps.

I did and I saw mild improvements. I didn't get the 125FPS stable... it seems to be holding between 100-125fps.

 

[Ruroni]

Originally posted by: lordtyranus2
Can you give PCMark a try? If you are getting similar PCMark scores to what you used to get, I don't think the problem is with the RAM or the CPU settings.

I did... Details... But what does it mean?

 

[Ruroni]

I even tried over clocking my Vid Card to 411.75 core and 369.00 And still, I can't hold 125FPS in Q3A. I don't know if I could go any higher but I don't want to push it, just yet...

I just want to kill myself! I dropped 245 getting this card, thinking this is going to be so great... And so far it has been pretty far from great!

 

[Mem]

V-sync is in the ATi control panel,3D tab then click custom button you`ll see it(for 3.8 drivers).


Did you disable trueform and and install the latest Hyperion VIA 4.49 drivers?

Some Bios tweaks worth a shot,disable all video ram cacheable,disable system bios cacheable,disable all video shadowing,disable fastwrites,and it`s worth playing with the AGP aperture size,with your total ram size you can play with the 64mb,128mb,256mb AGP size and see which gives the best performance.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Ruroni
Against my better judgement, and out of desperation I went ahead and performed a clean install, and I'm getting an average of 65fps, even though com_maxfps is 125; and this is with the image quality settings at balance (default)... so now i'm really frustrated. I'm angry at myself for buying an ATI... I should've known better

I went through a similar situation (search my old thread "Why oh why did I go ATI?") and I know you're angry but don't give up on the card. With the assistance of the awesome members of this forum I was able to get my system stable and love my ATI now. The 9800 is a great piece of hardware - just takes some "lovin'" to get it to work sometimes.