Oh crap. I really need some help here guys.

[bernse]

My PC died earlier in the week (I believe a lightning storm took out the power supply). When I replaced the PS, it still didn't boot. Mobo diagnostic LEDs showed bad CPU.

So, I ordered a new P4-2.8C, P4P800 and 1GB RAM. I planned on re-using my HD and GF3 in the new rig.

Well, I wanted to be safe and test my GF3ti200 in my wifes rig, just to make sure it didn't die too.

Her PC is an old P3-500 in an Epox BX3 Mobo.

When I put the video card in, the fan would power but I would get no signal to the monitor. The PC wouldn't even boot (no HD activity). I am *hoping* her mobo (the Epox BX3) isn't supporting the video card somehow, and that is the cause of it. The EPOX website isn't much help.

Should a GF3ti200 work in a BX3 (AGP2) mobo? Or, do you think its dead too?

Secondly, I wanted to save my HD. I hooked it up as a slave in her system. BIOS recognizes it, but windows wont. It doesn't show. Could it be shot?

Actually, I just thought of this as I am typing this messsage. My HD in my dead system is XP home, I think NTFS. Her system is 98SE. That's probably my problem right there, isn't it?

*edited spelling*

 

[bernse]

BTW - Her system is working fine, I am using it to post. It has a V5500AGP in it.

 

[corkyg]

Yes - that is probably why your wife's system can't see your HDD. Win98 can't "see" NTFS.

A Lightning strike can fry lots of components. That's a long, slow process to recover. New CPU - maybe new RAM - and it could also have damaged the motherboard. By and large, anything connected is subject to being hit.

You should be able to check your video card on your wife's system. If you have the same type of CPU, you can also check that. And you can check your RAM provided it is of the same type.

 

[bernse]

Thats the problem, Corky. I put the vid card in her system and its not working. I am hoping the old BX board isn't compatible with a GF3 as her system won't even boot with it in it (no HD activity).

 

[ethebubbeth]

I dunno.... my old PII system had a BX chipset but it did not support agp 2.0 cards (found that out when i tried to stick a geforce II in it...). However, if it does work with the voodoo is sounds like your card, unfortunately, is dead.

 

[bernse]

Crap.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you are in the states several people are selling GF3 ti & GF3 for $50-60 in FS/FT forum

Since they still get 70 fps in UT2003 buying one to use for awhile longer is not a bad choice. One step up would be a brand-new GF4 ti4200 for about $110.

 

[WarCon]

If it makes you feel any better, I dropped my waterblock (solid copper) on my GF3 ti200 (ran at 220/500 without ever burping) and sent it to video card heaven earlier this week......

It does sound like your card is dead though.

Will think good thoughts about your hard drive and CD players. Power supply failures can kill everything.....

 

[mechBgon]

You got homeowners' or renters' insurance...? If so, see if it covers this type of thing perhaps.

 

[thraxes]

Hmmm that BX board should run fine with that GFX card, ran my Rad8500 on my old BX for almost a year without probs.. also tried a GF3 for a freind who had the exact same problem: lightning roasts the mainboard and CPU.

So I would also say that the card is dead. Hope you have insurance agains lightning damage.

 

[bernse]

Well, its not such a massive amount (so far, *except* that aforementioned vid card) I am around $800 and I'd rather not make a small claim against my insurance as I get claim free discounts and stuff.

Thanks for the help though.

So, for those curious, here is what fried (by the looks of it so far)

1.2 T Bird
MSI K7T Pro2A mobo
1 256MB PC133 stick (2 others seem OK)
GF3ti200

I am optomistic my drives and NIC survived. I am trying to get Win98 to read my XP files (via a NTFS for 98) so I can salvage some of my files.

 

[Spearhawk]

Well, the mb for my old Athlon 550 wouldn't support a GF 2 MX (although the computer did bot, just didn't work right) so perhaps there's still hope for your card.

 

[subman]

Current AGP cards are now made to run on 1.5v supply from mother boartds - older boards had a higher voltage for AGP cards.