Hello guys,
Apparently problems there exist with Nvidia nForce3 250 and Nvidia 6800 GT combination. I have read a lot of forums, expose my problem to manufacturers, wrote to experts and until now I have not been able to find a solution. I got first an evga 6800 GT and actually an MSI 6800 GT 256MB AGP in combination with an MSI K8N Neo2 nForce3 250 Ultra mobo plus an AMD Atlon64 3500+ and the Aspire Chameleon 550w (+12V rail @ 36A, no problem!). My system pass memtest86, SuperPi and prime95. GPU core temps at 49-57C range, no problem. Well, I installed my VC and artifacts appeared on my desktop, fixed when I raise the Color Quality to 32 Bits(?) (I have a Samsung SyncMaster 710N @ 1024x768, 75Hz, 12ms TR). Then I went to dxdiag and neither DirectDraw nor Direct3d passed. DirectX cube frezees and reboots ocurring ocationally. I proved all of kind of changes: drivers, AGP apertures, frequencies and voltages, disabling/enabling BIOS features, Riva Tuner, Coolbits, Driver Cleaner, etc., and nothing. Inclusive MSI sent me a new mobo BIOS v1.62 and didn't fix the problem. I haven't proved to change the GPU BIOS because either I don't know if that one fix the issue or warranty is voided. Apply an RMA? I think that that doesn't solve the problem.
But I discovered something: lowering the Core/Memory clock to 350/800MHz (stock is 350/1000), artifacts disappeared even at 16 Bits, passing those tests.
Thus I got AQUAMARK=59657, 3DMARK01/03/05=21105/9956/4486, the last one at FPS as low as 1 in the hardest test. HL2 runs fine at minimal settings. I used 71.20 drivers.
I hope that, sooner than later, anyone can solve this troublesome problem.
Thank you so much for your opinion and attention
Apparently problems there exist with Nvidia nForce3 250 and Nvidia 6800 GT combination. I have read a lot of forums, expose my problem to manufacturers, wrote to experts and until now I have not been able to find a solution. I got first an evga 6800 GT and actually an MSI 6800 GT 256MB AGP in combination with an MSI K8N Neo2 nForce3 250 Ultra mobo plus an AMD Atlon64 3500+ and the Aspire Chameleon 550w (+12V rail @ 36A, no problem!). My system pass memtest86, SuperPi and prime95. GPU core temps at 49-57C range, no problem. Well, I installed my VC and artifacts appeared on my desktop, fixed when I raise the Color Quality to 32 Bits(?) (I have a Samsung SyncMaster 710N @ 1024x768, 75Hz, 12ms TR). Then I went to dxdiag and neither DirectDraw nor Direct3d passed. DirectX cube frezees and reboots ocurring ocationally. I proved all of kind of changes: drivers, AGP apertures, frequencies and voltages, disabling/enabling BIOS features, Riva Tuner, Coolbits, Driver Cleaner, etc., and nothing. Inclusive MSI sent me a new mobo BIOS v1.62 and didn't fix the problem. I haven't proved to change the GPU BIOS because either I don't know if that one fix the issue or warranty is voided. Apply an RMA? I think that that doesn't solve the problem.
But I discovered something: lowering the Core/Memory clock to 350/800MHz (stock is 350/1000), artifacts disappeared even at 16 Bits, passing those tests.
Thus I got AQUAMARK=59657, 3DMARK01/03/05=21105/9956/4486, the last one at FPS as low as 1 in the hardest test. HL2 runs fine at minimal settings. I used 71.20 drivers.
I hope that, sooner than later, anyone can solve this troublesome problem.
Thank you so much for your opinion and attention