Radon 9700 Pro on a nForce 2?

[Spearhawk]

Hi,
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I had no luck while searching for it so.
I'm thinking of upgrading my computer and are cutently looking at getting a nForce 2 mb and a Radon 9700 Pro, will they work with each other?

 

[foofoo]

yes

 

[thorin]

Wells given the spread in the GFx market nVidia would kinda be shooting themselves in the foot if they were only compatible with their own cards.

Thorin

 

[Ilmater]

I spend more time that most in these forums and I can tell you that I haven't read a single post about there being a problem with the new ATI cards and the nForce 2. Quite the contrary, I know quite a few in here that have that exact combination.

 

[Brian48]

My 9700Pro works great with my Asus A7N8X.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Brian48
My 9700Pro works great with my Asus A7N8X.

This board has problems running a 9700pro at high FSB (over ~195mhz). I've read a bunch of threads about it over in AMDMB, Rage3D, and NforcersHQ, and experienced the symptoms myself. There are also some reports of it over in Video here.

I thought it might be my Samsung Original 2700, but I slapped in my TwinX1024 3200LL last night and the same thing occurs. Game randomly locks/crashes in any 3D app (game or bench) within seconds. I can run Prime95 and Memtest86 all day and night w/out issue. Also, I ran it at 9 x 200 to see if it was an issue with the OC, but still the same problem.

I think its a combination of the 9700pro not liking the AGP bus out-of-spec and the lack of a complete AGP lock on the A7N8X-DLX. I've read a few reports of people using the L13 bridge mod to get their 2100+'s to run at 166mhz default resulted in higher FSB speeds (up to ~205mhz), so my guess is its a BIOS issue.

I know the zealots are gonna say "Well, you can't blame ATI b/c you can't OC your FSB to 200mhz", but what's the excuse gonna be if they can't run 200mhz FSB when Barton @ 400mhz and Springdale/Canterwood with 800mhz P4's are released? Again, I think its the mobo's fault as much as the 9700pro. One isn't doing as advertised (AGP lock), and the other has a low fault tolerance for the out-of-spec AGP bus frequencies.

Chiz

 

[Electric Amish]

I haven't had a problem with my 9700 Pro and my Epox 8RDA.

Running at 150mhz FSB.

amish

 

[rbV5]

I think its a combination of the 9700pro not liking the AGP bus out-of-spec

Maybe, however my AGP is out of spec by a fair margin (~75 MHz)on my IWILL board, so the 9700 isn't always very sensitive to AGP out of spec. I have heard of issues with higher FSB and the 9700 and A7N8X as well. I wonder about the AGP lock, voltage issues or whatever too. I'd like to get A7N8X myself.

Brian48, have you run at a higher FSB than 166?

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: rbV5

I think its a combination of the 9700pro not liking the AGP bus out-of-spec

Maybe, however my AGP is out of spec by a fair margin (~75 MHz)on my IWILL board, so the 9700 isn't always very sensitive to AGP out of spec. I have heard of issues with higher FSB and the 9700 and A7N8X as well. I wonder about the AGP lock, voltage issues or whatever too. I'd like to get A7N8X myself.

Brian48, have you run at a higher FSB than 166?

Yah, interestingly, I've seen people on say a KT333 board running ~200FSB with a 1/2 AGP divider w/out issue! But on other boards with standard 1/2 dividers, I've seen people trying to adjust their FSB 1 mhz and boom!, no video. It might also be an issue with the nForce2 dual-channel memory controllers, since they are known to have a low fault tolerance as well (running dual-channel with certain RAM at high FSB).

I've adjusted every conceivable BIOS option (AGP settings, bus freq., and voltages) to no avail. I don't think its a software/driver issue either. Pretty much narrowed it down to a hardware/BIOS/firmware issue. I'm still looking into it, but I've PM'd a few others on different forums to get an idea of their set-up (I have seen a few running 200FSB+ w/out issue, but mostly 8RDA+ owners) and what BIOS they are using. Gonna try a diff. BIOS tonite and test, then I'm gonna look to see if there is any truth to the L13 mod people are doing. Just not real thrilled about having to mod my chip when there are supposed to be AGP/PCI locks on this board (again, a BIOS issue).

Chiz

 

[rbV5]

but mostly 8RDA+ owners

I would swing for the 8RDA+ in a heartbeat if it matched the ASUS's feature set and still may if the A7N8X doesn't cut it at high FSB, or another NF2 doesn't come along. My IWILL board is about out of slots and I need firewire.

 

[human2k]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
I haven't had a problem with my 9700 Pro and my Epox 8RDA.

Running at 150mhz FSB.

amish

Hey amish, whatever happen to your Matrox Parphelia?

 

[Spearhawk]

Thanks all!
Im really looking forward to my new system, been stuck with a GF 2 MX for far too long now.