Shuttle AN35/N Ultra + Geforce4 MX

[mdahc]

I just got my brother a new HDD b/c his Hitachi Deathstar gave out on him. I reinstalled Windows, but I keep getting extremely slow performance as soon as I install the nVIDIA SW IDE drivers. I thought I read somewhere that nVIDIA IDE SW drivers can cause HDD corruption, and in retrospect, I think they may have caused the Deathstar to give way. Is it necessary to install these or should I not bother?

Configuration:
AMD AthlonXP 2500+ (Barton)
Shuttle AN53/N Ultra (nForce2 Ultra/400, no Soundstorm, no SATA, no Gbe)
512MB KingMax DDR333 (dual channel)
Gainward 64MB Geforce4 MX (AGP 8X)
NEC FE700+ 17" CRT
Soundblaster Live! 5.1
Creative Labs SB250 speakers
80GB WD800JB SE HDD
Pioneer DVD-106S DVD-ROM
Antec SmartPower 350
AMS GMono black case
Windows XP Pro SP2
nVIDIA Unified Driver 5.10
nVIDIA Forceware 71.89

 

[KGB]

mdahc,

Definitely use the standard M$ drivers instead of the nVidia ones.
They have been problematic from the start and haven't really gotten any better.

Every nForce system I've built (nF2, nF3 & nF4) has had issues with them.

 

[mdahc]

Okay, here's the story. Before I posted this thread, I did a clean install of XP Pro SP2, and I left the machine on overnight until I read the replies. Now the thing won't even POST with the aforementioned graphics card. I stuck my AGP 6600 GT in it, and it posted just fine. Do you think it's worth it to get a new graphics card? I'm asking because it's just been one thing after the other with this machine. The Deathstar gave out a while ago, so I got him a WD800JB SE. Then when I 1st got it from my brother to install the new HDD, it wouldn't even power on, so I got a new PSU (Antec SmartPower 350, which replace an Enermax EG365P-VD -> 350W PSU). I got to install Windows, but then the machine wouldn't boot unless I jumpered the HDD and DVD-ROM as CS. So I finally got it up and running again last night before I posted this, and now it won't POST with his Geforce4 MX. The only thing I can possibly think of that may have caused the graphics card to get corrupted is after I installed Windows for the 3rd time, I installed the lastest Forceware 71.89 drivers, and then Windows automatic updates turned on, so I figured I'd let it install (before restarting to let the graphics driver load). While I was waiting, I thought I'd see if the GPU was running in 32-bit mode b/c the wallpaper seemed a little choppy, so I opened the display properties dialog, checked, then accidentally hit Advanced instead of Cancel. I got an error message saying Forceware could not create a default profile or something, so I hit OK, let the critical updates finish installing, then restarted.

At this point, all hell broke loose with the graphics drivers. I kept getting BSOD's, and nothing would show properly on the monitor except the BIOS. So I reinstalled Windows yet again, posted this thread before I went to sleep, and that's where I am. Any advice/comments?

 

[KGB]

1. Regarding the HD CS settings: Are you sure the WD drive was jumpered correctly?
WD has a "Master" and a "Master w/ Slave setting.

2. Have you tried testing your memory with Memtest86?

 

[farscape]

If this is the first time you are installing the MX card - I believe tha the Shuttle board is a 1.5V AGP slot, and the older MX card requires a higher voltage to run.

If the WD is on a channel all by itself - pull the jumper - it won't work with it.

Don't use the SW drivers - no matter what revision they've been - never had any luck with them.

 

[mdahc]

Originally posted by: KGBMAN
1. Regarding the HD CS settings: Are you sure the WD drive was jumpered correctly?
WD has a "Master" and a "Master w/ Slave setting.

2. Have you tried testing your memory with Memtest86?

Yes, the WD was jumpered correctly (master for IDE channel 1), and so was the DVD-ROM (master for IDE channel 2). Only if I jumpered them both as CS could I get the OS to boot without the installer CD. Also, I can't try memtest right now b/c I can't see anything on the screen (my machine w/ the 6600 GT is a file and print server, too, not to mention my fiancee and I use it both regularly throughout the day and night, so it's kind of a pain having to remove the GPU).

Originally posted by: farscape
If this is the first time you are installing the MX card - I believe tha the Shuttle board is a 1.5V AGP slot, and the older MX card requires a higher voltage to run.

If the WD is on a channel all by itself - pull the jumper - it won't work with it.

Don't use the SW drivers - no matter what revision they've been - never had any luck with them.

This machine used the MX graphics card for over a year stable as can be. It also explicitly states that it's AGP8X compliant. I guess I'm not even worried about the IDE drives now that I can't even see anything. I put in an RMA with Gainward last night b/c it's still under warranty, but I'm somewhat doubtful I'll get any results from them.

See this thread (not really much of a thread) for why I'm doubtful Gainward will help me.