Why me...

[chazdraves]

For anyone who believe it's not the motherboard - may I ask... what is it then? 20fps at 800x600 in UT2k4 on a 9800Pro? That's not right, and I know it ain't the vid card. My 3DMark03 score was 4025... I have a friend with a 9500 who got 3800... something tells me my score should be just a tish higher if everything is workin' fine and dandy. Comments?

- Chaz

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: chazdraves
For anyone who believe it's not the motherboard - may I ask... what is it then? 20fps at 800x600 in UT2k4 on a 9800Pro? That's not right, and I know it ain't the vid card. My 3DMark03 score was 4025... I have a friend with a 9500 who got 3800... something tells me my score should be just a tish higher if everything is workin' fine and dandy. Comments?

- Chaz

Drivers/software setup. Hell, even go through your BIOS.

I get more than 20fps in UT2k4 with my radeon 7500 .. .lol

 

[LTC8K6]

Did you get your AGP working yet? This is a common problem with many boards. If your AGP is still off, then you still don't have something loaded correctly. Try reloading all 3, your CATS, 4 in 1, and DX9.

P.S., there is no performance difference between AGP 4x and AGP 8x. If you were told it was an 8X board, then you certainly have a legit complaint to return it, since an 8X board is likely to be a newer model board.

 

[chazdraves]

Well, I just got off the phone with one of my local tech friends. Whilst I was talking I re-ran my 3DMark03 Tests at 1024x768 with everything cranked on the vid card. My amazingly impressive score you may ask? 1638... Yes, 1638 on a Radon 9800Pro with 1GB of DDR333 RAM and a Athlon XP 2400+... Obviously I expected a performance hit in cranking the card... but something's not right at all with that, it should still be like 5 or 6...

The guy I just got off the phone suggested this, see what yah think...

When I installed the first time I installed the drivers for nearly everything else, then I installed the drivers for my VIA and motherboard features... His guess is that installing the Vid Card drivers before even installing the drivers to run my AGP may have had a negative effect. He told me I should attempt reformatting my hard drive, re installing Windows, and then getting those VIA Drivers right off the bat... Since nothing else seems to be wrong (latest Windows Updates, latest Cat Drivers, etc.) this seems the only logical solution...

Sooo... unless someone replies within 5 minutes saying "WAAAAIIITTT!!!!" I'm gonna give that a try, it's the only thing making sense to me right now...

I'll keep yah all posted, and hopefully return with a much higher 3DMark score to cheer about.

- Chaz

P.S. I forgot to mention... yes, I did get AGP working again

 

[chazdraves]

Say... I feel like a rikkin' fretard, but... To start from the Command Prompt you just bash F8 and then it should give you an option that reads "Command Prompt" shouldn't it? Cause the only thing close I get is Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and I can reformat from there. Sorry for the dumb question, thanks for the smart answer.

- Chaz

 

[chazdraves]

N/M I remember now...

- Chaz

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: chazdraves
Well, I just got off the phone with one of my local tech friends. Whilst I was talking I re-ran my 3DMark03 Tests at 1024x768 with everything cranked on the vid card. My amazingly impressive score you may ask? 1638... Yes, 1638 on a Radon 9800Pro with 1GB of DDR333 RAM and a Athlon XP 2400+... Obviously I expected a performance hit in cranking the card... but something's not right at all with that, it should still be like 5 or 6...

The guy I just got off the phone suggested this, see what yah think...

When I installed the first time I installed the drivers for nearly everything else, then I installed the drivers for my VIA and motherboard features... His guess is that installing the Vid Card drivers before even installing the drivers to run my AGP may have had a negative effect. He told me I should attempt reformatting my hard drive, re installing Windows, and then getting those VIA Drivers right off the bat... Since nothing else seems to be wrong (latest Windows Updates, latest Cat Drivers, etc.) this seems the only logical solution...

Sooo... unless someone replies within 5 minutes saying "WAAAAIIITTT!!!!" I'm gonna give that a try, it's the only thing making sense to me right now...

I'll keep yah all posted, and hopefully return with a much higher 3DMark score to cheer about.

- Chaz

P.S. I forgot to mention... yes, I did get AGP working again

Your friend's advice is good: considering the sound of your driver issues, that's tbe best way to go. A couple of other thoughts:

* Are you sure you have a real 9800 Pro? Considering the mobo confusion, is it possible you've been slipped a 128bit 9800, or a 9800SE?
* Definately update the BIOS, the listing on JetWat says there's a new one as of April, and I'm guessing your BIOS isn't that current.
* After you get all of this up and running, run CPU-Z, and make sure everything is reported as it should be

 

[chazdraves]

Well, I just got done reinstalling Windows. I'm currently installing UT2k4 so I can see if we still have the same problem... I'll got through your checklist above and see how things turn out. Keep yah posted.

- Chaz

 

[Yaotl]

yeah, did you google your mobo? it's running a KM266Pro chipset. and it's a jetway not msi.

 

[yukichigai]

Okay, you mentioned that you installed Catalyst v4.6. This may be half your problem. ATI has this history of transitioning from great drivers to horrid crappy awful drivers every so often. v4.4 and v4.5 were good releases from what I understand. Go find the v4.5s if you can.

Another thing to try: since you have a 9800 Pro (in theory) you may want to overclock it anyway. Go to Omega Corner and download the previous version of Omega Drivers. (not the new ones based off of Catalyst v4.6. Find some based off of v4.5) I find the Omega Drivers have far fewer issues than standard ATI drivers.

 

[chazdraves]

Well, like I say, I don't know jack about this motherboard, I made the mistake of buying it on impulse, only board I could get yesterday. Now that I've gotten to use it a bit though, it actually don't seem to bad if not a little limited were I to upgrade. I will try those drivers right now. I just got done playing UT and I'm afraid it's the same old story. The card is for sure a 9800Pro I even had PC Wizard take a look at it to verify, just so yah know. Does anyone else have a 9800 Pro 128MB that would be willing to share there 3DMark03 score? I'm interested in seeing where I should be sitting. I'll go get those drivers now.

- Chaz

 

[ViRGE]

A qucik check of the 3DMark ORB says that a system like yours should do at least 5500 or so.

 

[chazdraves]

Thanks for looking that up for me.

I just got the Omega Drivers installed (still need to restart) we'll see what if anything they do... I got the cat 4.5 ones.

I found a BIOS revision for my board, though I don't know if it's newer of not. Question... how do you install a .BIN file? Maybe I should no this, but I always remember my BIOS updates being .exe's.

A continuing thanks to everyone helping me figure this out!

- Chaz

 

[ViRGE]

Get the flashing utility at the top of the page.

 

[chazdraves]

K, found the flashing util... Do I run this from the command prompt; if so, how do I run the command prompt with out bringing up Windows Setup?

In reference to the Omega Drivers, didn't help a bit, I'm afraid... I don't have 3DMark yet, so I can't test it fully, but the Convoy Assault level in UT still runs no faster (and I have it at 800x600 with everything set to normal).

Anyhow... I'll keep pickin' away at it, with your guys' help of course.

- Chaz

 

[chazdraves]

Anyone? I need a command prompt, but I don't have a Floppy drive...

- Chaz

 

[Twista]

Your venting is... well stop venting. Your FPS would be the same with 4x. No differnces and taking you would think a 256mb video card will outform a 128mb same lvl and no it will not. Just a marketing grimmick.

For the mobo thing being a kt266. RIGHT NOW, not later, but now return that mobo and get a nforce or nforce 2 chipset motherboard. The kt266 is sh it and VERY old and shabby.


EDIT: How much did you buy for this suppose msi mobo?

Originally posted by: chazdraves
Anyone? I need a command prompt, but I don't have a Floppy drive...

- Chaz

You got a cd burner? You need to run it by having the floppy or cd in and rebooting the computer it will start the bios flashing program.
ALSO, i have to ask you this. DO you have the fsb at 133 and not 100 because you saying your running UT at 800x and still getting lag. Run a program called CPU-z to find out your fsb and cpu speed and memory settings..

 

[chazdraves]

The 4x thing is figured out, I get it. I'm not sure what you're talking about with the 256MB part... I got a 128MB 9800Pro and I'm saying it should be faster than a 9500... beyond that... the mobo actually works just fine for the parts I have... that's all solved.

Right now I'm just trying to flash my bios without a floppy drive, that's the only issue.

- Chaz

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: Twista
Your venting is... well stop venting. Your FPS would be the same with 4x. No differnces and taking you would think a 256mb video card will outform a 128mb same lvl and no it will not. Just a marketing grimmick.

For the mobo thing being a kt266. RIGHT NOW, not later, but now return that mobo and get a nforce or nforce 2 chipset motherboard. The kt266 is sh it and VERY old and shabby.


EDIT: How much did you buy for this suppose msi mobo?

Originally posted by: chazdraves
Anyone? I need a command prompt, but I don't have a Floppy drive...

- Chaz

You got a cd burner? You need to run it by having the floppy or cd in and rebooting the computer it will start the bios flashing program.
ALSO, i have to ask you this. DO you have the fsb at 133 and not 100 because you saying your running UT at 800x and still getting lag. Run a program called CPU-z to find out your fsb and cpu speed and memory settings..

Text

 

[chazdraves]

Thanks, that link is exactly what I've been searching for.

The mobo was a whopping $80 that's why I figured it was safe to buy it on impulse, no huge loss.

The FSB was at 133 last I looked, but I'll check it out with CPU-z just to be safe.

- Chaz

 

[nan0bug]

You paid $80 for that motherboard?

You deserved to get ripped off.

 

[Cerb]

Even with a 128-bit "Pro," you shouldn't be getting 1600 in 3Dmark03! That's GF4 territory. You should be getting at least 4500, even with a slower chipset and 128-bit pro, though even 5500 shouldn't be out of the question.

KM266 = KT266A with video. Not that great a performer, and old. You should be able to feel the difference between that and a SiS 748 or NForce 2 at the desktop, just in normal apps.

...and if you can, return the thing, and get a AN35N-Ultra or NF7.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox

Originally posted by: RaiseUp
PhasmatisNox is speaking from his ass, like his idol Bush.

I had an MSI board die on me. I RMAed it, the replacement board it working with some problems, but not enough to RMA it.
My friend bought an MSI board, which was defective out of the box. He RMAed it. Repeat 3 times, he still has no working board.

Two of my MSI boards were also faulty. Oh well, maybe we're anomalies.

 

[chazdraves]

One correction... if I may... it's not a 128bit 9800 it's a 128MB 9800Pro, so 256... I just got home from work and finally flashed the BIOS. When I got to the AGP settings it said it'd be able to recognize up to a 256MB card instead of up to a 128MB card, so maybe some of my settings got tweaked and (Lord-willing) improved... I'm gonna 3DMark it right now, see if this day's hard work paid off...

I'll keep yah in the loop, not that you guys really care

- Chaz

 

[rh71]

hmm... 128MB RAM...