Freezing (both win 98 se and win200pro)

[axle619]

Hi all...first I would like to thank everyone for the help with figuring out what was wrong with my MB (heard a POP, now nothing works Please Help ). Thanx especially to BipolarBill who seems to really monitor this forum like a hawk, providing helpful advice to all. It was, without a doubt, my motherboard, as when I got a new one, everything booted up fine. As to what caused it, I am not sure. I replaced the PS with a Raidmax 400watt one (the blue one - go marketing). Everything seems to be working well....except......

Freezing during 3d games.....Sigh. It has been crashing a bit during anything even slightly demanding on the vid card. Videos too..... and a couple just random times. I dual boot between Win98SE and Win2000pro and this happens in both (both OSs on seperate partitions).

I have installed the latest board drivers, video drivers and direct x, but this still keeps happening. Quite frustrating.

Things I have tried:
-Loaded safe defaults in Bios instead of Optimized
-Disabled Onboard sound as well as USB and other devices
-Clocked Ram at 266 instead of 333
-Loaded "safe" settings on Gainward card - no overclocking

I do not beleive overheating is the problem, as it is max load at 49C. While that is certainly warm, it is not bad. I have 3 case fans, 2 fans on PS and Artic Silver on the core.

After already replacing the motherboard (all items purchased from newegg.com), I would just hate to have to replace my GF card too. Does this sound like a harware problem or system setting problem? If it is a setting problem, sure sounds like a lot of work (I have no problem with that, I just have never had that much of a problem before with video cards).

Anyway, please let me know what else I should be looking for. i do really appreciate all the effort people on this forum put forth to help others...i hope I will be able to help others as much.


AMD XP 1900+ (no overclocked)
Gigabyte GA-7VRXP MB
512 Samsung 2700DDR
Gainward GF4 Ti4400
Twin Maxtor 40GB ata133 7200rpm on Raid 0
Lite-on 32x12x40
generic Floppy
Toshiba CD-ROM
Maxtop USB "cool-case" Raidmax Blue w/ 400watt PS
Dual boot with Sys Com (win98se and win200Pro)

[[KMAC] STAN]

Try experimenting with the AGP timing in the BIOS, a friend had the same problem, and this fixed it for him (his best setting was EC, but he has a different mobo)

[BipolarBill]

Is the mainboard exactly the same model?

[axle619]

Hi-

Yup, exactly the same motherboard. Giga GA-7VRXP (got good reviews).

As fast as AGP timings, not sure when in BIOS that is adjusted. Under chipset features, I currently have:

AGP Mode: 2x
AGP Comp. Driving: Auto
Manual AGP Comp. Driving: DA (greyed out)
AGP Fast Write: Disabled
AGP Apature Size: 128MB
AGP read Synchronization: Disabled

Those are all the AGP settings in the BIOS (AmiBIOS with failsafe settings loaded currently) [edit: except for voltage settings, which are all at default]


Temps have gone down to 46c load since first build, btw.

[BipolarBill]

I would do a power refresh of the drivers and try different version.

Use the Detonator Destroyer:

http://guru3d.com/detonator-destroyer/

I would also reinstall DirectX 8.1.

[smily_03]

if you have a pci card in the slot directly below the agp slot, try moving that to a different spot. this can cause video problems and i've seen it cause the same thing that you describe before. if that doesn't help, try shuffling all your pci cards around, as certain ones sharing the same IRQ's can cause problems

good luck!

[BipolarBill]

If you move cards, don't forget to reset ESCD/NVRAM/Configuration Data in BIOS afterward.

[axle619]

Thanx all. I am using the Det Destroyer atm. wish me luck on new installation of drivers.

I have No PCI cards installed at all, hehe. Lan, USB2, sound, etc all on board. So can't go that route.

I am having better results using the "safe" defaults in BIOS, but that's not why I put this comp together. Even AGP on at 4x is messing the system up. i must have a bit more to learn about the tweaking of the system. The USB ports enabled have been causing me some difficuly too.

I am hoping it is a matter of not having fully uninstalled previous drivers. i really really hope.

Wish me luck

[BipolarBill]

Which OS is giving you USB problems?

[axle619]

well...now (after installing most rescent Det drivers, system is kind of in a reboot loop. But I did try and "load Optimized Settings" in BIOS. i will keep trying to tweak this.

As far as the USB problems go, I will work on those after I get the comp to stop crashing, hehe. i did kinda think it was related (system would crash in both win98se and win2000pro when I used a usb mouse or keyboard), but I will just disable the USB stuff for now, as I don't "need" the keyboard and mouse to be usb.

This is sure dissappointing me tho....

One thing would give me comfort is to know the hardware is good, and that I just have to tweak the BIOS or drivers better. I hope that is the case.

[edit: Ok, really frustrated. System keeps rebooting or freezes at different times for different reasons. It is not just when i play a game. Do I up the AGP voltage? drivers should all be correct and updated. Should I list my whole BIOS setup here? I appreciate the help and will do whatever ya'll think.]

[rockinmale]

Hi axle619

I thought, id add my two cents to this discussion.

First off.....
Are you using the ram from your old system? You didnt mention buying any new ram. So im guessing that your using what you currently had installed on the previous motherboard. If you currently are using your old memory. I would certainly run a memory checker on it. You might have a bad stick since your motherboard went out with a bang.

Also......
You didnt mention a clean install after the new motherboard. If you havent done one i would reinstall your windows. All your old motherboard setting are still embedded in the registry and can cause problems. Good rule of thumb to follow after a major hardware update.....reinstall windows!

Take care.....and i hope any info provided here helps you out

Opps...forgot the website......
http://www.simmtester.com
Peace
Rockinmale

[BipolarBill]

Which OS? Both? Clear CMOS.

[axle619]

When I load the "safe" options in BIOS for the motherboard, I seem to be pretty stable. But this is when the DDR is at 266, AGP is at 2x with no synch reading or fastwrite, etc, and a whole bunch of other optimizations missing. Kinda depressing.

Running 3dmark2001se atm. This mean my hardware is good? and maybe just a problem with compatibility or settings?

I'll keep plugging away for now. wish i had a better documents manual with detailed descriptions of the BIOS settings.

[BipolarBill]

Answer my question please.

It may be best to load optimized, reinstall 98/ME and then Repair Win2K.

[kazuza]

How much is your CAS latency for your memory modules?