Should I buy a G400 with this system configuration?

[Hairy Ogre]

I have used Matrox cards for a long time, the last one I bought was the Millenium II.
Now that I have a motherboard with an AGP slot I am thinking about buying a 32Meg
G400, the slower one, but with all the problems that folks are having I not so sure.
Is anyone successfully using this card with a system similar to mine?


Here are my system components:

ABIT BM6 Motherboard with BIOS version "JN"
400 MHz Celeron that is not overclocked
128 MB of generic PC100 ram
Matrox Millenium II PCI Video Adapter
Sound Blaster Live Value, Liveware 1
Zoom 56K PCI Modem
Visioneer USB port Scanner
Windows 98 Second Edition


These components use the following DMA channels:

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 Communications Port (COM2)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 Creative SB Live! Value
5 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 Creative SB Live! SB16 Emulation
10 Matrox Millennium II PCI
10 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
11 Zoom PCI 56K HCF Faxmodem
11 Zoom PCI Modem Controller
11 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller


Thank you in advance for any response!

[cshaws]

I have a P2400, 128 mg Ram, with the OEM g400 32 mg card overclocked to 120% and have not had any problems with Drakan, HL,SS2, or Unreal Tournament. The graphics are gorgeous 2D/3D. Env Bump Mapping in Drakan is spectacular. Its a great Card for me.

Only have one minor problem with monitor holding size settings after reboot, but sure I will get that solved.

I was thinking of waiting for the Geforce but decided Matrox's Kick Ass Graphics were worth jumping for the G400, plus got it for $160 del.

Good Luck

[The Rock]

Hairy Ogre:

The only hitch you may have is the SB Live; just do a search on SB Live in this forum and you'll find loads of problems regarding Live / G400. The latest drivers for the Live seem to fix these though I believe. The G400 rules though. Best card on the market IMHO; and I'm only using the plain non-Max model. Works for me.

------------------
The Rock
Home Machine: P3 450 + 128 Meg PC100 RAM + 23G Storage
Work Machine: IBM OS/390 + 10Gigs RAM + 1.5 Terabytes Storage (and no damn AGP slot...what a waste)

[Zwisch]

I agree, this should work fine as long as you have the latest drivers for all your components.

[paul]

hairy - disable either the com ports or the ps/2 port 1st, depending on your mouse. That'll get irq sharing out of the way which could help w/unexplainable conflicts

------------------
k6-3 450 - tyan 1590s bios 1.16 - wdac310100 -(With via bm drivers yields 3x performance by 'hdtach')- g200 mill sgram w/8mb upgrade & bios 2.6-20 PD 4.51 (all software disabled)- 128MB 10ns sdram - sblive value 2.1 - 3com 3c905b-tx - cable access (28.8k for emergencies) - win98 service pack 1 + 2
dx7

[paulcs]

If you don't play DOS games, you might want to disable Soundblaster emulation. It's a real hog, and IRQ 9 is a good place for your G400.

Paul
paulcs@flashcom.net