Pffff, i'm getting tired of this !!

[DEF92]

Okay, let see. Situation : G400 DH + Abit BE6-ii = pink/black dots !! The good advice from RAGS to look for a older bios, i did and i found it. So i put the SDRAM LEADOFF COMMAND ON 4. Then i loaded the newest bios. When i started my PC, i didn't saw any dots. But i checked the Matrox demo the sky was still with purple/pink stripes. When i looked on the matrox quickdesk (on the rightbottom of your screen) i saw still some dots. When i checked "Soldier of fortune" i saw purple/pink stripes ???
So what should i do, should i format c:\ and install everything from the beginning or do i have to install the matrox again ?? By the way, i have another "NEW" matrox G400 DH in a package. I want to install that card, but then i have to be sure it will work. PS. I also set the PD5 Reghacks and 1x or 2x.

Situation 2 : I never installed the HPT 366 Ultra DMA Controller, because i don't have any SCSI-devices. Is this necessary ??? Or should i install it and then disable it ???

Greetings, DEF

Thanks all you guys for the last time, but the dots are still there ??!!??

[Livius]

The HPT336 is not for SCSI devices but for UDMA66/33 IDE devices.

[Rags]

Hi DEF,

Try using the older bios with the SDRAM Leadoff Command setting in it with it set to 4 and boot and see if the display clears up.

Rags

[The PIT]

Def92. Are you running in AGP x2 or AGP x1. If you running AGP x2 try forcing AGP x1 using the registry hacks and see what happens.
Also I had one ot two weird colours until I re-installed DX7 which cured the problem.

[The PIT]

Damn double posts

[This message has been edited by The PIT (edited 09 April 2000).]

[DEF92]

Okay, A miracle has happened !!!! Let see : I changed the AGP 1x and AGP 2x and i don't see any result. I changed SDRAM LEADOFF COMMAND TO 4 and then UPGRADE with the newest bios. Still no result !! Tip from RAGS was to first change the SDRAM LEADOFF COMMAND to 4 and then look if there is any change. So before i was planning to do this, i was sitting behind my screen and then i was looking in Matrox Quickdesk and the Matrox on the left hot some big green dots around it. So, i looked in the display properties and went to advanced. There i disabled the "BUS MASTERING". I restarted my computer and taaaadddaaaaaaa i checked the word MATROX in the matrox quickdesk and the green dots were gone !?!?!?!?! I checked the TECHDEMO and the sky was pink/purple stripes free. There is only problem that the screen is a little bit slower ?!?!?!?!? So, what next ???

Greetings, DEF

P.s. I'm trying the AGP 1x or AGP 2x right now, so i change the post later if it works.

P.s. Maybe it's not necessary but my Matrox is on IRQ 9.

[Nuno]

Disabling busmastering is not a solution. It severely cripples the G400 performance. But you have traced the problem: busmastering. Or the motherboard is flawed or you have some G400 resources confliting with other devices.

[DEF92]

Okay if thats the problem, it is !! But i tell whats inside : PCI-2 is occupied by the DIAMOND SONIC Soundcard, AGP i has the G400 (ofcourse....), i've got 128,64,64 mb sdram, a Piii 550E, a Maxtor 10gb and a 17gb, HP8210 and a Toshiba DVD-1212 player. That's all, oh and on the USB a Modem. So i hope you can use this.

Greetings, DEF

[Nuno]

Could you post an IRQ list?

[DEF92]

I hope this is what you mean :

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 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-Steering
5 Intel 82371AB/EB Universal Host Controller for PCI to USB
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-Steering
9 Matrox Millennium G400 DualHead - English
9 SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-Steering
10 Vortex Multifunction PCI Platform
10 Vortex PCI Audio
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-Steering
11 Highpoint Technology Inc. HPT366 Ultra DMA 66 Controller
11 Highpoint Technology Inc. HPT366 Ultra DMA 66 Controller
12 Trackman7 (PS/2)
13 Numeric data processor
14 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)

Could it be the third 9 : SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus, or is this normal ????

Hope you can use this ??? Greetings, DEF

[Rags]

Hi DEF,

One thing you may try in addition to my suggestion about the SDRAM Leadoff Command:

Try going into display properties/settings/advanced/options and make sure "Use device bitmaps caching" is disabled.

Rags

[DEF92]

Before i do this, can i enable the bus mastering again or do i have to test it first ???

In this menu, i tell what the situation is :

POWERDESK FEATURES
Enabled :
- Start Matrox Quickdesk when Windows restarts
- Show Matrox Quickdesk icon on taskbar
- Other four are disabled !!!

Disabled :
- Prompt before applying desktop scheme
- Show menus in visible dislpay
- Automatically save/restore desktop/icons positions
- Automatically save/restore Windows positions


PERFORMANCE

Enabled :
- Use Polygon Acceleration
- Use device bitmaps caching
- Use hardware to draw color mouse pointer

Disabled :
- Use bus mastering
- Use 32-bit Z-buffering
- Enlarge mouse pointer

Greetings, DEF

[Rags]

Hi DEF,

Yes, enable busmastering. The G400 requires busmastering to be enabled to perform properly.

Rags

[Jake]

Hi DEF92,

Here's my IRQ table:

0: System timer
1: Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2: Programmable interrupt controller
3: ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
3: Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
4: Communications Port (COM1)
5: Vortex AU8830 Sound Blaster Pro Emulation
6: Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7: Printer Port (LPT1)
8: System CMOS/real time clock
9: SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10:ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
10:Adaptec AHA-2940U2/AHA-2940U2W PCI SCSI Controller
11:ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
11:Vortex AU8830 Multifunction PCI Platform
11:Vortex AU8830 PCI Audio
12:PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13:Numeric data processor
14:Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
14:Primary IDE controller (dual fifo
15:ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
15:Matrox Millennium G400 DualHead - English

My advice would be to disable the secondary onboard HDD controller if possible and force your G400 to IRQ 15 from bios setup. I think it's PIRQ0 that should be set to 15 in stead of AUTO. You could also try to disable your COM2 serial port and force some other component to use that IRQ, thus freeing another for your G400. I seem to remember someone mentioning that the G400 works best if not sharing IRQ and on an IRQ above 9.

Regards,

Jake



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Who is General Failiure and why is he reading my drive?
----------------------
MGA-G400DH 32Mb Mill., Abit BF6 mobo bios ver. QJ, PIII-450@558, 128Mb PC-133 SDRAM, 17" Hitachi monitor, Plextor 40TS CDROM, Plextor 8/20 CDR. Diamond MX300 A3D PCI soundcard, Adaptec AHA-2940U2W, Seagate Cheetah 9.1 GB LVD HDD, Quantum Fireball ST 6.4 GB UDMA33 HDD

[DEF92]

I will try these options later today. I report to you guys what the conclusions were with the G400 and Abit BE6-ii !!!

Greetings, DEF