W2K, G400, KV7, Garbled Screens and OpenGL Trouble

[alphadog]

I've been corresponding about my problems in the Matrox forum, but this board might be of help too.

Please check out http://forum.matrox.com/mgaforum/For...ML/000884.html for a good history of what I have done so far to get some basic stability out of my new Asus KV7 board. Basically, I have BIOS 1005 and the new Asus viaagp.sys file bandied about in places like Tom's Hardware.

What I am left with is a big OpenGL incompatibility where anything OpenGL-dependant will hard-lock my computer and give garbled output, or even force a reboot. This includes the standard OpenGL screensavers, WinAMP OpenGL plugins and Quake3. However, the Maze screensaver does work, strangely enough, and the Flying Object doesn't immeidately crash but within a minute or so does...

Anyone experiencing the same problem?

[CannyOne]

Uh, Yes! I have an Epox EP-7KXA. After installing the "VIA Chipset Indentification Patch". Win2k would consistently crash upon entering Windows. The new "viaagp.sys" file resolves the crashing. But OpenGL remains unfunctional. My best guess is that this file is just a kluge. It now recognizes my "8391 device number" chipset. However, no other changes have been made. In essence we are using a driver designed for the MVP3 Socket 7 chipset. VIA lied about Win2k support for the KX133 chipset!! So do you really expect it to work properly? I sure don't! My suggestion would be to quit bugging Matrox Tech Support. And redirect your efforts to getting a "proper" driver from VIA, if they are even capable of producing such a thing.

But I guess I better "chill" before Krusin premanently relagates me to the Soap Box Forum.

[alphadog]

Oh well, thanks. Nice to know I'm not alone! Hmm, off to VIA's website for a few good sites to pound the pavement...

[alphadog]

Great news! I finally got my cohones in tow and just installed the beta drivers available for the Marvel G400 at Matrox's site which are v5.06 at http://www.matrox.com/mga/drivers/files/w2k_vt200.htm and I can do all the OpenGL stuff now! Try it and tell me if it works for your setup too. Here's hoping...

[Arsa]

As I said - works for me... ;-)
W2K+G400 DH + K7V bios 1005 + new viaagp.sys

[CannyOne]

Well, I'd say "it never hurts to try". But after some of my recent experiments with this issue. I have serious doubts as to the validity of that phrase!

On the other hand I really want to use something to restore functionality to OpenGL. I guess I'll have to try it out. Does anyone know if those 5.04 drivers will actually install with a G400Max? Or would that constitute an exercise in futility?

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[JohnT]

CannyOne -
I have tried all three of the current crop on my G400Max (5.03, 5.04, and 5.06) and can't say I can tell the difference. Of course, I'm not using any benchmarks, so there can easily be several percent difference and I would never know it

But to answer you question, yes 5.04 can be installed with a G400Max - just use the driver update feature in DM.

JohnT

[CannyOne]

I just want OpenGL to work. There's another current thread which discusses some issues experienced with the 5.04s. But I guess he "hacked" the drivers somehow. I was also considering trying the 5.06 set of betas for the Marvel. Alphdog says they're working for him. Decisions, decisions!?! The thing is that the "uninstall utility" doesn't really work with Win2k, so it might be better to wait!

[JohnT]

CannyOne -

I get around the uninstall problem by making a copy of the virgin installation (before video drivers but after machine.inf and viaagp.sys changes) on another partition. I use NT4 to copy the w2k installation so there are no problems with files in use.

When I want to try a new driver, I just move the current installation (using NT4) to the backup partition, and then copy the virgin installation back to the active w2k partition and I'm ready to try a new driver.

BTW, for the best OGL performance, why aren't you using NT4?

JohnT

[alphadog]

Arsa: Which drivers? The v5.06? Or, the Matrox-approved v5.03?

CannyOne: Haven't had an ounce of problem so far. Knock on wood. The difference is you've good the MAX and I don't. Would that make a difference. Also, which thread are you referring to? I'd like to read up.

One remaining problem? WCPUID reports I'm stuck at 1x AGP. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Damien Green]

Yes there was indeed a hack to allow the 5.04 drivers to be installed with a Max card, I would provide the information, but I can't remember what the procedure involved (somethng to do with editing one of the installation ini files to allow the drivers to recognise the Max) - do a forum search that should dig up the required info.