[Q:long] How to fix: flashing hozizontal lines on G400 desktop

[Livius]

Hi! I'm pretty sure the source of your problem lies somewhere else. From what I know
(and I've watched almost all relevant threads on MURC) this is a typical G400 16MB problem.
I myself have already changed two of them cards, and all three have the same issue
even though they came from different batches - Kxxxxx and JBJxxxxx. I tried them on 3 PSs,
including my current 300W one and the corresponding 3 cases,
some 5 motherboards, different memory chips, 2 HDDs, several CPUs and even 3 monitors at all
resolutions and refresh rates up to 120Hz. The flickering thing that we know is
certainly not an issue with 32MB boards. The symptoms are as follows:
- there is no horizontal flickering in fullscreen 3D
- horizontal flickering appears in 2D when
* there is a 3D app. running in windowed mode
* you try to resize windows / scroll rapidly
- there in no flickering in 2D if everything on the screen is still

What AMAZES me still is the fact that MATROX did not actually acknowledge this problem.
Haig even said they could not replicate them inhouse, although I know for sure that I
have replicated the issue on a variety of systems and in two different locations.

Also note that not all flickering G400's are created equal: my last one flickers much less
than the other two. Actually this time it is bearable.

Livius

[Livius]

Hi! I'm pretty sure the source of your problem lies somewhere else. From what I know
(and I've watched almost all relevant threads on MURC) this is a typical G400 16MB problem.
I myself have already changed two of them cards, and all three have the same issue
even though they came from different batches - Kxxxxx and JBJxxxxx. I tried them on 3 PSs,
including my current 300W one and the corresponding 3 cases,
some 5 motherboards, different memory chips, 2 HDDs, several CPUs and even 3 monitors at all
resolutions and refresh rates up to 120Hz. The flickering thing that we know is
certainly not an issue with 32MB boards. The symptoms are as follows:
- there is no horizontal flickering in fullscreen 3D
- horizontal flickering appears in 2D when
* there is a 3D app. running in windowed mode
* you try to resize windows / scroll rapidly
- there in no flickering in 2D if everything on the screen is still

What AMAZES me still is the fact that MATROX did not actually acknowledge this problem.
Haig even said they could not replicate them inhouse, although I know for sure that I
have replicated the issue on a variety of systems and in two different locations.

Also note that not all flickering G400's are created equal: my last one flickers much less
than the other two. Actually this time it is bearable.

Livius

[sasulj]

O.k!First answer goes to THE PIT: I've tried these cards in the store not only at home. This is because I wanted to change the card, so I've tried all in stock of the store.

Second: First I've managed to solve the problem with direct 3d games. I did something with sgram configuration in MGATweak program and I thought that was the solution. So the lines were only in opengl based games. After a few weeks direct 3d games flickered. I did the same I did the first time with sgram config. but this time nothing changed.

[sasulj]

O.k!First answer goes to THE PIT: I've tried these cards in the store not only at home. This is because I wanted to change the card, so I've tried all in stock of the store.

Second: First I've managed to solve the problem with direct 3d games. I did something with sgram configuration in MGATweak program and I thought that was the solution. So the lines were only in opengl based games. After a few weeks direct 3d games flickered. I did the same I did the first time with sgram config. but this time nothing changed.

[red2]

This is a problem with some OEM 16MB S/h cards. Haig is aware of this problem and will RMA your card. I recommend you try to get a 32MB card though to insure that it never happens again.

[cpld005]

I had similar problems with early revisions of the G400 SH 32MB as well, never went away til they both were exchanged out with Later rev. G400MAX's.

[Bakwetu]

One more observation on the flickering problem. I had some minor flickering on my old system (Cel 366@550, msi 6163). When I upgraded to an Athlon 700+k7v the flickering became much worse. Before I hardly noticed it, but now it flickers every time the system is called on fx opening windows, backing the cursor in dokuments etc.-annoying

[sasulj]

Can somebody do the test for me, please!
In Quake Arena stand infront of the wall and shoot in it with machinegun. Can you see horizontal lines on screen?
Thank's!
sasulj