G400 Problems on Asus K7M

[PeterK]

Hi,

I'm having some problems with my G400. I installed it on my computer (running on an Asus K7M motherboard). Now, everything seems to work fine in windows, I can change resolutions, web pages display correctly etc.

However, games always crash, even Matrox's own tech demo which was included with the card. In the tech demo, the loading bar goes up about 3/5 of the way and then I am dropped back to the menu screen. The log file gives this message:

Warning! can't create model: windownull_1 0145:<si_Scene.cpp>

Baldur's Gate II locks up also. It seems as if the program can't actually initialize DirectDraw HAL, D3D, or OpenGL. I tried re-installing the drivers, installing newer drivers etc. but nothing has worked yet.

Here are my system specs:

Athlon 500 Mhz CPU
Asus K7M Motherboard
128 MB ram
Windows 95

and of course a G400 (PCI).

Does anyone know how to fix this problem or even what is the cause? Is there a problem with this motherboard/graphics card setup?

Thanks,
Peter

[Thundrchez]

The AMD northbridge on the K7M does not come with drivers that work in W95, but only in W98+. They may have come out with new drivers that work with W95; I haven't checked in over a year.

You have a PCI G400? That is a bit odd. In that case, it should be using the VIA southbridge for the video, not the AMD northbridge. The VIA southbridge drivers work OK in W95.

[Greebe]

U must use Win95 revision B or C (aka 2.5 for the latter) with the USB supplement which will enable AGP support.

edit: mispelt "oc" to "or" Doh!

[Kruzin]

There is no such thing as a PCI G400.
It's either an AGP G400 or a PCI G450.

Anyway, as Greebe said, you need the most recent version of Win95 to have any sort of AGP support at all. Better yet, upgrade to a more recent version of Windows altogether, and make sure you have all of the latest BIOS and drivers for your motherboard.

[Ali]

Do you have DX8 installed? I think the latest drivers need it.

At the least do a dxdiag and see what comes up there.

Also do you have any IRQ conflicts etc?

Ali

[PeterK]

Sorry, my mistake, I do have a G400 AGP and I'm running windows 95a, so I'll try updating it.

Ali: Yes, I have dx8 and dxdiag worked fine, even the hardware d3d acceleration test. Thankfully, no IRQ conflicts.

Thanks for your help and I'll let you know it if works out.

[prr]

Do you have DX8 installed? I think the latest drivers need it.

What latsest drivers need it?
AFAIK, Matrox suggests to keep away from DX8 if possible

[ALBPM]

Also show us your IRQ assignment list. You may have some conflicts.

Paul

[Maggi]

Isn't there an option in every BIOS to assign particular IRQs to each slot ?

[PeterK]

There are problems with DirectX 8 and the G400? Matrox never mentioned this in their FAQs

Is there a solution to this? Most new games sort of require Dx 8.

Device manager doesn't list any conflicts for the card. My interrupt request # for the card is 11

[prr]

[i]There are problems with DirectX 8 and the G400?
[i/]
I've just met some posts in matrox TS forum saying that if there is no direct need for DX8, don't install it. DX8 may add some problems playing back video.
Could be that the problems are fixed in never drivers, though.