no support for old VESA video modes in old games using G400DH???

[crischan]

VideoCard: Millenium II G400DH
Problem: When trying to play old games such as "Silent Hunter" or "AEGIS - Guardian of the fleet" the software seems not to be able to reach the VESA videoextensions. Under DOS the system halts, under Widows 98 the game hangs and after minimizing and restoring it starts (sound is coming) with black sreen. and nothing more. IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE who can help???

[Jorden]

Something taken from the readme.txt file in the BIOS files for the Gx00 cards...

VESA (Super VGA) display mode support
=====================================

Some DOS-based programs (for example, games and older CAD programs) use VESA (Super VGA) display modes.

The BIOS of your Matrox graphics card supports VESA display resolutions up to 800 x 600. Resolutions above 800 x 600 are supported through a separate memory-resident program called "vbext.exe". This program is automatically added to your "autoexec.bat" file when you install "Matrox System Utilities".

The following VESA display modes are supported:

Display | Simultaneous display colors
resolution | 16 256 32 K 64 K 16 M
--------------+----------------------------------------------
640 x 400 | -- 100 -- -- --
640 x 480 | (VGA) 101 110 111 112
800 x 600 | 102 103 113 114 115
1024 x 768 * | -- 105 116 117 118
1280 x 1024 * | -- 107 119 11A 11B
1600 x 1200 * | -- 11C 11D 11E --


* Requires the "vbext" memory-resident program

By default, your Matrox graphics card uses a standard 60 Hz vertical refresh rate with VESA display modes. (A higher refresh rate may result in less noticeable flicker.) However, if "vbext" is running and you have a
Plug-and-Play (DDC) monitor, your monitor determines its refresh rates.
Refresh rates determined by your monitor may be higher.

Hope this helps a little bit ?
If not, yell

Jord.

[Hunsow]

Just try Gx00VBE, it's a VESA3 driver for the Gx00 series. It should solve most VESA problems.

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[Tronic]

Right, DO NOT MESS with Matrox's DOS-drivers. Those just suck and hard. Gx00VBE is REALLY GREAT.

Notice that the 0.8 version doesn't have enough features. You'll need 1.0beta, which is private, so I can't tell where to find it.

Mail the author of Gx00VBE and ask to join the beta program, or mail me and I'll send it.

My address is tronic2@sci.fi