Direct3D on all games.

[TheDarkHorizon]

Well, this problem has happened to be for a long time. I was using Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and any game that required Direct3D would crash my computer after a short period of time. My computer would also frequently lock up. I decided to format finally and I re-installed windows 2000. I'm still having trouble with Direct3D games. Also, out of no where my computer just reboots. It's really annoying. I'm wondering if I have any IRQ conflicts, but I dont know how to check. Please help, I'd really appreciate it.

Oh yea, I'm using an FIC SD11 motherboard. Is that bad?
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AMD Athlon K7 750MHz
256MB PC-100 SDRAM
20GB Maxtor 7200RPM Hard Drive
8.6GB Maxtor 5400RPM Hard Drive
ATAPI 40X max Generic CD-ROM
IDE-CD ReWritable-2x2x6x
SB Live Value
Matrox Millenium G400 32MB
SMC EZ Card 10/100 (SMC1211TX) (Network Card To Cable Modem)
3Com EtherLink III ISA (3C509b-TPO) (Network Card To Network Bridge)
Windows 2000 5.04 Matrox Millenium G400 Drivers
Windows 2000 Advanced Server

[This message has been edited by TheDarkHorizon (edited 25 July 2000).]

[Jorden]

In the FAQ Files Forum... I want to show you my IRQs !!


Jord.

[This message has been edited by Jorden (edited 25 July 2000).]

[TheDarkHorizon]

=] =] =] =]

is it bad that my g400, sblive value, via usb universal host controller, and smc ez card all use irq 9? =]

im in windows 2000, those instructions seemed to work...

well heres the list

System Information report written at: 07/25/2000 11:47:55 AM
[IRQs]

IRQ Number Device
3 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
9 Matrox Millennium G400 - English
9 Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
9 VIA USB Universal Host Controller
9 SMC EZ Card 10/100 (SMC1211TX)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
13 Numeric data processor
12 Microsoft PS/2 Mouse
1 PC/AT Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard (101/102-Key)
6 Standard floppy disk controller
4 Communications Port (COM1)
10 3Com EtherLink III ISA (3C509b-TPO)
14 Primary IDE Channel
15 Secondary IDE Channel

[Rags]

I think I know your problem, your motherboard doesn't properly support ACPI (unless they have a new bios that does). Win2k is obviously installed in acpi mode on your machine. IF you feel up to the task, reinstall win2k in normal mode (just disable acpi in your bios, then install win2k).

Rags



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Partnership for an idiot free America

[TheDarkHorizon]

BTW, what does ACPI do? Would it cause G400D.DLL to hang on all Direct3D games? Would it cause reboots that just come out of no where?

::: groans :::

Looks like I might have to format again...

[ALBPM]

<FONT SIZE=4>Free Beer on IRQ 9™ !!!<FONT SIZE=2>

<FONT SIZE=4>... ROTFLMAO<SUP>tm</SUP> ...
<FONT SIZE=1><SUP>tm</SUP> courtesy of ALBPM aka Darth Mahl [MU]<FONT SIZE=2>

[This message has been edited by ALBPM (edited 25 July 2000).]

[TheDarkHorizon]

eh ALBPM ?

anyways, i didnt see anything about acpi in my bios settings...

[ALBPM]

Look in the Power Management Setup part of you BIOS.

The Free beer on IRQ X started back when the G400 was first released. Most of the problems people were having were due to IRQ conflicts.
Sorry, just a bit of murc humor.

Paul

[TheDarkHorizon]

Do I look in power management to fix my IRQ conflicts or to disable ACPI?

[TheDarkHorizon]

In Power Management, I saw an option called Power Management / APM and it was disabled. A bunch of other things were diabled due to this. After I enabled it, I saw one of the options called IRQ9. It was set at ignore, and the only other option I could chose was Monitor.

[Sisyfos]

If you want to force an installation of Win2K without ACPI just push the F5 button (undocumented) very early in setup and choose 'Standard....' in stead of 'Advanced...'.
I haven tried it myself, so I can't confirm it works by my own experience.

[TheDarkHorizon]

Anyone with an SD11 know how to disable ACPI or know if it conflicts with Windows 2000? Would it help if I switched back to Windows 98?

[Rags]

You would be able to play your games in win98, but you can too in win2k. First thing's first. Look at FIC's website for bios upgrades for your motherboard, see if there are any that include ACPI fixes, if there are, try updating to that bios first. If there are none, or it doesn't work, nuke your win2k install. Set your computer to boot from the cd, when it boots and you enter setup, hold down the F5 key. You will see a list of options of installs, choose the one that says standard pc. This will use IRQ's the normal way, and will not enable ACPI.

ACPI is Advanced Configuration Power Interface. What it does is allow the OS to control certain parts of your computer hardware that used to be uncontrolled/unaccessable to the OS. What win2k does is put all busmastering devices on the IRQ that your ACPI controller sits on, and using that, it can control the interupts within the os rather than on your hardware. Obviously, if a piece of hardware, including your bios doesn't like to play nice with the OS doing this, then you will have problems. Most of the time when you have problems with ACPI it will be a problem with your motherboard/bios. Some NIC, SCSI, and soundcards don't like ACPI, but won't cause a problem like you are having.
This is a very simplified explanation, mind you. So I don't want/need anyone to come here and correct me on this. This gives the basic understanding of what happens when you have a full ACPI OS.

Rags



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Partnership for an idiot free America

[TheDarkHorizon]

Well, I just formatted, and installed Windows 2000 w/o ACPI. I hope this at least fixes the reboots that my computer likes to do randomly. I still have a problem with Direct3D. Would IRQ conflicting now matter? My NIC for my cable modem uses the same IRQ as my G400.

IRQ Number Device
11 Matrox Millennium G400 - English
11 SMC EZ Card 10/100 (SMC1211TX)
9 Creative SB Live! Basic (WDM)
10 3Com EtherLink III ISA (3C509b-TPO)
14 Primary IDE Channel
15 Secondary IDE Channel
5 VIA USB Universal Host Controller
1 PC/AT PS/2 Keyboard (84-Key)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
6 Standard floppy disk controller
8 System CMOS/real time clock
13 Numeric data processor
12 Logitech PS/2 Port Mouse

Because I'm not a real fan of rebooting and I don't want to waste my time testing a Direct3D game until it crashes, can anyone tell me if the conflicting IRQ could have anything to do with Direct3D giving win2k a BSOD then crashing my computer?

[Rags]

Yes, It can.

Rags



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Partnership for an idiot free America