Radeon 9000Pro 128DDR, running at 2X @_@ any ideas?

[ko9000]

Hi all ^^

I do hope someone here knows quite a bit of Radeon graphic cards. You see, just recently I brought and find out my Radeon 9000Pro 128DDR is only running at 2X speed not a normal 4X speed (no wondering I couldn't get a decent fps in CS). My motherboard is 4X supported (ASROCK K7VM2, if that helps ), in the bios I've already set the AGP slot to run at 4X. The card is also a 4X as well, just incase if some of yous are wondering.

Well, the reason why I've said my Radeon is running at 2X is because, in the ATI Radeon control panel, there is tab called "Opitions" and in there, there is a button called "Detail". When I click on it, a window box popes up and shows some infos about my graphic card, such as graphic's card bios version, bus type etc. There was one saying "Current bus setting" and beside it, it shows "AGP 2X". So that's where I got the idea of my graphics card running at 2X instead of 4X.

I've installed the lastest graphic card driver & control panel and also, I've even reformatted my computer :( , so there is definietly no conflict with onboard graphic. My onboard graphic is turned off, I've reinstalled the VIA 4in1 drivers. Any more ideas?

You know, with the current bus running at 2X, I could never have CS fps run constantly at 60, I mean it's 60 . Even my bro's Ge4 MX420SE can run CS at a constant speed of 72 fps, while mine is running at 60 and below, it drops down to 17 fps in CS_assault and runs dust at 30fps and below :confused: , WTF :mad: .

My computer system: Duron 1.3Ghz (don't laugh), Win98Se, 384 SDRAM, ASROCK K7VM2 motherboard and of course ATi Radeon 9000Pro 128DDR (RV25A-C3), DirectX8.1. I mean this Radeon is not far off from being a Ge4Ti 4200. An extra 35mhz of GPU, hehe ^^ , then it'll be there, right? lol


So any ideas or solutions would be great ^^ , thanks alot :D .


ko9000

[ski]

What did you do to turn the onboard video adapter off?

Do you have any programs running in the background when playing?

Do you restart the computer before playing?

Is your gameplay configuration(resolution, color depth, antialiasing enabled/disabled, and game settings) set up exactly the same as your brother's?

Which CPU does your brother's system use?

[Jason1971]

Hello Ko9000, I understand your pain brother. Here is a link that might help. http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=guide&dId=68




Jason

[mjc]

It looks like you may have 2 problems, one being the 2x AGP issue the other being that your refresh rate is locked to 60Hz (this will lock your frame rate to 60 also). Depending on your card/drivers you may need to select default or optimal for the refreshrate instead of a specific number .

[ko9000]

To Ski

-What did you do to turn the onboard video adapter off?
Well, I went into the bios when the computer went through POST and turned the onboard graphic memory to NONE.

-Do you have any programs running in the background when playing?
Yeah just 3, the sound volume thing, that Task scheduler and PC Cillin anti virus, but that I normally End task it. But compare that to my bro's, lol. He has 5 things running and still have fps running at 72.

-Do you restart the computer before playing?
Not really, cause normally if I do that, CS crashes :( .

-Is your gameplay configuration(resolution, color depth, antialiasing enabled/disabled, and game settings) set up exactly the same as your brother's?
Yep, setup are all the same.

-Which CPU does your brother's system use?
P4 1.8Ghz and with 512DDR PC2100 but still...a Ge4 MX420 SE. Sure his computer maybe more powerful and faster...but other than that, that shouldn't mean mine can't deliver the same performance, CS is an old game now. It's the only game that I can set to show fps. Any one know how set up UT?

To Jason1971

Thanks for the link, but I think that's just for Win2K. I'm using win98Se. Would it still work, though?

To mjc

My refresh rate is set on 'Optimal', my highest refresh is 85hz. Do you think setting it on 85hz will fix it? My bro's highest is only 75hz, his too is set on 'Optimal'

Well, thanks again.
More advices or ideas will be grateful :)




ko9000

[ski]

The AGP 4X vs. 2X scenario is overhyped.
I ran Combat Flight Simulator 3, which has a killer graphics engine, on my system(Athlon XP 1800+, 512MB PC2100 DDR, GF4 TI 4400) with both AGP 2X and 4X, and the frame rates were the same in both modes.

If your system's hardware was exactly the same as your brother's and all settings were identical, then I could understand your being upset about not getting the same fast frame rates as him.
But you're comparing apples and oranges. Your system has a slower CPU, a slower FSB, and slower memory. And having a more powerful video card than him does not mean that your system will get the same frame rates as his.

My theory as to why your system has slower frame rates than your brother's when playing CS is because that game is more dependent on the speed of the CPU, FSB, and memory than on the video card in order to render fast frame rates, especially when a lot of scenery and objects appear on the screen.
To test this theory, check the frame rates when playing a lot of different games, as some games depend more on the video card than on the CPU's speed to render fast frame rates.

Also, if your current refresh rate is set at 60Hz for the selected resolution in the game, then setting it higher may increase your frame rates during certain game scenes when little action is taking place.
But it will do nothing to increase the frame rates in the scenes/games that render 17 and 30 fps.

[ko9000]

Yeah I know but still, CS...it's a rather old game (almost 4 years old now) and this system that I have surely can't be that bad to get CS to run at 72fps. I mean even my old 32meg onboard graphic can run far more better than the 128DDR Radeon. With the 32megs I can have CS run at 40fps always, it never drops below 30 and no lags. Where the Radeon 9000 can drop from 60 to 13 or 12fps and lags to hell, WTF :mad: . You must be thinking, if it's better than the Radeon 9000, why get it. That is because, some games need a graphic card to run, eg Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3. This game must have a graphic card to play, no onboard graphic can make it to run. The game doesn't allow it... :( , I've tried 3 different types of motherboard with build in graphic chip and none of them was able to ran it. And also, it's only a 32megs :confused: , no good. But I'm sure if I can get the 2X speed to run at 4X speed, it'll be alot more better. And of-course as most of you know, Radeon 9000 is one of worse graphic card from ATI :( . I guess FSB and RAM plays a huge part in this, doesn't it... :( .


....any more ideas....




Thanks



ko9000

[Jason1971]

Ko9000, Yes there is a fix for Windows 9x. It's about halfway down on the page. Here is what it looks like....


The Fix for Windows 9x Only

Here is the registry information for enabling AGP 4x in Windows 2000 ONLY...

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareNVIDIA CorporationGlobalSystem]
\"EnableVia4X\"=dword:00000001

If you don’t like messing around with the registry we HIGHLY recommend you download this Registry File. Once downloaded, open it and it will automatically change the registry in seconds. Below are instructions on how to merge this file to the system registry:

1) Open 4x_9x.reg.
2) \"Are you sure you want add the information in C:4x_9x.reg to the registry?\" Click Yes.
3) Now that the information from 4x_9x.reg has been added to the registry, reboot your PC.


Uninstalling The Fix

- Download uninstall registry patch HERE for Windows 9x
- Download uninstall registry patch HERE for Windows 2000

If you do this be sure and download both patches (auto install/uninstall) and also know how to get into safe mode if needed.

I know it says registry information for enabling AGP 4x in Windows 2000 ONLY... but I think that's a typeo. BUT check with that link I gave you to be sure


Jason

[ski]

Sometimes a specific video card will not perform properly with certain motherboards, and this may be your problem.
But it's definitely not due to the Radeon 9000 being configured for 2X AGP instead of 4X if CS will run at a consistent 40 fps with an older 32MB video card, since the older card is probably only 1X or 2X AGP.

But before buying a new card, try these suggestions:
-Install different(older) video card drivers.
-Restart your system before playing.
-Click on Start/Run, type msconfig, click OK, click on the Win.ini tab, click the + by Windows, uncheck the box for load=, click the Startup tab, uncheck the boxes for all items, click OK, and restart your computer at the prompt.
(Note: you may want to write down all items that are checked in Win.ini and Startup so that the same ones can be rechecked after you're finished gaming. Also, if you have cable Internet service and use a firewall, then you may want to shut down the computer, disconnect the power cord from the modem, restart, and then do the above unchecking as you will be gaming without a firewall.)

If these do not fix the problem, then consider getting another video card.

[Jason1971]

One more thing Ko9000, have you called ATI tech support yet? If not you might want to give them call maybe they know of an issue that can be easily fixed. Here is the link for the ATI support:

http://mirror.ati.com/support/customercare/premiumUSA.html?cboCountry=USA&cboProdLine=BUILT+BY+ATI&cboProducts=RADEON+9000&cmdNext=Next

Jason

[ko9000]

Hi ^^

Sorry it took so long to reply, I email to PowerColor cause my ATI is a PowerColor Radeon9000Pro Powered by ATI. It has been about 3 days now, still no reply from. I thought they might reply in a day time or may be 2 days time but... that's why I haven't replied anything. Any one think I should email they again?

Any more ideas? :confused:


Sorry for all this trouble. :confused:

Thanks :)


ko9000

[Jason1971]

Yes you should email them and ATI both.



Jason

[Jason1971]

You might also want to check for a BIOS update for your MoBo...


Jason

[ko9000]

Hey guys

I've just recieved replies from both PowerColor and ATI. ATI replied with a bunch of solutions and yet none of them seem to help and have some of them doesn't even have relation to my problem... . But where PowerColor told me that, it's because of my motherboard is using VIA chipset and so on... . Heres what PowerColor said:

"If your mainboard is not based on Intel chipset, the driver will auto set AGP mode to 2X to make your system more stable. VIA chipset can't support stable 4X signal to AGP, so the newest ATI driver
will set AGP mode to 2X.

You can test this card in other systems which are based on Intel chipset, this card will run at 4X mode."

I would post the ATI reply but, it was quite long so I decided not to.

Any one have any more ideas... . I mean this can't be true, can it? So all around the world, those who brought a Radeon 9000Pro and have VIA chipset will have their card running at 2X and not 4X. I mean this is outrageous, so the card was mainly designed for Intel chipsets. So this just mean it's design for Pentium and not AMD :confused: . This should of said it on the box :mad: .


:(



ko9000

[Jason1971]

If your mainboard is not based on Intel chipset, the driver will auto set AGP mode to 2X to make your system more stable. VIA chipset can't support stable 4X signal to AGP, so the newest ATI driver


This is not true.. My roommate has a Radeon 9500 Pro his MoBo has a VIA based chipset. He is running in 4X..

Ko9000 try going back into BIOS and make sure that it is set to 4X mode...

Jason

[ko9000]

Thanks Jason1971 but still nothing seem to help...unless I get another card like Ge4 MX or Ti then I'll be able to get the full speed of the card... . I mean I'm not a newbie to computer, this Duron I'm using is partly builted by me (definitly had help from others but still...).


Thanks alot for all you guys help ^^



ko9000

[Jason1971]

Just a thought...you might think about getting a new MoBo. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than a new video card.

Jason