Problems with GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB and ABIT BE6II v2.0

Vincent Poy · Jul 13, 2003

Greetings:

On my system on a ABIT BE6IIv2.0 Pentium III 1Ghz 133FSB Motherboard using the Intel 440BX chipset and my display being a SGI (Silicon Graphics Inc)
17.3" 1600x1024 16:10 60hz LCD display via DVI. I had no issues with a PNY Verto GeForce3 Ti500 64MB. However, with the BFG Technologies Asylum GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB, what appears to happens is that everything from the BIOS Power on self testing, bios setup, and DOS would have the text flickering and blury with streaks between the characters as well as on the Award BIOS main screen where the Energy Star logo is, part of the yellow on the right side is on the left side of the screen. The screen is running at 1600x1024 at 63.36Hz. The problem seems to occur with everything before the Windows XP logo since everything after that is fine. I'm not sure what the AGP version on the Intel 440BX chipset is but the GeForce3 Ti500 requires a AGP 2.0 port and I did have some issues initially which was fixed with a newer version of Nvidia firmware for the video card. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Vince

TomG · Jul 13, 2003

the board has AGP 1.x, not 2.0 or higher. can't say that the AGP revision is what the issue is though. you have a decent power supply? also, keep in mind that with that board running a 133 FSB cpu, that the AGP bus is overclocked. not saying the video card can't do that, just pointing it out.

Vincent Poy · Jul 13, 2003

Hmmm, so it is AGP 1.x? I always thought even the GF3Ti500 required atleast AGP 2.0. I have a PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 450ATX which should be decent since the thing is expensive as we all know. I'm going to be moving up to a P4-3.2Ghz platform soon anyways but just wanted to know what could actually cause the problem. I'm just wondering if it could be a issue where PNY which is basically relabeled MSI has better boards than BFG which was VisionTek. Yeah, I remembered about the AGP running at 100Mhz instead of the normal 66Mhz but if something wasn't working, shouldn't it break inside windows and not in the text mode portion of the machine? Thanks TomG for the quick reply like always. Has Richard or anyone released any newer modified BIOSes with a newer HPT? I took the GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB out because before I had my Adaptec AHA2940UW in PCI 1 which the GF FX card now takes away so PCI 2 had my Intel Gigabit NIC and PCI 3 was empty and PCI 4 had my SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Platinum Ex. The only issue is that as we know, PCI 3 can't be used as it's shared with the HPT370 and the same with PCI5. PCI 4 and 2 shares the same resources so when I moved the Intel NIC to PCI 3, it failed in the POST stage as the Intel NIC BootROM didn't come up, did the same thing in 5. With the soundcard on PCI 3 or 5, the card worked but the firewire port was detected in Windows but none of my firewire devices were detected so it only worked in 4. The Adaptec SCSI controller wouldn't work in any of the other slots except 4 as it would failed probing any SCSI devices during POST. I just hope the new mobos don't have the same issue or is it only HighPoint's implemention of RAID that doesn't allow sharing with anything else?

Cheers,
Vince

"TomG" wrote in

the board has AGP 1.x, not 2.0 or higher. can't say that the AGP revision is what the issue is though. you have a decent power supply? also, keep in mind that with that board running a 133 FSB cpu, that the AGP bus is overclocked. not saying the video card can't do that, just pointing it out.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

ftp://geerynet.d2g.com
...

BigBadger · Jul 14, 2003

Set the FSB to 100MHz to bring the AGP bus in spec and give that a go.

"Vincent Poy" wrote:

Greetings:

On my system on a ABIT BE6IIv2.0 Pentium III 1Ghz 133FSB Motherboard using the Intel 440BX chipset and my display being a SGI (Silicon Graphics Inc)
17.3" 1600x1024 16:10 60hz LCD display via DVI. I had no issues with a PNY Verto GeForce3 Ti500 64MB. However, with the BFG Technologies Asylum GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB, what appears to happens is that everything from the BIOS Power on self testing, bios setup, and DOS would have the text flickering and blury with streaks between the characters as well as on the Award BIOS main screen where the Energy Star logo is, part of the yellow on the right side is on the left side of the screen. The screen is running at 1600x1024 at 63.36Hz. The problem seems to occur with everything before the Windows XP logo since everything after that is fine. I'm not sure what the AGP version on the Intel 440BX chipset is but the GeForce3 Ti500 requires a AGP 2.0 port and I did have some issues initially which was fixed with a newer version of Nvidia firmware for the video card. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Vince

TomG · Jul 14, 2003

whew! long paragraph!

I have not seen Richard in the group in a little while. I think there are bios sets on my server that include all of the newer Highpoint bios inserts but if not and there is a request, then I can create one.

you cannot use, as you have discovered, any bus mastering device in slot 5 on your board while the Highpoint controller is enabled.

TomJ. · Jul 14, 2003

did you ever go to the Intel site and update the 440BX ? I used to run a BF-6 and updated.

Vincent Poy · Jul 15, 2003

If I set the FSB to 100, then the CPU will be slower back to 750Mhz instead of 1Ghz. The other thing is isn't AGP 1.0 3.3volts? I thought the voltage for AGP 2.0 and 3.0 were different.

Cheers,
Vince

"BigBadger" wrote in

Set the FSB to 100MHz to bring the AGP bus in spec and give that a go.

"Vincent Poy" wrote:

Greetings:

On my system on a ABIT BE6IIv2.0 Pentium III 1Ghz 133FSB Motherboard using the Intel 440BX chipset and my display being a SGI (Silicon Graphics Inc) 17.3" 1600x1024 16:10 60hz LCD display via DVI. I had no issues with a PNY Verto GeForce3 Ti500 64MB. However, with the BFG Technologies Asylum GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB, what appears to happens is that everything
...

Vincent Poy · Jul 15, 2003

Looks like you do have a 2.34 version now. It wasn't there when I last checked a bit over a month ago. Dunno if it will do anything though. I'm using Richard's Z72C with the 2.32 I think. It seems like both PCI slot 3 and slot 5 has the same issue. Is Highpoint the only one with this issue of not able to share bus mastering devices or do the new P4 i875P motherboards that has the Promise or Silicon Image Raid have the same issues?

Cheers,
Vince

"TomG" wrote in

whew! long paragraph!

I have not seen Richard in the group in a little while. I think there are bios sets on my server that include all of the newer Highpoint bios inserts but if not and there is a request, then I can create one.

you cannot use, as you have discovered, any bus mastering device in slot 5 on your board while the Highpoint controller is enabled.

--

Thomas Geery
...

Vincent Poy · Jul 15, 2003

(TomJ.) wrote in

did you ever go to the Intel site and update the 440BX ? I used to run a BF-6 and updated.

Yes but the Intel INF doesn't support the 440BX under Windows XP. Remember the problem I'm having is not in Windows but rather during the portion before Windows even loads so drivers has nothing to do with it pretty much.

Cheers,
Vince

John Lewis · Jul 15, 2003

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:46:58 GMT, Vincent Poy
wrote:

(TomJ.) wrote in

did you ever go to the Intel site and update the 440BX ? I used to run
a BF-6 and updated.

Yes but the Intel INF doesn't support the 440BX under Windows XP. Remember the problem I'm having is not in Windows but rather during the portion before Windows even loads so drivers has nothing to do with it pretty much.

Cheers,
Vince

Ummmmm...another possible reason for your problems........

I believe that the Be6-II V2.0 only supports 3.3Volt AGP 1x and 2x. Check the motherboard manual specification page.

Hopefully, the GF Fx 5900 is dual 1.5/3.3volt AGP. Many of the latest AGP boards are 1.5 volt only. Check the GF Fx5900 AGP specs.

Using a 1.5volt-only AGP board in a 3.3V only AGP socket will court irreversible damage of either the video board or the motherboard or BOTH and/or result in flaky operation.

John Lewis

TomG · Jul 15, 2003

the slot 3 "issue" is not one I ever had any problems with. I had a card in slot three on all of my BE6-II configurations I built, namely a NIC. slot 5 however, is a hardware thing and is because Abit chose to share the Bus Master signal lines between the Highpoint controller and slot 5. those lines, unlike IRQ lines, cannot be shared.

regarding the Highpoint 2.34 bios, it is best to match the drivers at the OS level with the bios version. If you are using Richard's Z72C, I did not think that was using 2.34 Highpoint bios but it has been a while since I visited with that bios set so I could be in error.

TomG · Jul 15, 2003

the whole point about setting the FSB back was just to test and see if the video card acted any different when the AGP bus was no longer overclocked.

BigBadger · Jul 17, 2003

As Tom said, I suggested this as a way to check if it was a AGP overclocking problem....By all means mess about with other stuff untill you are blue in the face, but personnaly if I had a problem I would make sure everything was running within spec before I started to look for other causes.

"Vincent Poy" wrote:

If I set the FSB to 100, then the CPU will be slower back to 750Mhz instead of 1Ghz. The other thing is isn't AGP 1.0 3.3volts? I thought the voltage for AGP 2.0 and 3.0 were different.

Cheers,
Vince

"BigBadger" wrote in

Set the FSB to 100MHz to bring the AGP bus in spec and give that a go.

...

Vincent Poy · Jul 19, 2003

(John Lewis) wrote in

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:46:58 GMT, Vincent Poy
wrote:

(TomJ.) wrote in

did you ever go to the Intel site and update the 440BX ? I used to
run a BF-6 and updated.

Yes but the Intel INF doesn't support the 440BX under Windows XP.
Remember the problem I'm having is not in Windows but rather during
the portion before Windows even loads so drivers has nothing to do ...

That was what I can't find is the voltage of the AGP since I can't find it anywhere.

Hopefully, the GF Fx 5900 is dual 1.5/3.3volt AGP. Many of the latest AGP boards are 1.5 volt only. Check the GF Fx5900 AGP specs.

All the GF FX 5900 Ultra boards are manufactured by Nvidia for Quality Control purposes.

Using a 1.5volt-only AGP board in a 3.3V only AGP socket will court irreversible damage of either the video board or the motherboard or BOTH and/or result in flaky operation.

I couldn't find the specs anywhere on the voltage requirement but wouldn't the board not work in Windows too if this was the case?

John Lewis

Cheers,
Vince

Vincent Poy · Jul 19, 2003

I tried putting my NIC in slot 3 and the NIC's Bootrom doesn't come up during POST so it's conflicting. It's a Intel Gigabit PCI NIC. Richard's Z72C is 2.32 but I updated to 234 BIOS anyways from your site with 2.34 drivers since might as well make sure the board has the latest stuff if I needed it later.

Cheers,
Vince

"TomG" wrote in

the slot 3 "issue" is not one I ever had any problems with. I had a card in slot three on all of my BE6-II configurations I built, namely a NIC. slot 5 however, is a hardware thing and is because Abit chose to share the Bus Master signal lines between the Highpoint controller and slot 5. those lines, unlike IRQ lines, cannot be shared.

regarding the Highpoint 2.34 bios, it is best to match the drivers at the OS level with the bios version. If you are using Richard's Z72C, I did not think that was using 2.34 Highpoint bios but it has been a while since I visited with that bios set so I could be in error.

Vincent Poy · Jul 19, 2003

"TomG" wrote in

the whole point about setting the FSB back was just to test and see if the video card acted any different when the AGP bus was no longer overclocked.

True. But due to the not being able to use PCI1, I just put my GF3Ti500 back in instead. I'll leave the GF FX 5900 Ultra when the Zalman 7000-Cu HSF arrives for the ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe mobo.

Cheers,
Vince

Vincent Poy · Jul 19, 2003

Good point though. Sorry BigBadger, I guess I'll just use the GF FX on the new system when I upgrade it sometime next week since even if this card works fine in this motherboard, either my SCSI devices or my firewire devices will not be working.

Cheers,
Vince

"BigBadger" wrote in

As Tom said, I suggested this as a way to check if it was a AGP overclocking problem....By all means mess about with other stuff untill you are blue in the face, but personnaly if I had a problem I would make sure everything was running within spec before I started to look for other causes.

"Vincent Poy" wrote:

If I set the FSB to 100, then the CPU will be slower back to 750Mhz instead
of 1Ghz. The other thing is isn't AGP 1.0 3.3volts? I thought the voltage ...

Vincent Poy · Jul 19, 2003

Got a question, anyone know if the BE6II v2.0 supports I/O APIC and the other question is, SMART monitoring software in Windows thinks Smart is disabled because the BIOS doesn't seem to have a setting for Smart, is there a way to get SMART to work for HDD's? Thanks.

Cheers,
Vince

John Lewis · Jul 19, 2003

On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 05:25:44 GMT, Vincent Poy
wrote:

(John Lewis) wrote in

Ummmmm...another possible reason for your problems........

I believe that the Be6-II V2.0 only supports 3.3Volt AGP 1x and 2x.
Check the motherboard manual specification page.

That was what I can't find is the voltage of the AGP since I can't find it anywhere.

See the BE6-II manual, section 1-2. Says clearly AGP 1x and 2x mode
3.3volt............

( The BE6-II V2.0 just uses the HPT370 instead of the
HPT366............. )

Hopefully, the GF Fx 5900 is dual 1.5/3.3volt AGP. Many of the latest AGP boards are 1.5 volt only. Check the GF Fx5900 AGP specs.

All the GF FX 5900 Ultra boards are manufactured by Nvidia for Quality Control purposes.

Using a 1.5volt-only AGP board in a 3.3V only AGP socket will court
irreversible damage of either the video board or the motherboard
or BOTH and/or result in flaky operation.

I couldn't find the specs anywhere on the voltage requirement but wouldn't the board not work in Windows too if this was the case?

Maybe, maybe not...............better phone nVidia Technical support and ask whether the FX5900 will safely/properly work in a 3.3v AGP 1x or 2x socket. Could be quietly melting down..........

John Lewis

John Lewis

Cheers,
Vince

Vincent Poy · Jul 19, 2003

(John Lewis) wrote in

On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 05:25:44 GMT, Vincent Poy
wrote:

(John Lewis) wrote in

Ummmmm...another possible reason for your problems........

I believe that the Be6-II V2.0 only supports 3.3Volt AGP 1x and 2x. Check the motherboard manual specification page.

That was what I can't find is the voltage of the AGP since I can't ...

Found that earlier but the NVidia site and BFG doesn't list what the voltage is for the GeForceFX 5900 Ultra.

Hopefully, the GF Fx 5900 is dual 1.5/3.3volt AGP. Many of the latest AGP boards are 1.5 volt only. Check the GF Fx5900 AGP specs.

All the GF FX 5900 Ultra boards are manufactured by Nvidia for Quality Control purposes.

Using a 1.5volt-only AGP board in a 3.3V only AGP socket will court irreversible damage of either the video board or the motherboard or BOTH and/or result in flaky operation.

I couldn't find the specs anywhere on the voltage requirement but wouldn't the board not work in Windows too if this was the case? ...

Nvidia doesn't provide support to end-users though from what I remembered. I know AGP 2.0 is the minimum requirement but the voltage specs are not listed anywhere.

John Lewis

Cheers,
Vince