9800 Pro troubles

[Ryo-Ohki]

Hi there, first post on this board... Sorry this is only to report issues, though.

My system is as follows:
- P4PE-L with BIOS rev. 1005
- P4B 2.53 GHz
- 512MB DDR-SDRAM PC2700
- Hercules Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB using CATALYST 03.4
- Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1
- Windows 2000 SP2 | DirectX 9.0a
- PSU is Antec TrueBlue 480W (more than enough).

Everything is running at stock speeds. I'm no o/c'er and am not really interested in becoming one.

I've basically been having problems since day one with that Hercules. Spent hours on the case, fixed some issues, still banging my head on the walls with some others. I shall add my system had been clean installed from new HDDs.

These are the issues:
- D3D simply doesn't work with any game of the Unreal series, ie classic UT, UT2003, Unreal 2. UT and UT2k3 run very good in OpenGL though, with full AA and Aniso on (even if UT2K3 is a tad choppy at times...). U2 has no such alternate renderer, and thus simply doesn't work. Tried to reverse to DX8.1 on a secondary install... No go. Other D3D enabled titles like IL2-FB or FS2002, or even the ATi demos, or 3DMark (I get normal scores),work fine with full IQ optimizations.
- In PowerDVD EX Pro (which came with my Fortissimo 7.1), I don't have the subtitles until I get hardware acceleration turned off. I understand this is an old issue which was supposedly FIXED in the 03.4. I can live with that.

These gaming issues are killing me. I've done every possible trick I could find at Rage3D, where I can only acknowledge that some people are facing the same kind of trouble as I do. I expected a lot from that new GFX board, in a sense I was rewarded to see it completely blows holes into my older (but more trusty) 8500... But it doesn't seem to be nearly as reliable. I'm sourly disappointed, to say the least.

So, if any of you has some wisdom to share, I'd be very grateful. Thanks a lot.

[Annex]

First, PowerDVD sucks, ive had so much trouble with it since I installed my 9800 Pro. Theres a patch for PowerDVD that fixes the issues, but that patch would for some stupid reason break my leadtek TV tuner. Install WinDVD, it works properly and requires no patches.

Now as for games, I have zero issues with my 9800 Pro. Only game that didnt work immediately was Splinter Cell, and that just required an update. Both Unreal2 and UT2k3 work flawlessly, so either a) there is something wrong with the hercules versions of the 9800 pro (which is possible but unlikely) or b) there is some conflict with your system. I highly recommend you nuke windows and reinstall your system from scratch when you see such stupid unsolvable problems.

[Templar]

I had loads of issues with my 9800Pro on a Gigabyte SIS655 based motherboard. I thought the card was to blame, got another 9800 and same issues.. I got myself a Canterwood board and NO ISSUES at all. It turns out it was the motherboard all the time.

Don't be to hasty thinking it's the 9800.. might be the motherbard and bad AGP implementation. Sounds crazy that a motherboard producer doesn't follow the SPEC but they break the SPEC all the time.

Simon

[Ryo-Ohki]

Frankly, I don't know. I'm inches to return the bugger and try another brand instead, one that matches ATi's reference design, like Sapphire or Connect3D.

The Hercules is awesome looking and I really like the copper heatsinks, but it won't do me much good if I can't get the games that decided me to upgrade to work.

Oh, and if you didn't notice in my first post, Windows was cleanly installed for my tests. Well, twice actually (regular install and test install on another HDD). So, unless my P4PE is fundamentally borked (worked with my 8500 before though), the issue is not located there.

Might be trying the card on a spare TUSL2-C I have lying around. I'll see.

[SupDawg]

To me it sounds like a driver issue.. Did you follow Operating System / Software Installation Guide?

If not, I would try one more fresh install, and go by this guide. If you still have problems, then it is something wrong with your hardware.

[Templar]

Make sure your motherboard has the latest BIOS and is compatible with this graphics card.

My not so old GigaByte 655 board freaked out giving me green spots in games with my 9800Pro but worked fine with my older 9700Pro. Motherboard was to blame, not the video card.

Good luck I hope you get this sorted because this card is just the best.

Simon

[Ryo-Ohki]

Well... The only real difference with that guide is that I generally install the chipset drivers first thing. Then Windows 2000 SP2 (will give SP3 a shot, don't have much more to lose anyway).

Then DX, then video drivers, and I keep the rest of the drivers for the end of the setup procedure. I got the LAN installed before or after DX/video drivers (to get the afore mentioned over my network in one case, didn't seem to change anything).

Is there a good reason not to use the USB 2.0 drivers on the CD? I'm pretty sure Win2K won't autodetect them (doh! just saw I need to get to Windows update to get proper 2.0 support).


EDIT: used not to reboot between drivers and CP install also. Generally served me well.

[Soda]

i have had some problems with cat 3.4 drivers. there is considerable mouse lag and in some instances, Raven Shield would not even load into the actiual game (past the 640x480 screens).

i would recommend trying 3.2's (which I believe come with the Herc card). Use the guide above for changing drivers.

also, run dxdiag and check that the AGP button is not greyed out -I have had problems in the past with Win2000 and AGP although, with the latest inf drivers there shouldn't be an issue.

[Templar]

What chipset does that motherboard have you're using?

[Ryo-Ohki]

Originally posted by Templar
What chipset does that motherboard have you're using?

It was an i845PE based mobo. I've upgraded to an i865PE mobo (P4P800 Deluxe) with a completely new core and new RAM, and the problems with UT2k3 (D3D mode) and U2 persists. The other apps work just fine, as before (although a tad faster... ).

I'm beginning to give up hope on Unreal 2 though, partly because of my issues, but also because of the anarchic support (I had to dig through three versions of the 1403 patch to find one which would suit my RETAIL and OFFICIAL version of the game!). As long as UT2k3 works in OpenGL, I'm content, but D3D has overall better performance, so I won't be totally satisfied.

[Templar]

Man I'm bummed that you have these problems.. U2 rox on my rig.

I have no problems what so ever.. I'm blessed I guess.

Just make sure you have the latest patches and drivers etc.

BTW tried upping the AGP voltage a bit.. 1,6 or 1,65 perhaps?

Simon

[shootcraps]

The CAT3.4 drivers gave me some weird stuff when running some games so I switched to the Omega 3.4's and they work perfectly. Give them a try before you buy new hardware.

[Sir_JaKoNT|L]

try the one from OMEGA drivers

ATi drivers kinda weird, when i installed first time it was good but then got rid and reinstall it is weird and problematic

i went down to 3.2 it was alright but when i install 3.4 is it good again, it is weird isn't it

but i dont have problem with PowerDVD it is good and great though

[Ryo-Ohki]

Well, looks like I have a hold on something as of today... My 9800 Pro doesn't like Unreal Tournament 2003 to use Hardware Transform & Lightning. Didn't tested U2, but I'm willing to bet disabling T&L will make it work also.

I set UseHardwareTL in UT2003.ini to False and switched renderers to D3D. Started a bombing run level (BR-Bifrost). Ran OK. Ran another (BR-Anubis). OK. Re-ran this level. OK. Ran a deathmatch level (DM-Plunge). OK!

"Might have been good luck" I tell myself, but I was never able to complete more than one level and a half before it crashed... So what, re-enable T&L and see what it does? So well, fire up BR-Bifrost... Bam, BSOD within minutes into the game. Reboot, disable T&L... I can play through many levels again.

For me I think this is pretty clear. The game gave me a CreateTexture failed once, but I don't think this is related in any way. So now I'm stuck with a dilemma, run in D3D w/o T&L (hurts performance quite a bit), or run in OpenGL, perfectly stable but the IQ is not as good (some textures are not as good looking or even missing, for instance I can't see the teams insignae on Bombing Run missions).

I was running in "fail-safe" AGP 4x, upped to 8x without problem whatsoever, but didn't try with T&L back. I don't suppose this AGP setting would impact on T&L crashing, anyway... Fastwrite is still off though.

So what? It is my understanding that T&L is used whenever possible, I know for sure Grand Prix 4 uses it (there's a setting for it into the configuration file), and has yet to crash on me.

[DarkOneX]

Just sell the 9800 Pro on egay and buy the FX 5900 now and save all this heartache! There are 2 FX 5900's available to buy now. Go to Pricewatch.com and video cards section and in the search box put in 5900 and hit enter to find them.