Myth 1.5.1c and 1.5.2 (build 278) run fine on my XP Pro with an older 32MB ATI video card, but when I install a 128MB ATI, 256MB ATI, or 256MB GeForce 6600 card, Myth freezes up shortly after starting (either a new game, the tutorial, or a film). It's the kind of freeze that prevents me from doing anything but powering down the PC. This happens with Direct 3D or OpenGL, but not in software rendering mode.
I'm going to try running 1.3 this week when I get a chance to narrow things down, but in the meantime, do you have any ideas or suggestions for me to follow? Special settings to use/avoid?
I've got all the latest service packs, drivers, etc. I'd really like to use a newer video card if possible...
I have XP Pro and the ATI Radeon 9200 128MB card and have no problems. I thinks its a video card issue. Like Doobie said, try different video card drivers. Are you using the latest ATI drivers? You could try those Omega drivers I heard once about. I used them in the past and it worked fine for me.
Well, it appears that it may well be the older motherboard on this particular PC. It's about five years old.
Since the 32MB ATI works well with Myth, I decided to just keep it on this computer and wait on upgrading until I upgrade the entire system in the coming year.
Thanks for getting back to me on this - thought it might be a "known" issue that I couldn't find in searching.
I had to remove the video card because it was also causing problems with an application I am using for work - alas, I didn't try windowed versus classic before I removed it.
I think it's a motherboard/video card problem. I looked into upgrading the BIOS, but (a) I couldn't see anything in the upgrade specs/readme that had anything to do with AGP or the graphics interface (see below); (b) I can't afford to mess up this computer right now.
It's an older motherboard (5 to 6 years old) and I have a feeling it just isn't happy with AGP 8x video cards trying to run at 4x:
Motherboard:
MicroStar MS-6330 2.1
Chipset: VIA KT133 Rev 02
Southbridge: VIA VT82C686
Sensor: VIA 686 A/B
BIOS:
American Megatrends, Inc.
ROMID: 0AAVWP08
Date: 09/12/2000
Graphic Interface:
AGP Version 2.0
Transfer Rate 4x
Max Supported 4x
Side band Enabled
If I get really bold this weekend I might try upgrading the BIOS and try the video card one last time. If I do, then I will definitely try it in Windowed mode. I tried different resolutions and Direct3D versus OpenGL versus Software, but forgot about the Windowed.
Here's the "Reason for Update" in the BIOS update readme file - maybe you guys can see something in here that's important that I'm missing. The biggest thing to me is that my BIOS' ROMID is 0AAVWP08, which is not even listed:
----------------
Reason for Update
ROMID: 0AAVWP12
* Removed all APM-related Setup questions.
* Fixed Q_Power_Loss help text.
* Added ID string at address F000:E840 for Microsoft SPL.
* Removed pressing the F9 key when there is a CMOS checksum error.
* Shortened mouse error handling routine.
* Added support for logo flashing and saving system and chassis manufacture information. Must be done with the latest AFUDOS (ver. 2.21g).
* Fixed problems with Zip drive attached with 40-pin cable.
* Fixed problems with starting with Zip drive on secondary channel.
* Added remote lockout support.
* Added optimal support for ATA 66 optical devices.
* Added F12 hot-key network startup support.
* Implemented security freeze.
* Added ID string at address F000:EDF0 for Microsoft SPL.
* APM calls, return not supported.
* Fixed unreported memory error with Windows Me and HCT 9.6.
* Fixed password issue where user could change access level.
ROMID: 0AAVWP11
* Fixed issue with the WD400 production drive that would stop responding at power-on self-test (POST) CODE 91h.
ROMID: 0AAVWP10
* Fixed issue with the wrong hard drive size being reported in a utility.
* Added support for the WINBOND flash chip.
* Fixed problem with CMOS memory locations.
ROMID: 0AAVWP09
* BIOS is based on the 7.00.01 core.
* Fixed issue with L1 and L2 cache displayed in Setup.
* Fixed issue with Fixed and Auto Pre-Delay.
* Enhanced FAST POST.
* Removed progress bar during POST.
* Set unused PCI clocks to Disabled for a production release.
* Fixed issue with L1 and L2 cache being displayed at system config screen.
* Included changes for FAST POST.
* Fixed issue when 'H/h' used during password prompt, PARTIES menu called.
* Fixed issue if Setup entered with user password, supervisor password, advanced chipset page and Power Management page are not available.
* Added question for PCI IDE busmastering.
* Added Setup question to enable/disable IDE 32-bit transfer and default set to Enabled Mouse not attached, Setup issue fixed.
* Modified DRAM drive strength and PLL test mode.
* Fixed IOMEGA Zip drive DMA issue.
* Fixed problem with pressing H key at WinME command prompt.
* Implemented enhanced error handling.
* CD drive is able to start from the secondary IDE channel without the primary IDE channel being populated.
* Corrected Self-Monitoring Analysis Reporting Technology (SMART) status.
* Fan always on question is not supported.
* Corrected non-silent startup screen initiated by TAB key.
* Setup questions match GW specifications.
* Corrected ACPI OEM ID tables.
* C1 state is supported per ACPI/FACP table flags.
* S4 RTC Wake is supported per ACPI/FACP table flags.
* Implemented non-silent screen (initiated by the TAB hot key) per Gateway specifications.
* Fixed problem with USB keyboard hot keys not working.
* Added support for 1.3-gigahertz (GHz) or larger processors.
* Supports the OEM only setup that Gateway requested in NVRAM.
* Supports both the Gateway and OEM setup that Gateway requested based on a setting in NVRAM.
I decided to dive into it - wth - updated the BIOS on this computer and re-installed the nVidia card so I could let you know how it worked for windowed vs. classic mode.
Alas, the video card still hard freezes and there was no difference between the two modes. But as I mentioned above, I believe it is a problem with the card+motherboard and not 1.5.x.
But, the system itself seems to run better with the BIOS update, so at least something good came out of it!
Would have liked the new video card to work on this system - oh well - guess I'll just have to wait until I do a complete rebuild down the road...
Baak wrote:Chipset: VIA KT133 Rev 02
Southbridge: VIA VT82C686
Sensor: VIA 686 A/B
That's the infamous VIA KT133 chipset; one of the worst chipsets ever produced. There is nothing you can do to make that motherboard work solidly, it will always be broken as it's broken by design. The problems with the video card could be any number of things but I think some kind of incompatibility between the video card and the chipset is the most likely. Try disabling "bus mastering" in the driver preferences if that option is present and see whether that makes any diference. Reseting the CMOS might help.
There are some incompatibility issues between different versions of AGP. I don't remember it very well but I think it goes that if the card can both physically fit in and hasn't literally fried itself, it should work.
You could buy a second-hand Socket A motherboard with an nForce chipset.
Yeah, I had a feeling the motherboard/chipset was the culprit... Thanks Eddaweaver - figured it was on the s00ks list. :;):
Problem with purchasing another motherboard at this point is I've put $160 in RAM in this puppy by way of an upgrade (1GB of faster RAM), so I'm slightly vested in it now.
Other than this video card nonsense, the motherboard runs great with everything else (new HD, new RAM, new DVD-R/W drive, etc.). And the old video card is good, just not 100% perfect since 1.5 (I still get a weird pause around water on occasion, especially when moving the camera quickly).
But as the only game I play these days is Myth, it should be ok for the next 6 months at least.
Out of curiosity CIK, how much you want for the motherboard/CPU, what's the CPU speed, and how much RAM is on it?
Eddaweaver wrote:You've got 1gb of PC133 RAM in there?
Aye. The whole system runs much faster in XP Pro by turning off the paging file entirely and using the RAM. I got 1GB new because the 512MB older was running at the slower clock speed (3 versus 2) - the 1GB is all 2. I do notice a difference (wasn't sure if I would).
I didn't have the time to rebuild the computer from scratch (with new motherboard, etc.) and decided to just upgrade it to keep it going for the next 6-12 months. When looking into a completely new, medium-high-end PC, I was struck by the fact that so many things seemed to be "not quite there" - felt like in 6-12 months the selection for price would be much better and the 64-bit dual CPU's would have their act together a bit more.
So the only thing I can't take with me into the next PC rebuild is the RAM. The DVD-R/W drive, HD, monitor, can all be reused.
