M571-H with 8mb video card

[Eubacteria]

Hello! I´m new here and I´m not very expert with computers, but I need some help.

I have an old pc (AMD k-6 300 64MB ram HD 2,9Gb trident 1Mb video in a m571-h motherboard) and I bought an 8MB ati rage xl video card to try to watch some Divx Xvid movies. But I read later on the board manual that it only supports 4mb video cards.

I don´t know what´s my board version but I want to know if it´s possible to make this video card work in my motherboard without updating bios or updating it.

I read all the timmy´s homepage (http://www.m571.com/m571/index.htm) but I didn´t found information that could solve my problem.

Thanks!

[cricketmad!]

Hi,

Did you read the "upgrading and tweaking M571 video" section of Timmy's site? That gives the best advice concerning video cards. I think the "4Mb max" limit you mentioned must refer to the on-board video. Anyway, read the expert advice at http://www.m571.com/m571/video.htm.

Regards,

[Eubacteria]

thank you for the tip.
But I´ve already tried to put that video card in my motherboard and the image wasn´t good. Since the boot start the characteres are shown wrong and the image is terrible. I read all the link "upgrading and tweaking m571" but it didn´t solved my doubts.
I want to know if I must upgrade the bios of my board or if there´s a way of this to work doing something on the Bios setup or anything.
I live in Brazil and my English is not good (as you can see) and my knowledge in informatics is worse.
Thank you for helping!

[alex zorrilla]

Have you tried setting the JP3 jumper (Internal VGA) to "Disable"?
http://www.m571.com/m571/jumpers.htm

Also, have you tried the ATI graphics card in another computer? It is always possible that the card itself could be broken.

[Eubacteria]

I´ll try that.
I read many topics about m571 and video cards and I think i´m being repetitive to ask all these questions, but I have no experience with these things.
The video card I bought is new, and I don´t think it´s broken, but i´ll try to test it.
And another question: what´s the difference of putting the video card on the PCI slot #1 instead of other slot?
Uh, and another: even if the JP3 jumper is set enabled, my video card (trident 1mb) was not supposed to show the same problem? This card works properly in my MB.
[]s

[timmy]

Eubacteria (clever -- eukaryotic bacteria!):

I put the video cards in the first slot because that way, I always know where they are. (I work with several systems.)

I would try to find a newer video driver than what you are using for your video card.

Go to the ATI download site and see if there is a newer driver for your card. You will need to choose the driver based on the operating system you are using.

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=27

[Eubacteria]

Thanks timmy!

My video card has a CD-rom with its driver. And even if its not the newer, it must works properly, doesn´t it?

But what really bores me is that since the first screen the image is terrible. The first boot screen is full of lines and the characters of the screen are crazy. And even after I install the drivers the problem remains.

All I need to know is if it must be a BIOS problem or another ajustment I must make. I don´t know the Bios version, but I´m sure its not 1.3. and I can´t see it the next days because that problem happens on my sister´s pc, that is now in other city.
I´m trying to get some information to, when I go there, solve this problem so that she can see some movies I copied to her.

Thanks for evrybody!

P.S.: Eubacteria is a classification that includes Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes, and not includes Archaea, some ancient and very strange bacteria. There are not Eukaryotic bacterias; all of them are Prokaryotes. ;)
[]s

[timmy]

Thanks for the biology!

Anyhow, the drivers that are shipped with something are very often old, compared to the latest ones the manufacturer has released. In those new releases, they often have fixes for problems like incompatibility problems.

Also, I don't know what OS you are using, but I am not seeing any drivers on ATI's site for win 98. I do see Windows 2000 drivers released in 2002. I am presuming you are using ATI's DVD player software?

Anyhow, Windows 2000 wouldn't be a bad idea, it works a lot better than Win 98 and now, with XP out, you can often get it quite cheaply, if not for free if you dig around for a copy.

Another thing you might check is your version of DirectX, and be sure that you are current.

[alex zorrilla]

But what really bores me is that since the first screen the image is terrible. The first boot screen is full of lines and the characters of the screen are crazy. And even after I install the drivers the problem remains.
You mean the POST screen, where it counts the RAM and displays the BIOS, is corrupt? Before you even get into Windows?

[Eubacteria]

Yes, exactly this screen! I meant to say this, but I know English the same way I know Airplane´s enginees! :)
Do you have some tip to give me??? ;)

[timmy]

What BIOS revision are you running? Can you read the date in the upper left hand corner when it boots?

Also, what version of windows are you using?

[Eubacteria]

I guess my bios dates 1995, but I´m not sure, I will see it yet.
And my windows version it´s 98, but i´m not sure it it´s SE either.
I´m not posting from this computer (I´m at another). When I´ll go home I´ll give the right information!
Thanks!

[timmy]

Remember that you will always see the 1995 date.

What you are looking for is the revision date. It will be one of those that I've listed on the BIOS page of the M571 site.

[Eubacteria]

Hello! I'm back!
Now I'm talking from my old PC! The JP3 it's really on onboard mode! I'll try to change it. I'll see in the BIOS setup how to disable the onboard video.
If I'll have some problems I'm going to call you!
See ya!

[Eubacteria]

New information and same problems!

My board is a 3.2 version, now, the JP3 is on disabled mode and the Bios revision is 05/06/1998. And when I place the 8MB ati rage xl video card in the 4th pci slot, the problem remains the same. I have a screenshot of my desktop saved on my pc but I don't know how to upload it, so you can see (and I even don't know if its possible).
My questions are: Is there a way to make this video card work ih these conditions? Do I need to update the bios version of my motherboard?
Any other advices are wellcome!

And remember:
Alex Zorrilla says:"You mean the POST screen, where it counts the RAM and displays the BIOS, is corrupt? Before you even get into Windows?" --> YES

[alex zorrilla]

I have a screenshot of my desktop saved on my pc but I don't know how to upload it, so you can see (and I even don't know if its possible).
How do you have this screenshot saved? As a .bmp file, .jpg file...? To upload the file, use the "Post Reply" button (not the "Quick Reply"). Scroll down to the "Additional Options" section, and you will find a button for "Manage Attachments".

In the BIOS, are there any options to enable/disable video cache?

--Alex

[Eubacteria]

Thank you alex! I'm going to upload the screenshot.

Yes, In BIOS setup there are this option, but it's disabled and I can't switch it to enabled (just to test) because I think the board detect that there is a video card conected. And this setting was the same before I disable de video with JP3.

Here comes the screenshot (and the screen is like that since the boot post screen)

[alex zorrilla]

Hmmm, it *looks* like memory corruption. Assuming the graphics card itself is actually OK, I suppose another possibility is that the VGA BIOS of the ATI card is somehow getting mixed up with the VGA BIOS of the onboard SiS graphics.

I went ahead and looked at the M571 manual. In the Advanced Chipset Setup section of the BIOS, there is an option called "OnChip VGA". Try setting this to Disabled. This is in addition to the JP3 jumper, which you have already done.

I am starting to run out of ideas here. :confused:

--Alex

[Eubacteria]

Thank you for the tip alex!
it's was disabled when I took that screenshot. It actually was since I tried the video card the first time. The only modification I did till now is set the JP3 to disabled.
I'm just trying to solve this problem because the answer (to solve or not) must be simple! And I like challenges!!

Don't you think I really need to update the BIOS to end with this possible conflict???

[jim chase]

Hmmm, it *looks* like memory corruption.
--Alex

My first impression also, after looking at the attachment. Try another card and/or drivers. I never had a problem with an ATI card in the M571.

Jim