Anybody got this combination?

[Baxman]

Hello friends...

I have now struggled with my MAX card for 2 weeks and can not see any solution to my troubles with it...

I have an PIII 550MHz on an Intel Seattle mobo (both brand new!!), the system also includes a SBLive! (full) and a 56k modem.

First I got a total crash when I installed my G400MAX, this probably caused by old drivers to the SB card. After reinstallation of 98 and new drivers (PD5.30 and LW2.1 and DX7.0) the system is fairly stable but only when bus mastering is disabled. I don't think I have and IRQ problems, SB on 5 and G400 on 11 only together with some PCI steering (I don't really know what it is). I don't have anything installed on the PCI slot closest to the AGP port and I have tried to reseat it several times.

I've sent a system detail file to Mr. Lawrence at Matrox but I havn't heard anything from him yet (HELLOOOO!).

The only thing I havn't tried yet is the reghacks and since I'm not Mr. Hacker wizard I was wondering how this is done, do I only have to download it or do I have to do anything else in the PD also?

Could I be more succesfull with older driver version of the G400?

I would really apriciate help in this matter, I close to a nervous breakdown right now....

Greetings

A frustrated swede....Mr. Baxman




------------------
PIII 550, Intel SE440BX,
128 MB pc100 RAM,
SB Live!, Fuijtsu 17.3GB, AOpen 6xDVD, HP 8100i CD-RW, Mitsubichi Diamond 900u Pro 19" Monitor, Creative FPS2000 Speakers, Intel
10/100 MBits network card, Matrox G400 Max

[Skynet8]

Hi.

Baxman, I empathise with you. I've this problem as well. Plain G400 and SBLive Value. NOTHING works. I've been trying to solve this problem for the past 2 months, with absolutely no success. Removing the SBLive causes the G400 to run rock solid, which means the SBLive is causing the lockups. I've tried LiveWare 1, 2 and 2.1 (d/ling 3.0 to try) and PowerDesk 513, 520, 521, 525, 530. NOTHING!!! Simply locks up rapidly after starting a 3D app (esp. games like System Shock 2, usually locks up in first 2 seconds).

I'm really frustrated and near to a nervous breakdown. The registry hacks are simple and safe to use. Just go download them and you'll know how to use them. I've tried AGP 1x, doesn't work. Disabled bump mapping, triple buffer, everything in there but this doesn't solve the problem.

Matrox Tech Support hasn't responded to 3 emails I've sent. Well, I don't want to call because I'm not living in the US so it's expensive. I've called Creative Singapore Tech Support and the tech person seemed to be very shocked. She said it's Matrox's problem (not so bluntly, but implying it) and she didn't know what to do. Arg!

I wish someone knew what to do!!!

[ALBPM]

Could both you guys post your IRQ assignments. This way we can see what's going on in your systems.

Paul

[ALBPM]

Also read this thread and adjust the fit of your cards.
forums.murc.ws/ubb/Forum5/HTML/005078.html

Paul

[SCompRacer]

Is the Creative launcher running in the background? If it is, disable it in MSCONFIG/Startup. You can CTRL ALT DEL once to see what is running in the background, and end task on all but the minimum two things you need, Explorer and Systray.

Run System File Checker, located in Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information under tools. Click on settings and select "check for changed" and "check for deleted" files. Make sure your DX7 files are not corrupt. Some posts on Deja reported bad DL of DX7.

Alot of folks here have SB Live/G400's with no problems at all. Keep trying.

[Baxman]

OK, here is my IRQ assignment right now:

1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 Communications Port (COM2)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 Creative SB16 Emulation
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 Conexant PCI Modem Enumerator
9 Creative SB Live!
9 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
9 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
10 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
10 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
11 Matrox Millennium G400 DualHead - English
11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller

As it looks right know, there seems to be some trouble with IRQ 9 right?
Also, SB16 emulation can not be loaded

Any clues here?

I've tried other combinations where SB16 has been loaded and no IRQ conflict has been reported...

Still, the only way for me to have the system stable is to disable bus mastering....

Greetings

Baxman

[DuRaNgO]

you may want to put your modem enumerator onto irq 10 as those items on irq 10 can share but the sblive!!! can't
jim

------------------
PIII-500mhz @ 620! with an Abit BE6 mobo
128mb pc-100
Mill G400(YAHOO!!!) 32mb @ 165/205 with MGATweak), PD 5.30 & bios 1.5-22
Maxtor 13.2 gb Uata66 hdd
SB Live!
Winblows 98se & DX7
FOUR BIG FANS, six little ones and with a little aluminum duct work, a case that doesn't sound like a turbine engine!
3DMark Result 5954.69 3DMarks
Synthetic CPU 3D Speed 9325.69 CPU 3DMarks
Rasterizer Score 2791.72 3DRasterMarks
Game 1 - Race 65.07 FPS
Game 2 - First Person 54.89 FPS
Fill Rate 268.79 MTexels/s

[CannyOne]

Perhaps the best solution would be to try moving PCI cards around a bit. As far as I know the only way to get the Seattle 2 to update the ESCD table, or "resource allocation table" in BIOS, is to swap slots. You could also disable some things "built on" to the MBD like a COM port and USB, if your not using them. That should free up some resources.

I also choose a "custom install" on the SB Live software and don't install the "Creative Launcher". It's not that the two cards won't ever work in the same system. It's just that the Sound Blaster won't share resources with anything, especially not a WinModem's Enumerator. BTW I've been working for Micron Tech Support, though I got fed up and left. So that's how I know about Sound Blasters, Intel MBDs, and WinModems.

You might also try a "clean" OS reload with only the G400 installed. Then add cards one at a time. Starting with the SB Live! This may sound drastic but it should help you determine which card is the cause of the conflict and it will indicate wether or not the G400 is properly "seated" in it's slot.

[The Rock]

You probably already know this, but aren't the LiveWare drivers up to version 3 now? I heard somewhere that the version 3 drivers fix a lotta problems you Live users have been having.

------------------
The Rock
Home Machine: P2 392 + 128 Meg PC100 RAM + 23G Storage
Work Machine: IBM OS/390 + 10Gigs RAM + 1.5 Terabytes Storage (and no damn AGP slot...what a waste)

[Baxman]

Well, I ordered SB 3.0 yesterday and I hope that will solve my problems.

I will try to move around my PCI cards tonight and try to avoid IRQ conflicts.
I'm pretty shure that it is G400/SB problem since I can run my G400MAX with BM enabled when the drivers for SB is not loaded.

However, its tricky to place my cards in such order that I don't get an IRQ conflict, either the modem conflicts with SB or it conflicts with G400....what a mess!

Thanx anyway, I get much more help from you guys than from Matrox support...

Greetings

Baxman

[mynx]

Turn off any unused COM ports. Your modem should then move down to those IRQ's. Make sure the COM port assignments in BIOS are set to auto config. This helped me with a conflict.

[Zwisch]

do you get problems when the sound card is not in the system? how about if you disable Bus Mastering in the matrox drivers? If you turn graphic acceleration down to none?