WindowsXP and OpenGL with G400TV

[IVIaxim]

The Windows2000 drivers should work and install fine, because the kernels are almost the same, right?? Well when I try to install the 5.52 drivers for Windows2000, and it says my card is not supported. I found a way around it and changed the keys in the install file to match the ones in my registry. However, when I install it, it says that its installing Matrox Millenium G400 MAX, and the installation fails. I've tried all of the installations for Windows2000 and they all do the same thing. Even the WHQL drivers.

[Greebe]

http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/drivers/latest/home.cfm

[IVIaxim]

That doesn't help me man. :-/

[leech]

I have the same problem, no OpenGL in XP. I'm coming REAL close just to dumping windows all together and sticking with linux, to hell with the fact that I won't be able to play that many games, there's always xmame, and Loki has provided several great titles. The only reason now for me to use windows is for Ultima Online, hopefully I'll be able to run that from linux soon, either through the UO Project, or Wine. I have the 5.39 drivers installed, I can't even get the newer Video Tools to install on my Marvel, I did manage to get the 2.0 beta that came out for win2k, but that's it.

Leech

[Jorden]

I think, IVIaxim, when someone points you to http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/dr...atest/home.cfm that you at least should read what it says there....

Marvel G400-TV - WinXP - none planned

That's what I read there... If you cannot understand that, please leave your complaints at the Matrox forums

leech, you also should read some more threads around here. Especially those in Matrox Hardware. Don't flap your mouth before WindowsXP is out and real drivers for whatever card you use are out.

Maybe someone should explain what the difference is between a Marvel G400-TV and the Millennium G400/- Max...

Jord.

[Greebe]

Jorden, you above all people shouldn't be hammering on others about reading more carefully.

[Jorden]

Grin Mike, comment taken, no comment back

[IVIaxim]

I actually checked the MatroxUsers page for drivers as they often have beta drivers and all. When I saw there was no WindowsXP drivers on the site, I checked Matrox's site. Seeing there were no plans to make WindowsXP drivers. I downloaded the Windows2000 drivers to see if they could work. They should work, however, are causing me the problem of "no support." I came here in hopes as to find a workaround for this problem. I remember reading about such a problem of "no support" in Windows2000 but I am unable to find the thread again (It was a couple of months ago and I found it searching for something else.). I hope someone who has used Windows2000 and has fixed this problem can help me out.

[leech]

Well, here I think I'll flap my mouth off again. I HAVE read all the threads on getting the video tools to work, and they all involve installing a fresh win2k and installing the drivers that way, or some other 'voodoo' sounding practices. Frankly, I'm about a few software revisions from just totally dumping windows all together (sure XP is shinier than previous versions of linux, but who cares, I run Linux, which I can customize to whatever I want it to look like) The original point of this thread was the fact that XP does not have OpenGL for Matrox G400's working, at least the G400TV, Unfortunately I've even tried the little 'hack' to force newer drivers to install (5.71 and 5.71 beta) Still, no such luck. Also I've tried the G400Icd.dll file, no such luck there. This was all done trying to play Return to Castle Wolfenstein. I also tried Rune in OpenGL, and while it actually loaded, there were no textures on anything (then again, I think I remember having that problem BEFORE upgrading to XP, but I could be wrong there). Either way, at this point in time, my Marvel G400 is getting a bit old... well I can handle it getting old, it's just that LACK OF ANY DRIVER UPDATES is what's pissing me off. I WISH AND WISH that Matrox would put out a card that's worth getting to replace my Marvel. I figure I can always put my Marvel into another machine, but I want a fast gaming card that doesn't kill my eyes on my Main computer. I'm thinking that if I don't at least hear something by about christmas time, it's time to move onto something else. most likely I'll be getting an ATI Radeon. I put one in my brother's machine, and it looks VERY good. In comparison, my friend's GF2 looks like CRAP on the desktop in anything higher than 1280x1024, and he paid 1000 dollars for his 19 inch monitor. How insane is that? Anyhow, that's my Rant. Anyone here remember the goodl ol' days when Matrox released UNIFIED Drivers that would work on ALL Matrox cards? It was like that for awhile with the G400 line, but then the Marvel stuff started breaking away.... I'm just wondering why they don't put all the Marvel stuff in the Video Tools itself, instead of putting ANY part of it in the drivers... Of course, I must point out I'm not a hardware Engineer nor a programmer, so perhaps this is impossible, but then again they ARE both made from the G400 core. They both have the same general components onboard. In fact it seems to me that a 16mb SH G400 is pretty much the same as the Marvel but without the hardware MJPEG and the Bob out, am I right? Well if I'm not, oh well, that point is mute. I'm bored right now, as you should all be able to tell. Either way, I actually have had other thoughts on the OpenGL problem in XP..... If any of you recall, OpenGL came out first as being a 3D API, but of course the Almighty Microsloth had to stick their noses into every realm they could, and created DirectX. So is it possible they CRIPPLED the openGL in XP as they released DirectX 8.1? Just a thought. Anyhow, enought ranting, get on with your lives... .did you actually read this far?????

Leech

[leech]

Oh as a side not. XP IS out. The OEM version is out right now and being deployed onto new PC's as I write this. And yes it DOES come with G400 Drivers, but NO OpenGL support (or at least none that works with Return to Castle Wolfenstein's MP Test) I guess I could start trying some other OpenGL games... I just can't think of many besides UT (which always has ran like crap in OpenGL anyhow) and Rune, which I posted my results on that in the previous rant. As an operating system, Windows XP is quite nice, though I've had a few problems with it, mostly driver related. (For instance, I have a HyperVcam Fun made by Aiptek (bought it for linux, since my Logitech VC Quickcam doesn't have stable drivers yet) and it literally just gave a BSOD and reset as soon as I tried to install the drivers that came with it. So I had to download the drivers for Win2k of the HyperVcam Home (which I'm not even sure of the actual difference between the Home and the Fun, both were listed for 10 dollars on Compusa's page) and that worked. The same Happened in Win2k as well. As far as compatibility, I've had a lot of luck with it, a few things that wouldn't run at all in Win2k, run flawlessly in XP. The interface is 'prettier' than any other windows....... though in my Opinion the BLUE had to go, with the Plus pack you can change it to Silver at least, which I thought was much nicer. Anyhow, I've ranted enough. Laters.

leech.

[IVIaxim]

Thanks for all of your help. I have actually been thing about replacing the card, but the PCI/AGP delemma kicks in. In order for me to get a new card, I would have to get rid of the MG400TV which I really like, and haven't even been able to dabble in the capabilities of the card, due to lack of HD speed. I really love this card, and always have since I got it, but the facts say it all: No driver Support, and It is old and slow, and hardly as "pretty" as other cards. I'm keeping XP, mainly becuase of the stablility, i've had it on for 5 days straight, no memory leaks, and no crashes. By keeping XP AND the G400TV I forfeit my OGL privlogies So I must rid myself of one of them, and the card must go. Is ther an alrenative to the G400 that would preform better graphics wise and still have all of the capablilties of the G400 (Mainly YUY2 capturing ) It doesn't nessecarly have to be a Matrox, but I would like to atleast begin in the "capturing" field, as I will soon be getting a RAID array with 2 7200rpm drives.

[leech]

Personally, I think probably the best solution would be to get a seperate peripheral for doing video capture. Though since I'm not an expert in this, perhaps you shouldn't listen to me, but for myself, I don't think I'm going to get another card that is a all in one type. I've seen some capture solutions that simply connect through the USB port, that's the kind I think I'd like to get. Though I think for now what I'll do when I finally upgrade past my Marvel is to place it in my mother's computer and trade her for the Hauppage WinTV (I know they're directly supported under linux) and just get me another AGP card. I just hope Matrox comes out with a great card that will just kick some proverbial butt as far as performance goes and also have the Matrox patented superb 2D quality as well. I like Matrox a lot, and I respect them, they just pissed me off on this one. the "Non Planned" for their Marvel G400 line for XP just really throws me. Anyhow, off to work with me, so I can earn that green paper so I can afford a new card sometime soon. Laters.

Leech

[PeTe]

XP and G400

Quote : "And yes it DOES come with G400 Drivers, but NO OpenGL support (or at least none that works with Return to Castle Wolfenstein's MP Test)"

Well havent tried Wolfestein yet ( yes, downloaded it but forgot to test it. ), but i HAVE tested Half-Life CS in OpenGL and it works like a charm. Using the latest beta drivers for G400(MAX), BETA 5.71.014.

And yes, the Silver "theme" that comes with Pluspack is quite nice, i use it too.

Just noticed that the "official" 5.71.014 is out for G450 and G550 with XP but not for G400.. anyone tried theese with G400 series ?

PeTe

[leech]

If I could get them to install (either the beta or the full 5.71) I'd try them out, but I couldn't even get them to install, even with a modification to the install files. Anyone have a way to do this? I could have been doing it wrong all along. I hope someone can post it here, because as of now I've decided to wait 'til christmas, and hope that Matrox provides us all with something to get, otherwise it's off to the Radeon's for me. Which saddens me, because no other video card maker has a community like the Matrox one! MURC just rules. Laters.

Leech

[PeTe]

About Radeons

Well atleast for me the next card is RADEON. Either 7500 or 8500 if its price is right. =) I have been waiting for something else than NVidia card, and finally the waiting is over. Nice packet from ATI.

PeTe