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General discussion

Graphics / Memory proplem - help please

Sep 12, 2004 7:50PM PDT

Help please, I've just finished building a PC for my girlfriend's brother (getting in the good books and all that!) and after finishing I have realised that there is a problem.

The system has an ABit NF7-M motherboard, with NVidia GeForce4 MX graphics integrated, and i have 2x512 Crucial Mem RAM.

I installed WinXP on the PC, and everything was fine (or so I thought), put in the CD for motherboard/graphics driver - and noticed that the new window had some horizontal lines running across the image, making it difficult to read. After a bit more delving, I realised that it wasn't just off the CD that this happened. Sometimes when opening menu over the taskbar, closing menu, a bit of the menu would still be visible where it overlapped the taskbar. Sometimes after opening windows, horizontal grey lines eill appear on the desktop to the side of the window. Running any WinXP screensaver is a nightmare! The 3D pipes screensaver struggles like hell. Parts of the pipes are missing, parts of the pipes end up in places where there shouldn't be any, and there are horizontal lines flickering on the screen.

I am tearing my hair out in frustration here - this is the 1st pc i've built and then this has to happen......

I have checked to see if the drivers have installed properly - they have (GeForce4 MX driver version 4.4.0.3) according to the system properties. Have tried different res - 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 but the same, also tried from 32bit to 16bit - got a bit better, but not much. Any ideas please?

Discussion is locked

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What about motherboard drivers?
Sep 12, 2004 9:13PM PDT

Mant miss the steps for installing motherboard, usb and other drivers. Microsoft doesn't do this for us.

Also, you should try it with just one stick of ram. Here's why. If the video memory is from CPU memory, then there can be issues they didn't tell you about. In no uncertain words I write that you then have a warranty issue with the system supplier.

Bob

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Re: What about motherboard drivers?
Sep 12, 2004 11:56PM PDT

Thanks for the reply Bob.

Yep, did this as well - did it the same time as i did graphics driver.
So, you're saying that if i try it with just one stick - it might just work? I'll try it tonight. Does it sound like video or memory to you?

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Re: What about motherboard drivers?
Sep 13, 2004 12:20AM PDT

Yes. But if it doesn't work, then it's a warranty issue.

Bob

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Re: What about motherboard drivers?
Sep 13, 2004 12:42AM PDT

Thanks Bob.

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Re: What about motherboard drivers?
Sep 13, 2004 12:45AM PDT

Come to think about it, the PC has crashed and rebooted a couple of times for no apparent reason before, I thought it was a loose power connector or something, but it seems it can all be explained by the same thing.......

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What's been done?
Sep 13, 2004 1:45AM PDT

By this time you have unplugged a stick of RAM.

If not, what can be done?

Bob

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Re: What's been done?
Sep 13, 2004 6:26PM PDT

Oh crap! Yesterday I unplugged one stick of RAM and left one 512 in - but nothing changed. There are three slots in the board for the RAM to go - 2 then 1. I even shifted the stick to all available slots just in case!
Do you think that I should return the board?

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Try the other stick now.
Sep 13, 2004 9:01PM PDT

Why is the return of the board under consideration?

We are still in the first stages.

--------------------

Is the BIOS the latest?

Is the BIOS settings the default values?

Is there any overclocking going on?

Bob

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Tried the other stick last night
Sep 13, 2004 10:38PM PDT

There is no Overclocking going on.
BIOS settings are the default values - apart from CPU temp shutdown, have changed it higher to 80 degrees because I thought that this might have something to do with the unexplainable shutdowns. Will now check on web what is latest BIOS version, then will check after i've finished work what version I have.
If this does not work, do you have any other ideas, so's that I can check them out tonight as well?
Thanks for the help Bob.

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No case cover until its working.
Sep 13, 2004 10:47PM PDT

The heat issue is one that people are often fighting.

leave the cover off until you fix it.

Bob

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Right, I'm not sure
Sep 13, 2004 10:53PM PDT

Went on ABit's Bios Download page, clicked on NF7-M motherboard to see all BIOS upgrades available:

Under heading: "NF7-M Upgrade 22"

# This BIOS version is for NF7 & NF7-S Revision: 1.0~1.2 only!
# (For Revision 2.0, please click here)
# Please use AWDFLASH 8.23D or later to update NF7 series BIOS. With incorrect AWDFLASH version, the GUID will be erased, and leads to IEEE1394 peer to peer function failed. AWDFLASH 8.23K is included in this BIOS package.
# Add Duron FSB266 1400MHz/1600MHz/1800MHz CPU support. This BIOS does not support old Duron 1.2G and 1.3G. Users using these two CPU, please do not upgrade to this version.
# Fixed when using NF7-M, the BIOS will have checksum error at certain circumstances.
# Improve NF7-M DRAM compatibility when using on-board VGA function.
# Remove ?An Energy Star Ally? string at boot up.
# BIOS compile date: 10/13/2003


Not sure if the point mentioned near the end could be causing this mess. But the first point states that this was for NF7 & NF7-S revision 1.0 & 1.2 only (it does not mention NF7-M - but was still on the NF7-M page).
I'm not sure wether to give it a try or what!

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I'm sure
Sep 13, 2004 10:59PM PDT

"Improve NF7-M DRAM compatibility when using on-board VGA function."

Bingo.

If you are unsure which version BIOS to install or how-to, call the board supplier and have them walk you through it.

New boards come with out of date BIOS better than 1/2 the time from my experience.

You may have found a key item to fix.

Bob

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Re: I'm sure
Sep 13, 2004 11:09PM PDT

Right then - I've downloaded the neccessary files and instructions and will give it a go after work. Will let you know one way or the other tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Cheers!

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Whoopee!
Sep 14, 2004 6:13PM PDT

YES! At last. The BIOS upgrade went well and all is working now. Cheers Bob, thanks for your help!

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Recap and glad to see if fixed.
Sep 14, 2004 10:42PM PDT

The BIOS is an integral part of your issue since the video memory is SHARED with the CPU and critical timing must be just so. When the board is designed, there are some dozens of memory sticks and configurations to deal with so the design is made so that FIRMWARE (BIOS) can tweak such timing.

What is a problem for today's owners is that a NEW board does not mean the the BIOS is current.

Many lose weeks, months and money as they ship boards back and forth, rack up hundreds of dollars in support phone calls.

Your post emphasizes again that the suppliers of such boards are not doing their best.

Bob