Stupid Geforce4 mx 440 problems, bucket loads of them.

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Notice what's missing from your parts list?

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 15, 2004 10:37PM PST

A power supply.

If I review http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/ I see that with some guesstimation, the 350 Watt power supply might be overtaxed if you factor in that the usual supply overstated its capacity. Try a 400 Watt supply to remove this from the issues list.

As to trying another OS, have you tried a KNOPPIX? I sent a tip to someone about KNOPPIX 3.3 and they published a small article about it. Good to look over if you want to try Linux, but are unsure of having to know Linux.

Great that they went over the data recovery aspect as well.

http://tips.oncomputers.info/archives2004/0401/2004-Jan-11.htm

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The other items.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 15, 2004 10:41PM PST

Sorry I didn't list them in the first response.

1. Pull the case cover off and point a fan at the internals to test for heat issues.

2. Be aware that Microsoft will not install latest drivers for the OS in question for motherboard, video and what else. YOU get to do all this.

3. If I find an AMD that is locking up and the above doesn't cure it and the power supply is a whopper, then I look at loading the BIOS defaults, then retest. If it fails, I set the AGP to 1X, then the FSB from 133 to 100 MHz (slow it down) and then retest. After that we consider what parts to replace.

Bob

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Re:Stupid Geforce4 mx 440 problems, bucket loads of them.

by catscom1 Jan 29, 2004 8:39PM PST

i had the same problems as you with this graphics card, i have a VIA KT400 chipset on gigabite mobo, 756ddr2700, 60+80hd's,xp1800, and all on win XP. it worked for a while but then i started getting all the same symptoms you have mentioned,

so i tried:

updating the drivers,
unistalling and reinstalling the card,
taking the card out and putting back in ,
i took it back to the store and had it tested (where they told me it was fine!)
putting it in friends computers where it worked -aggh!
turning to 1xAGP,
reinstalled windows
nothing worked.

i never went into the BIOS as by this time it was quite obvious i had an incompatability problem. so yesterday i took it back and got another card, the Geforce4 FX5200 (only alternative the store would offer due to my card not officially being faulty). i am having the exact same problems with this card,only now when i start my computer it self tests, then the winXP logo comes up and then it hangs and all signal to the monitor is lost, so now i cant even get into the computer to try fix it!!

i belive that geforce cards simply dont get on with win xp. but i will keep you updated if i can get this card working - im searching the help forums now!. my advice to you is dump this card and get another one already proven to work with winXP before you go mad!

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Just FYI

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 29, 2004 8:57PM PST

Having seen many Geforce4 mx 440 and FX boards work on VIA based boards and Windows XP very well, I always wonder why people have such issues. My short list seems to always come down to ...

1. Outdated board BIOS. Many are deathly afraid to update such, so find someone that does it all the time.
2. Overclocking. In short, use the BIOS's safest defaults when starting.
3. Power supplies. The number of 350 Watt power supplies that just can't deliver is amazing. You can read that too high a percentage of PSUs lie about this at http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/
4. The BAD CAP syndrome. Pretty much covered at http://www.google.com/search?&q=bad+caps

Bob

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Re:Just FYI

by catscom1 Jan 29, 2004 9:34PM PST

maybe you could help me then!!

when i turn my computer on, the self test screen comes up ok and then the winXP logo comes on and the blue progress bar does its thing, then the screen goes black for a second, as if the desktop was about to appear and then all signal to the monitor is lost. im sure my computer is not crashing because the num lock etc still responds. however i am having to hold the on switch to turn it off, because i cant see anything!

since i wrote the previous reply i have gone into my bios, reset all the defaults to the lowest safest settings and i have tried to boot from my winXP disk. the same thing is still happening. if i could just get into my computer i would overcome my fear of messing with the BIOS and download the bios updates etc. but i cant get into my computer!!! do you know of anything i can do?

thanks, cat

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Re:Re:Just FYI

by Maimer Feb 17, 2004 4:05AM PST

havent checked here in a while so i hope your monitoring this message i have the same problem with the monitor going blank but i can solve this by re-setting after about 3-5 times it loads up ok but if it wont as fast as you can as soon as windows starts booting and you can move your mouse click on the nvidia icon nad second from the top got to performance settings then go to antiantilising and set it to x2 then goto antistropic filtering and set it to x2 and that should work most games dont like it but this should stop the black screen so at least you can play about and try to fix it

if you do let me know

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Re:Re:Stupid Geforce4 mx 440 problems, bucket loads of them.

by Mark G Jan 29, 2004 9:17PM PST

its not the video card as my son and i both use same with xp pro, your mobo might be bad
plus what bob said

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Re:Re:Re:Stupid Geforce4 mx 440 problems, bucket loads of them.

by John Robie Feb 17, 2004 1:08PM PST

Yep, and looking at Dell computers there would be many upset people as all their many thousands sold each week come standard basic with the FX 5200 and WinXP on those that are not 'integrated' graphics.

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Re:Stupid Geforce4 mx 440 problems, bucket loads of them.

by Maimer Mar 1, 2004 10:14PM PST

thanks to all that helped with this problem i have fixed it thanks to all your help it was my bios that was in need of updateing once i had flashed my bios it solved all my 3d problems i have a few new problems but i havent got the latest bios just 1 that was recomended to me but all the problems that were there are fixed and all the things that have gone wrong now did work before so im gonna plod on and get the right bios once again thanks

to any 1 with similar problems check your bios and read all the help people have given me you might be albe to sort your problems, also check the other post from me about graphics card problems i had lots of help from people there aswell

my main problem seemed to be similar to other peoples that was maily we had a PCCHIPPS motherboard and they have lots of complaints

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Can't seem to get people to update the BIOS at times.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 1, 2004 10:33PM PST

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-7591-0.html?forumID=26&threadID=8634&messageID=115826 and I did note that issue, but time and time again, people seem to dig in their heels when it comes to BIOS updates. Not only the motherboard, but the CDRW and DVD drives may have such updates as well.

The power supply is still too high up on the hit parade with the motherboard capacitor issue finally starting to fade as most of those boards are failing in spectacular fashion now. Scorch marks and burnt out power supplies are closing this issue firmly.

Can you suggest a way to get people to update their BIOS?

The most common reason people resist is that the motherboard is "NEW" and right or wrong, they think the BIOS would be latest.

Bob

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Re:Can't seem to get people to update the BIOS at times.

by Maimer Mar 16, 2004 3:15AM PST

yea by the time i had upgraded my bios i hadent noticed but the driver was 4 years out of date

also during my search i found out that pcchips motherboards have a big problem with windows XP

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Re:Stupid Geforce4 mx 440 problems, bucket loads of them.

by orubassman777 Mar 21, 2004 9:52AM PST

I'll say this to you: PCChips = bad motherboards. I've had PCChips motherboards before, and they're cheaply made. I've had 2 PCChips motherboards burn out on me before. That's just my experience, take it or leave it.

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