AMD emailed me back about the "AGP instability" issue

[felinusz]

I recently posted in another thread (the one about locked Athlon 64 procesors) an email that I sent to AMD about an apparant AGP instability issue with all Athlon processors.

This issue supposedly contributes to instability in 3D Applications such as 3DMark, and various games, when you pump your FSB up nice and high. Many Athlon XP users here (including me) have found a high FSB overclock to be stable in Prime95, and memtest86, but to cause freezing, or crashing, in heavy 3D Applications.

I figured that I should start a new thread about this, seeing as how it is kinda Off-Topic, and out-of-place in the other thread.

Here is the email I sent to AMD, asking about confirmation of the issue:

It has recently come to my attention that some AMD processors have a compatibiltiy issue with Windows XP, and Windows 2000 where applications that use an AGP graphics adaptor will freeze, or exhibit instability.

Here, on your website - http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors...%5e2367,00.html - is a registry change for Windows 2000 which fixes the issue.

This error, and the need to install the Windows registry fix, has only been *confirmed* by you to be present with the use of Nvidia GeForce 256 and Matrox G400 video cards.

Myself, and several of my associates, are wondering if this problem is known to be present in machines using other types of video adaptors besides the ones you have listed (GeForce 256, Matrox G400 AGP adaptors); specifically newer AGP graphics cards.

Thank you for your time, I appreciate your help, and advice.

And here is the helpful response that I just received:

Thank you for contacting AMD's Technical Service Center. This issue
was really between how the OS and the processor were handling AGP
Gart table paging. I am not aware of it being tied to a specific video
card but more between teh OS and processor.

The registry changes how the paging between memory, OS and Processor
is handled. If you are running Win XP and NOT Win 2K, then you should
not need the registry patch. Likewise, you should be able to use any video card (old or new) without any issues or corrupted data.

If you are running Win 2K, then simply install the patch and you should be fine with any video card.

If you are running Linux, then simply compile with the nopentium switch and you should be in good shape as well.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.

Happy Holidays,
Jay Taylor
Supervisor / Apps Engineer
AMD Technical Service Center

I hope that this is interesting info for those of you who know what the heck I am talking about ;)

If anyone has installed the patch with Windows XP, and noticed any difference in stability with a high FSB, please post and share your results :)

I installed it, and it didn't do ziltch ;)

For reference sake - the info on how to apply the registry fix is located: HERE (http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_756_759%5e871%5e2367,00.html)

[c627627]

Hm. So the "patch" is only for Windows 2000 and not for Windows 9x/Me/XP/NT.

+ It's for all Video Cards with all new and old video card drivers?
Shouldn't this be included in one of Windows 2000 Service Packs? Wouldn't it be incredible if it weren't....

Maybe a reply with all these q's would be nice, just to be sure...

P.S. Good job felinusz!

[felinusz]

:D Thanks ;)

Sure, I will send em' another email with these questions - just to clear things up :)

I will also ask them about unlocked Durons, and unlocked mobile Bartons while I'm at it :p :rolleyes:

[c627627]

Not in the same message, pls ;)

AMD does not and will not ever comment on anything of the sort in writing...

[mR. STuPiD]

Somebody should ask them how to unlock the new bartons. Their response would be a gas.

<sarcasm>

AMD Technical Support
What is the meaning of this message, we do not "lock" our processors. Current bartons have a performance restriction mechanism we call PowerClock. This was implemented because we have had people ruining their chips by trying to do some "performance enhancements."We just want them to buy our higher priced components so they can enjoy their speed safely.

</sarcasm>

Tags are employed in this message for the benefit of those who are not very knowed.

[felinusz]

Too late!

Thank you for your quick response Jay, your help is much appreciated by myself and my colleagues.

I do actually have another couple of quick questions for you regarding this issue, and AMD processors in general.

Is the fix for this issue applicable for all video cards, using all new and old video card drivers? Is this registry fix distributed in any of the Windows 2000 Service packs from Microsoft?

Unrelated to the AGP issue, I am wondering about the supposed multiplier lock on new Duron Applebred, and Mobile Athlon XP-M Barton core processors. Are the desktop Duron Applebred processors being produced with a hard-multiplier lock, like the new desktop Athlon XP Bartons, and the last Thoroughbred Athlon processors? Are the mobile Barton 2400+ processors, and up, being produced with a multiplier lock? How does a multiplier lock incorporated into a mobile Athlon procesors affect the Powernow! feature that mobile Athlon processors incoporate? If they are, indeed, being produced with a multiplier lock, I am wondering if you can tell me which production week was the first to have the lock incorporated?

Lastly, I am wondering if the Thoroughbred core line of Athlon XP Desktop processors has been discontinued.

Thank you for your time, and for your help.

:D LOL

I guess we will see if they respond to any of my *MANY* questions about things they probably don't want to talk about.

I am reading this again, and cannot believe I could be so stupid as to ask:

If they are, indeed, being produced with a multiplier lock, I am wondering if you can tell me which production week was the first to have the lock incorporated?

:santa: This could backfire....

[Cuda]

I already sent them an e-mail asking them how to unlock the new bartons...let me find the answer I got...here it is:

First response:

Dear Valued AMD Customer,

"Your request for assistance has been escalated to one of our experts in order to better address your question(s). For reference your Case ID is 224891. We appreciate your patience, and thank you for your interest in AMD.

In the meantime, you may want to visit "Ask AMD(sm)", our user friendly knowledge base that contains a wealth of information and solutions that may address your question."

Here is the real answer:

"Hello Monty,

Thank you for contacting AMD's Technical Service Center.


I'm sorry, but this is something we don't support. AMD places a very
high value on its reputation as a supplier of PC
processors. Our reputation for quality and reliability rests in part
on operation of our products within the specified range of performance
parameters for each product. AMD is especially concerned that
consumers, who purchase or build systems based on AMD?s reputation as a
supplier of high-performance PC processors, receive products that have
not been altered or modified without AMD's authorization and therefore
are assured of AMD's high level of quality and reliability. Either
computer systems or data may be damaged as a result of unauthorized
alteration of AMD processors such as alteration of AMD products to
achieve higher clock speeds than specified (i.e., ?over clocking?).
Additionally, AMD?s limited warranty specifically excludes unauthorized
alterations among other actions and does not cover damages due to
external causes such as improper use or operation outside of the data
sheet specifications for the product, abuse, negligence, improper
installation, accident, loss or damage in transit, or unauthorized
repair or alteration by a person or entity other than AMD. (Please
refer to AMD?s warranty information at
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_867,00.
html.)"

[dippy_skoodlez]

Originally posted by mR. STuPiD
Somebody should ask them how to unlock the new bartons. Their response would be a gas.

<sarcasm>



</sarcasm>

Tags are employed in this message for the benefit of those who are not very knowed.

Hmm... I still dont think its as good as me getting an HP guy to never admit theres a heat problem inside of the case when the integrated NB with video is overheating... all gren and fuzzy screen.... and he thought it was drivers.... lol! I fixed the heatproblem and the screen went back to normal :D

DEDIT: Not meanign to threadjack, but we ARE talking about stupid tech suupport =P (its an AMD PC anyways! :p )

[UberBlue]

Here's what I got from them...

Thank you for contacting AMD's Technical Service Center. The 4.5w 2500+ runs at 1867MHz. The bus speed is 133MHz and clock multiplier is locked at 14.0x

When I asked if it was hardlocked like desktop bartons...

Thank you for contacting AMD's Technical Service Center. If it's locked then you shouldn't be able to change it.

[Top Hat Theater]

That mobile barton may NOT be locked. I just overclocked one in my sister's computer with FULL multiplier control and it's running at 10x200 on default voltage. It was a week 39 if that makes any difference.

~THT

[UberBlue]

Originally posted by Top Hat Theater
That mobile barton may NOT be locked. I just overclocked one in my sister's computer with FULL multiplier control and it's running at 10x200 on default voltage. It was a week 39 if that makes any difference.

~THT

My week 42 XP-m wasn't locked either.