Only 215 on an A64?

[Amino]

Hey guys, here's the update on my new system. My A64 would only go up to 215 without 3DMark2001 crashing to the desktop with no error message. Now, I also had my Video card's memory cranked up to where it isn't normally set. I'm thinking the crash had to do with that, but I wanted to make sure that it wasn't my AGP bus that was crashing it.

Is that what happens when your AGP bus is set too high? 3DMark crashing to the desktop? Or does something else happen? I haven't gotten a chance to test it out yet because I'm using a wireless keyboard no and my other keyboard is in my other computer, which is in it's little "custom port" on my desk, so it's hard to get it out...

TIA!

[snvpa]

usually if the mem clock on the vcard is too high you'll get artifacts or screen tearing and not a kickout. Kickouts in my experience are usually due to too high of a system memory clock. It could be an agp issue but 215 only gives an agp speed of 70 which isn't too high.

[Caviman2201]

my PCI and AGP busses weren't too happy about it when I tried to go up to 70 on my old VIA board... personally, I'm finished with VIA chipsets because they dont' have the PCI Lock... but that doesn't really help you...

I would try upping Vcore a little and running memtest... it could be either making your system crash out. I've noticed that the 3DMark benchmarks are very touchy about stability. Check temps, make sure you're running cool enough. Download and run Prime95 to ensure you're stable. If Prime95 can't run for more than 10-15 hours, thats probably why you're crashing out of 3DMark. They will crash if the system isn't stable. Once you determine if your system is stable, you can go from there.

If it is determined stable by Prime95, I would uninstall and re-install all of your vid card drivers along with DirectX. If that doesn't work, try lowering your system back to stock specs and run 3DMark. If it then works, you'll know that your system/vid card simply doesn't like a high AGP bus speed. In that case, your sort of stuck with a lower FSB.

If it's determined UN-stable by Prime95, go ahead and up the Vcore a little but keep an eye on temps. I would up the Vcore to 1.6, then 1.65 and see if Prime stables out. Also, give your Vdimm a little bit more voltage and see if that helps. Voltage can sometimes stable out a PC.