Last two drivers have been unstable

[geoffclem]

As suggested I'm starting a new thread. This is because the last two releases of the driver have been effectively unusable for me. The last release that I can use is 1.0-3123.

The two release since then simply lock up and lock up hard. I can't even use the SysRq function to get out of it. They do this every couple of minutes of 2D use (i.e. desktop). Strangely eneough when in 3D (quake3) they seem stable.

System info:
Athlon 550Mhz
Via KT133 Motherboard (EPOX-7KXA)
GeForce 256 DDR.

--
Geoff

[Andy Mecham]

What AGP rate are you running at? What AGP driver are you using? Does changing AGP drivers or disabling AGP improve stability at all?

--andy

[geoffclem]

Originally posted by Andy Mecham
What AGP rate are you running at? What AGP driver are you using? Does changing AGP drivers or disabling AGP improve stability at all?

--andy

AGP rate is 2X.
I have tried both the kernel and the NV AGP drivers but it makes no difference - well it seems a little more stable with the NV one but that is just a subjective judgement.

I've also set my driving signal to every value in the range suggested in the NVidia release notes but again it makes no difference.

To be honest I've given up trying to use the newer drivers and I was just "venting my spleen" before as I found it annoying that a perfectly good install method had been changed whilst the driver stability doesn't seem any better.

Cheers,
Geoff

[Andy Mecham]

Does disabling AGP improve your stability? If wasn't clear from your answer if you had tried that or not...

--andy

[geoffclem]

Originally posted by Andy Mecham
Does disabling AGP improve your stability? If wasn't clear from your answer if you had tried that or not...

--andy

Sorry for the delay in responding - it was due to the birth of my daughter (honestly!).

Anyway I've disabled AGP so so far no lock ups, I've been running the latest driver for about half an hour and with AGP enabled it would have probably locked up three or four times by now.

So what could be the problem? I have the mem=nopentium kernel option even though I believe it is not necessary with the 2.4.20 kernel.

Also, there was an error in my original post - I have the KX133 chipset (not the KT133).

--
Geoff

[Andy Mecham]

Sorry for the delay in responding - it was due to the birth of my daughter (honestly!).

CONGRATULATIONS! :D

That chipset is known to have AGP drive strength issues. It could be that your board is a little weaker than others. Unfortunately, there's nothing that I can suggest to improve stability other than to disable AGP.

--andy

[geoffclem]

Originally posted by Andy Mecham
CONGRATULATIONS! :D


Thank-you!


That chipset is known to have AGP drive strength issues. It could be that your board is a little weaker than others. Unfortunately, there's nothing that I can suggest to improve stability other than to disable AGP.

--andy

Ok - thanks for your help. I was considering changing my motherboard anyway. I'm going for another Athlon, do you have any recommendations for stable chipsets working with NVidia products?

Cheers,
Geoff