Still Can't Play EQ?
I can't either. Sometimes I play for hours, sometimes only minutes before I crash, go linkdead, or lock up. I found some sound advice that includes explanations for the not so computer savvy or for those that forgot something. We can thank Lasiel Filliu'Annym for this wonderful post on Planet Everquest forums This is aimed at AMD users, but I believe Intel users could follow this guideline as well.
Edited by Lasiel Filliu'Annym on Dec 18 2001 1:06PM (2 times)
Ok, obviously you have an AMD chip, GeForce of some flavour and a SBLive! of some flavour. Well I've seen enough and helped enough people that have had problems with these, that I decided I'd just write a little "how to" to get all of them working right. Now I'm not going to tell anyone that this will work, or will not. I make no guarantees. I can only rely on what I have learned by owning, supporting and setting up these hardware pieces.
1: AMD and your mobo
Ok, you just got that new Duron or T-Bird home and you're either ready to get using it (pre-built) or you're ready to start formatting hd's and reinstalling your OS etc. I have been using the following install order for systems.
- Install OS
- Install VIA 4in1 drivers VIA Tech
- Install DX8.1
- Install Video Guru3d
- Install Audio (For 5.1 users, your CD has the most current drivers/liveware. For others check SoundBlasterfor LiveWare and driver updates)
- Windows update
Step 2 is probably one of the most important. VIA constantly updates their 4in1's, which usually include an AGP minidriver. Early VIA chipsets/drivers caused problems with GeForce cards and AGP FastWrite and Side Band Addressing. The AGP minidriver fixed pretty much all of these problems and the newest drivers are incredibly stable. If your chipset is AMD you'll want to check www.amd.com for driver updates. If you're unsure, check your motherboard manual or call the manufacturer.
VIA drivers
VIA Hardware
VIA fan site. they also keep an update on the 4in1 drivers also the issues and work arounds that the drivers are having.
Video
Reactorcritical
Another good site for finding reference drivers. Some more updated then what the maker have on their website.
AMD
AMD
IDE drivers, IRQ driver and AGP Miniport Driver updates. NOTE: IRQ Driver is 98/98se ONLY
2: DirectX
DirectX is a programming API, that a lot of hardware companies code in their drivers and developers code into a multitude of games and programs. Since you are using a GeForce card, it is most likely better to be using DirectX 8.0a as well as DirectX Control Panel (Do a google.com search for it, it's an easy find). Why? The newer drivers use the DirectX 8 API, as do a lot of newer games and soon to be released games. DirectX 8.x was released a little "bugged" and direct sound is left in debug mode by default. That's what you use DirectX Control Panel for. Install it to your windows\system dir and then check for it in control panel. Open it up and click the "Direct Sound" tab. Click the slider to "Less", and then click "Ok".
There we go, directx all installed and "tweaked" to work properly.
3: Video
To date, I find the 22.xx drivers to be the most stable so start with these.
Unpack or run the install exe and remember the directory they extracted to. Right click on the desktop, click properties. The display properties opens, click the settings tab and then the advanced box. Another window opens with display options. Click the adapter tab and then click "change". Driver wizard opens, click next. Choose "search for a better driver" and check "specify a location" and browse to the directory the driver files are in. Click next and it will install the drivers. Once it's done it will ask you if you want to reboot, click yes.
Next, hit Guru3d and get a copy of "GeForce Tweak Utility". It's a great little tool for getting the best performance out of your video card. I run mine on "quality setting" with VSYNC off under both D3D and OpenGL, as well under D3D uncheck "render no more frames ahead than". Under the System tab, uncheck "socket 7 compatibility" in general, both boxes in "Irongate chipset" (unless of course you have an irongate chipset ). That's it Reboot again and your video is now set-up
4: Audio
5.1 users can skip this and just install from the CD that came with the card. Older Live! cards should hit Soundblaster and get the latest drivers and liveware.
For those of you with Win2-k and Sound Blaster Live cards(does not include the 5.1 card), when you install the drivers for your audio card, only install the Liveware 3.0 and not the driver. I have tried this with a few customers and it seems to clear up the problems they had with the Win2-k and Sound Blaster Live combo.
This also goes for all of you with existing Win2-k and Sound Blaster Live. Try removing all audio drivers and just install the Liveware 3.0.
5: ACPI
ACPI controls how IRQ's are assigned basically. On some systems this can cause havoc, and others it's fine. It's pretty much a trial-and-error thing when it comes to ACPI. If you're having problems with any of the above it could be an IRQ sharing problem.
To find out if your hardware is "sharing" an IRQ, right click My Computer and then properties. Click the Device Manager tab. There is a list here, double click on "Computer". Your IRQ list opens. If you see any device sharing an IRQ you should change it by either forcing an IRQ in your BIOS or by physically removing the card and placing it in a different slot (sound, NIC etc).
If this is still a problem you'll want to disable it in your BIOS. You'll have to consult your motherboard manual on that one. If you've already installed windows and you disable ACPI, when you reboot windows will reconfig/reinstall all drivers needed.
Sometimes slots will share IRQ’s, and that may or may not be avoidable.
For instance, on an ABit BX-133 RAID mainboard:
The AGP slot and PCI-1 share an IRQ
PCI-2 and PCI-5 share one IRQ
PCI-3 and the IDE controller share an IRQ
PCI-4 and the USB controllers share an IRQ
Manually assigning the IRQ’s is possible in the "PnP/PCI configuration" BIOS submenu.
PIRQ_0 is for AGP and PCI-1
PIRQ_1 is for PCI-2 and PCI-5
PIRQ_2 is for PCI-3 and the IDE controller
PIRQ_3 is for PCI-4 and USB controllers
In more detail:
- PCI slot 5 and the HPT 370 IDE controller use the same bus master control signals, therefore; if the HPT 370 IDE controller (see section 3-5) is enabled, you can't install a PCI card that will occupy the bus master signals into PCI slot 5, What kind of PCI cards needs to use the bus master signal? Generally speaking, most of the PCI cards need to use the bus master signal, but some add-on cards such as the Voodoo series of graphics cards and some PCI-VGA and LAN card don't nceunv the bus master signal.
- PCI slot 3 shares IRQ signals with the HPT 370 IDE controller (Ultra ATA/66/100). The driver for HPT 370 IDE controller supports IRQ sharing with other PCI devices, but if you install a PCI card that doesn't allow IRQ sharing with other devices in PCI slot 3, you may encounter some problems. Furthermore, if your Operating System doesn't allow peripheral devices to share IRQ signals with each other (with Windows NT for example, you can't install a PC I card into PCI slot 3).
- PCI slot 1 shares IRQ signals with the AGP slot.
- PCI slot 2 shares IRQ signals with the PCI slot 5.
- If you want to install two PCI cards into those PCI slots that share an IRQ with one another at the same time, you must make sure that your OS and PCI devices' drivers support IRQ sharing.
6: Heat and Power Supply
Heat with AMD and GeForce is to be expected. You'll want good airflow through your case if you've got the panels on as well as a good cooler/peltier/freon for the CPU. AMD chips naturally run hot, so a quality cooling unit is needed. I can't stress on investing in a good fan/heatsink for both video and CPU. There are a lot of cooling possibilities with both video and CPU, do a little bit of research on who's making what and the cost/performance aspects.
If you just don't want to bother, just take one or both side panels off of your case and pint a house fan at the innards Cheap and effective, and a good way to determine if it indeed is a heat problem.
For a Power supply (especially with GeForce 3's) you have to make sure they're putting out enough amps to the card. Check the manual for your GeForce 3 for amperage specs and then check your power supply sticker. If it doesn't put out what you need, take those specs to a shop and get one that does. With the GeForce 2's This isn't really a big problem, any AMD certified power supply will do.
The power requirements for the GeForce 3 from the manufacturer are as follows:
20A for the +3.3V power.
30A for the +5V power.
165W for the combined +5V/+3.3V power.
Well that's really all I can think of right now. I hope some of this was informative and helps you with any problems you may be having.
Lasiel Filliu'Annym
Fear not what your computer can do for you, but what you can can do to your computer.