Appian Typhoon PCI blank screen

[lejongleur]

My machine is a Tyan S2460 with two Athlon 1900's, 2GB RAM, Audigy audio, Promise Fasttrak 100 TX4 array, and (originally) a Matrox G550 video board (AGP) driving two flat panels. I had various problems with the video board - it would not work properly in digital (DVI) mode, Matrox replaced it, it still wouldn't work, and some time later, apparently began to cause blue screen problems involving PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA messages.

I'm running W2000, and totally reinstalled it and everything to get rid of the blue screen problem which is intermittent, but occurs more often than not, sometimes requiring 4 or 5 boots before the system starts properly. After a while the problem began again, even though I have run detailed memory tests etc.

In order to try a new tack, I purchased a PCI Appian Typhoon board. Even though I have changed the BIOS to use PCI as primary video, and changed the AGP graphics aperture to NONE, the system appears to boot, but nothing comes up on the monitors. If I boot with both graphics adapters in the machine, the same thing happens.

Any ideas appreciated. Regards...LeJongleur

 

[felixc]

Was the G550 working properly in analog output mode?
Can you get the mobo to work in "single processor" mode from a BIOS setting, or from a jumper on the mobo? Does it make a difference with the crashes?
Can you get the cards to work woth a single monitor?

 

[lejongleur]

The Matrox G550 worked OK most of the time, but sometimes caused jitters on the primary screen. It would work with a single monitor. I have yet to see any video signal at all coming from the Appian Typhoon board - not even boot info.

I do not think the motherboard will work with one processor - why would I want to make that change?

My basic objective here is to convert from an AGP card (Matrox) to a PCI card (Appian) - but despite what seem like the correct BIOS changes, the PCI board does not come up, even though the system beeps and appears to be booting.

 

[felixc]

I just wanted to be sure that the dual processor does not add another unknown to the problem.
The Appian is based on the Radeon 7000 I think.
Do you or a friend have an old plain PCI video card gathering dust somewhere? It could help to see if the problem is with the Appian, or with the mobo or BIOS settings.

 

[lejongleur]

Thanks - I will try using another PCI video board to see if that helps.