Geforce 5500fx graphics card install problem 1

[kzuser]

i am trying to install a bfg tech geforce 5500fx graphics card in an elitegroup mainboard p4vmm2 running xp pro. i am not sure of the exact version of this board. elitegroup web site says the board version # is next to the model #. there is nothing next to model # that corresponds to any versions they have posted. geforce said i need to update the bios and to disable the onboard video to get this card to work(i just get a black screen when i put card in). the current bios is ami vers 1.21.10, string # 62-0515-001131-00101111-040201-via-p6-p4vmm2-. the curent bios menu does not have an option to disable on board video. the agp setting still lets the onboard work when setting primary video to agp. i have also tried disabling onboard in device manager. i have contacted elite group tech support and have not gotten a reply to find exact board version # for the correct bios update to correct this(if there is one). i would appreciate any suggestions!

 

[felixc]

The model number may be written at different places on the mobo. These different versions have different hardware, you must absolutely find the version number.

 

[kzuser]

thanks
i found v1.3 printed very small in the upper left corner above the mouse/keyboard ports. there also are the letters CE printed about 1&1/2 inches to the left of the model # in the middle of the board.

 

[felixc]

They used to tell exactly where the version number is written. Sometimes changes are not for the best.
Cross fingers that a BIOS option appears to disable the on-board graphics. If you can, stay away from on-board graphics on your next mobo. This is how the stores make it to sell cheap PCs, but it leaves the customer stuck with troubles, or buying another system, when performance upgrades are needed.

 

[kzuser]

thanks for the advise. this actually my neighbor's son's system that i am trying to help them with. a v2premier. i would not have bought it!

 

[micker377]

Do you have the manual for this motherboard? There may be a jumper on the motherboard to disable the onboard video.

 

[kzuser]

thanks for the suggestion. i have manual and there is no jumper.

 

[micker377]

What does the manual say about "disabling" onboard video?

 

[kzuser]

it does not say how to disable it in the bios. the bios has a primary graphics setting that allows you to change it to agp. the manual says "this item indicates if the primary graphics adapter uses pci or the agp bus. the default agp setting still lets the onboard display work and allows for the use of a second display card installed in the agp slot."

 

[felixc]

So, was there a new BIOS at the ECS website?

 

[kzuser]

i talked to ecs and they said that this card is not compatable with this board and updating bios would not rectify problem. they said that i need to buy a card that is only 4x. not an 8x/4x.

 

[felixc]

Gaaah! First time I hear that one! Another surprise from the Intel Chipset folks, or an oops from the ECS guys. There has been so many revisions of this mobo that i suspect that the Intel chipset is not an easy one to design with. I'm sorry to read that. Are you able to return the video card for an exchange with a lower performance one?

 

[kzuser]

it still does not make complete sense to me. if a card is 8x/4x compatable the 4x should work in a system with 4x ability! i hope bestbuy will take it back. it is my neighbor's son's system.

 

[felixc]

What was the version of the motherboard? I see that the latest versions are using improved versions of the chipset. (I tought that this mobo was using an Intel chipset, but it is using a Via chipset.) I wouldn't be surprised that it is an issue with the Via chipset. They're worse than Intel at making bugged chips. And their internal graphics controller, S3 Savage Pro I think, is worth nothing for gaming. You better ask the ECS support what graphics card is known to work with your mobo. The list may be small. I see the Radeon 9200 to support AGP 2x, 4X and 8X, but it'S no warranty.
My ECS mobo (for Athlon, with an SIS chip) has no problem at all with an AGP 8X card.
Good luck!

 

[kzuser]

thanks. it is v1.3 i will talk to them again and try to get an exact list. they did recommend trying an ati card but did not give me a specific model.

 

[felixc]

I remember using special versions of ATI drivers because of bugs in the VIA chipset that was on my former K6-2 motherboard. Your 1.3 motherboard uses older versions of VIA chips so it may very well be a similar story with yours.

 

[paparazi]

From personal experience I think you just have a plain incompatibility issue between the new FX5500 and the much older Via KM266 chipset.
I can remember something similar to this happening on our jetway motherboards, that was with the FX5200 and as soon as we swapped out for GF4 MX440's everything was fine.
So your options are: GF2/GF3/GF4 ranges would think Radeons upto 9000 series
A second hand Geforce 4 Ti4200/4400/4600 (note Ti) would be a good choice, only DX8 but more powerful than the FX5500.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[kzuser]

thanx to everyone for there input!

 

[chucktr]

Hi there, It seems that there is knowledge here that may be able to help me with a problem. I have a friends PC, a V2Premier with a P4VMM2 motherboard. Problem is it won't power up. I've tried a different Power Supply and no dice. I found that someone had been inside it before me and broken the heatsink for the P4 loose. When power is applied the PS fan will spin a little and then nothing. I realize it is tuff to analyze something not being there. But I don't have the neccessary equipment to troubleshoot a motherboard. It is the same version as discussed here v1.3. Just curious as to whether anyone else has experienced power problems due to the motherboard. Can the power management fail like this??
Thanks in advance.

 

[paparazi]

A differant power supply so the original failed?

Likely senario is that the bad PSU has damaged another component and this component is preventing a boot.

The most commonly destroyed component is the hard drive, typically a controller chip has been burned (small sometimes visable pit mark in one of the HDD's chips) could also be a CDrom drive or addon card damaged.

Clear cmos.

Just pull off all the IDE and Molex connectors incl front panel wires, pull out all additional addon cards, temporarilly touch power pin headers to post.

By connecting each device in turn you should be able to determine which is faulty.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.