Choppy Graphics Possibly Due to Hardware? Help Please

[shassouneh 0]

Hi All,

This one got me stomped. For starters, let me specify the hardware and software configuration

 

 

AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (1.66 Ghz) Palomino

Shuttle AK32VN Motherboard (AGP 4x)

512 MB Kingston DDR 2700

Nvidia GeForce MX 440 SE 128 MB AGP (4x/8x)

Microsoft DirectX 9.0c

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 4

 

Before you tell me to look for another video card, please be aware that i KNOW the MX 440 is a horrible card. However, it should work just fine for the purposes I desire.

 

Here is the problem:

 

EXTREMELY choppy graphics and the Direct3d Test is very choppy (around 1 to 2 fps). I have 4X AGP enabled in the BIOS.

NOTE: Command And Conquer Generals Zero Hour works FLAWLESSLY, but the Direct3D test and games like No One lives Forever 2 are extremely choppy.

 

Yes I HAVE shut down all apps, done a BIOS update, visited Windows Update, and installed the latest nvidia Drivers. I even tried setting on the DMA settings (I tried EVERYTHING)

 

Can anyone help me figure this out?

 

Thanx beforehand

 

PS: Please do not flame me. I DID search this forum extensively before posting!

 

[shassouneh 0]

UPDATE:

 

I have a logitech wireless optical mouse. When I have it plugged in, and run the Direct3D test, it runs the same EXCEPT when i move the mouse. Moving the mouse seems to get it going MUCH faster. I do not know what is responsible for this behaviour, but I beleive it might be a step forward in troubleshooting this annoying problem.

 

Can anyone help me resolve this problem? Thanx you for taking the time and courtesy to read through this thread.

 

[AndyFair 0]

Stab in the dark - do you have the Logitech software installed? It has been known to cause problems in the past, but I've never seen anything like this...

 

Just a thought

AndyF

[shassouneh 0]

UPDATE: I now know the cause, but not how to fix it. For some weird reason, the Nvidia card takes IRQ 10. But, Unfortunately the VIA USB Universal host Controller also assumer IRQ 10. This explains why I get smooth graphics as long as I move the mouse (which is a USB mouse). Moving the mouse sends interrupt requests that cause more bandwidth to be sent on the IRQ 10 line.

 

To attempt to solve the problem i went into BIOS to restrict how it assigns IRQs. All that did however was to pick IRQ 5 and still both the video card and the USB shit use the same IRQ number now (5). HELP!

 

[gravityvfr 0]

hi just wiped my computer and found the same problem with my old game s seems the directX 9c isn't compatable with older drivers need to get your current driver (i.e i went to nvida.com for my Geforce card) all that lag will disappeared! Maybe the trick is finding the right driver for what ever version of directX you are currently using...hope this helps people with further problems of choppy graphics.