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Problems with 3DFX Banshee Card

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First post, by DocStreamer

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Hallo,

I'm having a problem with a 3DFX Banshee graphics card and I'm hoping someone here can help me.

It's a BRITEK Viewtop Vulcan B 3FDX. ( AGP - 16MB SGRam )

When I tested the card, it ran without any problems in the test bench. But a few days later, I only got the beep code for "Graphics card not recognized" when booting. I then discovered that the card is still recognized in Windows 98SE as soon as I install a second graphics card.

So my first thought was that maybe the Banshee's BIOS was defective. Since I couldn't find the original BIOS anywhere, I looked for an alternative. According to Google, the card should have VGA BIOS version "1.00.03-ET".

Among others, the Gigabyte GA-630 and the Ensoniq 3D Banshee, which appears to be identical, also use this BIOS. So I tried these BIOS versions.

I can boot from the card again and install Windows normally, but as soon as I start, for example, 3DMark, the PC freezes after a few seconds.

I have tested several BIOS versions, but all with the same result: the card is recognized and works in Windows, but as soon as I start 3DMark, the PC freezes.

Now, my question to you all: Does anyone else have this card and could send me the original BIOS? Or does anyone have any idea what the problem might be, or what I could do?

Thanks in advance!

best regards, Michael

Reply 1 of 4, by Thandor

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Have you tried cleaning the AGP connector with alcohol? Does it run stable when underclocked? What system are you using it in (out of spec running AGP can cause weird things, too)?

thandor.net - hardware
And the rest of us would be carousing the aisles, stuffing baloney.

Reply 2 of 4, by DocStreamer

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Yes, I've already cleaned the AGP slot with isopropyl alcohol. I also tried running the card at 90 MHz instead of 100/110 MHz. However, I get slight image artifacts and it freezes just the same.

My Testbench is an:

Gigabyte 686 LX-3 Mainboard
Pentium II - 266MHz @ 300MhZ
98MB SDRAM
Soundblaster Vibra 16 PNP

Reply 3 of 4, by Thandor

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Did you obtain the overclock by changing the multiplier or by setting the FSB to 75MHz? The latter will increase the frequency of the AGP bus. Usually the 75Mhz FSB isn’t really an issue but since you’re chasing problems it’s better to keep absolutely anything at stock frequencies 😀.

thandor.net - hardware
And the rest of us would be carousing the aisles, stuffing baloney.

Reply 4 of 4, by DocStreamer

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Okay, I've set the CPU speed back to stock. The motherboard only has four DIP switches for that. But the problem persists. Is there any way to test the card's memory? To see if a RAM module is faulty?

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