Matrox m3D PowerVR problem (Win98SE) \ VOGONS

Matrox m3D PowerVR problem (Win98SE)

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First post, by ketma

Posted on 2024-07-19, 16:53

ketma Offline

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Hi, I've installed the m3D card ok, its recognised correctly in device manager, etc However, when trying 3dMark99 or any supported game it fails, 3Dmark just drops back to desktop.

Tested this alongside an ET6000, a Millennium II on a P200MMX and a P3 1Ghz with a 9800 XT results in the same behaviour.

Tried both the Matrox and ref. drivers. When the m3D is enabled 3dMark99 shows an incorrect total video memory (of the 9800 XT), but shows the correct texture mem available for the m3D.

When the m3D is disabled the XT is detected and runs without issue.

Any ideas? is the card just borked ?

Reply 1 of 3, by pyrogx

Posted on 2024-07-19, 19:48

pyrogx Offline

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Not necessarily, could be a configuration or compatibility problem. PCX2 doesn't work with all graphics cards (most NVidia ones do not work for example). Maybe 9800XT is incompatible.
PCX2 however does work with a Millenium II. A couple of ideas:
- Try setting "2D/3D acceleration" from Optimized to Standard in the PowerVR settings.
- Try an older game/benchmark from 1997 (Tomb Raider II for example)
- Try one of the native PowerSGL games Re: The Ultimate 3D Accelerated Supported Games List (Early proprietary APIs - NO 3DFX/GLIDE), or Quake with the PVR OpenGL driver
- If you have a setting like "PCI Master Read Caching" in your BIOS, disable it (it causes crashes with my m3D)

Reply 2 of 3, by Thandor

Posted on 2024-07-20, 11:49

Thandor Offline

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Your best shot is using the Pentium MMX. Not sure if there are compatibility problems with newer hardware but a Pentium MMX should work just fine, especially with an Intel chipset. Also check the pins on the big PowerVR chip; they should make contact. Sometimes it’s hard to see whether they are good or not with the naked eye.

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

Reply 3 of 3, by goofyahhuncle

Posted on 2024-07-20, 12:14

goofyahhuncle Offline

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Ensure the motherboard BIOS is updated to the latest version old BIOS versions might not provide proper support for the m3D card.
Also you might want to check if the m3D card and the 9800 XT are compatible, I think they are not.

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