Going to try changing the TdrDelay tomorrow. https://web.archive.org/web/20090119044359/ht … dm_timeout.mspx

Probably wishful thinking but I’m going to try anyway.

Going to have another crack at fixing this card. Does anyone know what the purple capacitors are? The label reads "Sanyo OS CON 510/4 105". I could desolder one and check the capacitance, but I wouldn't have any idea what the voltage may be.

Removed a couple of capacitors today and tested them, all were within spec. I also can’t find any missing components.

Decided to modify the BIOS for the GPU to run at 275MHz (stock 300MHz) and memory at 400 MHz (stock 650). I could then boot into Windows at any resolution, so some progress. As soon as 3DMark03 runs a benchmark or Quake 3 starts, the monitor loses signal with the video card and the computer eventually reboots. I also can’t find any missing components.

So I think it’s down to reflowing the GPU and memory (even though these chips were factory installed with leaded solder). Since there are no artifacts on the screen I’m tempted to reflow the GPU first.

I would not blindly reflow anything. I have had Graphics cards failing due to bad memory with exact the same symptoms. You don't necessarily have to see artifacting.

Give it a shot first to run something like Video Memory stress Test CE.

Re: Radeon R200 and R100 memory test tool

tehsiggi wrote on 2025-05-31, 08:22:

I would not blindly reflow anything. I have had Graphics cards failing due to bad memory with exact the same symptoms. You don't necessarily have to see artifacting.

Give it a shot first to run something like Video Memory stress Test CE.

Re: Radeon R200 and R100 memory test tool

Thanks for the suggestion. I ran it on the machine (Windows XP) but the whole screen just goes black with a flashing cursor. If I push enter, it goes back to the desktop. Do I need another build or do you suggest a different tool for the NV25?

You need to run it in DOS, but afaik there is also a windows version of it mentioned somewhere.

tehsiggi wrote on 2025-05-31, 08:39:

You need to run it in DOS, but afaik there is also a windows version of it mentioned somewhere.

Sorry assumed it was Windows, looking at the screenshot. I booted from the floppy image and it's running now. I'm kinda hoping it finds a memory issue.

tehsiggi wrote on 2025-05-31, 08:22:

I would not blindly reflow anything. I have had Graphics cards failing due to bad memory with exact the same symptoms. You don't necessarily have to see artifacting.

Give it a shot first to run something like Video Memory stress Test CE.

Re: Radeon R200 and R100 memory test tool

Looks like the memory is fine? As I'm typing this the second pass completed too. I'll leave it running though. What are your thoughts?

No errors is at least promising.

Perhaps there is also an old version of MATS out there that works with the NV25. But seen those results, i would assume memory is doing fine.

Have you checked power rails on the card? I can look if i have a schematic laying around if we need reference values.

I assume all tested PSUs are potent on their 3.3V and 5V rails?

tehsiggi wrote on 2025-05-31, 08:55:

No errors is at least promising. […]
Show full quote

No errors is at least promising.

Perhaps there is also an old version of MATS out there that works with the NV25. But seen those results, i would assume memory is doing fine.

Have you checked power rails on the card? I can look if i have a schematic laying around if we need reference values.

I assume all tested PSUs are potent on their 3.3V and 5V rails?

I'll hunt around for an old MATS but I'm not sure it went as far back to the NV25

Yep tried 3 different PSU's. 1x old school and 2x brand new. All voltages they were producing were spot on. I haven't checked voltages yet in depth yet. I need some sort of AGP riser card like this PCI-E one so I don't short something trying to do it sideways. If you know if a AGP one, let me know.

Here are some basic voltages

I found MSI schematics for the NV25. It should be very similar. Sorry, I don't know how to read schematics yet.

zuldan wrote on 2025-03-26, 07:34:

As soon as I run Quake 3 , the screen goes blank the monitor loses signal. When I reboot the machine after losing signal, the screen goes blank again after the Windows XP load screen.

I doubt this is causing your problem, but I encountered similar issues on certain cards when the "AGP Aperture Size" was set to more than 128 MB in the BIOS.

Try lowering that to 64 MB and see if it makes any difference.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2025-05-31, 09:20:

zuldan wrote on 2025-03-26, 07:34:

As soon as I run Quake 3 , the screen goes blank the monitor loses signal. When I reboot the machine after losing signal, the screen goes blank again after the Windows XP load screen.

I doubt this is causing your problem, but I encountered similar issues on certain cards when the "AGP Aperture Size" was set to more than 128 MB in the BIOS.

Try lowering that to 64 MB and see if it makes any difference.

Thanks for the hint Joseph, I gave it a go but unfortunately no luck. I need to settle into some Deep Space Nine and relax 😉

Found an old version of MATS. Thanks Vogons! It supports Geforce 1 up to the FX series. It looks like the memory is 100% OK.

Re: GeForce3 - mixing memory modules

zuldan wrote on 2025-05-31, 09:17:

Here are some basic voltages

Are those still fine when the screen goes blank?

I just had a check. Your card has the same layout as the MSI Card MS8872 - 200.
I looked at the schematic, from your marked voltages from top to bottom we have:

VTT (Termination voltage)
FBVDD (Framebuffer voltage aka. Memory voltage
NVVDD (GPU)

FBVDD and NVVDD are on point, supposed to be 2.8V and 1.7V respectively. So that is good.
VTT however is supposed to be exact half of FBVDD, meaning it should be 1.4V instead of 1.2V.

R1038 and R1039 should form the reference voltage divider, coming from FBVDD. There are test-points around:

TP29 should measure 1.4V. You can find it directly next to the two inductors for FBVDD and VTT. It's also marked as "TP29". The resistors are on the backside of the board, next to the SC1175. According to the schematic they're both 1K 1%.

Archer57 wrote on 2025-05-31, 10:22:

zuldan wrote on 2025-05-31, 09:17:

Here are some basic voltages

Are those still fine when the screen goes blank?

Will check in the morning!

tehsiggi wrote on 2025-05-31, 10:31:

I just had a check. Your card has the same layout as the MSI Card MS8872 - 200. I looked at the schematic, from your marked vol […]
Show full quote

I just had a check. Your card has the same layout as the MSI Card MS8872 - 200.
I looked at the schematic, from your marked voltages from top to bottom we have:

VTT (Termination voltage)
FBVDD (Framebuffer voltage aka. Memory voltage
NVVDD (GPU)

FBVDD and NVVDD are on point, supposed to be 2.8V and 1.7V respectively. So that is good.
VTT however is supposed to be exact half of FBVDD, meaning it should be 1.4V instead of 1.2V.

R1038 and R1039 should form the reference voltage divider, coming from FBVDD. There are test-points around:

TP29 should measure 1.4V. You can find it directly next to the two inductors for FBVDD and VTT. It's also marked as "TP29". The resistors are on the backside of the board, next to the SC1175. According to the schematic they're both 1K 1%.

Thank you so much for the information! Will check on this first thing in the morning.

Just some things I've noticed as well:

The card appears to derive the main voltages the following way:
FBVDD is generated from the 12V from the AGP slot. VTT is generated from FBVDD.

NVVDD is generated from the 3.3V from the AGP slot. The core takes up to 10A at 1.7V, meaning around 17W, this would translate to ~5A on the 3.3V rail at the AGP slot.

Then there is a voltage call 3.3VL - which is generated from the 5V from the AGP slot. It appears to be mainly used by DAC circuitry and is linear, being very low noise.

If somehow possible for you, a look at the 3.3V on the AGP slot can be interesting. Don't risk too much though. Depending on the mainboard there could be a significant drop at those currents, leading to potential issues for the regulator.

zuldan wrote on 2025-05-31, 09:31:

I need to settle into some Deep Space Nine and relax 😉

Good choice!

tehsiggi wrote on 2025-05-31, 11:01:

If somehow possible for you, a look at the 3.3V on the AGP slot can be interesting.

Just chiming in to say, I also have a flaky GeForce 4 Ti4200 that is unstable in AGP 8x motherboards (1.5V) while running just fine in an AGP 2x board (3.3V).