Have you tried other driver versions and / or DirectX Version?

Vagabund2k wrote on 2023-07-31, 20:10:

Have you tried other driver versions and / or DirectX Version?

no, I was waiting for a clue on witch driver to try. Maybe I should try forceware 29.42? Perhaps 4 in 1 4.37 isn't getting along with 41.09?

No choice in directx versions. I need 8.1 as Dungeon Keeper 2 crashes to desktop when using newer versions of Direct X.

[UPDATE]

Standard hardware config (Athlon XP-M 2000+, 256MB PC133 CL 3-3-2-5, Geforce 4 Ti 4200) -

Forceware 41.09 + VIA 4in1 4.37, AGP Fast Writes ON, AGP set to 4x, AGP Master 1 WS enabled for both read and writes - crash to desktop at random - no error message.

Forceware 41.09 + VIA 4in1 4.56 - AGP Fast Writes ON, AGP set to 4x, AGP Master 1 WS enabled for both read and writes - crash to desktop during the first test, visual C++ Runtime error:

Forceware 45.23 + VIA 41 in 1 4.56 - AGP Fast Writes ON, AGP set to 4x, AGP Master 1 WS Disabled for both read and writes - crash to desktop during the first test, NVDD32.DLL invalid page fault:

Forceware 45.23 + VIA 41 in 1 4.56 - AGP Fast Writes OFF, AGP set to 4x, AGP Master 1 WS DISABLED for both read and writes - 3D Mark 01 UI flickers during tests, framerate is noticeably LOWER then with fast writes ON - about 10-15%, 20% in the High Detail tests - crash to desktop on test 4 (dragothic - high detail) - no error message

===========

Replaced CPU with an AMD Athlon (non-XP) 1200MHz - Forceware 45.23 + VIA 41 in 1 4.56 - AGP Fast Writes ON, AGP set to 4x, AGP Master 1 WS Enabled for both read and writes - 3D Mark 01 completes succesfully but scores a little over 9000 pts witch is pretty low for a Geforce 4 Ti4200. I was expecting someware in the range of 10000 pts.

==========

Put the Athlon XP-M 2000+ back in, replaced Ti4200 with a known good Geforce 4 MX460 from Leadtek - same as above - crash to desktop, no error message.

Replaced Geforce 4 MX460 with a Leadtek Geforce 3 Ti200 - again, crash to desktop, this time I got the runtime error again.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

My conclusion so far is that there is some kind of incompatibility between nvidia drivers and the VIA KT133A chipset when using faster CPUs (like my 1666MHz Athlon XP 2000+ mobile) witch nobody ever bothered to fix.

Further testing is required. I'd like to install windows XP on another hard drive and repeat the tests. Another thing I want to try is an ATi video card but as I'm away from home I don't have one at hand - apart from an 8500 all in wonder that suffered some phisical damage but might be fixable.

If the config is stable with an ATI card it confirms my nvidia drv - VIA KT133a lack of compatibility when running newer CPUs. If it's stable under XP with the Geforce 4 ti tough, it's simply a driver issue and I might be better off installing a Radeon 9500 or 9700 in this PC and calling it a day.

I seem to remember something about disabling SSE in Abit kt133 + XP combination maybe? it also might be caps/supply related
there is always this megathread Abit KT7A (KT133A/VIA686B), Athlon XP Mobile 2500+

rasz_pl wrote on 2023-08-06, 09:30:

I seem to remember something about disabling SSE in Abit kt133 + XP combination maybe? it also might be caps/supply related
there is always this megathread Abit KT7A (KT133A/VIA686B), Athlon XP Mobile 2500+

I re-capped the board with low-esr panasonic and rubicons. The caps under the AGP port were bulged, and a few of the ones near the CPU socket failed ESR. New caps are good. The PSU should be fine, it's an old 350w chieftec PSU that's also been refurbished. Good 5A rail too. Dunno, maybe a 400 or 450w PSU might benefit the system, worth a try.

Everything works fine, apart from 3dmark01. Blood Rayne for example - a DX8 game - also works fine...

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look.

Try a lower CPU multiplier, it's a mobile Athlon

Out of curiosity, are you using the latest 3DMark 2001SE which can still be downloaded for free from the developer's website? I used a very similar system a few years back, and had no issues running that version on it.

In case it matters, I was using VIA drivers 4.43 and Nvidia drivers 40.72 at the time. My CPU was an AthlonXP 1700+ (Thoroughbred B) and the motherboard was the same as yours. The graphics card was an MSI GeForce 4 Ti4200 (AGP 8x version).

shevalier wrote on 2023-08-06, 12:58:

Try a lower CPU multiplier, it's a mobile Athlon

I did - it still crashes to desktop, even at 5x133. A regular thunderbird Athlon on the other hand works fine, even at 1400mhz.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2023-08-06, 13:15:

Out of curiosity, are you using the latest 3DMark 2001SE which can still be downloaded for free from the developer's website? I used a very similar system a few years back, and had no issues running that version on it.

In case it matters, I was using VIA drivers 4.43 and Nvidia drivers 40.72 at the time. My CPU was an AthlonXP 1700+ (Thoroughbred B) and the motherboard was the same as yours. The graphics card was an MSI GeForce 4 Ti4200 (AGP 8x version).

yes