Video cards artifacting - old cards for DOS \ VOGONS

Video cards artifacting - old cards for DOS

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First post, by Nexxen

Posted on 2026-06-19, 19:24

Nexxen Offline

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Hi all!

I was setting up a MS-DOS only machine.
1st mobo:
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/msi-ms-6163-v1.0-bx13

Upgrade bios from 2.1 to 2.7: from clean screen to Post like in pics n.1 and 2.

2nd mobo: https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/lucky- … -6abx2v-ver-1-2

Same results.

3rd mobo: https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/soyo-sy-5ema-plus
Same as above.

I swapped RAM, CPUs, Drives... no change.

I tried a few video cards, nVidia 200MX, 440MX, Rage, S3, TNT... TNT2 M64 is the only one with crystal clear image (even has a 470µF bulging a bit 😀

This is a curiosity as there are incompatibilities but I'm wondering if there is a list somewhere with compatibility advice per Chipset.
I never had this before.

I used Phil's Dos pack, games have requirements such as EMS, XMS or Conventional only - this is not the issue.

Thanks for any input, as always.

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K
- "One hates the specialty unobtainium parts, the other laughs in greed listing them under a ridiculous price" - kotel studios
- Bare metal ist krieg.

Reply 1 of 5, by keropi

Posted on 2026-06-19, 19:47

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at least for the 1st problem with the bad font on the setup program you can use this: https://www.bttr-software.de/products/fix8x14/
to add back the missing font support
the rest look like dram issues to me

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Reply 2 of 5, by Nexxen

Posted on 2026-06-19, 19:56

Nexxen Offline

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keropi wrote on 2026-06-19, 19:47:

at least for the 1st problem with the bad font on the setup program you can use this: https://www.bttr-software.de/products/fix8x14/
to add back the missing font support
the rest look like dram issues to me

Uncanny, exact same pics 😀
Thanks mate!

Now I have to go check ram on all my cards.
Can't say if I love you giving me a new side quest or hate you... It's probably for the best to check 'em all.

Last edited by Nexxen on 2026-06-19, 22:26. Edited 2 times in total.

Reply 3 of 5, by keropi

Posted on 2026-06-19, 20:01

keropi Offline

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Nexxen wrote on 2026-06-19, 19:56:
Uncanny, exact same pics :) Thanks mate! […]
Show full quote

Uncanny, exact same pics 😀
Thanks mate!

Now I have to go check ram on all my cards.
Can't say if I move you giving me a new side quest or hate you... It's probably for the best to check 'am all.

hahahha
well to check vram you can use x-vesa: Re: [Release] X-VESA 2.0 Public Beta – Deep VESA diagnostics for real DOS hardware
you do not need to have a vbe2.0 bios, even vbe1x will work for this

Reply 4 of 5, by Nexxen

Posted on 2026-06-19, 22:29

Nexxen Offline

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Location: Italy

keropi wrote on 2026-06-19, 20:01:
hahahha well to check vram you can use x-vesa: Re: [Release] X-VESA 2.0 Public Beta – Deep VESA diagnostics for real DOS hardwar […]
Show full quote

Nexxen wrote on 2026-06-19, 19:56:
Uncanny, exact same pics :) Thanks mate! […]
Show full quote

Uncanny, exact same pics 😀
Thanks mate!

Now I have to go check ram on all my cards.
Can't say if I move you giving me a new side quest or hate you... It's probably for the best to check 'am all.

hahahha
well to check vram you can use x-vesa: Re: [Release] X-VESA 2.0 Public Beta – Deep VESA diagnostics for real DOS hardware
you do not need to have a vbe2.0 bios, even vbe1x will work for this

I tried necroware's and there are bad chips 🙁
Soldering now, with 30+°C is NO. Adding items to queue for my usual autumn/winter soldering frenzy.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try the other program as well, welcomed addition to the library.

Reply 5 of 5, by Nexxen

Posted on 2026-06-19, 23:05

Nexxen Offline

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Rank: l33t
Posts: 2713
Joined: 2020-03-05, 13:37
Location: Italy

Guess what, using a DOS installed via the 3 disks set = no issues with Simcity.
Using Phil's DOS Boot Disk Easy and Fast, https://www.philscomputerlab.com/dos-boot-dis … -easy-fast.html, I get the errors in Simcity.
Guess he forgot to add something.

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