Studdering Graphics **Fixxed**

[Ghost(357mag)]

Recently been to hell and back with this new Abit NF2 mobo. Had alot of issues that I really couldnt prepare for by reading post anywhere. So with trial and error tactics I figured out two things.

1) I truely had the "Studdering Graphix" prob I have heard about from all peeps on all NF2 platforms

2) Figured out what it was and how to fix it in regards to my set up using a ATI video and there drivers

(I'm trying to condense this)

But what I had was bad studdering in everything, to include the 2D desktop. The device manager said I had the video driver installed and all was well. The Display properties also agreed. By all means possible, the Vid driver was installed correclty.

But it wasnt.

Specifically with the ATI card, it wants to run a test on first reboot. After this test the driver will finish installing itself correctly.

My problem was that this wasnt happening for some reason, I got to point to nVidia drivers on this as it seems appropriate at this time. (EDIT: This same issue is also with Intel based mobo's, so its a ATI SmartGart issue)

My fix for this problem has been proven to work 100% of the time by me and others.

The tric is to install the driver, when it askes you if it can reboot, say NO. Yo will do this shortly. But first you need to enter into the ADMIN TOOLS ---> SERVICES. Here select the ATI "SMART" and also the "HotKey Poller" disable them both right now! Than manually reboot.

Upon reboot the drivers will fully install but not set yet. After the install is complete, go back to the SERVICES and Run the "ATI SMART" now, It will successfuly run and set itself. After this I was fine. But to recap, the device manger said the driver was installed but it WASNT, not fully.

[computerguru54]

Hey thx in adavance, this should be helpful if i need it with my new system.

[Dinzy]

I have just experienced it on my ASus board that I am replacing in a week. I had to do a fresh install and now my GFX are fuxored. I did not have this problem the last time so maybe it is specific to cat 3.2's. My machine crashed so hard and it wouldn't install the radeon no matter how hard I tried. Seems like that could be why.

[Trailkill]

Ghost, does this fix work using your method installing over top the 3.2 drivers? Or do you suggest removing the drivers completely and reinstalling them?

Thanks TK

[Ghost(357mag)]

This mainly deals with the SMART proggie setting itself the first time correctly, so the Driver will fully install.

I recommend a clean install though, as its almost always the best, even though I am aware that some will work fine this way

[GuNNer]

Now if someone can just find a fix for the Geforce graphics cards we'd be all set.... NJ on the fix Im glad someone can play a game without studdering all over the playing field!

[BloodUK]

The only stuttering i can see is in bf1942.... ive tried EVERYTHING and the damn thing still stutters, must be game fault

[Ghost(357mag)]

1942 is a game specific problem, what I exspecrienced and fixxed was one that had an effect on the entire rig as a whole. To include a hit on 2D performance

[MasterAtArms]

Windows like to configure its own IRQs. If you have APIC enabled when you install the OS then your IRQs will go from 1,2,3, - 19,20,21+. If its disabled 1 - 15.

I installed without APIC enabled and consequently can reign some control over the IRQ placement, by swapping the onboard IRQs around in the bios (like the midi, and disabling the com ports for example). This forces windows to rethink its IRQ placment, and its a case of musical chairs until you get it how you want. I want sound and networking to be separate, and not sharing.

APIC = Advanced programmable interrupt chip

ACPI = Advanced configuration power interface

ACPI uses another IRQ, and does the job of standby and auto monitor off. If you disable ACPI when you reinstall its like telling the bios you have a non PnP OS. I think the windows install will default to standard PC if the "resources controlled by" option in the bios is not auto (ESCD). The other way of choosing not to install ACPI is the press F2 when winXP setup CD prompts you to press F6 to load a raid array driver.

If you don't install ACPI then you should have even more control over which IRQs are place where.

However I have ACPI enable and APIC disabled. I heard that ACPI enabled is faster ;D. This allows me a little control over IRQ placement as I said.

When I installed my PC at first and for the next few times I had APIC and ACPI enabled and had not one IRQ sharing. The only explaination I have for this is that the bios versio must have soem influence over how windows assigns the IRQs.

I would like a bios that could force Audio and network IRQs to values you choose but I think this is just a cry in the dark. ALothough with the ammount of [blame me for the swear filter] ups this causes it should be bloody standard.

[Megatomic]

(Ghost stickied, for short duration)

Upon reboot the drivers will fully install but not set yet. After the install is complete, go back to the SERVICES and Run the "ATI SMART" now, It will successfuly run and set itself. After this I was fine. But to recap, the device manger said the driver was installed but it WASNT, not fully.

Ghost, could you clarify this a little bit? Did you re-enable the ATI Smart service in the Services snap-in or did you run an executable? Did you also re-enable the Hotkey Poller service (if indeed you re-enabled the ATI Smart service)?

I ask as I have an ATI Radeon 9500 Pro (replacing a GF4 Ti 4200) on the way and I want to do this the right way the first time if at all possible. Thanks for any assistance.