Limiting Video RAM in Win98

[stuartjk]

Hi there.

I am having problems getting my 7600gs to work using modded drivers and I feel it may have something to do with the RAM on the card.

It has 512mb of installed on the GFX card and 2 gig of system ram. I am limiting the system ram to 128 mb, as 98 rarely uses more than this. Everything is running hunky dorey until I use modded drivers to install my 7600gs.

Yes I know that the Nv 7 series is not supported by 98, but I've heard a lot of people reaching success with the 82.26 modded drivers (available in the UBCD, but I have also tested the stand alone download), however after installing these drivers, I receive system instability and "Not enough memory" errors aplenty. Reverting the graphics card back to Standard Video Adapter stops these errors and returns stability.

When using the modded drivers I cannot install all the features as when running the install it states there is no compatible hardware detected, even with the switches given in 82.26's workround, I therefore have to use the inf to undate drivers in hardware Manager.

I am wondering if the amount of RAM on the card is maxing out the system ram (shadowing) or if there is some other darker force at work (Drivers working are afluke).

I have testing this with combinations of limiting RAM to 128, 256, 512 and 768 with limiting the page file for 50mb, 128mb and 512mb and the AGP Apeture bios settings set to 32, 64, 128 and 256mb.

I have installed RivaTuner which, using the modded drivers, recognises the 7600 but is limited in it's capabilities (no overclocking). Using the RT power user settings, I have forced the GFX Device ID to replicate a 6600gt to try and force driver installs. But no success.

I have access to a 6600gt with 128 mb of ram but have been unable to get hold of it yet to test the drivers.

My mobo is a MSI 6702 (Neo2-FIR) and all other components work without a hitch. I did notice that there is no AGP gart driver installed in system devices, but there is a "CPU to I/O" device (would imaging this could be the same).

My main questions is, does anyone know of any way the GFX RAM recognised by 98 can be reduced (similar to the maxphyspage setting)? There is nothing I could

My second question: Is there anyone out there been able to get a 7 series with 512mb GFX ram working with 98, if so how?

Yeh I know there's a lot but it's just to show I've run out of ideas. If you have any suggestions, I am your puppet to do with as you please (short of breaking hardware, software I do't mind so much).

Ta yall.

[Offler]

you need to set VCache size like this:

MaxFileCache=32768

this shall fix your problem. also if there is problem with memory i know that AGP ATI cards and drivers have problem with AGP aperture size setting in bios. the best way is just to set to lowest possible, last accepted value is 128mb.

[RetroOS]

If you've got time, read through the following topics:

(If you haven't got time, just read the last couple of pages of posts in each topic)

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=97140

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=109574

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=114738

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=99263

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=105373

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=79756

Happy reading!

The issue is not how much RAM is on the video card, but rather the total system RAM, AGP Aperture size, and Windows VCache size.

When Windows uses the standard video driver, it does not map the AGP Aperture.

See xrayer's milestone post regarding 2GB RAM fix:

http://www.msfn.org/board/Help-I-need-to-G...475#entry750475

[stuartjk]

As mentioned previously, I have limited the the VCache and ram access to (512 and 128 at present respectively) a combination of values from 64m to 768. In all instances there are no memory errors until I install the 82.69 drivers which is then reporting the card and correct size of the memory on the card. The issue here is not system RAM it is gfx ram(512mb on the card).

From 82.69 the thread it appears that the 82.69 drivers have not been as fully tested as previously led to believe shall therefore abandon this until further information is available.

Thanks for your help.

[MDGx]

As mentioned previously, I have limited the the VCache and ram access to (512 and 128 at present respectively) a combination of values from 64m to 768. In all instances there are no memory errors until I install the 82.69 drivers which is then reporting the card and correct size of the memory on the card. The issue here is not system RAM it is gfx ram(512mb on the card).

From 82.69 the thread it appears that the 82.69 drivers have not been as fully tested as previously led to believe shall therefore abandon this until further information is available.

Thanks for your help.

As you well pointed out, system memory has nothing to do with video memory.

But please do not abandon the unofficial NVidia 82.69 drivers installer:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/nv8269.php

File [14.5 MB]:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/NV8269.EXE

because that is the last ever driver released by NVidia [or anyone else] for 9x/ME OSes, and the only one that supports newer GF 7xxx + 8xxx series cards and widescreen LCD monitors.

What you can do, is test them, and eventually add/modify the INF [found in %windir%\INF in the subfolder named after your NVidia card] to make it compatible with newer GF cards.

Or you can extract the files as explained here:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/nv8269.php

and play around with the INF.

Then please send me the modded INF, and I'll recompile the drivers installer again.

Thanks for your time + concern.

HTH

[stuartjk]

What you can do, is test them, and eventually add/modify the INF [found in %windir%\INF in the subfolder named after your NVidia card] to make it compatible with newer GF cards.

Or you can extract the files as explained here:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/nv8269.php

and play around with the INF.

Then please send me the modded INF, and I'll recompile the drivers installer again.

Thanks for your time + concern.

HTH

Hi. Are we talking about the nvagp.INF file to identify the card? I can confirm the card ID is present and the correct model is identified when updating the drivers, the problem occurs when this update is complete.

I also have to update the drivers by using the "Specify the location of the driver (Advanced)" option, rather than using the install package.

If there is a way to update the actual installed driver to change power settings etc, is there any guidance on what to change?

Ta

[MDGx]

What you can do, is test them, and eventually add/modify the INF [found in %windir%\INF in the subfolder named after your NVidia card] to make it compatible with newer GF cards.

Or you can extract the files as explained here:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/nv8269.php

and play around with the INF.

Then please send me the modded INF, and I'll recompile the drivers installer again.

Thanks for your time + concern.

HTH

Hi. Are we talking about the nvagp.INF file to identify the card? I can confirm the card ID is present and the correct model is identified when updating the drivers, the problem occurs when this update is complete.

I also have to update the drivers by using the "Specify the location of the driver (Advanced)" option, rather than using the install package.

If there is a way to update the actual installed driver to change power settings etc, is there any guidance on what to change?

Ta

Yeah, the NVAGP.INF file.

IMO:

To my knowledge the power settings [if you refer to: Control Panel -> Power] are built into the Windows OS, and should not be influenced by video drivers.

Try these troubleshooting techniques [now part of the ReadMe]:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/nv8269.php

* In case you experience stand by/doze off/suspend to.../shut down/power off

errors/General Protection Faults (GPFs)/lockups, turn off all BIOS video

settings:

Reboot -> press the BIOS setup key/key combo (F2, Del etc, depending on BIOS

brand/model) when you see the BIOS Power On Self Test (POST) screen ->

DISABLE/turn OFF "System BIOS Cacheable", "Video BIOS Cacheable", "Video BIOS

Shadowing", "Video RAM Cacheable" AND "Video ROM Cache" -> reboot.

Your motherboard BIOS may or may not have all these options, and some of their

names may be different. Disable/turn off the ones you have.

More info:

http://www.techarp.com/freebog.aspx

* In case you experience stand by/doze off/suspend to.../shut down/power off

errors/lockups, turn off all Power settings:

Start button -> Control Panel -> Power Management -> Power schemes: -> scroll

to "Always On" -> Turn off monitor: -> scroll to "Never" -> Turn off hard

disks: -> scroll to "Never" -> click the Apply/OK button.

* In case you experience stand by/doze off/suspend to.../shut down/power off

errors/General Protection Faults (GPFs)/lockups, turn off some of the video

"Hardware acceleration" settings [see paragraph 4]:

http://www.mdgx.com/newtip17.htm#WDVS

I'm afraid that to actually hex-edit the drivers you need NVidia's white papers/source code, and low level hardware driver programming skills.

HTH