Has anyone had eny experience with the combination of these two?

Any feed back both good or bad would be greatly appreciated

I have both, and was experiencing random crashes within WindowsXP (pro version). but with no explanation. I was experiencing lockups, then what appeared to be a VGA reset with the display coming back in 640x480 and 4-bit colors... ICK! --- I could count on it crashing on me at least once evert time I sat down in front of it.

After some serious testing and troubleshooting, I've determined that the crashes are definately related to the combination of P4G8X-Deluxe and the 9700Pro (as I narrowed it down by elimination). I have replaced every component in the system with the exception of these two... and for 3 months prior, I had the 9700 Pro in an Asus P4B533 with zero problems.

I just re-installed WindowsXP cleanly, with the new Catalyst 3.2 drivers from ATI (less than a day old) and it appears to be fine. However I noticed that the SmarGart(tm) portion of the ATI control panel will refuse to go beyond 4x on it's own (ie: running the system test to maximize performance). I had manuall set this to 8x in my previous and first-install... and didnt even consider it to be my problem.

Currently, the AGP setting in my BIOS is set to 8x, and USWC is turned on (as I read someplace that was recommended for this card)... but the ATI control panel will not set it to 8x through the testing procedure. You can set it manually, but I fear that this is why I was getting the crashes in the first palce. -- I recall setting it to 8x manually previously. I am confident that I am fine as is at 4x now. Perhaps over the weekend I will re-test it at 8x since the new Catalyst 3.2 drivers are now installed.

i have the same setup and mine has been crashing more and more frequently now. It says driver caught in infinite loop and shows the following driver ati2dvag .. ive installed the new catalyst and everything. I guess ill try to turn the agp to 4x. .. that is done through the ati control panel?

let me guess.... does the the asus p4g8x has an e7205 chipset?

This is all pretty top end stuff for home computers. With AA and AF on the photo real images and smooth FR of complex airports in FS2002 is awesome, BUT....

Why should I put up with the cost and lenghty (beta) testing of our systems? If anything we've paid the most, we should have the LEAST hassle!

2D lockups with 604x480x4bit XP recovery (20mins)
3D game freezes (15 mins)
Event Viewer ATI2tag 'infinite loop' thingy
finally, no display signal detected nor even voice post messages anymore

And why should I have to drop down to AGP 4x? Not what I brought the mobo for. Could of paid a lot less.

Byby Radeon (sad) RMA'd

System:
Asus P4G8X (means we can use 8X, right?)
P4 2.66
512Mb Corsair XMS3200
Radeon 9700Pro (EX - back to old trust Geforce 3)

Actually, I believed I have solved my problem as described earlier.

It's been exactly one week since I posted my last post, and I have infact set my ATI control panel setting to 8x AGP (as I mentioned I was leaving it at 4x) I have been running it at 8x for about 6 days now, and not a single crash. I'm content that my problem is solved.

What I avoided doing during the second install of Windows XP pro was avoided the Intel chispset utility... or anything at all to do with chipset installs -- as a matter of fact, I avoided the entire Asus CD all together this time.

I downloaded all the latest drivers for the Asus components (LAN, audio, and SATA) from the Asus website. I have the latest *released* BIOS (v1003) running on the board... and the latest ATI Catalyst drivers (3.2) only a week old.

I have had literally ZERO problems with this combination at this point. None what so ever. And this is a week solid at 8x with my 9700Pro.

I have not, however, set the ATI control panel to 'fast write' (just below the 8x setting)... I'm taking this one step at a time. But if/when I do, I will likely report my findings.

And incidentally as a side note, Allan (and this isn't an attack, just a comment)... I dont mind testing and troubleshooting my new hardware. Not in the least. I bought my P4G8X the day it was released... and I didnt expect things to go over perfectly smooth. If I bought an entire system, that's one thing. It should be built and ship in working order. If it's brand new component however, I expect some 'hassle' ... regardless how much I paid for it. It's how you learn, and how Asus and/or ATI can solve the problems, from users like us testing.

I have tried just about everything explained by what seems to be from "xperts" from piles of different forums. Northing works! I still get "reset" to 4 or is it 8bit colour, and low resolution. Games crash nearly immediatly, 3D seems to be the reason for these freezes.

And I ask, ATI says a minimum og 400W PSU is highly recommended in order for the card to run smoothly. What is your PSU? ...and what do you think of this?

Lian Li PC7USB
Asus P4G8X/DELUXE/GD E7205 DualDDR
2x512MB PC2100 DDR-DIMM
Pentium4 2.53 GHz PC533
MIST BlackSilence
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
Enermax 350W Whisper Series (460W on the way)

Actually, I am using a 400w PSU.

But not because of anything I read... I just happen to have had it.

Asus P4G8X DELUXE
2x512MB PC2700 DDR-DIMM
Pentium4 2.0 GHz
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
400W PSU

I am having the exact same problem, sort of. But not only is my card crashing with a "Windows recovered from a hardware error" message, but it also locks up on reboot. Has anyone else had that particular problem? I have contacted ASUS about this multiple times, and they dont seem to be too worried about it, how can we make them start working on a fix for this? I also replaced just about every component in my new machine to try and resolve this issue, but it hasn't helped. Btw: mine is with a Radeon 9500 pro and not a 9700.

Here is what I have tried..

First I thought it was a RAM problem, so I RMA'd my ram and got some different ones. That didn't fix it.

Then I decided to RMA the Radeon 9500 pro, that didn't fix it.

I bought a 430 watt power supply as opposed to my 330 watt one, that didn't fix it.

Only thing left to do is switch out the motherboard, but from reading your posts, it seems like that will not fix anything either.

Has anyone else had the "reboot" problem? What happens is that if I do a restart in windows, *most* of the time the computer will just hang before POST. I then have to either reset or turn the machine off. If I turn it off and turn it back on, BIOS will tell me that my computer has hung from an improper CPU setting (it thinks it has been overclocked) and that I should change my settings.

Anyone have any suggestions? Please, call ASUS and ATI as well, maybe if they get enough calls they will look into this problem!!

Another question.. What is USWC, and where can I find it to set it?

Tyler:

USWC is a video cache option. Not like it matters, but it's short for "Uncacheable, Speculative Write Combine". Essentially It's designed to increase the speed to the video memory.

In your BIOS it can be found under the ADVANCED heading, and selecting the sub-menu called "Chip Configuration" (near the bottom of the screen).

Once in there you will see Video Cache Method... the default value is [UC] -- change it to [USWC]. Save your changes.

Much appreciated. I will try this and post any results. I just got off of the phone with ASUS, their solution "Try another video card other than ATI". Well I have tried one, and it works.. The problem is, I can't return my 9500 Pro now and get a different manufacturers card.... So $200.00 out the window?

Well, I had some improvements when switching to USWC... and as I've mentioned, mine has been working perfectly since my reinstall (previously mention).

I haven't had a single crash in the 3 weeks since.
Not one... not even other incidental crashes for any other reason that I could blame on the hardware combination.

Pure flawless execution.

If anyone needs any other details about how my system is setup, I'm welcome to answer... but most of what I have is pretty stock merchandise.

Well that is encouraging at least. But you didn't have the "hang on POST" problem that I am having, did you? I think I resolved the crash to 640x480 problem when i changed the AGP voltage to 1.7, but I will definitely make all the changes that you have suggested also, and see if my reboot / no post problem goes away.

Well....setting the AGP voltage to 1.6 (1.7 should't me nec.), changing video cache mode, removing write-combine mode...all of this and more is basically needed in order to run your system flawless with this ASUS MB and newer Radeon's, but i've discovered, in different combinations. If u are troubled with 4 or is it 8bit graphics and low resolution hangups after hardware errors u should run 1.6V, to increase voltage for stability. Try different setting in BIOS and windows if this does not work at first.

If u are troubled with socalled "Infinite Loops" do the following:

1. make a new user account in windows, admin account
2. restart and run this account, the run the cmd "CHKDSK"
3. restart again, enter usual account and delete the other
4. enter advanced and remove write-combine in "troubleshoot" and remove fast-write in "SMARTGART"
5. restart, enter BIOS, disable "Memory Turbo", Aperture Size" to 128MB, "USWC" and try disabling "Delay Transaction" (change back if trouble, works fine with me) ALL VCORE, RAM AND SO ON SET PASSIVE
6. Run windows normally and try running 3Dmark for an hour, if not...
7. un-install all graphics drivers and programs, re-install chipset-drivers, then graphics-drivers and control panel, then other progz, of course with reboots in between

I'm not really an expert, but I've experienced all this the hard way

Try it and give me a report back, I wrote this quite fast, so there might be some mistakes!

GL people,
Simon (says)

And so I don't forget, a minimum of 400W is supposed to be nec. with P4 MB's and Radeon 9700 (Pro). Tell me if things work with less. Just spent piles of cash myself on an Enermax 460W Whisper PSU.

If I could even get that far I would be happy. Every time I restart the machine, (from BIOS, from Windows, etc) it will not POST and will say "System failed due to CPU overclocking". Every thing is set up correctly (to my knowledge) and I am not overclocking the CPU. If I could solve this problem, I might be able to get some sleep at night.

It is so very frustrating, and I have talked to ASUS multiple times (they hav been less than helpful) and have replaced every piece of equipment on the board with the exception of the CPU and Motherboard. I guess I will send the Motherboard back, but ASUS will just "fix" it, and since they probably won't be able to duplicate the problem, it will most likely be returned to me the exact same way I sent it.....

Forgive my ranting, I am just one FRUSTRATED consumer..

U have of course set BIOS to default (memory and CPU settings passive) before starting system. Try first un-mounting the BIOS battery then putting it back, and then if no luck, try the same with the BIOS chip.

I'll give that a try, but like I said, the machine runs flawlessly with a non radeon card, never gives me a problem at all on resets. So it has something to do with the card / motherboard combo.. I'll let you know what happens.

I might add, I spoke to a very friendly and helpful ATi agent at customer-care Canada late last night. I told him in detail about the trouble we're exp. and he answered me to all of it with the correct, but already known solutions.

I told him of all the others with the same trouble and he was not surprised. I told him I believe the first shippings of the cards possibly contained BIOS chips which could cause hardware errors on newer systems, and need to be updated. I said he agreed bacause of other customers who are troubled by the same things; at least the ones who have the same thing on multiple systems, other MB's, Mem. DIMM's so on.

If the cat. 3.3 drivers (which are expected this or next week) don't fix it, I'm allowed to swap by Radeon 9700 Pro for a brand new one (of newer prod.date I must add) free of charge.

In order to this you need to have bought an ATi built Radeon (f.ex. not Sapphire or Prophet cards) and have to be registered as the buyer at ATi's database.

Well done ATi, for the best service and support I've ever heard or experienced myself.

The problem with system hanging at POST, was solved for me when I updated to Beta version of BIOS (1004_014)

Still has the problem with infinite loop, but hey... one problem gone is one problem less to worry about.