I've been having trouble recently with the device failure message popping up and the system freezing while on the net and playing games so I tried turning fast writes off which fixed the problem but I still get freezes in games, not all of the time (maybe one or two in each sitting) but enough to bug the hell out of me
also, every so often I hear a single click from inside the system, not sure what this is but I've already had my pc sent back and fixed because the PSU was faulty.... anyone know what the clicking noise might be?...its hard to pin point where its exactly coming from beacuse it happens every 3 hours or so just the 1 click.

Have you guys ever try'd these hacked drivers?

http://www.omegacorner.com/ati.htm

Mike,

I wonder if the clicking noise your hearing is the same thing I'm hearing in mine. Does it sound like something gets out of sync when it happens? It's kinda hard to describe the noise, but it's almost like something loses power for just a split second and then gets it back. Tell me if thats the same kinda thing your getting.

Yeah, It doesnt happen that often but none of my other pc's make this noise, I gotta feeling it might be the graphic card or case fan which is making the noise... I'm sending my radeon 9700pro back and exchanging it for another (hopefully a revision 30) card to see if it stops the random crashes im having.

I also had the same thing going with power failure on the fan, makes that noise and often crashes.....at least before.

Just installed the Abit IC7 "Canterwood" 875P today, with a 2,8GHz 800 HT CPU. Things are going smoothly even with fast-write. A big improvement until now compared to the Asus P4G8X.
16200+ 3Dmarks with 2x512MB PC2100, probably alot more with PC3200 after I make the purchase in the near future I should hope

Regards, Simon

Simon,

Can you tell me what setting you have in the bios for the following:

Graphics Aperature size : 64, 128 or 256MB ?
Video Memory Cache Mode : UC or USWC

The reason I ask is that my ASUS P4G8x and Radeon 9700Pro was running perfectly with latest bios update and 3.4 catalyst driver but I then noticed a couple of reboots during games and device failure.
I found this link which sorted out my problem:
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=4&var1=151
This link points out that is you get lockups or reboots to turn the caching mode to UC. I did and have had no problems since. This option is in our bios under 'Advanced' then go to 'chip configuration' and then you will see 'Video Memory Cache Mode'. have Fastwrites and AGP8x enabled in SMARTGART and no lockups. I was playing SOF2 for 2 hours tonight and the processor temp got up to 47 deg.C, normal temp is 30-34 deg. C.
Also I noticed when I set my 'graphics aperature' to 128MB (instead of 256MB) I had a few extra frames/sec on quake demo benchmark.

Hope this helps someone.

By the way I get 16700 on 3BMark2001SE, 5245 on 3DMark2003. I have P4 2.8c 800Mhz with 2 x DDR3200 512MB Ram and clock speed on motherboard turned up to 200MHZ x 14 multiplier so the processor / system runs at 800MHZ.

I do not have the USWC option in BIOS, but ap.size is 128MB. I also have the newest BIOS for the IC7, and I use Omega Catalyst drivers which are hacked to perform better, and remove a refresh rate bug with XP.

Interesting Simon, that there is no 'Video Memory Cache mode' (UC / USWC) setting on the Abit board. I wonder if this is just the Abit board orl 875P boards.
Have they simply locked this option to UC in the 875p bios to solve the graphics lockup/reboot problem experienced with the 7205 chipset.

I'm not having any lockups with my ASUS P4G8x set to 'UC'.

If one is having problems with the 9700 pro and the p4g8x, would changing the graphics card to 9800 pro make any difference?. i know it was mentioned earlier in this, but it was not clarrified.

I did have many problems with this issue, but now my system seems to be stable, but for how long i do not know!, stability is a major issue for me, any obviously for alot of people, so would the 9800 help????

thanks

I solved the problem..I bought a new mainboard .. I have Gigabyte GA8KNXP ultra..no more problems.. no crashes no damn 640X480 problem..I tried very solution with P4G8X but believe me this E7205 chipset has got a problem...or asus .. I don't know..

9800 works perfectly

Thanks alex, much appreciated

Hopefully, mine will run as nice as yours with no problems.

Alex which one 9800 have you got, or recommend?
I have seen gigabyte, sapphire, and powercolor
hercules is abit pricey

thanks

Ya Hercules Is Pricey but hey ur getting a great card, 9800 is finally out from them. oh and another thing, Hercules Vs ATI card- Hercules Has Better Heatsink and Fan, And Ram sinks. Too Bad they dont make the AIW series too. Id Like to See an AIW 9800 256MB DDR

Ive seen the gigabyte 9800 pro for £300 on dabs.com
i think thats the cheepest ive seen????
hmmmm

Hello
Does someone uses the P4g8x deluxe with the Gigabyte GV-9700R. I tried a lot of your solutions but I freeze with hard 3D. I tried AGP 4x and it seems to be better but how can I use all the card power. Have you a complete BIOS exemple.
Thanks in Advance
François (FRANCE)

I've found that simply turning off fast writes on the 9700 resolves the 640 x 480 crash thingy, and upgrading the bios to version 1005 solves the infinite loop. I've been running the P4G8X Deluxe with the "built by" ATI radeon 9700 pro using dual monitors, and all the eye candy turned up on my games with no problems. not trying to be arguementative but don't toss the baby with the bath water.

Other specs:
P4 3.06Ghz (HTT)
2048mb Samsung DDR 400 RAM (I know it doesn't need to be that fast LOL)
2 each Maxtor 80GB Ultra ATA/133 7200rpm HD's
Antec Tru-power 550 Watt PSU
NO OC, Stock Cooling,
Runs like a scolded dog!

Recommendations for this MOBO,
GET 1005 BIOS
Get NEW PSU(Recommendation would be the Antec True Power)

Hmm Ive never experienced the 640x480 Crash thingy, but i lock up in games thats all i do,but then also i have the ASUS P4S8X board, AGP 8X crashes and 4X doesnt(Possibility that MY PSU doesnt provide Enuf Power to draw for the 9700 Pro.)Ive tried the Newest BETA BIOS, Newest Drivers, Even Went to SIS to get Newer AGP Drivers that ASUS hasnt came out with.Newest Drivers for ATI radeon9700 pro.Im about to sell this system and build a better one, Some One needs to create a Dust guard for Vid cards/ like a vacum system that blows out dust!

Hey Alex,
I also have a Radeon 9800 pro, but i cannot get my system stable at all !.... what do you have your settings set to? You do have the Asus P4G8X right ?

thanks