ATI graphic driver needed

I just purchased the ViewSonic VX900-2 Monitor with maximum resolution of 1200 x 1024. However, the highest setting I can obtain is 1152 x 864 High Color (16 bit). Using this setting the screen is a bit fuzzy. I'm guessing this is because of the ATI Rage Pro Turbo AGP 2X graphics driver 4.11.2560. On the ATI website I found version 4.13.2655 which was for ME but was supposed to work for WIN98SE. However, it did not work on this old machine. I really don't want to upgrade to XP on my old hardware or buy a graphic card. Does anyone know where I could obtain a compatible driver? Perhaps I should buy a new computer to go with my nice monitor.....

 

Thanks Pete for the help. I was successful downloading the English version of the 4.11.6060 drivers after trying twice. The first download was too small and Winzip could not open it but the second time the files were complete . However, there was not any United States download sites so I used United Kingdom sites and I was unable to read the help files! I uninstalled my 4.11.2560 drivers and on restart attempted to install the 4.11.6060 drivers BUT for some reason many files could not be found in the folder. I messed with this a couple of hours before reinstalling the 4.11.2560 drivers. I think I'll wait awhile before trying to download a driver from driverguide. If anyone is using a different driver on an older machine I would certainly appreciate knowing what version is being used.

 

Hi June,

Another possibility (?)RAGE PRO Display Drivers For Video For Windows Capture and/or ATI-TV ISA/PCI/fm support (version 4.11.2628)

I would go into Safe Mode > Device Manager and remove any listings for video adapters in case there are a few and Windows is getting confused. Also, I'd remove any monitor listings and let Windows redetect the new monitor (you have installed drivers for it?) Edit: NB. set the video adapter to "Standard VGA" in Control Panel > Display > Settings tab > Adanced... > Adapter before going into Safe Mode.

Which version of DirectX are you using? I tried installing DirectX 9.0 with a 2X agp (8mb) card and the result was a disaster. It was a fresh install of Windows so I reformatted and installed DirectX 8.1. It now goes like a charm. Could run dxdiag, the video tests can tell you about your drivers.

Matt

 

Matt, thanks for the assistance. Your hints were very helpful. I downloaded and installed version 4.11.2628 BUT it works like the 4.11.2560, 4.12.2632, 4.13.2655 and 4.11.6060 versions. When I switch to 1280 x 1040 all I can choose is 256 Colors and using 800 x 600 I can choose true color 32 bit but the size is prohibitive on a 19" LCD monitor. I can use 1152 x 864 and High Color (16bit) but it is fuzzy.

I was using DirectX 8.1 (4.08.01.0881) until 08-07-03 when I started using DirectX 9.0b (4.09.0000.0902) so perhaps this is the problem but I certainly didn't suspect it. It is so irritating to have purchased a nice monitor and not be able to use it efficiently.

 

June,



ATI information says it supports up to 1600X1200, so something is not right (I thought it may be at the limit of it's capabilities). Have you tried setting the refresh rate higher, although I doubt it will help.

If all those drivers give the same result then I don't think the drivers would be the cause. I do think that it may be DirectX 9.0b though. As you probably know, you cannot uninstall DirectX (uninstallers are available, but not supported and could wreck your Windows system). Unfortunately, alternative is to format and get back to DirectX 8.1 (I won't try 9.0 again with Win 98 on any machine, it seems to to geared towards later OSs and hardware).

Upgrading to a better video card is probably out of the question. That ATI information mentions 3.3 volts. I know there are some uncompatible AGP cards depending on voltages. From what I read video cards are now 1.5 volts and won't work in a 3.3 volt AGP slotted motherboard. BUT a PCI video card could be installed. PCI based video cards are relatively more expensive than the same card as AGP....then...would it be better to put those $s towards a new PC.

Decision time

Matt

 

Is it definitely an ATI brand card? I see some "Gateway Rage Pro Turbos ". If it is a third party brand (using the Rage Pro Turbo chipset) then you may well be better off looking for drivers on that brands website eg. Gateway. It also makes me wonder because there seems to be little information about it at ATI, it is not listed with their main cards.

Matt

 

I appreciate your efforts to assist me.

My IBM Aptiva Model 2142-S6H was purchased in 1997 and originally came with this card. At the time my computer knowledge was definitely lacking but I had saved the following on some old records -

Video Chip Detected - ATIMACH64
ATI Rage Pro Turbo AGP 2X
chip type Mach 64:Rage Pro

The only video driver I could find listed on IBM's website for my model was quite old
Aptiva - ATI Version 4.35 video drivers (English) 1.57 MB 1998-04-07

 

Guess this old computer hates my nice new monitor...

This morning I decided to restore a Drive Image backup from a CD I had created 07-19-03. At that time I was using DirectX 8.1 (4.08.01.0881). I used an empty primary partition to do this and enabled Boot Magic so I could boot to the partition. Windows found new hardware so I installed the software for my new monitor. What a disappointment to find the very same problems as I had using DirectX 9.0b. I was determined it was going to work so I even booted a second time and checked to see for sure I was using DirectX 8.1!

I booted back to the partition containing Direct 9.0b. The default refresh rate is 60 and ranges to 75. It doesn't seem to make much difference when I change it to 75. At least I'm glad to find out this didn't work without actually reinstalling everything. Thanks again for the help.

 

Hope it was of some assistance.

If you haven't been there, this is the support page for your model:2142-S6H Put 2142-S6H in "Enter product #" on the right-hand side.
I noted that the driver installation instructions say "ATI Rage Pro ", no Turbo. Slim chance it may have selected the wrong drivers. Have a look in the "list" of ATI drivers in Display....Adapter > Change.

You should check that it is not an actual fault with the monitor itself by running it on another computer. I went through a similar driver reinstall once only to find that the monitor had been "knocked" out of focus. (If your old monitor still works, does it change at high resolution?)

Have a look at the FAQ's on the Viewsonic website.

Hope you get some success.
Matt

 

The FAQ's on the Viewsonic website were not much help.

In the "list" these were the drivers listed under RAGE PRO TURBO AGP 2X (English) -

All-In-Wonder PRO (atir3) [4-23-1999]
All-In-Wonder PRO AGP 2X (English) (ATI Tech.-Enhanced) [1-18-2000]
All-In-Wonder PRO AGP 2X (English) (ATI Tech.-Enhanced) [5-21-1999]
ATI 3D Rage Pro (atir3) [4-23-1999]
ATI XPERT 98D AGP 2X (English) [5-21-1999]
RAGE PRO TURBO AGP 2X (English) (ATI Tech. - Enhanced) [1-18-2000]
RAGE PRO TURBO AGP 2X (English) (ATI Tech. - Enhanced) [5-21-1999]
RAGE PRO TURBO AGP 2X (English) (ATI Tech. - Enhanced) [6-6-2000]
plus eleven others starting with XPERT which included AGP 2X

I don't have access to another computer to try with this new monitor.

My old monitor still works. I was using 1024 x 768 - High Color (16 bit) and was never able to use a higher color setting.

Today I called a local computer shop and inquired about having them build a computer for me. I told the guy about my new monitor problem and he suggested my display might be improved with my old computer if I would lower the resolution from 1152 x 864 to 1024 x 768. This did help quite a lot.

 

Drivers...a lot of my hardware is run on non-standard drivers. My philosophy... "take them out, then try the new ones" (to put it very mildly)

Try using the 3D Rage Pro drivers. Highlight them and click Apply. On reboot it will soon tell you if they don't work (reinstall the old ones). Have a look around for drivers without the "turbo" (where are you Pete? ). I will see what I can find.

Matt

 

My display is not nearly as fuzzy since I changed to 1024 x 768 but I would like to be able to use a higher resolution as well as have a sharp clear display. This monitor does not have a printed manual so all I have is online help and an almost useless 21 page .pdf file. This morning I opened the .pdf file again and under Troubleshooting - Wrong or abnormal colors I found one sentence "If you have an older graphics card, contact ViewSonic for a non-DDC adapter ". I unsuccessfully searched their website for more information. I sent ViewSonic an E-mail and requested this adapter. I don't know if it will be an actual physical device or if it will be software I receive via E-mail. Even though I plan to get a new computer soon I hope to get this old computer working OK with this monitor so I can use a KVM switch and use my old computer to learn Linux or ??.

I appreciate the time you have spent on my problem.

 

Found more info:

Non DDC

Identify video adapter

Video/monitor settings

Installing video drivers

More? Have a look through IBM support page "tips and tricks ".

I would try running the drivers supplied by IBM. The adapter appears to be built into the motherboard, so may only work properly with those drivers.

Matt

 

Yes, I tried the 4.35 version from IBM and it worked exactly the same as all the other drivers I had downloaded from ATI Technologies. I installed the ViewSonic software when I attached the new monitor. Eventually I reinstalled the 4.11.2560 driver which is the one I was using when I first attached the new monitor. Yes, the monitor is shown as ViewSonic in Display Properties.

I E-mailed ViewSonic Customer Support explaining the problem. They never did mention the non-DDC adapter I requested so I still do not have any idea what that is. Their only suggestion was reinstalling graphic drivers and eventually they offered to replace the monitor after I returned the one I had purchased. As I did not feel the monitor was defective I called their Customer Support number. The person who answered was helpful but I had difficulty understanding his speech. After 1 1/2 hours on the telephone (repeatedly installing and uninstalling several different video drivers) he told me my low memory graphic card was not compatible with any setting higher than high color 16 bit and 1152x864. If only I had known this two weeks ago! The CompUSA clerk had assured me my old hardware would work okay with the ViewSonic monitor I purchased. Unfortunately, it is too late for a refund from CompUSA as it has been over two weeks and I have also cut the bar code from the box to send in for my $100 rebate.

PeteC - it is reassuring you agree with the low memory idea and hope you enjoyed your deserved holiday

Thanks PeteC and mattman for helping me on this great Windows BBS.