3Ds Max crashing (new AGP card) [Archive]

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prithvi

07-03-2005, 02:35 PM

I just installed a new XFX 256MB GeForceFX 5700LE AGP card 3 days back. Now, the problem is.....When I render any file in 3Ds Max, it often crashes and shows the following:
 <IMG src="http://img208.exs.cx/img208/8923/maxerror3up.jpg" border="0">
Sometimes, it shows the blue screen instead.
Earlier, I thought it was happening with heavy files........so I tried some low poly count files (without GI too) but still the same problem.
I have tried installing the latest NVidia drivers and also rolled back to the default system driver, but there's no success. I've also tried reverting the BIOS settings to 'optimized defaults'.
Before this, I was using a 64MB GeForce2 MX 400 and the earlier Max files were rendering properly with it.
Any help on this?  (I've been at it for the last 3 days) btw, my AGP slot is 4X (not 8X)........and this card was built for 8X (though it also supports 4X as mentioned on the box).
My CPU temp. reading in BIOS showed around 40-45 deg.
My system config: Athlon 1800 XP 512MB DDR RAM SMPS - 300W My OS is Win XP Pro with SP2
btw, I was thinking of formatting my disk and re-installing everything, just in case this happens to be a system error.
Movie files have worked properly with this new card.......I also have a Pinnacle TV tuner card and that works fine too, so I doubt if its a hardware problem.
Waiting for some advice. 
 <edited><editID>prithvi</editID><editDate>38418.1316782407</editDate></edited>

dolphin

07-03-2005, 03:54 PM

its most probably a graphic card issue. did u first check if this card is compatible with Max???
u can check out one thing. its been a long time since i last used Max but there is an option to change the renderer of max sumwhere in the program. by default it uses heidi i suppose. there is an option to choose opengl too i think. i think if its set to opengl it must be causing the problem.  changing it back to heidi must solve the problem i suppose. u may not be able to use the powerful capabilities of ur beautiful card but it shud solve the rendering problem i think. a Max user might be able to help u there.
and yaa in the bios the agp aperture size shud not be set very low cuz this may cause sum problems.
by the way thats a very nice card, how much did u shell out for it. i am thinkin of buying a new card too. probably a geforce fx 5700 or sumthin like that...

prithvi

07-03-2005, 04:05 PM

Thanks.
But I've done that too.........used all the viewport drivers - Software, OpenGL and Direct3D.  still the same result.
I've tried the higher values of AGP aperture size too - 128 and 256. Currently, I've set the BIOS to 'optimized defaults', so it has taken 128MB aperture size by default. With my earlier card, even if the files were heavy, at least they would render, even if it took a long time. But right now, the situation is like.............I set the render options, click on Render. It shows some progress and then suddenly, the system hangs (within seconds after the render process started)
Oh btw, the new one cost me 6,250/-
 <edited><editID>prithvi</editID><editDate>38418.1921990741</editDate></edited>

the dOktoR

07-03-2005, 04:08 PM

Fish may be right for the first time..but then again he may be not...
yess the XFX does support 4x as well as far as im concerend its not your card its your sofware which is trying to get used to new enviornment..
here is what you could do.. contact discreet or reinstall 3dsmax which of course is the only option left... and mostprobably your best option...simple as that...

dolphin

07-03-2005, 04:20 PM

Supported video cards for 3ds max 6 NOTE: This list does not include portable systems; consult your manufacturer for the most recent certified driver. 3DLabs 
<LI>Wildcat VP 560 / 760 / 870 / 970 / 990 ? driver v3.01-0330 ATI 
<LI>FireGL X1 ? driver v7.96.2.1
<LI>FireGL Z1 ? driver v7.96.2.1
<LI>FireGL X2 ? driver v7.96.2.1
<LI>FireGL T2 ? driver v7.96.2.1 NVIDIA 
<LI>QuadroFX 500 / 1000 / 2000 / 3000 ? driver v45.28
<LI>Quadro4 700 / 750 / 780 / 900 / 980 XGL ? driver v45.28
<LI>Quadro DCC ? driver v45.28
<LI>Quadro2 EX / MXR / Pro ? driver v45.28 </LI>
 
u know the performance of ur card will approx. halve if ur agp slot is only 4x.
and yaa it has backward compatibility so it ill work in 4x albiet with a performance drop.
therefore tha optimized default is 128 mb aperture size. cuz settin it more than that will give u no performance increase. makes sense.

prithvi

07-03-2005, 04:56 PM

ok, I uninstalled, deleted all entries and reinstalled Max. still the same result.
right now, I'm d/ling some older NVidia drivers (around a year old or so) as I'd heard that sometimes newer drivers can cause a prob.
If this doesn't work, I might format the disk and reinstall Windows (currently using SP2, so will try SP1)

sachin_b

07-03-2005, 05:35 PM

Hi Prithvi, try the following : 
 
1. Get the latest drivers from nvidia (this you're already doing) 
2. Do you have a single 512MB module or 256 x 2. In case of the latter, try swapping the modules. Sometimes this works. 
3. Update your DirectX 
 
 

<edited><editID>sachin_b</editID><editDate>38418.2559606481</editDate></edited>

prithvi

07-03-2005, 06:16 PM

Thanks for the advice, Sachin I do have 256x2........will try the swap.
ok, I just tested out with games a while ago.......... After about 10 mins of RTCW demo and about 5 mins of UT full version, the system is crashing. So this doesn't seem to be a Max-related problem.

dolphin

07-03-2005, 10:55 PM

ohh, looks like this is a problem with the card. contact the dealer.
all the best to u.<IMG src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0">

prithvi

08-03-2005, 12:11 AM

just been through the XFX website and read the tech support FAQs. Now it appears that this could be a prob with a relatively older motherboard that might be having an inferior AGP slot compared to the ones that XFX are generally built for. My mobo is VIA KM266 and it does fall in that category.
I've tried upgrading the VIA chipset drivers but that didn't work either. The prob is that there is nothing wrong with the card...........It's that the AGP slot is inferior. anyway, I'm going for a total reinstall......if that doesn't do it, then the hardware upgrade is the only solution left.

dolphin

08-03-2005, 02:54 AM

wow, damn that is bad news. 
before i go and buy my card i will definitely make sure that my machine meets all these criteria. am glad that u posted here cuz i am sure a lotta ppl must run into such problems as urs.

prithvi

08-03-2005, 10:11 PM

ok, the prob is solved now <IMG src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0">
It was indeed an 'inferior AGP slot vs superior AGP card' problem, as hinted by the tech-support FAQs at the XFX website.
When I took it to the local distributor (the sole distributor in Navi M'bai), he also said that my board was an entry-level inferior one, compared to the performance I expected from it. So I bought a new NVidia nForce motherboard today. Since I happen to know the person well, he also checked out my entire system for free and confirmed the problem. In fact, I installed Max in his presence and started rendering a heavy file........it worked like a charm. (no crashes or hangups)