Latest Demo/Radeon 8500 Lockups

jeffsabin · 05-18-2002, 10:28 AM

Hello everyone,

IMHO there is no SS out there that is as neat as this one which is why I am so frustrated that I can't use it!

I downloaded the very latest demo (and tried the one before that) and no matter what I do, the SS locks up usually after 3 or 4 mins and then reboots my PC. Here are my specs:

Windows XP Pro
AMD Athlon 1700+ XP CPU
Soltek DRV5 Mobo
Mushkin 512 MB DDR2100 Memory
80 GB IBM 7200RPM ATA100 HD
SB Live Platinum with Live Drive breakout box (latest XP Drivers)
ATI Radeon 8500 64 MB running latest supported drivers from ATI
ViewSonic EF70 17" Monitor
3 cooling fans in my PC
A cooler card over my video card (just in case the video card gets warm)
Thermaltake Volcano CPU cooler
Running 1024 X 768 16 Bit resolution

I have tried everything to have this work including different versions of video drivers. I have also tried different tweaks within the SS settings but no luck. One thing to note, if I have nothing but the fishtank itself with the bubble column, it appears to have no problems. Once I add even one fish though, lockup and then reboot.

Is there anyone else running an ATI 8500 product that can get the SS to work?

Any help or advice appreciated as I am so disappointed this doesn't work on what I thought was a state of the art PC.

Thanks,

-Jeff

feldon34 · 05-18-2002, 10:48 AM

Very nice system. Yes, that's pretty top of the line there.

Just want to confirm that you have DirectX 8.1 and ATI 8500 driver version 6.13.10.6071 installed.

jeffsabin · 05-18-2002, 11:16 AM

Thank you for your quick response. Yes, that is the video driver version and XP includes DirectX 8.1. I have ran DXDIAG several times to ensure it was 8.1 and that all was well and it tells me it's fine.

I should also point out that I have an SB Live Platinum card with a Live Drive breakout box and have the latest drivers installed but just in case it was the sound, I have tried it with the sounds disabled as well.

I just have to wonder if ATI's driver is at fault here which is why I was wondering if there were any other 8500 users that were able to run with no problems.

Thank you,

-Jeff

Enigma · 05-18-2002, 01:05 PM

I have seen problems with ATI's multimedia center and Creative's LiveWare causing lockups on systems. I've never seen it bother the aquarium, but it is not out of the question.

Both Creative and ATI are aware of the problem, but it appears they are waiting for the other to fix it.

You could try uninstalling either the LiveWare or Multimedia Center and see if the screen saver runs properly.

feldon34 · 05-18-2002, 01:16 PM

Between ATI and Creative Labs, that's 2 companies that can't write a good driver to save their lives.

Wish you could return those 2 parts and go nVidia and Turtle Beach.

Bob · 05-18-2002, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by jeffsabin

I just have to wonder if ATI's driver is at fault here which is why I was wondering if there were any other 8500 users that were able to run with no problems.

Until the 6071 drivers I couldn't run the 8500 reliably under XP regardless of the program. The aquarium didn't trigger the BSOD any more than anything else.

The 8500 seemed to run OK on W2K.

But now, with the 6071 drivers I'm not having any major problems with the 8500. It runs the aquarium just fine. In fact I'm running it as I type this.

Bob Frank

drfish · 05-20-2002, 11:53 AM

I've got an 8500 at home, also running the 71 drivers. I don't have any problems with it unless I run the widescreen version.

05-18-2002, 10:28 AM	#1
jeffsabin Registered Join Date: May 2002 Location: DSM, IA, USA Posts: 2	Latest Demo/Radeon 8500 Lockups Hello everyone, IMHO there is no SS out there that is as neat as this one which is why I am so frustrated that I can't use it! I downloaded the very latest demo (and tried the one before that) and no matter what I do, the SS locks up usually after 3 or 4 mins and then reboots my PC. Here are my specs: Windows XP Pro AMD Athlon 1700+ XP CPU Soltek DRV5 Mobo Mushkin 512 MB DDR2100 Memory 80 GB IBM 7200RPM ATA100 HD SB Live Platinum with Live Drive breakout box (latest XP Drivers) ATI Radeon 8500 64 MB running latest supported drivers from ATI ViewSonic EF70 17" Monitor 3 cooling fans in my PC A cooler card over my video card (just in case the video card gets warm) Thermaltake Volcano CPU cooler Running 1024 X 768 16 Bit resolution I have tried everything to have this work including different versions of video drivers. I have also tried different tweaks within the SS settings but no luck. One thing to note, if I have nothing but the fishtank itself with the bubble column, it appears to have no problems. Once I add even one fish though, lockup and then reboot. Is there anyone else running an ATI 8500 product that can get the SS to work? Any help or advice appreciated as I am so disappointed this doesn't work on what I thought was a state of the art PC. Thanks, -Jeff Last edited by jeffsabin; 05-18-2002 at 11:16 AM.

05-18-2002, 10:48 AM	#2
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	Very nice system. Yes, that's pretty top of the line there. Just want to confirm that you have DirectX 8.1 and ATI 8500 driver version 6.13.10.6071 installed. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

05-18-2002, 01:05 PM	#4
Enigma Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 435	I have seen problems with ATI's multimedia center and Creative's LiveWare causing lockups on systems. I've never seen it bother the aquarium, but it is not out of the question. Both Creative and ATI are aware of the problem, but it appears they are waiting for the other to fix it. You could try uninstalling either the LiveWare or Multimedia Center and see if the screen saver runs properly. ?

05-18-2002, 01:16 PM	#5
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	Between ATI and Creative Labs, that's 2 companies that can't write a good driver to save their lives. Wish you could return those 2 parts and go nVidia and Turtle Beach. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

05-20-2002, 11:53 AM	#7
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,374	I've got an 8500 at home, also running the 71 drivers. I don't have any problems with it unless I run the widescreen version. I don't watch commercials.

05-18-2002, 11:16 AM	#3
jeffsabin Registered Join Date: May 2002 Location: DSM, IA, USA Posts: 2	Thank you for your quick response. Yes, that is the video driver version and XP includes DirectX 8.1. I have ran DXDIAG several times to ensure it was 8.1 and that all was well and it tells me it's fine. I should also point out that I have an SB Live Platinum card with a Live Drive breakout box and have the latest drivers installed but just in case it was the sound, I have tried it with the sounds disabled as well. I just have to wonder if ATI's driver is at fault here which is why I was wondering if there were any other 8500 users that were able to run with no problems. Thank you, -Jeff

05-18-2002, 06:29 PM	#6
Bob Registered Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 103	Originally posted by jeffsabin I just have to wonder if ATI's driver is at fault here which is why I was wondering if there were any other 8500 users that were able to run with no problems. Until the 6071 drivers I couldn't run the 8500 reliably under XP regardless of the program. The aquarium didn't trigger the BSOD any more than anything else. The 8500 seemed to run OK on W2K. But now, with the 6071 drivers I'm not having any major problems with the 8500. It runs the aquarium just fine. In fact I'm running it as I type this. Bob Frank