VA-503+ and GeForce 2 MX ?

[Zerotech]

I'm thinking of upgrading from a Matrox G400 to a GeForce 2 MX card. The last time I tried this, the desktop was fine but any 3D crashed the system. When I returned the GeForce, the guy at the store said you needed to change a setting in the motherboard BIOS, but he couldn't remember which one so I just returned the card.
Has anyone been able to get a GeForce 2 MX video card to work with a FIC VA-503+ motherboard? If so, how did you do it?

[Vormund]

Most likely, it's to do with the AGP speed.

My m/b is normally set to 2X, and I was having probs with my Geforce 2MX.

I just disabled it, and it's running fine now.

(btw my m/b has only settings for 2X, so the disabled setting must be 1X)

[Larommi]

That board is an older board, are you sure the AGP slot will run that card? I am talking voltages and such.

[Zerotech]

Vormund, my motherboard maxes out at 2X as well. The "disabled" level is indeed 1X, that could have been the problem when I tried that GF2MX card.

Larommi, from what I have been able to gather, my motherboard should be able to handle the MX model, a full Geforce (GTS or Ultra) would probably be a problem.

Thanks for the quick replies, I'm going to keep looking for more information and, hopefully, will receive more posts from other members (maybe one who got this to work if I'm lucky).

[NM2x]

I have had BAD experiences with the Via FIC VA-503+ boards. No matter what i couldnt get NT to run acceptably on it, nor win2k. Also, everytime i installed ms visual c++ on it it would crash at load (vc++ would, i mean) no matter what OS i was running, or what else i had installed. I still own 2 though, cause it was a good board at the time. Now i have my MSI k7T Pro-2a board and i love it (much MUCH MUCH better aranged then the Va-503+ board, easier to get to components, etc). I suggest you consider a new mobo and cpu, if you have the cash. It can be cheap to upgrade it to an athelon and such, i did mine for $333 about 4 months ago, it should be much cheaper (esp if you dont go for the GHz chip).

[CobraTekMax]

It's definately the board. I haven't had any form of success with anything but crappy Trident, S3 and Sis video cards on the 503+, and by success I mean "getting to POST".

[Zerotech]

Thanks again for the helpful replies (in spite of the bad news). I agree, it's the motherboard. I picked up a Voodoo3 card by PowerColor really cheap, it seems to be doing the trick. I won't be buying a Matrox card again soon (Louie at the support forum is PATHETIC ). I'll have to ride out this system for a while, the next system will probably get a GeForce card and MSI motherboard (I agree, LtKernal, I haven't heard anything bad about MSI boards).
Thanks again for everybody's help.