Rev.A 3700

Hi,

I have a Voodoo5 6000 that is currently not fully functional due to bad ram in one of the banks.  It runs in 2D mode at the desktop, but hangs if a 3D application is launched.  I am assured that this ram can be replaced with the proper equipment and expertise, which I do not have.  

I purchased it many years ago and had it repaired/modified by Hank Semenec.  I used this card for years without problems, but then suddenly could not play games anymore.  I do have a few Voodoo5 6000 compatible motherboards that would also be included with the sale.

As such, I am considering selling the card, and wonder if anyone can suggest what it may be worth in the current condition.

I've tested it in four boards compatible with the Voodoo5 6000, as recommended models, including one that used to work with it.  In the past, boards that were not compatible would not even boot.  Each of these boards boots and runs Windows fine, but the system hangs with a 3D application.

Signs are that the card has a memory problem and needs repair.

Thank you for your kind offer

It starts with black, then the blue lines for this game.

Thanks

I'm not sure exactly what you mean.  As far as I can tell, all rows look the same.  The photos do not come out well.  Is there something I should be looking for at the top?

The type of corruption is different for each game.

I did test in single chip mode and the card still crashes.  I hope that doesn't mean there is something worse wrong with the card.

Here are some screenshots of what the crashes look like.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~neurocrash/images/6k1.jpg
http://home.roadrunner.com/~neurocrash/images/6k2.jpg
http://home.roadrunner.com/~neurocrash/images/6k3.jpg

I do have power connected to the card.

Thanks

I do not have a Voodoo3.  I may have to send my Voodoo5 5500's away to someone that can test these too.

Thanks

Okay, after installing another motherboard, an MSI MS-6561 745 Ultra, performing a clean install of Windows98 SE, installing the latest 3Dfx drivers for Voodoo6000, and installing a test game known to work with this card (Unreal Gold)...

The symptoms are exactly the same.  Black screen with horizontal rows of blue lines and system hangs.

Finally, I tested both AGP Voodoo5 5500 cards in two of my older PII and PIII systems (in addition to the three Voodoo5 compatible AMD boards), and neither work in any system.  The motherboard beep codes say VGA problem or failure.  

Both AGP 5500s seem to have gone bad while the 5500 PCI works fine.

Grumble

Does anyone have mirrors or captures of these pages?  I may be able to host them.

Thanks

Is there a way that a voodoo variable or control panel setting can run the card on one VSA 1000 or limit the memory available, so it may be possible to see if the card functions in 3D at all?  I want to see if it is possible to rule out some other circuit failure.

When I ran an OpenGL test, I was surprised to first see the animated 3Dfx logo before it crashes, so something is working.

--

I tried an MSI 745 Ultra motherboard with AGP set to 1x.  It will not boot with either Voodoo5 5500.  Maybe both of these are bad?  It will boot with the Voodoo5 6000 but I won't know more until I resinstall 98.

Cheers

I tried 1x and 2x on two boards with no success.  They also will still not boot Voodoo5 5500.

I tested with the Video Memory stress Test (VMT) utility.  It reads the card as having 32mb or ram, and tests this bank with no error.  Presumably, the other banks are not accessible?  When I try to run the OpenGL test, it shows the 3Dfx animated logo, then crashes.

Another motherboard arrived today, which I will test, but it is seeming more likely that there is a defect on this board.

Has anyone had their 6000 upgraded by Osckhar?  He seems to know the problem.

My choice is going to be to send it off and hope it can be tested or repaired, or sell it as is for what I can get.

Thanks for your consideration

This runs on a Voodoo5, but I don't know if it will tell anything:

http://www.technibble.com/repair-tool-of-the-week-video-memory-stress-test/

What should this be set at for 5500 and/or 6000?  It was originally set at 4x, I tried 2x, probably also 1x but I would have to double check.

Just a small update: a replacement Soyo Dragon SY-KT333 motherboard arrived and is functional with an Nvidia card.  Will not work with a Voodoo5 5500 and give one long, two short beep code which means "video problem".  

Is it possible that there is a bios setting that is causing this?  I had to reset the bios to default in order to get the CPU to work, and I don't know all the settings that might affect Voodoo5 compatibility.

The Voodoo5 6000 behaves the same with this board as with the last, where it will boot and run Windows, but hangs when a game is executed, usually with horizontal bands on a black screen.

Thanks