Woo-Hoo! My GeForce 4ti 4200 is here!

Ronn_Bman · 09-26-2002, 02:48 PM

newegg.com is great!

I ordered this card Tuesday @1130, and FedEx picked it up for delivery @1530. It arrived today @1339. Less than 48 hours from CA to NC. Coast to coast with free shipping. NICE!!!!!!

Now I just have to figure out how to set it up...LOL

Look forward to more, "please help the graphic card challenged" threads, coming to a message board near you.

Ronn_Bman · 09-26-2002, 04:16 PM

Should I go ahead and install it using the most recent driver (I've already found it online, as well as the update to BIOS), or install it as packaged and then upgrade the driver version?

I know, so many questions, and I'm getting a little annoying with this whole video card deal... [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

andrewas · 09-26-2002, 04:18 PM

Go ahead and install the latest driver.

TO be safe, boot to safe mode and thoroughly remove the old graphics drivers before you install the new card. Its possible for old drivers to conflict with new ones, which can do bad things to your framerate.

09-26-2002, 04:32 PM

...also I shouldn't bother with the Bios update if your not very clued up on this sort of thing.

Animal · 09-26-2002, 04:33 PM

I found the detonator 30.82 drivers to be quite a disaster when I installed on my machine, lockups, lower frame rates and general protection faults. I'm sticking with the 29.42 drivers for now. If you install the 30.82, let me know how they're working for you, Ronn_Bman

Ronn_Bman · 09-26-2002, 04:47 PM

I did find the latestest driver at leadtek's site. I've been reading up on the installation, and it details how to remove the old driver which looks pretty doable.

I'm not too "up" on technology, but I do update my machine's BIOS, and from what I've read on the site, it looks like a similar process with the difference being I have to boot up to the Dos Prompt and manually execute the file. I won't try this until I've been up and running problem free for a few days though

Animal, I'll let you know how it works out, and if I experience any trouble with that latest driver, I'll be sure to try the one you've recommended. Do you think I should try the older version to compare it with the latest?

Here's another question. I'm not too terribly familiar with how XP's Restore works. I know how to make a restore point and then restore if necessary, but I'm not sure what is stored.

So my question is this; if I make a restore point before beginning the process of removing the old drivers, swapping the cards etc and then have a major problem. Can I put the old card back in and restore the old driver, etc., to make the machine just as if I hadn't done anything? Or is that asking too much

Animal · 09-26-2002, 04:58 PM

Using System Restore is a great Idea, Ronn_Bman! Go to Start > All Programs > Accesories > System Tools > System Restore and choose Create a Restore Point. Name it something and voila! Done!
I've done a fair bit of work with updating BIOS's and it's a crap shoot. If for some reason while your updating you lose power, you're pretty much screwed, so I wouldn't update unless you have a specific reason to do so. If everything works fine, let sleeping dogs lie.
I think you'll find it will be a snap to install your new card especially under XP. Once again, go with the latest drivers first and if the work fine for you, then you've got no reason to try the .42's.
Lots of people may tell you that the 29.42 give better frame rates, but the difference between 123fps and 120fps will never be noticed. Plug in your card, install the drivers and go play some games!

andrewas · 09-26-2002, 05:07 PM

General advice on BIOS updates is dont do it unless you have a specific reason. And wanting all your version numbers to be as high as possible dosent count.

BIOS flashes are not the most reliable of processes, all kinds of things can go wrong and its quite rare that you get a large performace gain. If you do decide to do it, make sure the power supply is stable, make sure you know exactly what you have to do and follow those instructions. BIOS flashers are pretty simple to use, but its not impossible to screw up.

If you do get a screwed up BIOS, it is possible to recover (At least with the system BIOS) given an identical card with an owner willing to let you "borrow" the BIOS chip from it. Im not sure itll work with a graphics card, and mechanicaly its harder to do, but you boot up with the good BIOS installed, swap the bad one in and re-run the flash.

And if that procedure dosent sound dangerous and tedious, I recommend you seek psychiatric help.

Ronn_Bman · 09-26-2002, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ronn_Bman:
I did find the latestest driver

This is not a misprint!

"latestest" is the newest technological term....no, really!

Ronn_Bman · 09-26-2002, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by andrewas:
If you do get a screwed up BIOS, it is possible to recover (At least with the system BIOS) given an identical card with an owner willing to let you "borrow" the BIOS chip from it. Im not sure itll work with a graphics card, and mechanicaly its harder to do, but you boot up with the good BIOS installed, swap the bad one in and re-run the flash.

That's enough to scare anyone...lol.

I think I'll pass on the BIOS update.

09-26-2002, 02:48 PM	#1
Ronn_Bman Zartan Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: North Carolina USA Age: 57 Posts: 5,177	newegg.com is great! I ordered this card Tuesday @1130, and FedEx picked it up for delivery @1530. It arrived today @1339. Less than 48 hours from CA to NC. Coast to coast with free shipping. NICE!!!!!! Now I just have to figure out how to set it up...LOL Look forward to more, "please help the graphic card challenged" threads, coming to a message board near you. __________________ [img]\"http://home.carolina.rr.com/orthanc/pics/Spinning%20Hammer%20Sig%20Pic.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

09-26-2002, 04:16 PM	#2
Ronn_Bman Zartan Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: North Carolina USA Age: 57 Posts: 5,177	Should I go ahead and install it using the most recent driver (I've already found it online, as well as the update to BIOS), or install it as packaged and then upgrade the driver version? I know, so many questions, and I'm getting a little annoying with this whole video card deal... [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] __________________ [img]\"http://home.carolina.rr.com/orthanc/pics/Spinning%20Hammer%20Sig%20Pic.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

09-26-2002, 04:18 PM	#3
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 4,774	Go ahead and install the latest driver. TO be safe, boot to safe mode and thoroughly remove the old graphics drivers before you install the new card. Its possible for old drivers to conflict with new ones, which can do bad things to your framerate. __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

09-26-2002, 04:33 PM	#5
Animal Gold Dragon Join Date: March 29, 2002 Location: Canada Age: 51 Posts: 2,534	I found the detonator 30.82 drivers to be quite a disaster when I installed on my machine, lockups, lower frame rates and general protection faults. I'm sticking with the 29.42 drivers for now. If you install the 30.82, let me know how they're working for you, Ronn_Bman __________________ It\'s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye...then it becomes a sport.<br /> [img]\"http://members.shaw.ca/mtholdings/bsmeter.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

09-26-2002, 04:47 PM	#6
Ronn_Bman Zartan Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: North Carolina USA Age: 57 Posts: 5,177	I did find the latestest driver at leadtek's site. I've been reading up on the installation, and it details how to remove the old driver which looks pretty doable. I'm not too "up" on technology, but I do update my machine's BIOS, and from what I've read on the site, it looks like a similar process with the difference being I have to boot up to the Dos Prompt and manually execute the file. I won't try this until I've been up and running problem free for a few days though Animal, I'll let you know how it works out, and if I experience any trouble with that latest driver, I'll be sure to try the one you've recommended. Do you think I should try the older version to compare it with the latest? Here's another question. I'm not too terribly familiar with how XP's Restore works. I know how to make a restore point and then restore if necessary, but I'm not sure what is stored. So my question is this; if I make a restore point before beginning the process of removing the old drivers, swapping the cards etc and then have a major problem. Can I put the old card back in and restore the old driver, etc., to make the machine just as if I hadn't done anything? Or is that asking too much __________________ [img]\"http://home.carolina.rr.com/orthanc/pics/Spinning%20Hammer%20Sig%20Pic.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

09-26-2002, 04:32 PM	#4
Hesperex Guest Posts: n/a	...also I shouldn't bother with the Bios update if your not very clued up on this sort of thing.

09-26-2002, 04:58 PM	#7
Animal Gold Dragon Join Date: March 29, 2002 Location: Canada Age: 51 Posts: 2,534	Using System Restore is a great Idea, Ronn_Bman! Go to Start > All Programs > Accesories > System Tools > System Restore and choose Create a Restore Point. Name it something and voila! Done! I've done a fair bit of work with updating BIOS's and it's a crap shoot. If for some reason while your updating you lose power, you're pretty much screwed, so I wouldn't update unless you have a specific reason to do so. If everything works fine, let sleeping dogs lie. I think you'll find it will be a snap to install your new card especially under XP. Once again, go with the latest drivers first and if the work fine for you, then you've got no reason to try the .42's. Lots of people may tell you that the 29.42 give better frame rates, but the difference between 123fps and 120fps will never be noticed. Plug in your card, install the drivers and go play some games! __________________ It\'s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye...then it becomes a sport.<br /> [img]\"http://members.shaw.ca/mtholdings/bsmeter.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

09-26-2002, 05:07 PM	#8
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 4,774	General advice on BIOS updates is dont do it unless you have a specific reason. And wanting all your version numbers to be as high as possible dosent count. BIOS flashes are not the most reliable of processes, all kinds of things can go wrong and its quite rare that you get a large performace gain. If you do decide to do it, make sure the power supply is stable, make sure you know exactly what you have to do and follow those instructions. BIOS flashers are pretty simple to use, but its not impossible to screw up. If you do get a screwed up BIOS, it is possible to recover (At least with the system BIOS) given an identical card with an owner willing to let you "borrow" the BIOS chip from it. Im not sure itll work with a graphics card, and mechanicaly its harder to do, but you boot up with the good BIOS installed, swap the bad one in and re-run the flash. And if that procedure dosent sound dangerous and tedious, I recommend you seek psychiatric help. __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

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