Problems with old S3 video cards

[Vincent]

I set up an old P200MMX system (no AGP slots) for my mom and was trying several different PCI VGA cards on a generic 17" monitor. I tried a 1MB S3 Virge/DX and a 2MB S3 Trio 64V+ (Diamond Stealth 64) and both could drive the monitor at 1024x768 @ 85Hz but the picture was horrible. The background was shimmering and the icons seemed to be vibrating. I thought things were supposed to look ok at 85Hz. Why did the picture look so bad?

Thinking that the problem was with the cheap components on the old VGA cards, I went to Best Buy and got a $40 8MB PCI ATI Xpert 98. When I tried this at 1024x786 @ 85Hz it was better than the other two cards, but the icons still seemed to be vibrating slightly. I finally ended up setting the monitor to 800x600 @ 90Hz and it looked fine. Why didn't this card work? I'm running my own computer at 1024x768 @ 85Hz and the image is fine. Is the problem with the monitor?

Also, I tried to test the S3Trio64V+ in my BX motherboard, but I couldn't get my computer to POST after I removed my AGP card and put in the S3 card. Why wouldn't the card work in my system? I looked in the BIOS for a PCI vs. AGP display card setting but couldn't find one.

Thanks.

 

[RentaCow]

Well considering that the ATi Xpert 98 is a fairly decent card (and can certainly handle it's own at 1024x768x85Hz) and also considering the monitor is the only other device in the video subsystem, I'd say it is the monitor's fault.

I might also add that 85Hz is a bit high for a generic 17" monitor. Sure the specifications may claim to support it, but that doesn't gaurantee it will look nice. I've seen some monitors provide superior performance visually when run at lower refresh rates (other than the obvious addition to flickering). I'd suggest setting that refresh rate down to a more modest 75Hz. My eyes can't tell the difference... But my eyes CAN tell the difference if it means other problems at the higher refresh rate...