For any of you as stupid as I!

MiDri · Apr 29, 2006, 05:11 PM

Well for the last 2 years I have been runing my Radeon 9800 pro with out fast write on, um... not sure how it happend... stupidity probably...

I just want to let any one thats having FPS problems, an agp card, and has a mobo that supports fast write (most new ones do) to try playing with it on -- if you're using omega drivers you have to explicitly state for it to be on when installing (which I have not been doing.)

My BF2:Special Forces experince went from an abysmal 15-30fps to a decent 20-50fps.

For the love of me, I could not find out why BF2 was running so slow and why my benchmarks were so far behind every one elses...

moeness86 · Apr 29, 2006, 06:19 PM

shocking !!!
ima check that now

Dyre Straits · Apr 30, 2006, 01:27 AM

I've been using Fast Writes ON since forever. The only reason ever to turn it off is if you have problems with it on.

MiDri · Apr 30, 2006, 05:55 PM

So I learned, however; its off by default when installing omega drivers (so I did not think about turning it on, untill I had read up about it.)

OldBuzzard · Apr 30, 2006, 11:24 PM

Actually, a lot of the 9700/9800 series had problems if fastwrites ARE ON. If I remember correctly, the 9600 was about the only card in that series that 'played nice' with fast writes ON.

You were probably doing the right thing wether you realized it or not

MiDri · May 1, 2006, 12:39 AM

Have not had any problems with fast write on and it is a considerable speed gain.

Dyre Straits · May 1, 2006, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBuzzard

Actually, a lot of the 9700/9800 series had problems if fastwrites ARE ON. If I remember correctly, the 9600 was about the only card in that series that 'played nice' with fast writes ON.

You were probably doing the right thing wether you realized it or not

Very likely the reason I never had a problem. I went from a 8500 to the 9600 Pro....then to my current X800 XL. I've just always chosen to turn on Fast Writes regardless of the card I was using.

@/2ct!< · May 1, 2006, 03:36 AM

When I use fast writes with my x800xt I get a garbled red and black screen of death at desktop.

RattyCakes · May 1, 2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

I just want to let any one thats having FPS problems, an agp card, and has a mobo that supports fast write (most new ones do) to try playing with it on -- if you're using omega drivers you have to explicitly state for it to be on when installing (which I have not been doing.)

Thats me. So do i have to re-install my latest Omega Driver to turn on?

My smartgart say its off, so maybe i should leave it, but I'd like to test.

If the test goes horribly wrong, how do i turn the fastwrite off if i get

Quote:

garbled red and black screen of death at desktop

Or somthing along those lines where i can't see what i'm doing?

MiDri · May 1, 2006, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RattyCakes

Thats me. So do i have to re-install my latest Omega Driver to turn on?

My smartgart say its off, so maybe i should leave it, but I'd like to test.

If the test goes horribly wrong, how do i turn the fastwrite off if i get

Or somthing along those lines where i can't see what i'm doing?

To enable fast write reinstall your omega drivers, and fastwrite option is a check box in the same area as where it asks you if you would like to softmod the card.

ZeroOne · May 3, 2006, 09:32 AM

MiDri , plz. don't degrade yourself, everybody forgot things sometimes, that don't mean you are stupid .
We all are in learning mode ,lifetime long.

Sandok · May 3, 2006, 10:07 AM

Always been on for every PC I use and no problems

pr0digal jenius · May 3, 2006, 10:42 AM

FW on/off is a tricky thing...usually on is best, but if I recall, the 9600 Architecture, needs it off, as does one or 2 other sets.

Sandok · May 3, 2006, 11:12 AM

True but depends on the PC... My bro on his 9600XT has it on and it's fine (from what I can see)

the big Firefly · May 4, 2006, 08:54 AM

cant you putt it on/off in your bios....???

Dyre Straits · May 4, 2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

FW on/off is a tricky thing...usually on is best, but if I recall, the 9600 Architecture, needs it off, as does one or 2 other sets.

Never had a moment's trouble with FW on with my 9600 Pro.

However, I think it's mostly a compatibility issue between ATi cards and certain chipsets. I do know I could never get satisfaction from anything with a VIA chipset. I now stick with Intel chipsets only.

niceguyrichy · May 4, 2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyre Straits

Never had a moment's trouble with FW on with my 9600 Pro.

However, I think it's mostly a compatibility issue between ATi cards and certain chipsets. I do know I could never get satisfaction from anything with a VIA chipset. I now stick with Intel chipsets only.

I still run 2 comps with 9600pro's, and fw has gotta be off.

I'm too lazy to go check what chipset the mobo's are (almost certain at least one is intel), but of the 4 9600pro's i've had fw has always had to be off to work properly.

I put it down to being "just one of those things"

Falstaff · May 4, 2006, 02:46 PM

gotta 9800 pro with fast writes on...
no problemo...
check the instruction manual for "OE"...LOL

Dyre Straits · May 5, 2006, 03:29 AM

Decided to check: My second computer with a ATI AIW 9600 in it is running the latest CAT 6.4 drivers and CCC with Fast Writes ON.

It's also an Intel-based board: ABIT BD-7.

BWX · May 5, 2006, 03:35 AM

Always ran my ATI cards with FW OFF.. 9700pro and X800XL.. much better with it off for me.. More consistent framerate..

According to Omegadrive:

"if you have a Radeon 9600 Pro card, regardless of the manufacturer, you MUST enable Fastwrites to make it work properly, if not, you may experience crashes and lockups!"

CDsDontBurn · May 5, 2006, 03:56 AM

so what about an 8500 series card, on or off? my sister tries to play Black and White 2, but after a few minutes it locks up and she gets pissed at the computer

BWX · May 5, 2006, 04:03 AM

I would turn it off. I remember ATI saying to turn it off before.. especially back then.

Dyre Straits · May 5, 2006, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

so what about an 8500 series card, on or off? my sister tries to play Black and White 2, but after a few minutes it locks up and she gets pissed at the computer

As I've said previously, I always used my ATI cards with FW ON.

That includes an 8500 I had prior to my 9600 Pro. In fact, my daughter-in-law was using that 8500 without any trouble until she upgraded a month ago to PCIe in order to play OBLIVION.

I have the 8500 again back in my office.

My ATI card history goes back pretty far. Let's see if I can remember them all:

AIW 8 MB PCI; AIW 128; Radeon 64 MB VIVO; 8500; 9600 Pro; AIW 9600 Pro; X800 XL AGP 256 MB.....I think that about covers them all.

If I were to have problems, I might try using AGP 4x before turning off FW. Also, adjust AGP Aperture settings makes a difference.

BWX · May 5, 2006, 04:12 AM

You should remember hearing that ATI used to say to turn FW off then.. they always said that ATI cards did not use it and it does nothing but cause instability and limit overclocking potential. I could never OC my 9700pro as far with FW on. I remember doing a series of many benchmarks with FW on and off and the FW on tests were always inconsistent. the FW off tests were always faster and much more consistent. Who knows where that post went.. it was ages ago in a thread started by Neon.. where he did a huge batch of benching comparing FW off and on too.

I think all those benchies were in this deleted thread... oh well
http://www.driverheaven.net/showthre...threadid=41062