Sage boggs and computer restarts???

[T3rry]

Ever since i installed a pvr500 my computer randomly retarts while watching tv.

i now have a pvr500 and 2 pvr150's in there, do you think it might be too much for the PS? its an antec 350W so i figured it could handle it, i dropped in an el cheapo 400W and it kept dying too... any other suggestions before i go spend $100 on a maybe?

i checked temps and the thing is running at 36*C mobo and 46*C cpu, its a athalon xp (cant remeber the exact speed) with 768mb ram.

[blade]

Does your motherboard have a via, ali, or sis chipset? If so, that's most likely your problem. There are compatibility issues with the 500 and certain chipsets by those manufacturers.

[T3rry]

according to everest its a VIA chipset vt8377 apollo kt400

i also noticed that my pvr500 is not recording... it says it is in the system info but it doesn't actually record.

[T3rry]

well i found this, i'll try it after work... hopefully it helps

thanks for the lead

VIA based motherboard, first try:
- a) Look in the BIOS for CPU to PCI write buffer. set this to disabled. Also, check the BIOS for a Latency Timer setting. If applicable, change this to a setting of 12 or lower. Also, Enable AGP FASTWRITE Setting in the BIOS(advanced) if applicable. If lockups continue...
- b) Download VIA's 4 in 1 update. If lockups continue...
- c) Try moving the WinTV board to another PCI slot in the system. If lockups continue...
- d) Try obtaining an updated BIOS for the system...
- e) As a last resort, try using DIB DRAW mode

[T3rry]

i did not try those things i listed, instead i decided to give up and just take the 500 back and exchange it for 2 150's (talked to the retailer and they will do this for me) thanks for the help.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by T3rry

i did not try those things i listed, instead i decided to give up and just take the 500 back and exchange it for 2 150's (talked to the retailer and they will do this for me) thanks for the help.

A 500 is basically two-150 tuners on a single board. You may not really be any further ahead. Or actually worse because now you have 2 physical cards and thus 2 more IRQs to deal with.

Gerry

[blade]

I've heard of quite a few people replacing their 500's with two 150's and not having any problems. Only way to know for sure is to try it.

[gplasky]

I just don't see any advantages-only disadvantages. With a 500 you use one slot, one cable connection and only have to deal with one IRQ. With two 150s you're doubling your chance of having an issue especially if you have additional tuner cards in your box.

Gerry

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by gplasky

I just don't see any advantages-only disadvantages. With a 500 you use one slot, one cable connection and only have to deal with one IRQ. With two 150s you're doubling your chance of having an issue especially if you have additional tuner cards in your box.

Gerry

Huh? Each tuner uses an IRQ. I've got 2 PVR-500's and in this attachment you can clearly see that each tuner is using an IRQ for a total of 4 IRQ's.

PVR500IRQ.JPG

So you save a slot by using a PVR-500 over 2 PVR-150's but not any IRQ's.

[T3rry]

well i returened the 500 and got 2 150's the 150's work flawlessly, the only issue now is my cable strength, since its split once for my internet, and then 4 more tiems for the PVR, i think i need to buy an aplifier now, the signal is not terrible, but it is noticibly weak.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by waynedunham

Huh? Each tuner uses an IRQ. I've got 2 PVR-500's and in this attachment you can clearly see that each tuner is using an IRQ for a total of 4 IRQ's.

Attachment 2788

So you save a slot by using a PVR-500 over 2 PVR-150's but not any IRQ's.

My bad. You are correct. I should quit posting from work.

Gerry

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by gplasky

My bad. You are correct. I should quit posting from work.

Gerry

Not a problem. I was puzzled the first time I saw that posted, but didn't bother to check. The second time I saw it mentioned got me to wheel the office chair over to the server and fire up device manager.