MB/CPU for SageTV

[GreggWG]

I've been trying to get a list of hardware together for building a pvr for a while, I have a board I'd like to use. I'm just curious if there are any known issues with a AMD1900+ and an ABIT AT7 (this board uses a VIA KT333 chipset) MB. I'm planning on using a couple sticks of 256MB Corsair XMS3200 for RAM. I got a lot of great use out of this board back in the day with some custom bios flashes and RAID 10, would love to get it back in use again. Thanks for any help in advance guys.

Garrett

[Grasshopper]

Some folks have had issues with getting multiple capture cards to work under VIA chipsets. The nForce chipset is generally regarded to be more stable in this regard. But if you already have the board, there's little harm in firing it up and seeing what it'll do. The memory is overkill if Sage is all you're doing.

[mls]

At the bottom of the Hauppauge download web site they list a fix for certain VIA chipset problems. So you might want to check that out also (just in case you may need it).

Since you mention wanting to use an AMD system, my other comments will be unimportant for you, but thought I'd post them for anyone else reading thru...

There was a problem with the PVR-350 and certain Intel chipsets that may have been fixed now (I think anyway).

Also, I'm investigating a SageTV Client lock-up problem that currently looks like it might be related to either certain Intel chipsets or onboard Intel Ethernet. I haven't reached any firm conclusions about that yet though.

I have noticed though that many people do seem to be having better luck all the way around (not just with SageTV) using AMD systems. With the problems I've had with my 2 Intel boards I'm almost sorry I decided to go the Intel way. Think I may have been better off with AMD (and it would have been a LOT less expensive too).

[GreggWG]

I figured 512mb was overkill, but its RAM I have lying around that isn't in use so what-the-heck. I guess I'll have to try it out and see whats what. Guys have any suggestions as far as OS is concerned, anyone have any bad experiences with any specific versions of Windows? Obviously I won't put ME on anything in my house, was thinking either 98SE or 2K Pro.

Thanks for the heads up on the via issue I'll check that out.

Garrett

[mls]

My own choice (whenever possible) is to run Win98SE. XP is just to overblown for my liking.

However, there are a few reasons to go with XP (or maybe 2k). The Roslyn cards (which have had driver problems all along) may, or may not work under 98 depending on your motherboard, BIOS, and video card.

On one of my machines the Roslyn drivers trash the nVidia drivers, on the other it works ok (but that one has an ATI vid card) using 98SE.

The Roslyn will work in either machine under XP. I haven't had any problems with multiple PVR-250 cards in either machine running either 98SE or XP, so I recommend avoiding the Roslyn (at least until they get the drivers fixed).

The other advantage XP would have over 98 is being able to set up a 64K block NTFS partition. That is supposed to help reduce some stutter on playback, plus NTFS allows file sizes over the 4Gig limitations of Win98's FAT32 file system.

Also, if you are planning to run any SageTV Clients, they may lock up with 98 running on the server. I have had that problem, but putting XP on the server and using SageTV v2.0.20 works fine with the Client machine using either 98 or XP.

Some of these problems are very machine and hardware dependent. In general, XP seems to be less picky about the hardware, but I still prefer 98SE for my own uses.

[Capt Dean]

Originally posted by Grasshopper
Some folks have had issues with getting multiple capture cards to work under VIA chipsets. The nForce chipset is generally regarded to be more stable in this regard. But if you already have the board, there's little harm in firing it up and seeing what it'll do. The memory is overkill if Sage is all you're doing.

I actually was using the VIA chipset with just one card. I got terrible studdering on playback (files themselves were fine). I switched to an ASUS A7N8X-Deluxe (nForce chipset) and have had ZERO studder and can run multiple tuners just fine.

.... just something about the VIA chipset. I tried for days about everything imaginable to correct for it without success. Youu might want to save yourself the headache. But, if you already have the card......

[mls]

Originally posted by Capt Dean
... just something about the VIA chipset. I tried for days about everything imaginable to correct for it without success. Youu might want to save yourself the headache. But, if you already have the card......

Just thought I'd point out that at the very bottom of one of the Hauppauge support web pages they list a fix for VIA chipsets.

I don't know if it solves everyones problems with VIA chipsets or not though.

[Capt Dean]

Yeah... tried those too. Didn't work for me. Maybe GreggWG will have better luck.

You make a good point.

[GreggWG]

Capt do you remember which chipset you were using? Just curious, hopeing that might make a difference.

[Capt Dean]

I'll have to check when I get home from work.... the ASUS site doesn't have it listed.... I'll check the printed manual.

[DynamoBen]

I'm using the 1900+, 256 meg of ram, and (I believe) and ECS MB. Its been running for almost a year now and am very happy.
I opted to use 2000 over 98 because I didn't want to have to reboot every few days. (old 98 bug)

Just my 2 cents.

[mls]

Originally posted by DynamoBen
I opted to use 2000 over 98 because I didn't want to have to reboot every few days. (old 98 bug)
.

Yes, old bug and ya must have missed some updates then 'cause I had one 98SE system run for over 3 months 24/7 here in the past.

But, that was then and this is now. Maybe whenever Microsoft gets Longhorn out it might be worth it. Till then, I'll keep trying to avoid XP as much as I can (maybe if MS decides to get Service Pack 2 out AND included with it, then I might decide to actually buy XP... otherwise I'll wait for Longhorn... although 2K might be one I would be more willing to try... haven't decided yet).

[DynamoBen]

2000 and XP are brothers. XP was built on 2000 code. 2000 was built on NT code.

Don't waste any time with 98. If you want a stable and consistant system that you can leave running without any second thoughts go with 2K or XP.

[Capt Dean]

Originally posted by Capt Dean
I'll have to check when I get home from work.... the ASUS site doesn't have it listed.... I'll check the printed manual.

My bad. It wasn't a VIA chipset. I was having problems with the ALiM1647 and ALiM1535D+ chipsets.

[GreggWG]

I wouldn't hold your breath for SP2 on Windows XP if the pre-release version of it is any sign its going to absolut murder on the performance of most computers. I have a P4 3.0c on my main pc overclocked to just under 3.5Ghz with a gig of low latency corsair ram and two wd raptors (10k rpm sata). Service pack 2 almost trippled my boot time and just slaughtered my performance. Luckly I keep ghost backups because I like to play with windows to much and I was able to reverse the install completly. If they don't work out the issues I'm not going anywhere near sp2 with your computer much less mine.

On the note of Via chipset issues, I saw a nice little Shuttle AN35-N board that is nforce. The board also supports lowering voltage to the cpu to as little as 1.1, which I'd like to do to try and reduce the heat and noise of this thing once I get things up and running. I'm an Abit/Asus man normally, any opinions out there on Shuttle? Haven't used anything by them in a long long time.

I think I'm pretty much set on 2k for the OS, but still a small part of me leaning towards 98se. Might have to try both for a bit and see how it goes. I think I've decided on a 5700 Ultra for the video card/tv-out. I'm a bit turned off by the 350 because of the software/driver issues (which I know have been semi-resolved) and the lack of being able to playback DVDs through the tv-out on that card.

Garrett


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