RC1 Experiences

[Capt Dean]

Originally posted by stanger89

it's got a ALI ALiMagic 1 chipset, quite possibly one of the worst chipsets ever. I had an ALI based board once, that was scary.

Yikes! ..work with me here.... that's not what I want to here
Though it is starting to add up isn't it?

Might just turn this box into a media/web server and pick up a better MOBO if I can't get this working.....

I'm not done yet though..... now that I'm hooked by the possibilities of this product, I can't seem to give up!

[Crowdx42]

Also that board is USB 1.1 and not USB 2. Really my only advice would be to upgrade and buy the model I have. It would just be a straight swap of one board for the other, $70, no more headaches, format install and watch tv. I actually just let my board detect the drivers when I swapped it back in from an nForce2 board, all works great. Sometimes a little cash spent can cure a lot of headaches.
I really am sorry man, wish there was bette advice.
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_g...8e3350c3febb8c
Worth every penny.
Patrick

[Capt Dean]

I just still can't se why LiveTV would work flawlessly with the other apps.... BTV uses .net. Sage seems to ride on the Java RTE..... could there be a connection there?

[Crowdx42]

BTV doesn't write the file the same, from what I seen in a trial with BTV, it uses a single file for all it's live tv, this means it is like a page file that BTV uses. I think both apps approach live tv completely different, remember Sage writes a new file for every show it watches. I have never used BTV with hardware encoders, does the PVR 350 work with OSD?
My view with the revelation of your chipset would still be to replace that board, even with mundane tasks this chipset was never great, let alone the intensive job of writing video to the hard disk.
A last piece of troubleshooting you might try is to see if there are any other ide drivers for that chipset and MAYBE try disabling dma, I know it will kill the drives performance BUT dma can also cause huge problems in older chipsets.
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Another board worth a look is this Asus board, nForce2 chipset but with onboard tv out. Asus
Patrick

[AJ Bertelson]

Originally posted by Capt Dean
Yikes! ..work with me here.... that's not what I want to here
Though it is starting to add up isn't it?

Might just turn this box into a media/web server and pick up a better MOBO if I can't get this working.....

I'm not done yet though..... now that I'm hooked by the possibilities of this product, I can't seem to give up!

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...&threadid=2692

new motherboard is your only option
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...type=Refurbish

This is what I am using but you can get cheaper ones.

[Crowdx42]

Yes,, but does Capt Dean have a full atx box? If not the mentioned board will not work, my links are all for MicroAtx boards.
Patrick

[Capt Dean]

You guys have been VERY helpful. I took the plunge and ordered a new ASUS A7N8X since it is what I have working flawlessly on my main PC. Uses the nForce2 chipset.

Looks like my old MOBO just bought itself a place with other spare parts to be a dedicated web/file server.

(Hopefully when I get the new board in, all our suspicions will be confirmed: ie the problems will go bye-bye)


BTW: I have not noticed any wierd file splits I had mentioned earlier.... last night's recordings were in tact too. That must have been a .16 error.

[Crowdx42]

Hey Capt Dean, do you have a an ATX case to fit that board? That is why I use the A7N266, it sits in a small Micro Atx case and has a nice small footprint. Wife hates having a full atx case in the living room beside the tv :P
Patrick

[Capt Dean]

I'm using the Antec Overture.
http://www.antec-inc.com/us/pro_deta...p?ProdID=15728
Huge WAF.
Works and looks great.

[Capt Dean]

Promised an updated. Maybe someone else can benefit.

I did a MOBO transplant from the A7A266 to the A7N8X. Everything else remained the same...... software, HDDs, graphics cards, etc......

Bye Bye studdering!

Thank you gents for the tip. Not a cheap solution..... but what a payoff!

[Crowdx42]

Cool... HURRAY for you... not cheap BUT end of headaches..
Congratulations

[turak]

Originally posted by Crowdx42
Cool... HURRAY for you... not cheap BUT end of headaches..
Congratulations

not too expensive. you can get that mobo (retail) for $70 with free 2 day shipping