Via & AMD & Hauppauge problems?

[Networker]

Edit - I've started another thread to collect Hardware data
Hardware Database




I've looked and chatted and read various forums and information while trying to determine the best MoBo and CPU to get for my dedicated HTPC running GBPVR. My plan was to either run 2 or 3 PVR150s or 2 PVR500mce. I've been told and read that VIA chipsets don't work with Hauppauge PVRs and/or the IR send/receive unit that comes with the PVR150.

Can anyone please tell me if this true or not. The Hauppauge UK forum said the 500mce and VIA and AGP (perhaps PCI video) are repeatable. I have no problem going towards a Celeron D 2.9GHz proc if need be, but the AMD MoBos in SiS and nVIDIA are out there as well..

I may also put out a forum request and collect a hardware database for reference to future GBPVR users, keep an eye out for that!

John

[Richard]

What kind of problems do they say you can expect from Via and AMD and Hauppauge?

My system is as follows:

CPU: AMD 3400+
MOB: Asus 8AV Deluxe with the VIA K8T800Pro and Via VT8237
Memory: 2x512MB Ultra PC4200 CL3
OS: Windows XP Pro SP2
HD: 1 WD SATA 200 GB; 2 WD ATA EIDE 160 GB and 1 WD ATA Eide 200 GB
Video: ATI AIW 9800 Pro
Hauppauge: PVR-250
GB PVR 0.9108

I have had no problems and would recommend it to everyone.

[CaptainVideo]

I have an older VIA chipset, the one with the latency problem, and I'm running fine except for a few problems. Direct control of the 45 button remote doesn't work. Also my system hangs sometimes if you exit live TV, but this is supposed to be fixed in the next release.

[reboot]

I've been told and read that VIA chipsets don't work with Hauppauge PVRs and/or the IR send/receive unit that comes with the PVR150.

Bullshit. I have two PVR-250's on a VIA chipset board (MSI KT4V-L) with an Athlon XP 2500+ Barton. I ran with a PCI Radeon 7000VE card for awhile, and now an 8x GeForce4 with no trouble.

Also my system hangs sometimes if you exit live TV, but this is supposed to be fixed in the next release.

Sub already released an update for this.

[CaptainVideo]

Sub already released an update for this.

And then pulled it

[bgowland]

The Hauppauge UK forum said the 500mce and VIA and AGP (perhaps PCI video) are repeatable.

John - I started one of the threads on the Hauppauge forum that you may have seen. The problem exists with the PVR500 and 'some' (not all) VIA chipsets. My media PC would hang at startup with the 500 in unless I removed my AGP graphics card - I tried two different AGP cards with the same result but the 500 was fine in my Dell Dimension with both AGP cards. I temporarily put a PCI card in my media PC to get it to work but in the end ditched the Asus mobo with the VIA chipset and replaced it with an Intel D865 mobo.

The problem isn't with all Hauppauge PVR cards - my PVR350 worked fine with the Asus/VIA mobo and a couple of people who saw similar problems with 500s were able to use 2x 150s instead - there appears to be some sort of problem with the bridging hardware on the 500 and some VIA chipsets.

IF you're intent on going for 500s and a VIA chipset then checkout the sigs for people who have working systems - also find the thread I started on the Hauppauge forum and avoid the mobo/chipset that I detailed on there (I can't remember what it was now).

[Networker]

Thanks guys...

bgowland: It may have been you... I'd like the 500mce as it doesn't need to have the cable slit before going into the card, if I run 2 of them then yes it gets split, but as I plan on putting an individually isolated amplifier on the cable line to distrubute signal throughout the house, it may not be a problem.

It's a bit hard to look at all the sigs, that's why I'm going to start a thread to have people post their specs and I'll collect them and create a HW DB that future users can reference when they build HTPCs for GBPVR use with Hauppauge PVR cards.

I'm not dead set on AMD, though I'd rather use it than a Celeron, which probably works fine as well. I like the MoBo I've been looking at (Soyo Dragon2 KT880) b/c it has 8.1 channel audio with SPDIF output. I'll search and if that is not a problem (it seems Asus has the problem) I'll get the Soyo and go with a Sempron, highest/fastest I can.

John

[t1gra]

FWIW
I have a EPIA MII 1.2G (C5 CPU and VIA chipset) with 512Mb and PVR350 running GBPVR with no problems except a few heat related lock ups (which another case fan is sorting out).
My main problem is the external ariel at home is rubbish, so teh pictures that get captured are poor. As they say garbage in garbage out....

[herbs]

I have a VIA KM400 chip with 2 pci hauppauge cards and a usb2 pvr if that helps.

[Torque]

I had my PVR150MCE working just fine on a Via KT800 chipset w/ Athlon XP 2400+ while testing. Then moved the card to my dedicated system with nForce chipset and XP 2100+