v95.16, Freeze During playback, HushPC (EPIA-M/1ghz/1GB/Hauppauge WinPVR 350)/XP Pro

[JohnInSJ]

Ok, it seems to be working better, no freezes yet, giving it a workout now...

Here's the thing - I updated the BIOS on the epia-m using the bios that's listed here:

http://forums.viaarena.com/messageview.a...TMP=Linear

ftp://mordor.dnsalias.net/pub/EPIA_M_Flash_ISO.zip
Edit: Url to CDROM image with bios, I used 113voc

This is the 1.13 bios with overclocking options enabled, and with the 1.16 video bios code in it.

So, using this bios I enabled 4x AGP, overclocked it to 166mhz/33 FSB, and 10x clock multiplier - so the box now runs at 1.33 ghz. This and the video bios update seem to make it all run a lot smoother, with plenty of cpu headroom during playback.

Now, let's see if its stable

[JohnInSJ]

Followup - still kinda crashy, sad to say. Now playing madly with all bios options, and managed to get it into a brand new video mode - 720x480 - which looks smashing on the big screen TV. Been playing back a recorded video for 5 minutes without a crash so far

[JohnInSJ]

Ah... possibly something new to look at!

This time, it was playing along fine, and then a schedule recording started, and... it kinda froze up for a moment, but then the audio for the pre-recorded program came back, but the screen was blank... and is still blank. The recording is going on just fine, but the screen is gone.

So, since I am using the 'InterVideo NonCSS Video Decoder for Hauppauge' video decoder, perhaps there is a problem in either the driver install for that board, or in my board itself? I can try one of the other non-Hauppauge decoders and see if that works. Or any other ideas you might have.

[JohnInSJ]

Hm... weirder and weirder... Tried playing a recording back, and kept it running when a new recording started.... and it worked fine. Perhaps I have stumbled on the magic combo... If it behaves for a day or so, I'll post the final (working) config.

[JohnInSJ]

So far so good - now to try and figure out what I fixed

Seems to be a number of things:
1) updated epia-m bios
2) disabled all uneeded devices in bios
3) overclocked CPU to get a bit more speed (1.33ghz)
4) updated video card driver/mode 720x480, CRT out only
5) in config set to use system default except for video, that one select intervideo for happauge, also select MS crossbar thingie in misc settings, use happauge remote directly
6) enabled hardware offload for netword card (reduces cpu load...)
7) got rid of tray app for gbpvr and happauge remote

Basically, tried cutting down on cpu/memory load, speed up system, get everything current, and result *seems* to be a more stable system. So, nothing in gbpvr, just hardware running very near its limits

[JohnInSJ]

Nope - still unstable. Machine plays back really nicely for about 20-30 minutes, then locks up. Last attempt for this hardware - I will slick it all and reinstall the OS/drivers/gbpvr... if it still won't play nice it will be time for new hardware

[JohnInSJ]

Fix was simple - get a P4/1.6ghz machine, swap it in for the hushpc... running really well now :p

I really hates those via cpus.

[sub]

I really hates those via cpus.

Ditto.

I previously had an ME-6000 and an M-10000. They both sucked, both performance and reliability wise. The idea of a small silent board was good, but the execution was lacking...