Must read for users with 686B + SB Live

[btvillarin]

I was looking around the <A HREF="http://www.viaarena.com" target="_new">VIA Arena</A> website, and I checked out the FAQs. I think what I read isn't exactly known - or at least <b>I</b> didn't know about it.

<A HREF="http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=3&faq=16&Search=" target="_new">Read the second to last question in the Sound FAQ here</A>

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Question: I am having trouble with a system using a VIA chipset including a 686b southbridge and a Creative Sound Blaster Live card.

Answer: When the 686b southbridge was first released, motherboard manufacturers and VIA discovered a problem when trying to transfer files between the primary and the secondary IDE channels on motherboards using ultra-DMA, when a Sound Blaster Live was plugged in and drivers activated. This issue was caused because too much noise is transferred across the PCI bus by the Sound Blaster Live driver set. In an attempt to fix this issue, some motherboard manufacturers modified their BIOS. In some instances, these modifications to the BIOS caused a data corruption error even when not using a Sound Blaster Live. VIA released a patch which resolves this issue, which is incoroporated in the 4in1 drivers from the 4.31 version onwards. Motherboard manufacturers were advised to change the modifications made to their BIOS to elimate the data corruption issue. If you are experiencing data corruption or lock up when transferring files between two IDE drives: 1) Make sure you have the latest BIOS from your motherboard manufacturer. 2) Make sure you have the latest 4in1 drivers <i>3) Make sure when you set up your system that you install the 4in1 drivers both before and after you install the SBL to make sure that the drivers see your SBL and install the correct patch. The patch will only install if the SBL is installed.</i>
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That last part in italics stood out. I haven't done this before, nor did I know about it. I'm gonna do that right now, and I suggest maybe you should too. (Sorry if I'm the last one to know about this, but I just that maybe not everyone knew about this.)

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=13406" target="_new">My System Rig</A>

 

[phsstpok]

<A HREF="http://www.viahardware.com" target="_new">WWW.viahardware.com</A> has written what I believe is the final chapter on the SB Live/Via 686B story.

There are two problems, sound problems and data corruption. The latter is the worse of the two and allegedly is caused by the SB Live when combined with the 686B. The sound problems can, apparently, occur with with any chipset.

Here's the link.

<A HREF="http://www.viahardware.com/686b_1.shtm" target="_new">http://www.viahardware.com/686b_1.shtm</A>



<b>We are all beta testers!</b>

 

[btvillarin]

I have an Asus A7V133 rev 1.05. I can't think of hearing any skipping in playing mp3s. And, I can't test the data corruption, because I'm not on a network. So, is it safe to say my system is fine?

Actually, I just followed what the readme file for the PCI Latency Patch was recommending to try to see if I needed this fix. It said to copy files larger than 100MB between hard disks, while playing mp3s. No skips, no BSODs. The actual file was the Windows 2000 SP2. But, how would I test this file for corruption?

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=13406" target="_new">My System Rig</A>

 

[phsstpok]

I assume you have an SB Live soundcard. Otherwise, you don't have a problem.

To compare two files, go to a DOS prompt and use this generic command.

FC <i>x</i>:\<i>source-path</i>\<i>source-filename</i> <i>y</i>:\<i>destination-path</i>\<i>destination-filename</i>

where

FC is the command (<b>F</b>ile <b>C</b>ompare)
<i>x</i> and <i>y</i> are the source and destination drives.
<i>source-path</i> and <i>destination-path</i> (self-explanatory).
<i>source-filename</i> and <i>destination-filename</i> (ditto).


<b>We are all beta testers!</b>

 

[btvillarin]

Would I just copy the file from one drive to another just once, or do it a couple of times?

BTW, does that FC command work with both Win98/2K?

I'll test that right now...

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=13406" target="_new">My System Rig</A>

 

[phsstpok]

FC is a DOS command. If you have DOS on that Win2K machine it will work.

<b>We are all beta testers!</b>

 

[btvillarin]

I just did it. It says "No differences encountered". Does that mean my system is A-OK?

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=13406" target="_new">My System Rig</A>

 

[phsstpok]

If you're not hearing a sound problem then you don't have one.

I don't know if you can reliably reproduce the data corruption error. It might be intermittent. If you are worried, just apply George Breese's PCI latency patch and have peace of mind. Either that or replace the SB Live with something like a Philips Acoustic Edge or Rythmic Edge (the new version) soundcard and never worry about the problems again.




<b>We are all beta testers!</b><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by phsstpok on 11/04/01 07:55 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[btvillarin]

Yeah, that's true. I think I will apply that patch and not worry about it. Thanks...

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=13406" target="_new">My System Rig</A>

 

[lhgpoobaa]

well i never had any data corruption issues, either on my old a7v133 or my new kk266r-plus, and im using extra long 60cm rounded ide cables.

i did test it though... moved around a 1.5Gb file all day and compared it to its original.
100% the same.

am having minor sound issues though, mostly with winamp.

get the occasional skip... more commmon when using the modem, and a very brief crack in a song when i open winamps file explorer.

wonder if thats connected or not.
(p.s. has the 4.34's installed before and after the sblive drivers)

Is that a Northwoody in your pocket or are you just eXPited to see me?