G400 Marvel - P2B-LS - SBLive

[kkris]

Hi,

I was just researching a new system with a local computer shop. I stated I wanted the above components as part of the system and they said that they had problems in the past with G200 Marvels and the P2B-LS/SBLive combination. The problem stated was that they would actually fry each other!!

Now, I have searched the newsgroups and everything I can check and I can find no reference to this sort of problem. The shop is saying they do not want to build a system with these components because of the risk. They seem quite knowledgable about everything else but this just seems strange to me.

Is anyone else out there running this sort of combination? Specifically the G400 Marvel (as that is what I want to buy) with the P2B-LS and SBLive but if you have any knowledge of the problem they are talking about I would appreciate info on that as well.

Thanks very much,
Kris

[Pertti]

Hi Kris,

I have been running P2B-S (basically the same board) with the Marvel G200 and Marvel G400, although my SoundBlaster is a bit older (SB32AWE).

The early (rev 1.02) P2B-S/LS boards did have a hardware problem that was fixed in ver 1.03 (latest as far as I know).
At the moment the SCSI controller still has some minor problems, but nothing too serious (hangs occationally at startup).

The early revisions of SB-Live software were a source for lot of frustration, but I haven't heard too much complaining about their latest LiveWare (maybe all the SB-Lives ended up as fishbates, who knows )

Anyway, with latest of everything, there shouldn't be much problems with the combination (I would still be cautious about the Live though)

Pertti

[kkris]

Pertti,

Thanks for the reply. The problems the shop had were a while ago and maybe the latest rev of the MB have solved them. I am being cautious and trying to find someone that has a similar setup. I am sure since the shop experienced the problem the MB has been updated, SBLive has been updated and I am looking at a somewhat different video card (G200 Marvel vs. G400 Marvel).

I really don't know about this. I can't find any sort of reference to a similar problem in any search I do, but I really would like to find the "smoking gun" that says "Hey, I'm running that with no problems at all".

Thanks again,
Kris

[kkris]

Ooops ....

I just realised I may have given the wrong impression with my last post. I really do want to hear from anyone that has experience with any similar configuration.

My apologies to Pertti for sounding like I wanted someone to solve all of my problems for me.

Hanging head in shame,
Kris

[Werner]

Hi kkris,

I've got a Asus P2B-LS mainboard, SB-Live, G400 with Rainbow Runner G-Serie and many
Problems.

I can't capture a video (704x576 PAL) in
high quality.
During the playback the frames are
jumping up and down very quickly (jitter).
I don't know if this hardware combination
is the reason for it ?

[kkris]

Hi Werner,

Hmmm ... doesn't sound good. Have you tried capture and playback without the SBLive in the system to see if the problems go away?

Kris

[This_Idiot]

Werner

Different problem, Bud !

If you're reading the forums you may have picked up some fairly heavy-handed tips that the G400's are giving out some playback problems for PAL users. Those pooor ole code-gnomes over at Matrox are working like hell to fix it in time before Santas sack departs, but I really don't know if they're gonna make it. It WILL be fixed in the next vidtools release.

Kkris, if Pertti gives you a 90% then you are doing better than the rest of us For obvious reasons, giving a 100% on a forum like this is always problematic, since some folk are able to render a coffee-cup inoperable.

But you might still like to take a deep breath and bookmark the site's homepage before taking the plunge

[kkris]

> Kkris, if Pertti gives you a 90% then you
> are doing better than the rest of us For
> obvious reasons, giving a 100% on a forum
> like this is always problematic, since
> some folk are able to render a coffee-cup > inoperable.

I realise that a 100% may be a bit of a stretch but I figured that the fact the equipment is pretty common (maybe other than the P2B-S/LS) there would be a good chance that someone would have something similar.

I have since scoured the newsgroups yet again and can find no mention of any similar problem. I did find someone else who is running the same combination but with yet another sound card (Turtle Beach this time) so I am beginning to think that the way to go is to just ditch the SBLive and use something else.

Thanks,
Kris

[Werner]

Hi kkris, hi jitterfriends

I think I've tried "everything":
Without SB-Live, only 64MB RAM,
another mainboard, SCSI (on/off)
SCSI HD or just IDE, another CPU,
another BUS frequence, another G400,
another Computer, and so on.....
(jitter till Santas sack departs)
I hope the gnome VTs are in Santas sack
still this year !

PS: G200+RRG (no jitter) !!