win98 or win2k

[Jerry Jones]

Forgot to mention, Krysalis also uses Windows 2000 for their AMD video workstations:
http://www.krysalisproductions.com/s...de.htm#windows

[wkulecz]

Glad to hear that "newer" VIA chipsets are working with NLE and W2k.

Problem is, how do you know what you buy is the "newer" version?

About three months ago I tried w2k on three different VIA PC133 motherboards, given the distribution channel, they were probably made at least 5 or 6 months ago. They would not even run w2k enough to install anything let alone attempt do NLE despite the VIA 4-1 patch.

The issue isn't Athelon per se, as AMD 750 chipset systems have given me no trouble what so ever other than mpEGG! causing w2k to shutdown Video Editor with an exception. No harm, no foul, just sad that it doesn't work. Maybe the real release will.

I noticed on the FlaskMPEG home page that Intel has provided an "optimized" compile that only runs on P-III or P-IV. AMD seems to have countered with a K7 optimizied version as well.

I'd consider it great news to know that VIA PC133 chipsets version xxxx or later are OK.

Unless you can know you are getting the "newer" VIA chipset and BIOS, my advice will remain to be wary of VIA PC133 chipset motherboards until I've learned the "version xxxx" number that works.

I'm not surprised that ASUS K7V (A7V?) is the motherboard recommended. I've prefered ASUS since the P100 days and they've a good track record of doing what it takes to make their stuff work.

--wally.

[Jerry Jones]

Tyler Hawes of Krysalis personally told me the Asus A7V with KT133 chipset is working very well for his turnkey Canopus NLE system business.

His customers seem to be quite happy, too, when they post to the Canopus DV Raptor forum using the A7V Asus motherboard:
http://www.asus.com/products/motherb...a7v/index.html

[Jerry Jones]

By the way, the Asus *K7V* motherboard
is not the one to buy.

In fact, if you tried the *K7V* - then that would explain why you had troubles:

That particular Asus motherboard does *not* use the KT133 chipset.

Instead, it uses the older *KX133* chipset, which has definite limitations.

[Jerry Jones]

More on the motherboard *NOT* to buy... especially with Windows 2000:

- the *K7V* with the "KX133" chipset -

Look at all of the issues; I'm not sure if all of them were solved:
http://www.tech-report.com/columns/damage/2000q4/agp/
http://www.beemanx.com/news_articles.asp?articleid=614
http://www.visiontek.com/support/gra...ub:kx133agpw2k

[Dr Mordrid]

I believe the proper designation of the improved VIA chipset is KT133A while the old one is the KT133.

The only difference between them is that the KT133A supports a 133mhz DDR FSB while the KT133 only supports a 100mhz FSB. The KT133A will be labeled "VT8363A".

Another way to tell the difference if the Northbridge has a sticker on it is that the KT133A comes with the .....686B Southbridge and not the .....686A that came with the KT133. The .....686B adds ATA100 support.

Be careful though as the KT133A will work with the previous Southbridge versions and cheap boards may use that combo.

In terms of Win2K performance AnandTech had an interesting tidbit on the KT133A's Win2K performance:

"However, as we noticed in our testing, the 686B Southbridge isn’t properly identified under Windows 2000 yet. Under Windows 98SE the 686B works fine and provides peak transfer rates identical to that of the i815E’s ATA/100 ICH2, however under Windows 2000 the performance of the IDE subsystem was in many cases, slower than that of a KT133 with the 686A Southbridge."

Part of this will be fixed when the 4.26 4-in-1 drivers arrive, which will include include the updated 3011 IDE drivers. The current 4-in-4 version is 4.25a. There is the additional problem of Windows2000 not properly supporting ATA100 on non-intel chipsets like VIA's. All you can get is ATA66. This won't be fixed until Service Pack 2, which is now in beta.

Dr. Mordrid


[This message has been edited by Dr Mordrid (edited 05 January 2001).]

[wkulecz]

Thanks as usual Doc! This is the detail I've been looking for. Up to now I've been "punting" on VIA chipset motherboards and windows 2000 simply dismissing them all as more trouble than they are worth. I'll give these new chipset models a try instead of simply refusing to work with them as I've been doing these past few months.

--wally.

[Jerry Jones]

Doc's right about the KT133a being newer
than the KT133.

However, I read the same AnandTech article
and I seem to recall only one brand of
motherboard was even implementing the
KT133a chipset and I *think* that was a
motherboard company called *SolTek.*

I haven't seen any KT133a boards available
on the Asus Web site, yet.

But I'm glad Doc posted that info about
the KT133a southbridge... that's pretty
interesting.

[Dr Mordrid]

The KT133A hardware is starting to arrive.

ABIT has updated both the KT7 and KT7-RAID boards. The new designations are KT7A and KT7A-RAID. Here's their blurb;

http://www.abit.com.tw/english/press/2000/press225.htm

FIC has also introduced a KT133A model with the AZ11E;

http://www.fica.com/products/motherb...t462/AZ11E.stm

SOYO's board is the SY-KT7A-B;

http://www.soyousa.com/syk7vtab.html

Even puny Gainward has their 6VBA;

http://www.gainward.com/products/mainboard/3vba.htm

Now you've got some choices

I'd expect Asus to bring out theirs as either a running change to the K7V or as a new model real soon now that ABIT is in the fray.

Dr. Mordrid


[This message has been edited by Dr Mordrid (edited 05 January 2001).]

[Jerry Jones]

I'm not so sure the Soyo and FIC models
you listed, Doc, are KT133a boards.

Yes - they have the 'b' southbridge, but I'm not so sure that is the only distinguishing factor because they're still listed as only supporting a 200Mhz bus, which - in the case of the KT133a - should be a 266Mhz bus.

Plus, their descriptions are still listing the chipset as the KT133.

That December 21 press release by Abit does, however, point to the arrival of the new KT133a.

Via has made it clear, however, that the manufacturing upgrade path is seamless so more of these KT133a boards will be hitting the market.

[This message has been edited by Jerrold Jones (edited 10 January 2001).]