RT x.10 compatability

[Chryx]

Hi,

According to Matrox, the RT x.10 (and I presume by extension, the x.100) are compatible with the Asus A7N8X-Deluxe mainboard, but only if the onboard SATA RAID controller is switched off.

However,
Over here

There is the so-called 'uberbios' which, amongst other things, updates the SATA firmware to correct some PCI timing glitches that would cause problems with PCI harddisk controllers..... or say, realtime video editing equipment.... *eyebrow raises*

So, the short version is, Does anyone know if the newer Sil3112 firmwares correct the issue that stopped them working alongside the RT series?

I'm trying to spec out a machine at a clients request here, and being hobbled with no RAID controller is a bit of a setback.

thanks in advance.

[schmosef]

I just (one month ago) upgraded a customer's Video Editing PC to a P4 2.6HT running on an Asus P4C800-E Deluxe using the Intel SATA Raid to manage a stripe set of two WD1200JD Hard Drives. He has an RT2500 card running with a G450.

It works really well. In fact, the onboard FireWire is more compatible than the controller on the RT2500.

My office desktop is an AthlonXP 2800+ running on an Asus A7N8X2.0 Deluxe. It's a pure SCSI system so I can't comment on the SATA RAID (didn't even know it had it).

Don't flame me for this but I have to say that the HyperThreading capability of P4s makes a big difference in overall system smoothness.

If you're spec'ing a system from scratch, I'd suggest you investigate a P4 based solution.

I can't speak to specific compatiblity with the RT x series.

I do recall that Matrox's DV forums had a lot of people posting their success with different motherboard configurations (also a lot of people griping about the lack of ongoing support from Matrox--with recommendations for alternatives they'd wished they considered in hindsight). You may want to check there.

[Chryx]

Originally posted by schmosef
[B]I just (one month ago) upgraded a customer's Video Editing PC to a P4 2.6HT running on an Asus P4C800-E Deluxe using the Intel SATA Raid to manage a stripe set of two WD1200JD Hard Drives. He has an RT2500 card running with a G450.

It works really well. In fact, the onboard FireWire is more compatible than the controller on the RT2500.

My office desktop is an AthlonXP 2800+ running on an Asus A7N8X2.0 Deluxe. It's a pure SCSI system so I can't comment on the SATA RAID (didn't even know it had it).

Don't flame me for this but I have to say that the HyperThreading capability of P4s makes a big difference in overall system smoothness.

If you're spec'ing a system from scratch, I'd suggest you investigate a P4 based solution.

Well, HT does make a difference to smoothness, but my clients are of the 'how long will it take' kind, not the 'will I be able to do other stuff at the same time' kind, so whilst I appreciate your point, it's not really applicable.

The other thing is, the onboard sound on the A7N8X-Deluxe is vastly superior to the onboard stuff you get on Intel boards.. AND it isn't hosted off the PCI bus (leaving more bandwidth for the RT to do its stuff), whilst my 'other' choice for sound, starts at around £100 (Terratec 6Fire DMX series), which obviously goes on top of the system cost.

hrmm, I do have a client with an RT2500 on an A7N8X-Deluxe, maybe I'll just have to persuade him to let me poke it with a big stick to see what happens...

[schmosef]

It's been a while since I had to really research DV. I'm not sure if it's just for marketting buy Adobe claims Premiere Pro is HT optimized.

I'm not an audiophile either, but I can't really tell the difference between what's on my mobo versus the P4C800-E mobos.