Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X - Soundblaster PCI Won't Work - No Parallel Connector

[Damaeus]

I'm so pissed. I had to build a new computer because some Adobe software I
needed to run requires SSE2 instructions, and my old system (which worked
perfectly well on everything else) had an AMD Athlon 3200+ (Socket A),
which doesn't have SSE2.

So I built this:

Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core
2 GB DDR2 800 (2 sticks of 1GB each)
nVidia GeForce 7950GTOC

Well... I had no idea they were phasing out parallel and serial ports. The
Realtek AudioMAX sucks. I can't use FL Studio without gobs of static
coming through, so I decided to go out last night and get a USB dialup
modem to replace my PCI modem. (note: true broadband isn't available here.
I have a satellite connection, but it doesn't work well for online games.)
I also got a USB-to-Parallel cable for my trusty rusty laser printer.

After disabling on-board audio in the BIOS, removing the AudioMAX daughter
card, pulling the PCI modem, replacing it with an SB Live! 5.1 Platinum
sound card and the Live Drive, I got no POST. I disconnected the Live
Drive in every way and the system booted. Strange enough by itself. Then
I got into Windows and installed all the Soundblaster drivers. No sound.
No matter how I connected the cables or adjusted the settings, I spent 4-5
hours doing everything I knew and investigating things I might have missed,
and never did get sound of the damned thing. I got a few blue screens,
though. -.-

So I gave up. I powered down, pulled all the Soundblaster hardware out,
put my PCI modem back in (never even bothered trying the USB modem) and
reinstalled the AudioMAX card. Got my sound back. I don't know what I'm
going to do when my class gets into audio production. I hope this damned
thing can hold up.

So to continue... I decided to try installing my USB to Parallel cable. I
first followed the directions carefully. No print. So I tried other
methods of installing. Never could get that working, either.

Now I'm no dummy. I've built several computers and have never had such
stubborn problems in my life. This is the first one that I just haven't
really been able to set up the way I want.

Now I'm figuring I have a choice. I can either get a newer USB printer,
even though parallel-equipped printer I have works perfectly (and I just
replaced the $130 toner cartridge), or I can try connecting my USB modem
and free up the PCI slot for a PCI-parallel/serial card.

But before I do that... I wanted to find out if anyone else has managed to
get a SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 Platinum and/or a USB-to-Parallel cable
working with a Xerox Workcentre XE80 printer. I'm especially wondering
about the Soundblaster, though now that I think of it, if I do get the
soundblaster working, I might end up having to buy a new USB printer if I
can't get it to work with this adapter cable. ><

Getting this motherboard was a mistake for me, I think. I should have
gotten something with more than just one lousy-assed PCI slot. But I'm not
totally willing to give up on it completely. I think it'll be a good setup
once I get some kind of setup I can live with.

Damaeus
--
Motherboard Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X
Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core
Graphics nVidia GeForce 7950GTOC
Memory 2GB DDR2 800 PC6400
Hard Drives 2x 320GB Western Digital SATA

 

[Paul]

I'm so pissed. I had to build a new computer because some Adobe software I
needed to run requires SSE2 instructions, and my old system (which worked
perfectly well on everything else) had an AMD Athlon 3200+ (Socket A),
which doesn't have SSE2.

So I built this:

Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core
2 GB DDR2 800 (2 sticks of 1GB each)
nVidia GeForce 7950GTOC

Well... I had no idea they were phasing out parallel and serial ports. The
Realtek AudioMAX sucks. I can't use FL Studio without gobs of static
coming through, so I decided to go out last night and get a USB dialup
modem to replace my PCI modem. (note: true broadband isn't available here.
I have a satellite connection, but it doesn't work well for online games.)
I also got a USB-to-Parallel cable for my trusty rusty laser printer.

After disabling on-board audio in the BIOS, removing the AudioMAX daughter
card, pulling the PCI modem, replacing it with an SB Live! 5.1 Platinum
sound card and the Live Drive, I got no POST. I disconnected the Live
Drive in every way and the system booted. Strange enough by itself. Then
I got into Windows and installed all the Soundblaster drivers. No sound.
No matter how I connected the cables or adjusted the settings, I spent 4-5
hours doing everything I knew and investigating things I might have missed,
and never did get sound of the damned thing. I got a few blue screens,
though. -.-

So I gave up. I powered down, pulled all the Soundblaster hardware out,
put my PCI modem back in (never even bothered trying the USB modem) and
reinstalled the AudioMAX card. Got my sound back. I don't know what I'm
going to do when my class gets into audio production. I hope this damned
thing can hold up.

So to continue... I decided to try installing my USB to Parallel cable. I
first followed the directions carefully. No print. So I tried other
methods of installing. Never could get that working, either.

Now I'm no dummy. I've built several computers and have never had such
stubborn problems in my life. This is the first one that I just haven't
really been able to set up the way I want.

Now I'm figuring I have a choice. I can either get a newer USB printer,
even though parallel-equipped printer I have works perfectly (and I just
replaced the $130 toner cartridge), or I can try connecting my USB modem
and free up the PCI slot for a PCI-parallel/serial card.

But before I do that... I wanted to find out if anyone else has managed to
get a SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 Platinum and/or a USB-to-Parallel cable
working with a Xerox Workcentre XE80 printer. I'm especially wondering
about the Soundblaster, though now that I think of it, if I do get the
soundblaster working, I might end up having to buy a new USB printer if I
can't get it to work with this adapter cable. ><

Getting this motherboard was a mistake for me, I think. I should have
gotten something with more than just one lousy-assed PCI slot. But I'm not
totally willing to give up on it completely. I think it'll be a good setup
once I get some kind of setup I can live with.

Damaeus

On the Newegg site, there are cheap motherboards for socket AM2.

On this page, there are five motherboards which have four PCI slots,
and a socket for an AM2 processor. This would give you more options
than your current board.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Subcategory=22&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

You could use the cheap board, until your class is finished, and then
go back to working on the fancy motherboard again.

Paul

 

[Damaeus]

On this page, there are five motherboards which have four PCI slots,
and a socket for an AM2 processor. This would give you more options
than your current board.

You could use the cheap board, until your class is finished, and then
go back to working on the fancy motherboard again.

If I was made of money, I might do that. Not that I had much of a nest
egg, anyway, but I spent what I did have since I had to replace so much
hardware. I hooked up the USB modem and it works fine, so I'm going to
remove the PCI modem and put in a PCI card that provides a parallel port.
That will hopefully get my printer running. Then I should be okay for a
while. Eventually I want to get a high end color inkjet printer. I'm
lusting after this one right now, but it won't be availble until Spring:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=117&modelid=12414

If it's not out when I need to get one, I'll get this one:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=117&modelid=12892

That is unless I can find a color laser printer for around $500 that has as
good or better quality, but reviews I've read seem to think of laser
printers with low expections for photographs, though maybe better for
graphics projects. Either way, I'm keeping my current laser printer for
black & white and text printing.

Damaeus
--
Motherboard Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X
Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core
Graphics nVidia GeForce 7950GTOC
Memory 2GB DDR2 800 PC6400
Hard Drives 2x 320GB Western Digital SATA

 

[JAD]

<<<<<<<<<<Fatality>>>>>>>>>>>>


what would you expect from a board with that name?

 

[Damaeus]

<<<<<<<<<<Fatality>>>>>>>>>>>>


what would you expect from a board with that name?

It's a good board aside from these problems, which are probably
software-related. Still, I admit to allowing myself to fall prey to
marketing. I'm not even really sure what advantage, if any, the Fatal1ty
boards have over non-Fatal1ty ones. Haha

Damaeus
--
Motherboard Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X
Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core
Graphics nVidia GeForce 7950GTOC
Memory 2GB DDR2 800 PC6400
Hard Drives 2x 320GB Western Digital SATA