P4P800 Deluxe: Any known issues introduced only in BIOS 1016?

[Linux Lover]

I am using my P4P800 Deluxe based PC to edit some home videos.
Everything seemed to have worked well with the firewire connection to
my camcorder - until (so I think) I upgraded my BIOS from 1014 to
1016. This BIOS update was done before a complete re-install (i.e.
clean, from scratch) of the OS (Windows 2000 SP4).

The essence of the problem is that I can capture video via FireWire
from my camcorder without any problem, but the other direction
(recording to same camcorder via same exact connection) simply doesn't
work.

The problem is described in detail here: http://tinyurl.com/32r3g

The hardware configuration of my system can be viewed here:
http://linuxlover.50megs.com/cpuz.html

I suspect the problem lies in the BIOS, but I could be wrong.

Any ideas? Tips?

Many thanks!
Lynn

 

[CS]

It might be because you are overclocked. I would check that before assuming
that the bios has a bug in it. If you still have the problem when you are
at stock speeds, then you can diagnose the problem.

 

[Linux Lover]

OK. Just checked at stock speed (2.6GHz) and the system exhibits the
same exact problem.

Not surprising considering the fact that this feature (recording to
camcorder via FireWire) used to work *flawlessly* at the overclocked
speed (3.12GHz) before I updated the BIOS.

That doesn't mean that the problem is necessarily in the new BIOS,
however. It is quite possible that some other system changes has been
introduced since then (in addition to the BIOS update from 1014 to
1016). W2K post-SP4 hotfixes, for example. I just can't pinpoint
specific relevant changes except for that BIOS update.

Other ideas?

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[Kevin Miller]

OK. Just checked at stock speed (2.6GHz) and the system exhibits the
same exact problem.

Not surprising considering the fact that this feature (recording to
camcorder via FireWire) used to work *flawlessly* at the overclocked
speed (3.12GHz) before I updated the BIOS.

That doesn't mean that the problem is necessarily in the new BIOS,
however. It is quite possible that some other system changes has been
introduced since then (in addition to the BIOS update from 1014 to
1016). W2K post-SP4 hotfixes, for example. I just can't pinpoint
specific relevant changes except for that BIOS update.

Other ideas?

Can you roll back to an earlier BIOS?

Kevin Miller

"Either way, it is bad for Zathras."

 

[Linux Lover]

Can you roll back to an earlier BIOS?

Kevin Miller

In principle I can. However, since I am not sure that the problem lies
in the BIOS and due to the "delicate relationship" between the OS
(PnP/ACPI) and the BIOS, I would rather keep this as last resort. I am
simply afraid that changing the BIOS version while the OS is installed
may result in problems that would require me to re-install the entire OS
(a costly act, in terms of time).

Since I know that in this newsgroup I can find the most knowledgeable
people in the ASUS arena, I thought perhaps there may be a "catch" in
the latest BIOS that I failed to notice.

But if there aren't any known issues with BIOS 1016, I am happy.

Unless there are *unknown* issues, in which case I am probably being a
pioneer...

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[end user]

Lynn I cannot see how rolling back the bios to a prior version will
cause any problem for win 2000.

Backup the system & reinstall the bios. Mind you, take care to write
down the bios settings prior to reinstalling the bios so that you can
match the settings. I know that there area couple of ways to install a
bios but the most secure is via a boot diskette .

Locust

 

[Billy_Bat]

that's right. I've never had to reinstall the os after a bios flash, forward
or backward. You shouldn't have any problems.
Good Luck!
BB

 

[Linux Lover]

Thanks for your replies, but before proceeding with this experiement,
could you please comment on the following experiences:

http://tinyurl.com/ywdu7
http://tinyurl.com/26nkw

It seems that whether W2K needs to be re-installed or not can vary from
board to board. Some require that you perform the BIOS update BEFORE
installing Windows while others don't seem to matter.

Can you tell me with certainty/experience that the P4P800 Deluxe falls
into the second (good) category?

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[end user]

Life itself is full of uncertainty.

In the first instance the person had a double boot system using linux.
In the second instance the backward reinstallation of the bios worked.

I have found win2000 to be very forgiving except in one instance. If I
made a backup of win2000 using drive image 2002, resized the partition
& tried to reinstall the backed up copy -- win20000 would not work.

BAckup the system & try. It's like overclocking, all memory (even same
memory types) are not all equal.

Locust

 

[Linux Lover]

Thanks "end user" for your good advice.

I managed to "solve" the problem.

I did so by disabling the IEEE194 onboard (crappy VIA controller, what
else did you expect from a company like VIA?) and installing the
Pinnacle IEEE1394 PCI card (TI controller) that I had from my old
StudioDV that I bought years ago.

All functions in my video editing software (espcially "Print to Tape")
now work PERFECTLY.

Not really a solution in my view, but it works and I spent far too much
time on troubleshooting this problem. So, until I hear from ASUS (the
manufacturer of my PC's motherboard) about some BIOS update that
addresses this specific problem, I am not going to spend any more time
on this.

Thanks everyone for your attempts to help.

Lynn

 

[Guest]

Thanks "end user" for your good advice.

I managed to "solve" the problem.

I did so by disabling the IEEE194 onboard (crappy VIA controller, what
else did you expect from a company like VIA?) and installing the
Pinnacle IEEE1394 PCI card (TI controller) that I had from my old
StudioDV that I bought years ago.

All functions in my video editing software (espcially "Print to Tape")
now work PERFECTLY.

Not really a solution in my view, but it works and I spent far too much
time on troubleshooting this problem. So, until I hear from ASUS (the
manufacturer of my PC's motherboard) about some BIOS update that
addresses this specific problem, I am not going to spend any more time
on this.
Thanks everyone for your attempts to help.
Lynn

I was more surprised to hear you had the on-board firewire working at all with
ANY bios. My experience with both the p4c800 and the p4p800 is that the build in
ieee194 suck. Skipping, missing frames etc. A $15 multiport car or the firewire
port on my sound card work flawlessly. The on-board ports on both the c and the
p800 aren't worth crap regardless of the bios. I have tried them all. If you had
it working it must have been some magic luck or something. Other people have
complained about the problem as well. Via bites. They continue to turn out crap
and people swear by it. I'll have a much better out look when they finally go
out of business.

 

[Linux Lover]

Well, I naively did expect that everything would work since it's an ASUS
motherboard (and it's Intel-based). In fact, I chose an Intel-based
mobo to avoid the horrible experiences that I had with VIA-based mobos.
I am still surprised that ASUS (with its great reputation) could release
a piece of HW that has no chance of working (because it has the VIA
VT6410 IDE RAID controller and the VIA 6307 IEEE1394 controller).

I couldn't agree with you more regarding how crappy VIA is. I am amazed
that such a company is still in business. Only now, after
troubleshooting and solving the problem all by myself, I discovered this:

http://tinyurl.com/27bhe
http://tinyurl.com/2pjar
http://tinyurl.com/295nc

http://forums.viaarena.com/messageview.cfm?catid=16&threadid=43114&STARTPAGE=1


Apparently, VIA doesn't give a hoot about its customers. But trust me -
it won't be like that for a long time, since VIA will remain without any
customers to give (or not to give) a hoot about.

Lynn

 

[GMAN]

Well, I naively did expect that everything would work since it's an ASUS
motherboard (and it's Intel-based). In fact, I chose an Intel-based
mobo to avoid the horrible experiences that I had with VIA-based mobos.
I am still surprised that ASUS (with its great reputation) could release
a piece of HW that has no chance of working (because it has the VIA
VT6410 IDE RAID controller and the VIA 6307 IEEE1394 controller).

What are you talking about? I agree in general via makes piss poor chipsets
for basing a complete system around but the 1394 chipset and VT6410 raid
chipset is not included in that list IMHO.

I have had no problems with my 1394 captures.

The Promise Raid chipset has been full of problems for many too.....

 

[Linux Lover]

What are you talking about? I agree in general via makes piss poor chipsets
for basing a complete system around but the 1394 chipset and VT6410 raid
chipset is not included in that list IMHO.

I have had no problems with my 1394 captures.

GMAN, if you carefully read my first posting in this thread, you'll see
that I have no problem with 1394 captures with the VIA 6307 IEEE1394
chipset on this ASUS P4P800 Deluxe motherboard - even with the latest
BIOS version 1016. It is the REVERSE DIRECTION that doesn't work!

Moreover, I can even testify that in BIOS version 1014 both directions
worked perfectly. Something changed since the BIOS update and I don't
know what it is. Could it be the fact that I unleashed my HDD (connected
to the VIA VT6410 chipset) to run at full speed UDMA6 (133MB/s)? And
even if so, *everything* in that mobo should work *as advertised*.

Interestingly enough, only the VIA portion in this great ASUS mobo is
having problems... A coincidence? Not if you read the following:

http://tinyurl.com/ypc58
http://tinyurl.com/27bhe

Apparently, I am the only one who can report that the onboard IEEE1394
worked in BOTH direcctions at some point in time. Unfortunately, that
was a very temporary "point in time"...

Can you report that your P4P800's 1394 works PERFECTLY in the other
direction? If so, is your HDD connected to the Intel or the VIA chipset?

Lynn

 

[GMAN]

GMAN, if you carefully read my first posting in this thread, you'll see
that I have no problem with 1394 captures with the VIA 6307 IEEE1394
chipset on this ASUS P4P800 Deluxe motherboard - even with the latest
BIOS version 1016. It is the REVERSE DIRECTION that doesn't work!

Moreover, I can even testify that in BIOS version 1014 both directions
worked perfectly. Something changed since the BIOS update and I don't
know what it is. Could it be the fact that I unleashed my HDD (connected
to the VIA VT6410 chipset) to run at full speed UDMA6 (133MB/s)? And
even if so, *everything* in that mobo should work *as advertised*.

Interestingly enough, only the VIA portion in this great ASUS mobo is
having problems... A coincidence? Not if you read the following:

http://tinyurl.com/ypc58
http://tinyurl.com/27bhe

Apparently, I am the only one who can report that the onboard IEEE1394
worked in BOTH direcctions at some point in time. Unfortunately, that
was a very temporary "point in time"...

Can you report that your P4P800's 1394 works PERFECTLY in the other
direction? If so, is your HDD connected to the Intel or the VIA chipset?

Lynn

Sure,

On the Onboard Intel I have the following,

40 gig Maxtor ATA133 as Primary Master (ATA100 speed of course)
60 gig Maxtor ATA100 as Primary Slave

LiteOn CDRW 48x12x48 Burner as Secondary Master
Pioneer DVR-A06 DVD Burner as Secondary Slave


On the VIA VT6410 I have the following,

60 gig Maxtor ATA100 as Primary Master on VIA VT6410 in non raid mode
60 gig Maxtor ATA100 as Secondary Slave on VIA VT6410 in non raid mode

20 gig Seagate ATA100 as Secondary Master






I am running XP Pro as my OS with 1 gig ram and an ATI 9800 Pro 128mb ram.


I use a JVC DVF21u DV camcorder thats a few years old. I also on occasion
use the dreaded Dazzle Hollywood DV bridge (Analog to DV converter box).

I used to always get problems using the DV converter with my old Pinnacle DV
add in card, but from some weird luck i never get lockups or dropped frames in
either direction with the onboard VIA 1394.

The only time i ever had luck capturing , but dropped frames on saving back
to tape was when the HD's for some reason dropped out of DMA mode and went to
PIO mode. This was caused by some software i had installed that caused some
weird DMA issues.


Hey, i AM with you in general dislikeing VIA and would prefer it to have
been all Intel on the board but the layout works great from me.

 

[Linux Lover]

Sure,

On the Onboard Intel I have the following,

40 gig Maxtor ATA133 as Primary Master (ATA100 speed of course)
60 gig Maxtor ATA100 as Primary Slave

LiteOn CDRW 48x12x48 Burner as Secondary Master
Pioneer DVR-A06 DVD Burner as Secondary Slave


On the VIA VT6410 I have the following,

60 gig Maxtor ATA100 as Primary Master on VIA VT6410 in non raid mode
60 gig Maxtor ATA100 as Secondary Slave on VIA VT6410 in non raid mode

20 gig Seagate ATA100 as Secondary Master






I am running XP Pro as my OS with 1 gig ram and an ATI 9800 Pro 128mb ram.


I use a JVC DVF21u DV camcorder thats a few years old. I also on occasion
use the dreaded Dazzle Hollywood DV bridge (Analog to DV converter box).

I used to always get problems using the DV converter with my old Pinnacle DV
add in card, but from some weird luck i never get lockups or dropped frames in
either direction with the onboard VIA 1394.

The only time i ever had luck capturing , but dropped frames on saving back
to tape was when the HD's for some reason dropped out of DMA mode and went to
PIO mode. This was caused by some software i had installed that caused some
weird DMA issues.


Hey, i AM with you in general dislikeing VIA and would prefer it to have
been all Intel on the board but the layout works great from me.

GMAN, you have one impressive loaded system. I have only one 160GB HDD
(SAMSUNG) in my system - mainly for noise reasons (i.e. the desire to
minimize acoustic noise as possible).

So, if I understand correctly you have your DV connection working
properly in BOTH direction. Am I correct?

What BIOS version are you currently running on your P4P800 Deluxe mobo?

Lynn

 

[GMAN]

GMAN, you have one impressive loaded system. I have only one 160GB HDD
(SAMSUNG) in my system - mainly for noise reasons (i.e. the desire to
minimize acoustic noise as possible).

So, if I understand correctly you have your DV connection working
properly in BOTH direction. Am I correct?

What BIOS version are you currently running on your P4P800 Deluxe mobo?

I'd much prefer 2 large hard drives like yours compared to the many smaller
ones but cant afford new ones right now.

I think i have the latest 1016 beta or whatever . i am pretty sure i flashed
it 2 weeks ago or so.

 

[Linux Lover]

I think i have the latest 1016 beta or whatever . i am pretty sure i flashed
it 2 weeks ago or so.

The latest beta is 1017. It was only released on May 12, 2004 (about 3
weeks ago). I am always leery about using beta in my main PC, that's why
I still have 1016. Then again, it seems that ASUS has joined companies
like VIA and LITEON where "beta" and "release" is only a label...

Do you feel it is stable enough to replace 1016?

Related URL:
http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=P4P800 Deluxe

 

[GMAN]

The latest beta is 1017. It was only released on May 12, 2004 (about 3
weeks ago). I am always leery about using beta in my main PC, that's why
I still have 1016. Then again, it seems that ASUS has joined companies
like VIA and LITEON where "beta" and "release" is only a label...

Do you feel it is stable enough to replace 1016?

Related URL:
http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=P4P800 Deluxe

Havent tried it yet. Will get back to you