@number6

Quote:

number6 wrote: @wegster Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the onboard sound driver for Micro A1-C was also mentioned in this thread. Best Wishes, #6

See my point B above

Although DaveAE says there's some work to be done yet on the onboard chipset driver, so it's _possible_ that's a different issue..but still would need a resolution.

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@wegster
archive.org to the rescue, old
Via/SB article

Also see (again via archive.org)
Via Official and Commonly Used Fixes

Some interesting comments from the first link:
Quote:

When using the original 4in1’s v4.29 or 4.32, only the SB Live had problems. After I transferred the files over the network, I checked the files for data corruption; mainly checking the Windows 2000 SP2 full install since it is sensitive to corruption. Out of the 6 cards tested, the SB live was the only card to cause data corruption and cause mp3’s to skip. There are many possible answers to why the data corruption occurs. The most common answer to the issue points to Creative to be at fault. When Creative designed the SB Live, they didn’t design it to support PCI Bus mastering, therefore when in use, the SB Live hogs the PCI bus. More can be read about this issue in WiNC’s 686B FAQ. ... ... n the end who is to blame for the cause of the issue? Data corruption can be blamed on both Creative and motherboard manufacturers since it only occurs on certain 686B motherboards. Audio skipping can be blamed all on Creative because it not only appears on VIA platforms, but Intel platforms as well.

DaveAE- any of this doing anything for ya?

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@wegster

Understood. Just wanted to give you the link.
I don't think you should include test results from Micro A1-C in relation to the
principal issue discussed in this thread. It is a separate issue.

Best Wishes,
#6

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@wegster
And one more statement, if this does turn out to be the cause: (can read at the second link above I posted)
Quote:

Official statement from VIA: The data corruption error, which some web sites and people have reported with the 686b Southbridge, is caused by incorrect bios registry setting to the Northbridge. These bios settings were made by motherboard manufacturers, in an attempt to fix a conflict with the Sound Blaster Live Value cards. Information has been provided to all motherboard manufacturers on how to correctly resolve both the data corruption error and the Sound Blaster Live conflict. The patch released by VIA in the 4in1 4.31 drivers’ replicates the correct bios settings. We provided this patch to make sure as many people got a fix to their Sound Blaster Live problems as soon as possible. Most motherboard manufacturers have now corrected their bios and the patch is not necessarily needed although it will not harm any VIA based system if installed.

Umm, so does anyone have this info to be corrected in uBoot? It would appear from empirical testing the Via referenced driver patch did NOT cure the problem, but it's possible the initialization issue might.

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@ OS4 Sound and uBoot devs

I've emailed the guy that wrote the second link I gave above, which outlines how to hack a fix for the issue, and had worked with Via on the issue, in the event he can comment on any of this, and perhaps provide a solution 'we' (collectively) do not have at our disposal.

I hope I didn't step on anyone's feet in doing so; would just like to see this issue resolved and laid to rest; ideally without requiring new hardware purchased by A1 owners.

As that page was from a LONG time ago, who knows what will happen there, if anything...but maybe we'll get lucky? (or be able to mail the page contents to Via and say, 'WTF? Fix details NOW!' )

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@wegster
You've done well locating all these old links, saves me the hassel.
From the information I've collected, the Micro A1 audio issue is nothing like the A1 users hardware freeze. I do know of about 2 Micros that had system freezes but that was heat related, thank god!

Even if we were able to get the SB live to run without problems I'd never use it again.

Last edited by wardyone on 09-Jul-2005 at 05:30 AM.

@wegster
Bits n pieces, need to stuff 'em somewhere.
Quote:

The result, observed in WPCREDIT, is that register 76, bits 4&5, are set to 01 in the main chip.

Email bounced to 'Tracy-Ann Rose-Powell' or Winc, from the via Forum. The name of the Via 'patch guy' is/was 'George Breese'. Looking for him next.

yet another link with some details:

techreport.com thread on 686b/SB

OK, found George Breese, emailed him. Note comments regarding Via forum at His Online Diary

Also possibly some other useful register/chipset info about Via in the rest of his diary.

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@wardyone

Hi,

Yes. Micro A1 issue is different. Please see this thread page #18 post #360.
Can you confirm this?

Best Wishes,
#6

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@wardyone

Yes, it's an SBLive 5.1.

@all

Interesting posts guys (wregster, dave ae, et all). I hope this means we will have a solution soon. If its the sblive driver great. It looks like someone had links and somone to contact. Even better, someone mentioned it cleared up a DMA conflict as well!! bonus 8)

I'll try tinkering with the newer drivers on os4depot since i read it works with the sblive (god knows why eh?). But later, im right tuckered out.

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@wegster

Quote:

Quote: The result, observed in WPCREDIT, is that register 76, bits 4&5, are set to 01 in the main chip.

If "main chip" is the VIA 686b, 76 is 0x4C (and not 0x76), they count the bits with msb = 1 (not 0, 7 or 8), etc., you can get that on AmigaOS4 by using "idetool -0 76 8".

Please note: I have no idea what this change does, if it doesn't fix your sound problem but instead you AmigaOne explodes it's your fault messing around with these settings

@joerg
Do you KNOW how evil that is?

Hmm..

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@joerg
I will NOT admit to trying that, because that 'would be bad' and would umm, void my non-existent warrantee.

I WILL say...that didn't change anything, problem still occurs...so no one else try this at home until the problem is better understood

Hmm, can you query individual registers as well?

Last edited by wegster on 09-Jul-2005 at 08:20 AM.

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@wegster

Quote:

Hmm, can you query individual registers as well?

AFAIK only all at once: idetool -w

Most of the output is for the VIA IDE controller, but the 1st part is from the 686b.

@FuZion

Quote:

Can I just clarify what I am reading, make sure I'm not getting the wrong end of the stick? The package: "driver/audio/envy24ht_ahi.lha" on OS4Depot, happens to support the SBLive & it appears that this driver, so far, has begun to prove more stable?

Not sure where you got this from but if you are thinking about this post:Quote:

Interesting to see. So it does matter after all. Note that the Envy24HT driver currently at OS4depot works more by coincident with the Juli@ than anything else. I haven't uploaded the real driver yet.

then you're mixing things up. What Dave meant was that I bought a Juli@ soundcard that uses the Envy24HT soundchip and the driver he made for the Terratec and M-Audio boards only coincindentally work for the Juli@ as well. He will be uploading dedicated drivers soon.........ish (I hope) but if is looking into other things atm then it's fine of course!

OK, new day and music still playing all files downloaded except for the first one which doesn't seem to be available anymore but that's still nine 680mb ISO's downloaded at once (with the tenth pending). I'm convinced that my system doesn't have these problems anymore.

Last edited by Steff on 09-Jul-2005 at 08:48 AM.

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@Steff

I think your audio lockups are a thing of the past for you.!!


@all
My A1 has been running for over 24 hrs streaming music with tunnet, Playing MP3's with AmigaAmp from a usb storage device, streaming video and audio via remote desktop, web browsing and posting on this forum while downloading 8 Gig of linux iso's...
Without a single lockup, freeze or reboot....
As far as I'm concered my test is complete, I think it speaks for it's self.
I shall return to my cave and continue to get lightwave running on OS4.
At least I'll be able to listen to internet radio with the fear of a freeze..

Cheers all

-Wardy.

@wardyone

Quote:

wardyone wrote: @Steff I think your audio lockups are a thing of the past for you.!! @all My A1 has been running for over 24 hrs streaming music with tunnet, Playing MP3's with AmigaAmp from a usb storage device, streaming video and audio via remote desktop, web browsing and posting on this forum while downloading 8 Gig of linux iso's... Without a single lockup, freeze or reboot.... As far as I'm concered my test is complete, I think it speaks for it's self. I shall return to my cave and continue to get lightwave running on OS4. At least I'll be able to listen to internet radio with the fear of a freeze.. Cheers all -Wardy.

I think you're right, which is good news. Now 2 people have confirmed no problems with swapped cards, and I've got a terratec on the way as well to verify.

We do have some remaining issues though:
a. What were the nature of the Via 686B/SB fixes (specifics), and can they be duplicated via uBoot or via a driver to eliminate the problem?

b. Can we learn anything else about the 686B from other's issues already experienced? (I seem to recall over and over about hearing about 'can't get specs from Via,' what was needed specifically? Maybe we'll get lucky and be able to dig this out from someone involved in the 686B/SB issues in the past.

c. The micro issues (seperate thread)

d. There were references in the links I posted about DMA issues as well with the Via chipset- there may be some useful info there for OS4 devs..possibly?

e. DaveAE's and OS4 devs take on this.

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So this problem was due to SoundBlaster Live! don't supporting Bus mastering?
Or is this still a problem that needs UBoot fix?

Why can't VIA give Hyperion the docs they need on 686B.. Aaaargh!
What's the secret with a 6-7 year old technology?

Last edited by Samwel on 09-Jul-2005 at 09:39 AM.

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@wegster

This is all excellent news guys!!! I'm just chuft that we seem to have cracked the problem.

One question though: Maybe I got lost under all the technical info being thrown around but; What have I got to do to get in the same position as you? (i.e. No lock ups... Apart from get the MAudio sound card I'm saving for).

FuZion.

@FuZion
Currently I'm not sure there is an 'immediate fix.' There's a lot of info to sort through, and that would best be done by the OS4 devs and/or DaveAE IMO. In reading through some of the info on the links posted, it appears there are both userland software/driver changes that may help the situation, as well as a BIOS fix, which in this case would need to be via uBoot...or _possibly_ via an OS tool like idetool... there was a fair amount of debate on which 'solution' best resolved the issues in the PC world, so there is likely still some research to be done here before 'suddenly no lockups' for A1s (wondering if this affects Peg 1s too?) with SB Live cards in them.

I'm hoping to get a response back from george, or to see DaveAE or one of the OS4 devs chime in to say 'they have enough info and now can confirm and understand the problem.' Without that, it would seem to buy any (non Creative) other sound card

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