C-media 8738 & Windows XP problem w/ P4B266

[w9design]

Anyone here successfully using their C-media 8378 onboard video with Windows XP Pro on their P4B266? No matter what driver version I try (even the latest WHCL ones from Windows Update), the computer locks up shortly after it hits the desktop. Using an SBLive or disabling the onboard audio fixes it.
I'm at a loss. The problem is existant even at stock speeds.

Here's a brief config summary:
P4 1.6A @ 160FSB (2560MHz) Turbo 1 mode
P4B266 BIOS 1006.002
256MB Samsung PC2100
40GB Seagate Barracuda IV
All-in-Wonder Radeon 32MB
TI FireWire card; Intel 10/100 + NIC.

 

[Papercup]

yeah yeah man over here.

I bought the setup below and board came with 1002 bios. I had no trouble at all. Clocked it to 2.2 and left it.

Then i flashed bios to 1005. Still fine.

Then i bought 6 identical systems to build and sell at work. 1.6s, but same board and mem. They came with 1005 bios. Installed Win2000 on one of them, and ghosted it to the other 5. Not one of the other five will boot without this lockup at first sound/desktop. Turn off sound they are happy. As time is an issue at work i bought 6 SB128 pci cards and to hell with it.

Then i clean install at home (bear in mind only difference is newer bios). Use drivers from Windows Update. I get this lockup. I clean install again and use driver CD that came with board, run it from its menu properly, just like you should. Fine. Then Windows Update as well. Fine. Still going fine, not one lockup.

If i clean install and install drivers from my hard drive, having copied the dir from the cd, then i get lockups......too weird or what.....

So install WinXP, insert Asus CD and choose 'Drivers', 'Audio'. I install the Apps as well as the driver. Then Windows Update, this seems to make no difference. If it locks up before, it will lock up after.,,,

could try flashing back to 1002 bios; i didn't see any difference between them, and now when i clock it does the sound lockup thing. Switch off, go into BIOS and set to normal speed/voltage and boots fine.

this has been my experience; i am now at stock speed, but its fast as hell anyway and the Geforce 4 is the real balls of it so not bothered about clocking. I would like the option tho.....

let me know how you get on

 

[jiffylube1024]

Yeah I'm not sure what these problems are with the Cmedia sound chip, but they are definately there. I have a P4B266 and I run the onboard sound with 1.8A @ 2.25 GHz and I've never had any problems EVER with the onboard sound in either Windows 2000 or XP pro, even though I'm overclocking and everything.

So I recommended this mobo to a friend and now he's having all kinds of problems with the onboard sound; his windows crashes every 5 minutes with onboard sound (I believe that's the problem) and the board just seems unstable for him. I have no idea why there is this discrepancy, however he's lending me his computer to fix it for him.

I wonder if there are a ton of lemons being pumped out by ASUS (or Cmedia for ASUS) or if it's just the order in which you install the drivers.

 

[nnnyyy]

It seems like this is a common problem for the p4b266. I think it only locks up at higher FSBs also.