The truth about Vortex cards and KX133 boards

[NFS4]

No wonder I had problems with mine From Broken Pixel. VIA and Epox have owned up to the problem


<< &quot;ISSUE

Audio cards that use A3D audio chip causes KX133 system to deadlock when
system traffic is heavy.

SOLUTION

A3D chip issues one memory read request cycle to North Bridge and expects a
grant within 4 mico-sec of latency time. If PCI TRDY# is not asserted after
4 mico-sec, the A3D hardware will de-assert the FRAME# and REQ# to terminate
the operation. However, the A3D audio software driver cannot acknowledge the
termination and continues waiting for hardware response. Hence causes the
system to deadlock.

This issue will only occur during heavy system traffic when the North Bridge
cannot grant access to A3D audio chip within the 4 micro-sec latency time.

Source: VIA Application note Serial #AN137 Date 07/05/00.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Since the above issue has no work-around on the VIA Apollo KX133 chipset
EPoX suggests against using sound cards based with the A3D audio hardware
with our EP-7KXA.&quot; >>

 

[Remedy]

Bah, wtf are ppl with those cards supposed to do now? I don't wanna have to go out and buy a suckblaster live!, that card blows big time. I'd be a fool to buy that new Mx 400 from diamond. The stress.....

 

[NFS4]

<< I don't wanna have to go out and buy a suckblaster live!, that card blows big time >>


Yeah, whatever You'll find that about 65-70% of the people here use a Live! based card

 

[utopia]

http://www.tweakmax.com/#542

 

[Scorpion]

This is weird NSF4. I remember you griping about your Xitel Storm Platinum and stuff. I'm running my Xitel on the Epox 7kxa and have absolutly no problem. Hardly ever locks up. All my drivers are current...

Weird that I don't have this problem at all.

 

[Remedy]

Like i said NFS4, suckblaster lives! sucks bigtime all that echo cave sounding crap isn't gonna cut it for me. I rather play with no sound than to play with eax.

 

[NFS4]

<< Like i said NFS4, suckblaster lives! sucks bigtime all that echo cave sounding crap isn't gonna cut it for me. I rather play with no sound than to play with eax. >>


Hey, you're the one missing out

 

[Finality]

No he isn't.

The SB Live has a flat sound from what I have heard. And when it doesn't have flat sound its sounds like an echo.

 

[MisterM]

Echo? LOL!
One of EA`s features is echo, but you can set it however you want, hardly anything to complain about!


I haven`t used an Vortex 2 based card yet, so I can`t coment on the &quot;flat&quot; sound....it`s sounding good enoug to me...

 

[Double Trouble]

I have an MX300 on one machine and a SoundBastard Live! on another, and there's just no comparison. The soundbastard sucks. Unfortunately, as end consumers, we don't have much of a choice anymore with Aureal going down the drain, we're pretty much stuck getting cards with Yamaha chipsets on them or the soundbastards. I think I'll just stick to the cheap generic ones from now on........

 

[randomlinh]

hrmm.. i don't find any echo problems or flat sounds w/ my live. And with the klipsch's... heh, my neighbors just can't appreciate good speakers

 

[NFS4]

We shall settle this with a poll

 

[PowerJoe]

&quot;the A3D audio software driver cannot...&quot;

Sounds like it's solvable through a new driver, if there's anyone left in Aureal to write it that is

-PJ

 

[PowerJoe]

&quot;the A3D audio software driver cannot...&quot;

Sounds like it's solvable through a new driver, if there's anyone left in Aureal to write one that is

-PJ

 

[Semper Fi]

I agree about the soundblaster comments, although they are good cards
I prefer the sound of the vortex2 cards. They just sound &quot;realer&quot; to me. I currently have a MX300 w/ newest ref drivers and all the latest drivers for mobo and system components. The one exception is the via 4-in-1 drivers, only have the AGP driver installed. The other via drivers had other issues(lack of perf etc...) I was getting occasional lockups with the card in. The message does state under a heavyload. Most people will probably never experience a problem, I only did occasionally, but it was enough to pull the card from my comp. The mx300 is a great card for the price, just don't use Diamond's drivers! Hopefully someone will fix the problem, I hope.

 

[Remedy]

LOL, see NFS4 there is just no comparison man with those 2 cards so go on and have that poll started. Because it won't be long before it get's flamed.

 

[NFS4]

<< LOL, see NFS4 there is just no comparison man with those 2 cards so go on and have that poll started. Because it won't be long before it get's flamed. >>


The poll has already started my friend, and the Live! is creaming the competition.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&amp;threadid=197400

Out of 38 responses, there are 21 folks with Live's. 55%, Not as high as my 65-70% prediction, but not everyone has voted.

So bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Remedy]

Ok Nfs4, you are the elite one here so i will step down now and stay in my place, no hard feelings.

 

[NFS4]

No need to step down...I love a good fight

 

[Remedy]

Thank you Red,now i am ready to go another round with you Nfs4 with red behind me . It is true ppl who never heard a3d are real naive when it comes to arguing this point of eax vs a3d but you have to hear it to know how good it is.

 

[NFS4]

I've had an Xitel card, and I can say that my Live! sounds better all around.