Old chipset, new OS ?

[theTAO]

Hello,

I haven't visited VIA Arena since I built a PC with an Asus A7V266-E motherboard (KT266A north bridge and VT8233 south bridge) roughly 5 years ago. The PC is currently at my workplace, acting as a test server. While testing a new server application last week it crashed hard, trashed the registry, and necessitated an OS reinstall. It was and will continue running Windows Server 2003 x86. I can blame the crash on all sorts of things, but the software was rated to run even under Windows XP, so I don't interpret that to mean high hardware requirements. This time around I'm being especially careful with drivers. I recall the immediate predecessors of the KT266A containing bugs that actually lose data when the PCI bus is under heavy load. (From what I recall, the KT266A is just a bit slow, not outright flakey.) My question is about the driver family I should use. The Hyperion Pro drivers were designed for newer OS's, but the 4in1 package is specifically recommended for use with the KT266A. Right now I don't need speed, but high stability. Am I better off with the Hyperion package? Any particular version? Does either package contains fixes to work around issues with the KT266A (there was originally a 3rd party driver/patch)? Can anybody tell me what the final word was on the stability of the KT266A?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Todd

[Mr. Chris]

For an older chipset like the KT266, VIA recommends the 4.43 4 in 1 drivers, not the Hyperions (and I agree with them ) You can get them here: VIA Arena - Display Drivers second ones from the top.

As far as stability and the KT266a, it's a good solid chipset, but the boards them selves are sometimes plagued with bad capacitors, which can manifest in problems with the board seeing all of the RAM, errors with the onboard video as well as Windows blue screen errors ( Unexpected_Kernal_Mode_Trap, IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, and others)

A power supply, RAM or hard drive could also be responsible for a hard lock. And, of course this is only my humble opinion, but programs can and do also cause hard locks, even the ones that have been running fine for years.

Registry trashed, eh> If that PC is connectoed to the Internet, you need a good antivirus these days! Chris.

[tcsenter]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chris

For an older chipset like the KT266, VIA recommends the 4.43 4 in 1 drivers, not the Hyperions...

And its a dumb recommendation based on anecdotal reports. However, I don't think VIA would recommend drivers that predate the OS, no matter how old the chipset. Server 2003 was not supported until v4.49, but did not receive WHQL CAT for Server 2003 until the v4.49vp3 service release:

http://s89934018.onlinehome.us/drive...in1_449vp3.exe

I still would not recommend drivers that old for a current OS. The rule of thumb is:

Old chipset + current OS = newer drivers

Old chipset + old OS = older drivers


I would recommend v4.56 at a minimum for Server 2003, since 'first supporting' driver versions are always relatively immature:

http://www.viaarena.com/Driver/VIA_H...4in1_v456v.zip

I recall the immediate predecessors of the KT266A containing bugs that actually lose data when the PCI bus is under heavy load. (From what I recall, the KT266A is just a bit slow, not outright flakey.)

Its not an issue with VT8231 or later, unless you install a certain sound card manufacturer's product which happens to violate PCI specs.

[theTAO]

Originally Posted by tcsenter

And its a dumb recommendation based on anecdotal reports. However, I don't think VIA would recommend drivers that predate the OS, no matter how old the chipset.

Hmm, two completely different suggestions. Anybody else want to venture an opinion?

Originally Posted by tcsenter

Its not an issue with VT8231 or later, unless you install a certain sound card manufacturer's product which happens to violate PCI specs.

Well, there's still a SoundBlaster Live card installed, from back when it was running Windows 2000 and Linux. If your culprit is Creative, I can certainly remove that card.

Thanks again,

Todd

[Mr. Chris]

Since I was simply going by VIA's suggestions for the driver they recommend for that chipset, and since TCS is in the business of system building, repairing and sales, I defer to his recommendation for the driver version to use.

By all means, if you really don't need that Creative card in there, remove it. Creative has a habit of hogging the PCI buss, using up 2 IRQ's/ If the onboard doesn't work or isn't good enough, I suggest a Turtle Beach card. Chris.

[tcsenter]

Originally Posted by theTAO

Hmm, two completely different suggestions. Anybody else want to venture an opinion?

Its simple, really. Windows 2003 Server is not supported until v4.49:

4-in-1 and Hyperion release history up to v4.53

However, do you want to use any 'first release' driver, no matter the vendor?

Well, there's still a SoundBlaster Live card installed, from back when it was running Windows 2000 and Linux.

That's the one. Not only does the original SB Live! (not 5.1) dumbly require a chipset that supports PCI bus parking, an optional feature in the PCI Spec that VIA did not implement until the VT8235, but also had an electrical PCI compliance issue that cropped-up on chipsets from VIA, SIS, and ALI.

This did not affect Intel chipsets because Creative did not consider any other PCI bus implementation during design and qualification. This was fixed with SB Live! 5.1 and later (though bus parking is still required).

Since I was simply going by VIA's suggestions for the driver they recommend for that chipset

I wasn't implying you were dumb for recommending it, only that VIA was.

[theTAO]

Originally Posted by tcsenter

That's the one. Not only does the original SB Live! (not 5.1) dumbly require a chipset that supports PCI bus parking, an optional feature in the PCI Spec that VIA did not implement until the VT8235, but also had an electrical PCI compliance issue that cropped-up on chipsets from VIA, SIS, and ALI.

Actually, it is a SB Live 5.1, but I shall still remove the card, to hopefully stack the deck. Thanks for all the tips.

Todd