If you're thinking of buying an ASUS (esp. Pundit-R), this is for you: I've been lurking on this list since I finally got the scratch together to start my Myth project. Asus Pundit-R, P4 2.5GHz, 512MB, 250GB SATA Maxtor, 2 PCHDtv 3000's & a NEC DVD burner.
I started putting the system together and ran into the normal case issues with trying to get the HD cards to fit (who designs these systems, anyway?), but I liked the Pundit's form factor. Once I got FC3 installed and running, I tried to play a DVD through myth, only to find it choppy. Playing DVD's through xine outside of Myth was choppy. I dual-booted the system and went into Windows (a sacrilege, I know, but it was useful). DVD's still choppy. I traced the issue down to what I believe is a DMA controller problem. The issue exists with multiple different DVD or CD ROM drives. The issue exists with or without the HDD installed. Live CD's such as Knoppix or Knoppmyth (2.4 and 2.6 kernels) will not boot without the nodma flag. (they hang right after the enabling DMA message) Windows 2000 also shows no DMA on the CD / DVD drive, even if I force it to use a specific UDMA or MWDMA mode. Based on the issue existing with multiple HW / OS combinations, and with the most recent BIOS image, this sounds like a pretty clear-cut motherboard issue. I called ASUS and they agreed. I shipped the system to them for warranty service (at my cost). 18 days later, it just arrived with a note "no problem found." I have yet to build the system back up and plug the DVD drive into it, but if they have done no work, I do not expect the system to run correctly. I now face the prospect of calling ASUS again, trying to get a new RMA, and being without the system for nearly another month while they (hopefully) replace it. Due to their service hours, I cannot speak to a technician until at least 12p EST. I am very frustrated with the support ASUS has given to date, finding them unresponsive, and the technicians to be curt and unhelpful. This will likely be the ONLY ASUS product that I will ever purchase, and I recommend others looking at their product to seriously consider other manufacturers. To be fair, I obtained a 2nd Pundit case for a friend at the same time, and he has built it identically to mine, and reported no issues with that system, so it appears I got a bad board. I would still expect quick, professional support from any company that I deal with, and I have yet to see that from ASUS. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me backchannel. _______________________________________________ mythtv-users mailing list [email protected] http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
