[mythtv-users] DMA Read errors and inter chipset (Abit BP6Motherboard)

[Cory Papenfuss]

>> Aug 18 04:19:12 mythtv kernel: APIC error on CPU1: 08(08)
>> Aug 18 04:19:13 mythtv kernel: APIC error on CPU0: 04(04)
 	Ah yes... good memories... (not really).  I was running the BP6 when I 
upgraded from 2.2 to 2.4 kernel and suddenly started getting these error 
messages.  Turns out they were always there, just not reported until 2.4 
kernel.

>
> Welcome to the wonderful world of the Abit BP6 motherboard.  I had one of
> these for a few years.  It started off just fine, but it gradually degraded in
> stability over time.  The APIC errors were very common.  The fact that the
> kernel is reporting the error implies that it is an error that was recovered
> from.  The APIC system, as I understand it, will generate these error
> interrupts when an error occurs, but it will keep retrying until it succeeds.
>
 	Fading caps... there's a number of websites out there about bad 
capacitors on the BP6.  I swapped mine out and the board became much happier. 
It still wouldn't see my PVR-250 though.

>
> It was a nice idea, but in reality, the BP6 was very poorly engineered with
> numerous faults.  Of course, Abit would never admit as much.  Some people got
> very lucky (like you), others were mildly lucky (like me).  Still others
> barely got a few months out of their BP6's.
>
 	Probably so, but it was a classic idea.  I had *almost* ordered a 
different setup (dual slot1 P2 board with slocket adapters... *shudder*) when I 
found the BP6.  Aside from the manufacturing problems and flaky UDMA chips 
(HPT366) it wasn't *that* bad.  Sure was nifty to buy two $45 processors and 
run them at 1.5x their speed.

-Cory
Only PCs ever bought (used to be Mac guy):
BP6 (300->450) --> VP6 (750->1000) --> Tyan 2466 (2.0->2.0))
SMP good!