Hey Grazie, Dell I8K note.

DGrob wrote on 2/28/2003, 12:31 PM
Found at www.videoguys.com/system.htm


"Potential compatibility Issues
The following list has been compiled from our own tech support experiences and direct communications with tech support from our manufacturers. This list in no way claims that the hardware listed is inferior or poor performers. In fact most of these machines are excellent computers, with proprietary subsystems that make using our cards difficult. Not every version of the machines listed is a problem. Yours may work just fine with our cards. This is more a guideline for users planning on buying a new machine for DTV.

Dell Dimensions 8200
We running into some very big technical issues with the Dell 8200 machines running under WinXP with the Nvidia graphics card currently being offered from Dell. These very same machines are working great if we substitute the graphics card with an ATI Radeon and run Win2K. We are not sure what is going on here, but we suspect it is an XP driver issue.

VIA Chipsets
We don't really recommend these chipsets, because of PCI bottelnecks. If your motherboard uses the VIA chipset, it is important that you download and install the latest 4-in-1 driver, version 4.23 or later. You can download this from your motherboard vendor's sight. Note: Installing the latest 4-in-1 driver will improve your system performance, but it may not solve your NLE compatibility issues. If you have a choice, do not get a VIA chipset."

FYI, Grob

Comments

Grazie wrote on 2/28/2003, 12:54 PM
Grob - Good to hear from you. I've been ready your other posts. I've been doing some more rewarding "creative" stuff for the past 3 weeks. I needed the relief from that massive thread we "wove".

Thanks for that. Any idea what it means in english! Does this equate with getting a stand-alone DV specific box, just for NLE work? Hmmm....
DGrob wrote on 2/28/2003, 2:46 PM
Grazie: Good for you. I needed a break as well, but I continue to poke about with my BS-ing thing-ies issues. Have an inquiry into SoFo Tech right now. This other reference came up when looking into "tweaking XP" off another post on this forum.

Do I know what it means? . . . proprietary subsystems . . . These very same machines are working great if we substitute the graphics card . . . and run Win2K . . . XP driver cards . . . I think it means my system was doomed right out of the box, which is just what I experienced when I fired their package up, which explains why I'm over here with SoFo. The whole Dell / Videowave / I8200 / XP package was bogus. Since my "30 days" are up I don't expect much satisfaction from Dell.

I don't think I'm prepared to replace graphics cards and shoot for a clean install of Win2K . . . just yet anyhow.

Talked to a techie in a local pro editing company. His suggestion was to download a demo of something like Premier 6.5 and see if I have the same set of performance problems. Interesting idea. I know, I know, sacrilige!!! Have you had any other NLEs on your system at one time or another??

Sorry to drag you back into this BS. Grob

Grazie wrote on 2/28/2003, 3:05 PM
"Just when I thought I was out . . .They drag me back in!" - Godfather [ II ? ].

Yeah, "Dell Movie Solution" back in 2001 got me "going" with VideoSlave III. Then I got Studio7 - Then I upgraded to VideoSlave 5. All give/give me BS. Found Forum memebr on VideosSlave Forum - VINCEG. Got SoFo VF, in terms of productivity knocked S7 and VideoSlave into a cocked-hat.

"Dell Video Solution" Yeah - right! However Phil has had the best experience I've heard of with the Dell Inspy - BUT he got rid of some of the culprits and so and so on . . . re-read his valuable posts . .interesting.

I'm having a modicum of success by pre-plugging Canon into Inspy prior to boot-up. I aint letting this getting in the way of what I want to do. Just have to grin and bare it.
discdude wrote on 2/28/2003, 3:09 PM
Hey Grob,

The Videoguys mentioned a problem with a Dimension (desktop) 8200, not an Inspiron (laptop) 8200.

It's too bad the Videoguys didn't elaborate on what those "very big technical issues" are. Of course there has probably been at least one new driver released for the Nvidia card since the guide was written in September of 2002 (probably more although Nvidia's newer drivers have a bad "rep").
Grazie wrote on 2/28/2003, 4:52 PM
Thanks DD - Yet another blind alley.
DGrob wrote on 2/28/2003, 6:31 PM
Amen, and to all a good night. Grob
hobez wrote on 2/28/2003, 6:46 PM
I don't know if you remember my input on the BS issue. I have a Dell 4500 1.8 with a 80gb primary and 200gb video HD (both internal) 1024 RAM with Gforce 4 video card with the same BS symptoms when I attempt to PTT by any method. I changed video cards (ATI 7500) without success. This is my primary computer but I have several others on my home network and decided to put a cheap firewire card in my Gateway 733 P3 256 Ram 40gb HD and have printed to tape ever since without a hitch. It has a Gforce 3 in it and no audio card. I think this is a Dell or Creative issue. VV even renders faster on the P3.
DGrob wrote on 2/28/2003, 6:53 PM
Most recent advice:

Right click my computer> properties> hardware> device manager.
go to video codecs (under sound, video, game controllers)
go to properties, go to DVsoft
go to properties, go to settings

You may see a toggle that is likely default to "output to video." Change to "output to both."

This 3-way toggle was in fact set to video for my system. Goin' fishin'. Goin' try.

Grob
memmer wrote on 3/18/2003, 11:26 PM
I noticed that you've (Grazie) tried using some laptops with Vegas Video Plus DVD. I'm looking to configure a laptop system - specifically for burning/authoring DVD's and mobile editing with Vegas Video Plus DVD. Do you have any recommendations/cautions, etc? Was thinking of a Dell Inspiron notebook with Pent4 2.2Ghz (looks like stay away from the NVidia graphics cards). A sony External DVD DRX500ULX - does +R/RW and -R/RW and runs off firewire or USB 2.0 - There's probably a lot of limitations with the firewire ports on a laptop - how many can you get?
How did you hook up your harddrives exclusively for video? Best Externally? with firewire because of heat issues? Let me know what you would go with. Thanks-memmer
Grazie wrote on 3/18/2003, 11:54 PM
I've burnt SVCDs and VCDs. I don't burn DVDs with my Inspiron. I've been researching the option of finding a way of doing so. I've found the present UK price of around £300 for the Sony - I read product of choice - is a laughable amount of money. I've decided to wait. As to the daisey chaining of "firewired" devices, I've not found a problem so far with my 4 external MAXTOR drives, however, having been reading our Forum colleagues' experiences with these products I'm concerned!

As to your last point - I'm using the Dell Video qualified 4-pin port for Video In/Out AND a Maxtor PCMCIA firewire card that the MAXTOR externals are connected to. Heat? - I don't really understand, but as the MAXTORS are externals, no heat problem. I think you maybe refering to the fan/s BIOS callout issue for "Printing To Tape" - PTT. This I have "cured" by using a dedicated MAXTOR external drive JUST for the final file for PTTing. I still have to use FanGui to force the fan/s on.
memmer wrote on 3/19/2003, 7:19 AM
Was there one standard internal firewire port on the Inspiron? I wonder if you can get 2 internal from Dell? Ever combined Hard drives/CD drives chained on firewire? What chipset do you have in the Inspiron? Not the VIA that everyone says avoid? So when printing to tape use a dedicated drive is the consensus? The external Sony goes for about $500 best price in the states I've found. Do you know if Western Digital has a firewire interface for their 120gigs or bigger hard drives. Thanks!
Grazie wrote on 3/19/2003, 8:01 AM
1- Was there one standard internal firewire port on the Inspiron? - Yes, a 4-pin port.

2- I wonder if you can get 2 internal from Dell? - Dunno - Talk to Dell, Good Luck Pal!!

3 - Ever combined Hard drives/CD drives chained on firewire? No - Only firewire Maxtors.

3 - What chipset do you have in the Inspiron? Ask Dell for the latest info that.

4 - Not the VIA that everyone says avoid? Ask Dell

5 - So when printing to tape use a dedicated drive is the consensus? - This has been the only way I've found works.

6 - The external Sony goes for about $500 best price in the states I've found. Do you know if Western Digital has a firewire interface for their 120gigs or bigger hard drives. - Dunno, ask WD

Best regards

Grazie
DGrob wrote on 3/19/2003, 10:38 AM
Dell I8200, XPHome, 30GB, 5400rpm, 256RAM, 1 Dell 4-pin 1394, 1 Belkin PCMCIA 2-port 1394 adaptor to a Maxtor 120GB, 7200rpm external. Camcorder goes in and out via Dell's 4-pin, captures and renders all out to Maxtor. Shut down everything!!! nonessential in order to quiet XP background processes during PTT (even disable CDRW drive and floppy). Installed and use Fangui to control PC temp monitoring and fan control during PTT. Have to copy rendered .avi to C/My Documents for unblemished PTT.

Tweaked XP as per videoguys. Raised Vegas 3.0 .exe and vidcap.exe priorities to "High." Defrag prior to PTT.

Grazie reports that he had to undock his Dell to clear up nagging PTT anomalies. My Dell Laptop was "quasi-docked" with an additonal USB1 mouse, external keyboard, external microphone, and printer. Only by "quasi-undocking" can I get consistent PTT.

Dell support was no help at all, ever.

Next time around, I'm going to someone like www.pcnirvana and let the pros help me configure a system that will work without the mumbo jumbo, brain-damaged checklist. Jeez, I feel like a superstitious, obsessive-compulsive nut every time I go to PTT. I may even start chanting a mantra. Hmmmmmm. Veeeeeegaaaaaaaaas. Veeeeeeegaaaaaaaaas.

Grob

wcoxe1 wrote on 3/19/2003, 2:41 PM
The external Sony goes for about $500 best price in the states I've found. Do you know if Western Digital has
a firewire interface for their 120gigs or bigger hard drives. - Dunno, ask WD

Best regards

Grazie

Grazie:

CompUSA, that great Mexican company, has 120GB and 200GB WD external Firewire drives on sale through Saturday, at least here in Baton Rouge, for nice prices. Don't remember exactly what, since I don't need one, but they were less than the equivilent Maxtor GB for GB. By about $50.00, I think. (Rebate city, though!)

This is the first time I've seen them. Expect to see more, and prices should drop slowly but steadily as the 300GB drives (e.g., Maxtor 5A300) become more mainstream.
Grazie wrote on 3/19/2003, 3:58 PM
Grob - Yessssirrrie Bob! - Here in then UK, I'd be thinking of the same. Next time! Grob, not wanting to pour petrol on your particular flames, I have found that PTT works if I render to a cleaned-off external drive - it works and that's that! Why and what it means for anybody reading this they must . . . I think you say Sateside - "Go figure!"

wcoxe1 - Thanks for the input. Hope the poster wiil take note.
Zulqar-Cheema wrote on 3/19/2003, 6:30 PM
My Targa laptop has VIA chips and all seems well on it.
I Took my firewire hard drive to anouther machine last week loade a project and was editing on the machine in no time. Great software....