Sonnet 7200 PCI programming

[nexus]

nice

[BULI]

Hi. I tried some movies (DivX, mpeg2, DVD) on my Sonnet 400 mhz, and:

1. Play DVD:
The best solution is AMP2 (beta version with support 3vix). Play sound only with AHI ("PAULA DMA 8bit" is the faster, but play all channels in one stereo channel output).

To play DVD you must select file VOB from DVD (or HDD, ofcourse we need fast HDD/DVD about 3,5MB/s minimum), options PLAY DVD don't work correctly with this version).

"Play DVD" option (you can select language, and voice track etc) work correctly with last officiall AMP2 (Aminet), but has a problem with synchronize sound and video
.
Some DVD works fine (drops more frames, but play OK). Some DVD has a problem with sound (depending on version of AAC etc).

[BULI]

2. Conversion.
I use mpeg2 format to play music videos from YT. The best quality and performance i have on AMP2 (old version without support DVD, can play sound via PAULA (audio.device) on Sonnet).

I play sound via audio.device (PAULA) and decoding 1:1, codec: mp2 or mp3 44100 hz.
Video resolution is about 640x360 (for 16:9 aspect ratio), or 512x384 (for 4:3 aspect ratio).

Maximum bit rate of video is about 1600 - 1400 kbit/s.

That play with overlay of course, and without any drops frames :-)

[BULI]

3. DivX

The best player for DivX, Xvid etc is FroggerNG WOS (version 2.08 it is probably beta), but some functions are doesn't work corectly like pause, or multiselect file (crash after finish play first) on Sonnet.
Sound work corectly with audio.device and AHI.

For 3vix codec also we can play via AMP2 beta version.

[Wrangler]

I've added a page to the wiki on installing a Rapture card. Please amend/add to as necessary!

PS I've noticed Elbox are up to v13.5 of pci.library. I'm guessing this is work in progress on the 1200TX and not necessary for A3K/4K users??

[Hedeon]

Originally Posted by Wrangler

PS I've noticed Elbox are up to v13.5 of pci.library. I'm guessing this is work in progress on the 1200TX and not necessary for A3K/4K users??

Yes and yes. You might need 13.5 on A3K/4K in the future though for other cards. Plus the library will ask for 13.5 in next update so you need to upgrade anyway.

[Wrangler]

Hmm... I am still getting instability problems with my Rapture set up. This is a config based on a stable Sonnet set up but now with a Rapture + Ramix combo instead. This is an A4000D motherboard with ATX PSU (42A rating on the 5v line). I have also added a 5V injector from a molex into a spare Zorro connector. 5V line is rock stable at 5.02V.

PPC programs work eg Cyberpi, Cybermand, Gearsppc, QuakeWOS etc but cause random hangs, PPC exceptions or reboots after anything from 20 seconds to 5 minutes.

pci.library v13.1, powerpc.library v324

Any ideas what might be causing this experience? Electronic noise? I'd like to hope it's not the Rapture itself but could it be?

[Hedeon]

I said 3.3V before. Did you check how much the Ramix is giving?

[Wrangler]

Because of the design of the case I am using, I can't easily get to the 3.3v output by the Ramix. I'll have to try harder... It's rated for 14A @ 3.3V.

Edit: OK, the Ramix is putting out a solid 3.34V at power on, once the PPC initialises and under load. Doesn't even wobble when there is a crash/hang.

[Cego]

Has anyone finished the last track in Wipeout as winner? As soon as i finish that track as first place, i'll get a yellow guru with immediate crash/reboot. This is reproducable (took me a few tries to win that track, but managed it 4-5 times )

I am using pci.library v13.1 and the Sonnet lib, that Hedeon once send me. Dont know which build that is.

[Hedeon]

That build was for Rapture I think. Anyway, not the latest build = no support. Plus I think it is hard for me to reproduce :-)

Originally Posted by Cego

Has anyone finished the last track in Wipeout as winner? As soon as i finish that track as first place, i'll get a yellow guru with immediate crash/reboot. This is reproducable (took me a few tries to win that track, but managed it 4-5 times )

I am using pci.library v13.1 and the Sonnet lib, that Hedeon once send me. Dont know which build that is.

[SnkBitten]

Just a thought pulled out of my ***, I wonder if it would be possible to get one of the Crescendo Sonnet cards to work in Amithlon? It has support for PCI (Graphics, Network, Audio, TV Cards) and uses the pci.library, so I wonder if a Crescendo could give it a little PPC action.

[Marlon_]

Originally Posted by SnkBitten

Just a thought pulled out of my ***, I wonder if it would be possible to get one of the Crescendo Sonnet cards to work in Amithlon? It has support for PCI (Graphics, Network, Audio, TV Cards) and uses the pci.library, so I wonder if a Crescendo could give it a little PPC action.

That would certainly be pretty cool if possible! But doesn't Amithlon use it's own pci.library?

[Locutus]

from what i recall Amithlon used OpenPCI, same API as used by Prometheus and i think a driver existed for GREX.

[Stedy]

Hi,

Am I understanding the Sonnetlib code correctly, is https://github.com/Sakura-IT/SonnetA...lib/setupppc.p the code used to initialise the PPC and TSI107?

If it is, you've missed a few vital bits from Appendix C of the TSI107/MPC107 user manual for correct initialisation of the SDRAM and the DLLs in the Northbridge(TSI 107). Experience of this issue, it affected 1 in 40 cards. Search for Tsi107wait200us/MPC107wait200us.

Ian

[Hedeon]

Originally Posted by Stedy

Hi,

Am I understanding the Sonnetlib code correctly, is https://github.com/Sakura-IT/SonnetA...lib/setupppc.p the code used to initialise the PPC and TSI107?

If it is, you've missed a few vital bits from Appendix C of the TSI107/MPC107 user manual for correct initialisation of the SDRAM and the DLLs in the Northbridge(TSI 107). Experience of this issue, it affected 1 in 40 cards. Search for Tsi107wait200us/MPC107wait200us.

Ian

Is this also true for EDO/FPM as the Sonnet doesn't use SDRAM?

[Stedy]

Originally Posted by Hedeon

Is this also true for EDO/FPM as the Sonnet doesn't use SDRAM?

Yes. All DRAM (upto and including DDR3) has this initialise the part and wait 200us requirement.

The other register to be careful of is the PMCR2, which controls a DLL but if you're not using SDRAM, you don't need to adjust the DLL_STANDARD bit.

You may add the 200us delay for the DRAM and find it makes absolutely no difference. I only highlight the issue as I was caught out by this on a previous PPC design.

I'll check the errata on the MPC107/TSI107 and see if any further suggestions are applicable.

[Hedeon]

Thanks for the help. As I understand it, I need to add a 200us delay before the MEMGO. I'll add that in the next release.

What are the symptoms when there is an issue?

[nexus]

i sent him that errata months ago guess hedeon forgot

[Stedy]

Originally Posted by Hedeon

Thanks for the help. As I understand it, I need to add a 200us delay before the MEMGO. I'll add that in the next release.

What are the symptoms when there is an issue?

The CPU would crash with a machine check exception as it had executed invalid instructions from RAM.

RAM setup/timing issues can manifest themselves in many ways, at different times.
Examples include crashes within a few seconds of startup, crash when transferring large amounts of data, crossing refresh boundaries and failure due to lack of RAM refresh after many hours.

Reading some of the recent comments about stability on this forum, I started thinking about something other than power, that could cause the issues. If the 3.3V supply is stable and within limits that removes some old 'gotchas' on power supply sequencing. SDRAM has a few key areas in the setup but as the Sonnet uses DRAM we can eliminate them. That general setup and timing settings.

I'll do a few more checks and make a few suggestions. Only tests by affected users will prove if I'm right or bullshitting

I should also take this opportunity to say great work guys, keep it up.