[mythtv-users] VIA kt133 chipset

[Michael T. Dean]

KvB wrote:

> Ok, I know the via chipset kt133 has problems with ivtv and mythtv, 
> but does anyone know the best solution to this?

Get a new motherboard!!!  That is definitely the *best* solution.

I got a dirt-cheap PCChips M848ALU with SiS chipset (and a Chaintech 
GeForce 4 MX440 because of the limitations of the PVR-350's TV out--no 
Xv, no OpenGL acceleration, etc.) and "uninstalled" all my problems...  
I had spent a ton of time over 3 months unsuccessfully trying to make my 
PVR-350 stable (with everything from disabling APIC/ACPI-in all possible 
combinations--to building a kernel without APIC/ACPI, to testing most of 
the several hundred patches Chris Kennedy has made for ivtv, to babying 
the system).  I was travelling on and off and was unable to order the 
parts I needed (because I wasn't home long enough to receive the 
delivery), but as soon as they arrived and I installed them, all my 
problems disappeared.  I haven't had a single problem with the Myth 
system since putting in the new hardware.

> I don't know how to disable the APIC in my 2.4.22 kernel :(

add the kernel parameters:

noapic nolapic acpi=off

(see the file Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt in your Linux source 
directory for more information).  Note also that the first two are APIC 
(i.e. Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller) and the last is ACPI 
(i.e. Advanced Configuration and Power Interface).  You will find posts 
all across the internet that come up with mixed up versions of these 
(i.e. noacpi or apic=off).  The ones above are correct (as can be 
verified with the file referenced above).

Also, note that even with these turned off, my system was much more 
unstable than when I compiled a kernel without APIC, IO-APIC (Local 
APIC), and ACPI support.  With the above parameters, I couldn't even 
record a show.  With a kernel that lacked APIC and ACPI support, I could 
use my system to record shows--I just couldn't watch them.  You'll 
probably have better luck recompiling your kernel (definitely not for 
the faint of heart).  Buying a new motherboard for ~$50 will save you at 
least $50 in time/frustration.

If you're using LILO, add a line:

append="noapic nolapic acpi=off"

to the image definition you're using (probably in /etc/lilo.conf) and 
re-run LILO (i.e. lilo -v) to write the changes to the boot sector.

If you're using GRUB, just stick the parameters on the end of your 
kernel definition (in something like /boot/grub/menu.lst) and reboot.

Mike