Intel D975XBX (Bad Axe)

[Supa-Fly]

Isnt the audio in the BX1 and BX2 the same.
Try using the the BX2 sound driver for the BX1.
I think all thats really different "Chip wise" is the
secondary raid controller. Everything else should
pretty much be identical. Audigy 2 ZS is an awesome
sound card (I have one too) but the Bad Axe onboard
sounds crisper cleaner to me (especially with the latest
vista drivers). I say try the onboard.

[Sandog]

New audio drivers w/IAS.

Download Search Results

[ATINUT]

There's also new audio drivers with the IDT control/Dolby Surround panel also.

Intel® Desktop Board D975XBX2Â*Audio: IDT* 92XX Driver Operating Systems&lang=eng

[Sandog]

The IDT drivers appear to have more functionality with Vista.

Read the Readme doc.

"E. Dolby interface in IDT GUI 1.8

1. The controls exposed will only be Dolby Headphone and Dolby Virtual Speaker in the IDT GUI
a. DH or DVS checkboxes also turn on PL2x in appropriate cases
b. DDL is controlled in MS endpoint panel, see below
2. The MS Endpoint control panel will have a Dolby tab, specifically designed for Vista, which will display a single checkbox based on the endpoint configuration:
a. Dolby Headphone when the endpoint is configured as a headphone
b. Dolby Virtual Speaker when the endpoint is configured as stereo speakers
c. Dolby ProLogic IIx when the endpoint is configured as any multi-speaker setup
3. DDL is set by using the MS endpoint control panel for the digital output. The "Advanced" tab has a rate selection dropdown, "Dolby Digital" is available at the bottom of the rate dropdown list. This is the ONLY place DDL can be set currently in Vista."


Also this:

"G. Microsoft SP1 filter and IDT driver installation

Regarding Vista SP1 Update:

Microsoft appears to be applying a filter to prohibit a Windows Update installation of SP1 to all audio vendors who load additional applications or use a co-installer with their driver.

Workaround of this problem:

A. Driver re-installation after SP1 upgrade
1. Ensure having a local copy of audio driver
2. Uninstall audio currently resides on the system
3. Update Vista to SP1 via WU (Windows Update)
4. Re-install the same audio driver

B. Download SP1 and install"

The BA2 has been an amazing board that has had no problems for me. My first best Intel board is the D875PBZ but this board is second for sure. After all these years of updates the BA2 is very stable, all the software works, and it is a good OCer, and has com and floppy ports. Shame is won't handle the newer processors though. I don't care for the hot and not well supported X38/X48 but I am sure they are good boards. I am hoping for more bells and whistles on the upcoming P45 than on the P35 and may get some iteration of this chipset next.

[ATINUT]

My first and best Intel motherboard is this D975XBX2, aka the Bad Axe 2. I haven't had no problems with my board since I got it in March. I could have gotten the X38BT, but I decided no, DDR2 memory is still good, and what would DDR3 memory do my Core 2 Duo E6600 cpu, probably not much good.

I'm not gonna knock boards like the X38BT, as I'm sure it's a good board for whoever buys one.

[tiberius69]

Originally Posted by tiberius69

OCZ sent me an RMA for the RAM so it looks like they are not jazzed about runing the RAM at 2.32v either. BTW: Digging out the old recipt and seeing what I paid for this RAM in Feb. '07 about made me cry

Not so much as a hiccup since OCZ replaced both sticks of RAM.

The defective RAM would run Memtest and other memory diagnostics all day w/o errors. The only sympton I had before the POST failure was an occasional BSOD in XP Pro. Not frequent enough to warrant me tracking down as it COULD have been anything.

[Sandog]

I had the opportunity to use a lab computer with a quad Q6600 last week and I was impressed. It is convincing me to get a quad next andI I will probably try to get one setup next quarter. In a month or so I will be getting the ATI 4870 and a single VelociRaptor.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Sandog

In a month or so I will be getting the ATI 4870...

Hopefully they'll be out in a month. What I was reading today on DailyTech.com was that the GDDR3 cards would be released this month and the GDDR5 cards won't come until some unspecified time in the future.

[ATINUT]

Sandog, the 4850's are shipping out right now. Don't know of any retailers who have the card. Hopefully the 4870's, including the 4870 X2 will be on time next month.

The next major upgrade I do, will probably be a quad core, but right now, I personally don't see a need for one.

[RJ]

What were you running for program with the Q6600 Sandog? I was going to buy a Q6600 to replace my E6600, but I purchased a new E6700 on E-Bay. For gaming and everyday processing, I could not find any benchmarks where a quad was better except for film editing, which I don't do. I do scan a lot of pictures and edit with Adobe Elements 5.0 on my new Vista Home Pro 32 bit rebuild. If a Quad would be a big improvement, I would jump for one.

In the video game dept., I swapped out my X1950 Pro for a HD3870, but went back due to the HD3870 not being able to play my older DX6 games in which the X1950 Pro can. Guys over at Rage 3D forum figured it out for me. Bummer. Had to give my HD3870 to my son

[cameraman]

I am a heavy Image Software user of Photoshop, Capture NX, Photo Mechanic, and a few others and with the large number of image files I process my current X6800 with 4 GB RAM on Vista 32 Business is still not enough.

With the cost of CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) at $110 I could get 8 gb for $220 assuming the rebate is good for two pair, install Vista 64 and get a little more out of my rig to save some processing time. I assume I'd try and run the memory at 4 4 4 12 2.1v 800.

Is anyone using 8 gb reliably?

Thanks.

[RJ]

My understanding of 64bit computing is that the only way you will see much of an increase is if the software itself is written for 64 bit. Otherwise it would be running in 32 bit emulation, just as older business software written in 16 bit runs in emulation in Win2K Pro and XP.

[cameraman]

Originally Posted by RJ

My understanding of 64bit computing is that the only way you will see much of an increase is if the software itself is written for 64 bit. Otherwise it would be running in 32 bit emulation, just as older business software written in 16 bit runs in emulation in Win2K Pro and XP.

The ability to run multiple memory intensive applications simultaneously is the intent. I frequently run PS CS3, Photo Mechanic, View NX and Capture NX at the same time and 8 gb of RAM even while running 32 bit apps is much faster and when 64 bit versions are released it will improve performance even more.

[Sandog]

Shop Intel is Closing

Shop Intel(SM)

[ATINUT]

New sound drivers for Vista 32 and 64.

Intel® Desktop Board D975XBX2Â*Audio: IDT* 92XX Driver Operating Systems&lang=eng

It includes the Intel Audio Studio software.