Thread: I have lost all patience!!!!

I've been using that MSI board on the test-bench for a while. It's a very solid board, with the only weak spot that I've identified so far being a slow POST time (takes about 20 seconds from power on, until the loading XP screen comes on). I have support requests in with MSI to try to improve the issue.

Also, I built a custom case for it, so I don't know if there are any fitment issues (you would definitely need to get creative if you wanted to use the PCI Express x16 slot, might work with a flexible riser).

As for the VGA/s-video question, I don't have the s-video bracket, but you could submit your question to MSI at: http://www.msicomputer.com/msiapps/ts_form.aspx The motherboard you're looking at is listed under Industrial PC, and select Pre-Sale Questions as the "Symptom".

Let me know if you have any other questions about the board.

Hey static, I'm having similar issues with POST on my Fuzzy945GM1, and support requests in as well, if you get any resolution from (that global MSI site, and their very recently revamped support messaging system) them, would you let me know? and maybe post it here:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gene...os-update.html

I agree on the msi board being very solid, otherwise, as well. (I know mine is a not the same, but similar)

Originally Posted by h3rk

Hey static, I'm having similar issues with POST on my Fuzzy945GM1, and support requests in as well, if you get any resolution from (that global MSI site, and their very recently revamped support messaging system) them, would you let me know? and maybe post it here:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gene...os-update.html

I agree on the msi board being very solid, otherwise, as well. (I know mine is a not the same, but similar)

Will do h3rk,

FYI: The GM965 does have a Quick Boot option in the BIOS, unfortunately it only shaves 2 seconds or so from the boot time.

My VIA board took somewhat long to boot..... So I doubt anything can be worse. Well LogicSupply sells a Riser Card for PCI Express, but it turns out I will not need it. The board has a port on it so you can connect a S-Video bracket onto it and use Extended Windows with it. My question, are the onboard graphics solid. With the VIA it was so laggy when using anything, I thought DVD wasnt until I really watched and saw it was dropping frames. My case will fit the board and the riser easily, so no worries. Also, how is the sound? On the VIA I had a SoundBlaster Live 24, and the pops when starting up were so bothersome. Is the sound quality good? I intend to use the 5.1 set up. Also, how many GB of RAM are you guys running, I intend to max it out to the 4 GBs.

i wouldn't recommend intel board, just because i have one in my car right now. It is a bit old, but the way the bios is setup, its not the best for carputer applications.
Here is an example of why i don't like it: everytime i pull the power off the machine, for some odd reason the board would reset the bios setting (new cmos battery inside) and disable the primary drive, so next time i start the computer would not see any OS installed. VERY TROUBLESOME. Another thing is that i can't seem to disable the POST screen when i resume from hibernation, which adds a couple seconds to the startup time.
In my experience ASROCK and FOXCONN motherboard are great for carputer because they have great flexibility for bios, and they make lots of nice mATX board with all the bells and whistles. I haven't use any other mobo for carputer, so thats my 2c.

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

... My question, are the onboard graphics solid. With the VIA it was so laggy when using anything, I thought DVD wasnt until I really watched and saw it was dropping frames. My case will fit the board and the riser easily, so no worries. Also, how is the sound? On the VIA I had a SoundBlaster Live 24, and the pops when starting up were so bothersome. Is the sound quality good? I intend to use the 5.1 set up. Also, how many GB of RAM are you guys running, I intend to max it out to the 4 GBs.

The onboard video seems just fine, it runs Vista Aero smoothly, and DVD playback doesn't even break a sweat (less than 25% CPU usage on a 1.6ghz C2D).

I can't comment on the sound, as this board has not made it into the car yet, and in the car is where audio issues start to rear their ugly heads.

I'm running 1GB of RAM, and don't really see a need for more in a Car PC. I don't do extreme multitasking on the Car PC. Also, if you're planning on using hibernation, the more memory you have the longer hibernation takes.

Originally Posted by Punky

i wouldn't recommend intel board, just because i have one in my car right now. It is a bit old, but the way the bios is setup, its not the best for carputer applications.
Here is an example of why i don't like it: everytime i pull the power off the machine, for some odd reason the board would reset the bios setting (new cmos battery inside) and disable the primary drive, so next time i start the computer would not see any OS installed. VERY TROUBLESOME. Another thing is that i can't seem to disable the POST screen when i resume from hibernation, which adds a couple seconds to the startup time.
In my experience ASROCK and FOXCONN motherboard are great for carputer because they have great flexibility for bios, and they make lots of nice mATX board with all the bells and whistles. I haven't use any other mobo for carputer, so thats my 2c.

I would think they got rid of that issue.... for what the processor and the board cost, it better not do that......

Originally Posted by Static_S4

The onboard video seems just fine, it runs Vista Aero smoothly, and DVD playback doesn't even break a sweat (less than 25% CPU usage on a 1.6ghz C2D).

I can't comment on the sound, as this board has not made it into the car yet, and in the car is where audio issues start to rear their ugly heads.

I'm running 1GB of RAM, and don't really see a need for more in a Car PC. I don't do extreme multitasking on the Car PC. Also, if you're planning on using hibernation, the more memory you have the longer hibernation takes.

I plan on getting the 2.0 Mobile C2D. Well I hope I can use the onboard audio with no issues, if I do have problems I could always reconnect the SoundBlaster Live 24. Please keep me updated when you test the sound.... Hopefully by the time you do, i'll have the board.

Now about hibernation, I think I read somewhere that you can tell the PC to hibernate 512 MB of RAM, but you actually have a 1 GHZ or more by changing the Boot.ini? Also when using that method, does it mean the PC will always only use 512 MB of RAM or will it automatically use more if need be?

If you use the /maxmem switch in the boot.ini, then Windows will only use that much memory, never more. That would have the exact same effect as buying 512MB of RAM to begin with.