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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Ami603 on March 29, 2003, 08:13:40 PM
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I know from PC world that,some x86 motherboards with included AC97 codec must disable it if they want to use another PCI soundcard,avoiding the use of both audio devices.Does that affect the new Articia based (AmigaOne or Pegasos) motherboards or they can work with two(or more)
sound cards?
Is this a Hardware limitation/feature or software?.
What do you think,Guys?
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I have an EPOX 8KTA3+ motherboard with VIA southbridge AC97 audio, same as on the A1/Peg. I also have an SBLive card in a bus mastered PCI slot. They both work at the same time under Gentoo Linux/ALSA, and under Windows XP. So I presume OS4/MorphOS will do the same on these boards if they support multiple cards at once.
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I think it's a limitation of the emulation. The AC97 device is usually configured to behave like a SoundBlaster PCI 128, by the driver supplied with the mobo. It probably answers to the same addresses, too. If you want to plug in a real card, you have to disable it in hardware (it makes it easier for the driver to ignore it).
In your case you are using an SB Live!, which won't be confused with a PCI 128, so there is no conflict.
I don't know how it's done on an A1 (yet).
tony
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In your case you are using an SB Live!, which won't be confused with a PCI 128, so there is no conflict.
In the BIOS you can set the AC97 to emulate "Legacy Audio" or not. This just emulates an SB16 ISA card for MSDOS (220,5,1 etc....)
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AFAICR there is at least 3 different chipsets that call themselves SoundBlaster PCI 128 and drivers do not work between the three. ESS1371/1373 and another I can't remenber the name of.
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mdma wrote:
AFAICR there is at least 3 different chipsets that call themselves SoundBlaster PCI 128 and drivers do not work between the three. ESS1371/1373 and another I can't remenber the name of.
Yes, there is the ES1370, ES1371, the ES1373 (aka CT5880), there is the EV1938, all sold as various incarnations of Vibra/PCI128/PCI64 etc
Regarding the original question, there is no hardware reason why you can't use multiple sound cards, including the onboard audio on the A1 (or a PC motherboard for that). Whether you can use them simulatenously etc is down to your OS.
Each piece of audio hardware is a distinct device on the PCI bus, with it's own resources, identifier etc. Nothing complex.
Regards,
Ross..
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@RossV:
Exactly the kind of response i am asking for.
Thanks. :-)