VOGONS


First post, by tpowell.ca

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Hi guys, so I've amassed a decent collection of ISA soundcards and recently upgraded to an AWE64 Gold from various versions of an AWE32. Now I keep getting the dreaded EXC CHECKSUM ERROR when loading older games such as Wing Commander or Dune 2.
I used SoftMPU with the DELAYSYSEX option, and even tried clocking down my PC to super low speeds, to no avail.
Put an AWE32 back in, no problem. Even without a cpu slow down tsr.

My machine is an AMD K6-3+ 400.
I usually clock it down to 200MHz with L1 and L2 caches disabled.

Anyone have this problem before with specifically an AWE64?

Thanks

  • Merlin: MS-4144, AMD5x86-160 32MB, 16GB CF, ZIP100, Orpheus, GUS, S3 VirgeGX 2MB
    Tesla: GA-6BXC, VIA C3 Ezra-T, 256MB, 120GB SATA, YMF744, GUSpnp, Quadro2
    Newton: K6XV3+/66, AMD K6-III+500, 256MB, 32GB SSD, AWE32, Voodoo3

Reply 2 of 7, by tpowell.ca

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the Goat wrote:
tpowell.ca wrote:

Anyone have this problem before with specifically an AWE64?

I have used my MT-32 through an AWE64 Gold in my 486DX4 100Mhz without issue.

What I don't understand is that it doesn't seem to be a speed issue since even if I slow down my CPU to an absolute crawl I still have the same problem. I even tried two different AWE64 Gold cards and both exhibited this issue.
I will concede to having only tried on an AMD K6-III with a 100MHz bus speed.

  • Merlin: MS-4144, AMD5x86-160 32MB, 16GB CF, ZIP100, Orpheus, GUS, S3 VirgeGX 2MB
    Tesla: GA-6BXC, VIA C3 Ezra-T, 256MB, 120GB SATA, YMF744, GUSpnp, Quadro2
    Newton: K6XV3+/66, AMD K6-III+500, 256MB, 32GB SSD, AWE32, Voodoo3

Reply 3 of 7, by Arvid

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A little late here but I have the exact same problem.
My setup is a AWE64 value CT4520 and a K6-3+ 400 mhz, like you I tried to set multiplier at 2x with 66mhz bus speed and L1 and L2 cache disabled. Still getting Exc. checksum error in several games including Colonization and Dune 2. I don´t have any idea what´s causing it but you are not alone in having this error. Softmpu and delaysysex is also of no help in this.

Reply 4 of 7, by tpowell.ca

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Arvid wrote:

A little late here but I have the exact same problem.
My setup is a AWE64 value CT4520 and a K6-3+ 400 mhz, like you I tried to set multiplier at 2x with 66mhz bus speed and L1 and L2 cache disabled. Still getting Exc. checksum error in several games including Colonization and Dune 2. I don´t have any idea what´s causing it but you are not alone in having this error. Softmpu and delaysysex is also of no help in this.

It's never too late.
I gave up and replaced the AWE64 with an AWE32 and haven't had a problem since, and as a bonus, the AWE32 has a real Yamaha OPL3 chip.
Also, the AWE32 is not speed sensitive, thus the MT32 never gives me the error, even with caches enabled.

I just wish I knew why the AWE64 is being so difficult. 😒

  • Merlin: MS-4144, AMD5x86-160 32MB, 16GB CF, ZIP100, Orpheus, GUS, S3 VirgeGX 2MB
    Tesla: GA-6BXC, VIA C3 Ezra-T, 256MB, 120GB SATA, YMF744, GUSpnp, Quadro2
    Newton: K6XV3+/66, AMD K6-III+500, 256MB, 32GB SSD, AWE32, Voodoo3

Reply 5 of 7, by Arvid

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tpowell.ca wrote:
It's never too late. I gave up and replaced the AWE64 with an AWE32 and haven't had a problem since, and as a bonus, the AWE32 h […]
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It's never too late.
I gave up and replaced the AWE64 with an AWE32 and haven't had a problem since, and as a bonus, the AWE32 has a real Yamaha OPL3 chip.
Also, the AWE32 is not speed sensitive, thus the MT32 never gives me the error, even with caches enabled.

I just wish I knew why the AWE64 is being so difficult. 😒

I´m also considering replacing the AWE64 for something else, annoying since I spent so much time making the thing work perfectly in both DOS and Windows 98. That is, perfectly except the MIDI problems.

Reply 6 of 7, by the Goat

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For what it is worth, I recommend keeping the AWE64, but using a dedicated MPU-401 card (or clone) for your MIDI interface.

I have two retro game computers: 486dx4 & pentinum III. They both use AWE64 Golds. One has a genuine Roland MPU-401AT. The other has a HardMPU card. I have had no issues with these setups.

Reply 7 of 7, by tpowell.ca

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the Goat wrote:

For what it is worth, I recommend keeping the AWE64, but using a dedicated MPU-401 card (or clone) for your MIDI interface.

I have two retro game computers: 486dx4 & pentinum III. They both use AWE64 Golds. One has a genuine Roland MPU-401AT. The other has a HardMPU card. I have had no issues with these setups.

That's a pricey option, however it also means you don't have a true Yamaha OPL2/3 FM synth. That CQM is just too harsh and metallic for my ears.
SoftMPU and the AWE32 with the Yamaha chip work honestly quite perfectly on both my Am486DX4-133 and K6-III+ 450.

Sure, if I was given a true MPU-401 card or compatible, I wouldn't say no.
That said, I would still use the AWE32 over my AWE64.

  • Merlin: MS-4144, AMD5x86-160 32MB, 16GB CF, ZIP100, Orpheus, GUS, S3 VirgeGX 2MB
    Tesla: GA-6BXC, VIA C3 Ezra-T, 256MB, 120GB SATA, YMF744, GUSpnp, Quadro2
    Newton: K6XV3+/66, AMD K6-III+500, 256MB, 32GB SSD, AWE32, Voodoo3