Compatible with nForce2 chipset?

[Writer]

Almost ready to buy the full CH USB HOTAS to replace my gameport CH HOTAS...but I read in usenet that there may be problems with CH hardware on the nForce2 chipset.

Anyone here using an nForce2 board? I have an Abit NF7-S...

[MichaelCHProd]

I really recomend a different chipset. :(

I use a PCI to USB expansion card with a good chipset (NEC). The best chipsets to use are Intel, NEC, Opti, and Lucent. I stay far away from VIA, ALi, SiS, and the nForce.

[Writer]

Yikes...that sucks. I finally get spousal approval to order $500 CDN worth of hardware, and it won't be compatible with my system?

What exactly are the issues, Michael?

Also...shouldn't you guys should make this recommendation clear on the CH Products website? I would have been pretty pissed if I'd ordered the equipment only to find it has issues with my motherboard...and that CH staff know about it.

I've never had any problems with any other USB devices on this chipset (unlike many problems I had with a few older Intel and VIA motherboards...usually power related).

Does using a PCI card solve the problem?

[MichaelCHProd]

Issues usually stem from power management with the BIOS and XP fighting over who gets to do what. I know users who use VIA and swear by it. My experience is that you can't count on it. I have a VIA chipset set box in the shop for testing and some days it's great and others.... :censored: and the nForce has had mixed reviews from different manufacturers. So I figure why make your life hard. ;)

I picked up a USB 1.1 NEC chipset four port PCI card at a local mom and pop PC place a month ago for $9.99 plus tax. It has been on my POS machine and I have NO complaints.

Now if you want some 8 port USB 2.0 card with front mount cables and LED's or some sillyness then of course you are going to pay more.

A PCI card just flat works. Just make sure you have a good chipset (Intel, Opti, NEC, or Lucent) and you will never have issues. B)

[Revvin]

I'm using a Asus A7N8X Deluxe v2.0 motherboard which has an Nvidia chipset and connect my controllers through a Belkin powered hub and have no problems whatsoever. I never used my CH rig on my old VIA based motherboard but that heap of :censored: gave me nothing but problems, many of which I strongly suspect the chipset of creating as most of the peripherals that had issues on my old system work perfectly on this one. I feel a lot of the time users get problems when using an unpowered hub I know I had a few problems which running a few devices through an upowered hub, that's why I got the Belkin 7 port powered hub.

[Writer]

Ah, thanks guys. So long as it's solvable with a PCI card and isn't a more serious incompatibility (e.g. bus arbitration issues).

I have never had any problems with USB on my Abit NF7-S 2.0. Most of my devices go through the USB hub on my Hercules Game Theatre XP, which I believe is powered (via the PCI bus).

BTW, Michael...that nForce board that you mentioned, what version of the chipset is it using? nForce, or nForce 2.0?

[MichaelCHProd]

Don't think I mentioned having a nForce board, I do have a VIA board though. :(

[Revvin]

My motherboard uses the nForce 2 chipset, it's one of the best motherboards I've ever owned. So far not one incompatibility problem since I upgraded last summer (crosses fingers) It's a very stable platform.

[Phantom II]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post here. I had the same concerns when I upgraded to CH USB HOTAS just last week. I noticed my PC had only two USB slots and since each CH device requires its own USB port, I called CH. They made the SAME recomendations as MichaelCHProd did with respect to PCI to USB card (stay away from USB Hubs). In fact I went on eBay and bought a brand new NEC USB Hi-Speed 2.0 PCI card with 4 ports for $7.99 plus shipping. If you would like to check it out go to (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3458414936&category=44933) GREAT card and FAST shipping! Works GREAT with my CH USB HOTAS! Just plug and play!!

In fact I am selling my CH Gameport HOTAS on eBay right now to off-set the cost of the USB upgrade.

On a side note I remember seeing something on this board, posted by MichaelCHProd about a F-105 for Strike Fighters. Where can I get it?

Thanks!!

[Sledge]

I have the same MB as Revvin and I have had no probs with the CH USB gear either. :cheers: :drunk:

[zatoh]

I use an MSI nForce 2 chipset, and CH sticks are the only ones which work with it. My Saitek shows up as an unknown device and will not allow my to assign drivers, and my thrustmaster doesn't show up at all. My previous mobo was a via chipset and it would accept Saitek, but not CH until I upgraded to Win Me.

I'm getting an Asus Intel chipset when I build my next machine

Zatoh

[MichaelCHProd]

Intel is the way to go. It's the gold standard as everything works on it.