Since you've done some research on the mac's I thought I'd ask, do you know if the nVidia 330m GPU bootcamp driver suffers from the same DPC issue?
-Larry On May 30, 2011, at 6:35, Sheldon Hartling <ve1...@rac.ca> wrote: > Hi Michael > > There are some latency issues with the Windows nVidia 320M video driver for > the 2010 Mac Mini that make it unsuitable for use as a Flex computer at the > moment. This is likely the case for MacBook Pros that use the 320m and 330m > GPUs as well. > > As James (KK6MC) mentioned, the trick to using a Mac computer with your Flex > radio is to install Windows XP or Windows 7 with Bootcamp. It will not work > correctly in a virtual environment using Fusion or Parallels. > > I've just been through the process of trying to turn my Snow Leopard Server > (a 2010 Mac Mini) into a portable PC for my Flex-3000. The effort was > unsuccessful. > > I found the DPC Latency on Windows 7 professional 32-bit ran a pretty > consistent 2000 microseconds with occasional spikes higher. After a day of > tuning and research I found the culprit was the Bootcamp driver for the > nVidia 320M GPU. With this driver disabled the DPC latency drops to a > respectable 145 microseconds. However the default Windows VGA driver is > really limited. > > I tried the latest 320M drivers from the nVidia site but they weren't any > better. > > I have a 13" black MacBook that I'm using instead and it seems to be an > outstanding Flex PC! Until Apple/nVidia releases a driver for the 320m GPU > that corrects the latency issue it looks like the Mac Mini is a non starter. > Unfortunately! > > 73, > Sheldon, VE1GPY > > > From: Michael Goins <wmgo...@gmail.com> > Date: Sun, 29 May 2011 19:14:01 -0500 > Cc: "flexra...@yahoogroups.com" <flexra...@yahoogroups.com>, FlexRadio List > <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> > Subject: [Flexradio] Flex 1500 > > I am totally new to the Flex, having seen it at one hamfest. I am not > a computer guy, though I am pretty competence as a ham (built a lot of > stuff, never owned a commercial antenna, etc.). I recently switched > here from Windows and PCs to Mac (I'm a writer), and really would > prefer a mac platform if cost possible. That said, money, as usual, is > an issue. > > I am considering a 1500 for the primary station and I am looking for > some help with making this as painfree as possible. From all I've > read, it appears most of the issues seem to be related to > compatibility and speed, so I am looking for suggestions to try and > get things right the first time around. > > I'm considering a mac mini as the computer half of the system. Small, > and with the 1500, it would make a really compact station. Again, not > a computer guy so if someone is using a setup that is working well and > was reasonably priced, I'd sure like to talk - mac or PC if a PC setup > worked for you easily. > > If you'll contact me off list, I'd very much appreciate it. Thanks. > > mike, k5wmg > > _______________________________________________ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz > Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ > Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.com/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz > Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ > Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
