USB question

[M1pilot]

I have a FIC VA-503+ v1.2A motherboard and I'm thinking of getting a Creative USB Webcam III. The mobo manual says I need to get a "riser card" to be able to use USB peripherals. Can't find a riser anywhere, but I have found a cable adapter kit made by Belkin.....just wondering if anybody's used one of these, or something like it instead? TIA.

-M1pilot

[Ygor]

I had that board briefly, got an rma on it. The usb header should be there. If the plug matches the header on the board, just install it. It takes up a slot in the back.

[Mntsnow]

You can use it right where it's at. I personally wouldnt bother with hooking your joystick up to the USB port.

Mntsnow

[M1pilot]

Ok Mntsnow, I'll leave it where it is! Now I've got another problem though........installed the USB cable/port kit, and the Webcam, and having troubles with the camera. It'll initialize, but lock up shortly after. Ctrl/alt/del will get me back into Windows ok, but have to reboot to re-initialize the webcam. Gonna try a few things, but I'll keep checking back in case anybody has some ideas!! Thanks.

-M1pilot

[Mntsnow]

Hmmm, Have you checked with Creative to see if there is any "issues" with their camera and certain hardware/software? You didnt mention which version of Windows you are running. Do you have the most current drivers for USB?

Mntsnow

[M1pilot]

Sorry.....running Win98 retail and I've got the latest USB drivers off of VIA's site. Creative says there are some compatibility problems with SOME systems using the MVP chipset.....however the store I got the camera from demo'd it on a comp set up much like mine.....FIC VA-503+ v1.2A, K6-3/450, 128mb ram, Voodoo3, etc. I'm gonna dig around a bit and see what I come up with, and reload the cameras software. Maybe I'll get lucky. Thanks.

-M1pilot

[M1pilot]

Thanks Ygor. The Belkin kit is generic and will fit several different pinouts on various mobo's. I guess I was wondering if the riser card (except for the obvious function of providing ports to plug into)served any other purpose in the USB circuit. I managed to talk to a tech just a while ago, and he said the cable kit will work fine.

-M1pilot

[M1pilot]

Another question.......I have a Logitech Wingman 3D Extreme joystick that can be used in a regular game port or a USB port. Any advantage to plugging it into a USB port, or should I just leave it in the sound card's game port and save the USB port for something else later down the road? I'm not having any troubles with it were it is now.

-M1pilot

[M1pilot]

Well I finally got this stooopid Webcam working. Of course it was probably the most obvious thing (for this mobo) that I tried last....duh!! I tried all the "fixes" that Creative and a few others suggested (reducing video acceleration, installing the device drivers before plugging in the camera,
reloading the software, re-installing Windows.....not!!) and I ended up disabling "write cache pipeline" in the BIOS and presto! Works great and disabling that feature has'nt produced anything weird in any of the other apps. Speed's still right up there too. Ok, thought somebody out there might be able to use this info someday......gonna go play with my new toy now!!!!

-M1pilot