USB3.0 ASI120MM-S ASI120MC-S tester feedback

Sam@ZWO

Dear tester

we just sent all the cameras today

and you can find the driver in our website

http://zwoptical.com/Eng/Software/index.asp

To add support of FC

please upgrade to the latest FC 2.4 beta 5

the normal max speed of camera is 60fps

but we provided an over clocking option, the max over clocking is 30% which is 78fps

this option can only set in "video capture filter" of sharpcap or amcap

you can find it in FC too

please feedback your test result in this thread, its very important to put the info of your laptop and fps you can achieve. its wonderful if you can provide your USB3.0 host chip info

we will list the incompatible USB Host chip in here to help other users to choose laptop.

please try to upgrade the host usb chip driver if our camera won't recongized as USB3.0 device.

intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&keyword=Intel%28R%29+USB+3.0+eXtensible+Host+Controller

About host selection, you can have a look at this document, we use the same usb chip of demo3:

http://www.aptina.com/Demo3_USB_3.0_HostSystemSelection.pdf

tested platform and USB Host controller:

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 : intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller

MacBook air 2014 : intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller

Dell Inspiron 17-7737 i7 : intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller

HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller

MacBook Pro 2013: intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller

PC Electronics USB3.0 Host Controller

PC USB3.0 Host Controller

PCIE-USB3.0 Card: NEC/Renesas μPD720200A μPD720201 & μPD720202

PCIE-USB3.0 Card: VIA Labs VL800

already know incompatible USB host:

PCIE-USB3.0 Card: NEC/Renesas μPD720200 under windows 8

PCIE-USB3.0 Card: Trendnet TU3-H2PIE card

PC: Etron usb3.0 host controller

contraf15

Preliminary results on a 2013 MacBook Pro running Windows 7 64 bit under bootcamp (ASI120MM-S):

58 fps at full resolution with Sharpcap

I'll try different resolutions, overclocking, and other capture software as soon as I get a chance.

Jeremy

ericb

Hi everyone!

I have some preliminary feedback on my testing of the ASI120MC-S (compared to the ASI120MM - old model). I have used a Dell XPS Core I5 (4 years old - USB 2)

I tested the camera while imagine the Moon in SharpCap 2.

Dell XPS Core I5:

ASI120MC-S:

1280 x 960 = 22 fps

640x480 = 90 fps

ASI120MM

1280 x 960 = 25 fps

640x480 = 59 fps

I was surprised by the image quality of the ASI120MC-S. When I compare images from both the MM and the MC-S cameras, I can hardly see any difference in picture quality.

I have also intended to test the camera with the following laptop. But I have been unsuccessful for far:

- Dell Inspiron Core I7 (1 year old - USB 3): the camera is recognised by SharpCap but the viewing screen remains grey. I will update the firmware.

- Macbook Air (9 months old - USB 3). oacapture recognises the camera, but the viewing screen remains blank.

I will keep trying and report back.

Cheers,

Eric

+++++

Dell XPS Core I5 specs:

Operating System

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1

CPU

Intel Core i5 2410M @ 2.30GHz

Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology

RAM

6.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 665MHz (9-9-9-24)

Motherboard

Dell Inc. 0YR8NN (CPU)

Graphics

Generic PnP Monitor (1366x768@60Hz)

1024MB GeForce GT 525M (Dell)

Hard Drives

596GB TOSHIBA MK6461GSY (SATA)

uranos

Here is a link to my feedback .

Clear skyes

Jean-Paul G.

http://uranoscope.free.fr/index.php?2014/07/04/194-test-de-la-camera-astronomique-asi120mm-s

http://www.astrosurf.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/040489.html

http://www.webastro.net/forum/showthread.php?t=119316

drrobin

Hi,

I have used my ASI120MM-S on a solar Ha rig using AMCap, it worked very well and captured at 60fps with no artifacts or Newton Rings.

Since then I have it working on FireCapture V2.3 capturing at 60 fps for full frame in 8 bit and 29 fps for full frame in 16 bit. Again no artifacts, dropped or blank frames.

Seems to work perfectly.

My PC is an Asus Ultrabook (UX32A), Core i5 @ 1.7GHz with 4GB RAM and 500GB Samsung Evo SSD. It is running Windows 7 64 bit.

USBView says Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller, Vendor ID 8086, Device ID 1E31. It says the ASI120MM-S supports full-speed, high-speed and super-speed.

All looks good and seems to work perfectly.

Robin

uranos

Hi All,

Overclocking now available with Firecapture 2.05Beta (load 2.04Beta and Update).

U.

Sam@ZWO

EricB wrote:
Hi everyone!

I have some preliminary feedback on my testing of the ASI120MC-S (compared to the ASI120MM - old model). I have used a Dell XPS Core I5 (4 years old - USB 2)

I tested the camera while imagine the Moon in SharpCap 2.

Dell XPS Core I5:

ASI120MC-S:

1280 x 960 = 22 fps

640x480 = 90 fps

ASI120MM

1280 x 960 = 25 fps

640x480 = 59 fps

I was surprised by the image quality of the ASI120MC-S. When I compare images from both the MM and the MC-S cameras, I can hardly see any difference in picture quality.

I have also intended to test the camera with the following laptop. But I have been unsuccessful for far:

- Dell Inspiron Core I7 (1 year old - USB 3): the camera is recognised by SharpCap but the viewing screen remains grey. I will update the firmware.

- Macbook Air (9 months old - USB 3). oacapture recognises the camera, but the viewing screen remains blank.

Hi Eric

there is no new firmware of the camera. but you can try to upgrade the driver of your host

also you can try small resolutions

you need to upgrade FC2.4 to beta 05 version to support our cameras

Macbook you need use the oaCapture 0.0.8

http://www.openastroproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/oaCapture-0.0.8.dmg

Sam@ZWO

thanks for all your guys feedback

ericb

Hi everyone,

Thank you Sam. I got the Dell Core i7 (USB3) working and the ASI120MC-S is working fine now on that computer.

I now have a different issue with the DELL Core i5 (USB2). I have been trying to use both the ASI120MM and ASI120MC-S on that laptop to no avail. Since I have installed the driver for the ASI120MC-S, I can no longer use the ASI120MM with SharpCap2 or FireCapture2.2 Beta. The ASI120MC-S, however, works well with both programs. I never had any issue using the ASI120MM on that computer before I used the ASI120MC-S.

SharpCap seems to always select the ASI120MC-S as the default camera. When I select the ASI120MM from the list, I get an "error during preview (0x80040209) message, even if the ASI120MC-S isn't plugged in.

FireCapture is able to initialize the ASI120MM, however, the preview screen remains black and I get a "Severe Error" message (see attachment).

When using the DELL Core i7 (USB3), I can plug in both cameras and image in SharpCap without any problem. I can switch from one camera to the other seamlessly. However, FireCapture doesn't work with the ASI120MC-S.

Interesting to see that 2 DELL computers behave differently. I wonder what the problem is with the Core i5 laptop is.

Cheers,

Eric

Sam@ZWO

HI Eric

you'd better use the latest FC2.4 beta 05

FC2.2 is too old

usb 2.0 is not wide enough to operate 2 cameras at the same time

and ASI120MM may affect if you plugin the ASI120MC-S at the same time

so you can try connect ASI120MM alone and test

ericb

Hi all,

I have spent a good few hours today trying to work things out. Not much luck, I am afraid.

Here is the situation:

DELL Core i7 (USB 3)

I have done what Sam suggested: use FireCapture 2.4 beta and plug one camera at a time.

The ASI120MC-S still doesn't work with FireCapture. The software recognises the camera but crashes after a few seconds. Both the ASI120MC-S and the ASI120MM work well with SharpCap.

DELL Core I5 (USB2)

Since I have installed the ASI120MC-S, the ASI120MM not longer works on the DELL Core I5 (USB2) laptop.

I have the latest version of SharpCap (2) and Firecapture (2.4 Beta). None of them recognise the camera.

I have checked the Device Manager which indicates that the device cannot start, which points to a driver issue. Consequently, I have tried to reinstall the driver (several times). When I do, I get an error message (see attached).

I have restored the computer to a date before the installation of the ASI120MC-S driver. The issue still remains after the system restore.

I am not quite sure what else to do in order to get the ASI120MM to work again on the Core i5 (which is my imaging computer), especially if I can't instal the lastest driver. Any thoughts?

Sorry Sam that I can't be of more help with the testing.

Cheers,

Eric

Sam@ZWO

Hi Eric

you need to upgrade to Firecapture 2.4 beta 05 to use the USB3.0 camera

there is an update option of FC

the error message is because there is some app using ASI120MM right now

you can close all your other apps like skype

you can contact me though email to fast the procedure to solve your problem

ericb

Hi all,

It's a cliche, but perseverance pays!

After my last mail, I decided to inspect the USBs through the device manager on the Core i5 to try to reinitialise them. I discovered that all but one didn't work properly. I also discover to my surprise, that one of the USBs is a USB 3 socket. I also managed to download the ASI120MM driver without error, and I am happy to say that now the ASI120MM works on that laptop.

As to the ASI120MC-S, it has failed to work with FireCapture 2.4 Beta on the 3 computers I have tried it on (Sam, this is the link I have downloaded from: http://firecapture.wonderplanets.de/betas.html. Is it the right one?). The camera is found by the software but capture fails and eventually FC 2.4 crashes. Interestingly, the camera works in FC 2.2 beta (Build #36).

I have managed to carry out some indoor tests (it's been raining for a few days here).

Here are some results:

I have tested the ASI120 MC-S in Shapcap 2 against the maximum speeds provided by ZWO (ZWO figures). I have tested the camera in RGB and MONO8 codec modes. I have also indicated the fps values provided in "preview mode", when the camera is only reading but not capturing, as well as in capturing mode. The connection is USB3 (Renesas Electronic USB3 Root Hub).

Computer specs: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1; Intel Core i5 2410M @ 2.30GHz

Capture mode RGB

1280x960 = 22 fps

1024x768 = 38 fps

640x480 = 89 fps

320x240 = 138 fps

Capture mode Mono8

1280x960 = 47 fps

1024x768 = 65 fps

640x480 = 111 fps

320x240 = 139 fps

Test carried out on 9 July 2014

Exp. = 10.00ms Gain = 40 Gamma = 50 ‘Jupiter’ setting

I have also tested the camera in FireCapture 2.2 beta with the same settings and under the same conditions as above:

640x480 = 117 fps

400x400 = 125 fps

300x300 = 178 fps

200x200 = 224 fps

100x100 = 229 fps

Firecapture seems to be more consistent with the speed values provided by ZWO than Sharpcap (although 1280x960 not being available in FC 2.2, I couldn't test the fps at maximum resolution).

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Eric

Sam@ZWO

Hi Eric

good news your ASI120MM works again

About Firecapture

you need to update online to 2.4 beta 05 after you download 2.4.

the version you download is 2.4 beta 04

Look at the image I attach before to update

ericb

Hi there!

Just to let you know that I have done a preliminary review of the ASI120MC-S on Astron'amis, a French astro forum: http://www.astronamis.net/t3901-nouvelle-asi120mc-s#46271.

Thank you Sam for all you help.

Cheers,

Eric

Sam@ZWO

Thanks Eric!

marc delcroix

DrRobin wrote:
Hi,

My PC is an Asus Ultrabook (UX32A), Core i5 @ 1.7GHz with 4GB RAM and 500GB Samsung Evo SSD. It is running Windows 7 64 bit.

USBView says Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller, Vendor ID 8086, Device ID 1E31. It says the ASI120MM-S supports full-speed, high-speed and super-speed.

All looks good and seems to work perfectly.

Robin, we have a similar configuration: I use an HP840 , Core i5 @ 1.9Ghz under Windows 8.1, with an Intel USB3.0 eXtensible Host Controller, Vendor ID 8086, Device ID 9C31. Unfortunately my ASI120MM-S is not recognized (I installed the latest driver) when I plug it in, and the Demo3_Utilities are for Core i7 ....

What did you install to make the ASI120MM-S work ?

Marc

Sam@ZWO

Hi Marc

I think you just need to update the driver

install the driver in the Demo3_Utilities

the driver is for the USB host, doesn't matter which CPU like i5 or i7

marc delcroix

Hi Sam

Indeed the readme file of the demo3 driver states its valid for i3, i5, i7. ..

Nonetheless I cannot install it on any of the OS installed (W7 64b and W8.1 64b), i get a "system does not have the minimal configuration" error (but PC has 8GB of RAM....!).

Marc

Sam@ZWO

Hi Marc

that's wired. you got this error when run the setup.exe?

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