Asrock 4CoreDual-SATA2

[Microsystem]

tj99.

My Cpu is E4500 M0.
The foil was removed after I see BSEL mod was unsuccessful
I clear cmos, system booted at fbs 200 I raising it to 240 system booted at 1:1 ratio but windows booted with error and ORTHOS gave me error after 1s.
Next I set cpu setting to auto bios was changed to 266 and system dose not boot.
this problem was not important. But I cannot recognize whether system is in BSEL or Default mode.
I think my problem with BSEL mod is aluminum foil, I should find a better (conductive and cohesive) material but cannot find what types of shops have that.

 

[bigsnyder]

Originally posted by: Opticlean
[What is so good about 1:1?

I'm running my memory at 333.4 X2 = 666.7 although apparently it is spec'd to 675.

This however gives me a fsb/memory ratio of 4:5 <-- Why should I be worried?

Oh, I manually set the fsb in BIOS to 266, by the way. And manually set the memory to 333 there too.

This particular VIA chipset seems to actually suffer a small performance hit when running
async to the FSB. Look back at the 775Dual articles Anandtech ran last year. Besides,
1:1 ratio usually results in a better overclock.

 

[Blast PE]

Microsystem, after you have cleared the CMOS, enter the bios and "load bios optimal settings". this will improve system stability

 

[tj99]

This is for Microsystem and anyone else it may help


My bios settings with an e4500
2 * 1Gig geil ultra 800
700w storm power supply


stable at 2.8ghz in windows vista before the BSEL mod


BIOS 1.50a

CPU Configuratio

CPU HOST - manual
CPU Frequency (MHz) [255]
PCIE Frequency (MHz) 100]
PCI Frequency [33.33MHz]
Spread Spectrum [Disabled]
Boot Failure Guard [Enabled]

Ratio Active Value 11

Max CPUID Value Limit [Enabled]
CPU thermal throttle [Enabled]
No execute [disable]
Speedstep [ disable]


Chipset Configuration

DRAM Frequency [266MHz (DDRII533) ]
Flexibility Option [Enabled]
DRAM CAS# Latency [3]
DRAM Bank Interleave [Auto]
Precharge to Active (Trp) [3T]
Active to Precharge (Tras) [9T]
Active to CMD (Trcd) [3T]
REF to ACT/REF to REF (Trfc) [Auto]
ACT (0) to ACT (1) (Trrd) [Auto]
Read to Precharge (Trtp) [Auto]
Write to Read CMD (Twtr) [Auto]
Write Recovery Time (Twr) [Auto]
DRAM Bus Selection [Dual Channel]
DRAM Command Rate [2T Command]

? Advanced Memory Configuration [Untouched]

? Advanced Host Configuration

Pipeline DRQCTL [Enabled]
GTL Control [Auto]



DRAM Voltage [High]
AGP Voltage [High]

Primary Graphics Adaptor [AGP]
AGP Mode [8x]
AGP Fast Write [Enabled]
AGP Aperture Size [256MB]
AGP Staggered Delay [Auto]
AGP GADSTB Output Delay [Auto]
AGP 3.0 Calibration [Auto]
AGP 3.0 DBI Function [Auto]
DBI Output for AGP Trans. [Auto]
DBI Output for FRAME Trans. [Auto]

V-Link Speed [Fast]
V-link disable [enable]
PCI Delay Transaction [Disabled]
IDE Drive Strength [high]
PCIE Downstream Pipeline [Auto]
OnBoard LAN [Enabled]
OnBoard HD Audio [Enabled]
Front Panel [Enabled]
CD-In [Enabled]
Bus No. [Enabled]
Echo TPR Disable [Auto]




this ran fine and stable but would never let me use memory dividers ( always 1:1 no matter what i had flex set at ) and would be unstable above 265fsb. Above 270 and i would loose 1gig of ram.


Since doing the BSEL mod i run at 266fsb for 2920mhz rock solid, and i can use memory dividers.

All i have changed from above is to turn flex off and run at 266fsb. My ddr2 800 is set at 533 3,3,3,9 2t in the bios.

I have settled at this speed as my pc works best with these settings. I have run at 3gig fsb 272 with ram at 333 4,4,4,12 2T but it was slightly slower in benchmarks on the memory throughput.

2920mhz seems to be my optimum point without doing a voltage mod , which i dont want to do.

My cpu runs around 28/30c idle and 40/44 loaded ( depending which core you read from )

Hope this helps some people. The BSEL mod certainly made my cpu more stable and it it opened up all the memory dividers. Only the core voltage is holding me back now.

 

[brokencase]

Originally posted by: Blast PE
Can anyone tell me if there memory performance goes down when going higher as 280 (mine does)? Found a way to correct this. Just change D0F3Rx77 to A4. this will boost memory write performance with 10%

I started playing around at tweaking the bios memory settings to see if I could squeeze some more performance.
Very tedious, tweak the bios, run Sandra, reboot, tweak the bios....

While doing so I remembered the above post (back a couple pages). I did not see D0F3Rx77 in the advanced memory configuration.
I do have D0F3RxE7. I set that one to A4 and I did see just under a 10 % improvement.

Blast PE could you elaborate on this? How you discovered it, etc...

Sure would be nice to have a decent data sheet on this chipset.

I notice (much like one of the Anandtech articles mentioned) that the memory bandwidth is better when I set it to 266 rather than 333.

 

[Microsystem]

brokencase,
Do you modify the bios file?
can you post it?

 

[Mr Vain]

Originally posted by: Microsystem
tj99.

My Cpu is E4500 M0.
The foil was removed after I see BSEL mod was unsuccessful
I clear cmos, system booted at fbs 200 I raising it to 240 system booted at 1:1 ratio but windows booted with error and ORTHOS gave me error after 1s.
Next I set cpu setting to auto bios was changed to 266 and system dose not boot.
this problem was not important. But I cannot recognize whether system is in BSEL or Default mode.
I think my problem with BSEL mod is aluminum foil, I should find a better (conductive and cohesive) material but cannot find what types of shops have that.

It's available in Australia and they may mail it to your country.

http://www.altronics.com.au/in...asp?area=item&id=T0020

 

[brokencase]

Originally posted by: Microsystem
brokencase,
Do you modify the bios file?
can you post it?

No, just playing with the BIOS memory settings, of which there are many.
If you go into "Advance Memory Configuration" and select one of the items and set it to manual you will see the register values I mentioned.

The problem is that there is nothing to decribe what these settings are.

I think I am going to leave a post over at Viarena forums demanding PT880 Pro/Ultra data sheet. It's really frustrating. Intel has no problem providing the public with data sheets for all it's latest proccessors. Why can't VIA do that?

 

[Blast PE]

Originally posted by: brokencase

I did not see D0F3Rx77 in the advanced memory configuration.
I do have D0F3RxE7. I set that one to A4 and I did see just under a 10 % improvement.

Brokencase: I've changed these settings with a program called WPCREDIT. With this program you can change the PCI Configuration Register within windows. D0F3Rx77 means Device0 Function3 Offset77.

With this program I made a "snapshot" of the PCI register @266fsb and then compared it with the register @300. What I saw was that D0F3Rx77 and D0F3Rx7E changed.

with rightmark memory analyzer:
D0F3Rx77=9E (default @300)
D0F3Rx7E=00 (default @300)
read=5548 write=1642

D0F3Rx77=A4 (@300)
D0F3Rx7E=7E (@300)
read=5557 write=1879

Memory: DDR@225 3-3-3-8-2T (4:3)

edit: Bios is 1.50a

 

[brokencase]

Blast PE...

I am familiar with WPCREDIT. It would be nice to have a PT880 register file to go with it.

To some extent your are just taking shots in the dark. But I admit, that is a good way to reverse engineer at least what some of what the registers do.

Thanks for responding.

 

[pauliec77]

Hi there Can someone plaese help me. Ive put together my system and I am having weird problems:
Asrock 4Coredual-SATAII
intel E6600
2x1g Corsair xms ddr2 667
My system is locking up at random times and all I can see that is wrong is the bios incorrectly reads my memory as ddr2 533 insted of ddr2 667. I contacted asrock but they havnt been any help. Ive tried using some ddr400 insted but it also reads that as DDR333. Is there anyone who can suggest a possible solution other than buying a new board that actually works?

 

[JayBirdJay]

I just put my new system together and nothing at all happends when power is turned on. NO Lights, NO beeps, nothing.

e4500
2g ddr2 677
wd2500aakk 250GB sata HD
LIte-on DVD Burner sata
Asrock 4coredual SATAII mobo
NEW 500W power supply (acts like it is dead)!
old x800 xt AGP 8x card

What could be the problem?

Thanks

 

[pauliec77]

do you have the the right placement of the case wires to mobo wires like power,reset, hdd and all that stuff if you dont get the right orientation when you plug them in it dont work. The mannual that comes with your mobo indicates the correct voltage positions. If you plug it in backwards on the power switch for example it wont work. Maybey thats what your problem is, Its woth a second look.

 

[cammell]

Finaly, yesterday have recived 4coredual-sata2 & E2180.. Strange, but winXP from previous P4 run on new motherboard, will install new anyway - its booting to long.
First i run on default. Run smooth. Tried to overclock and if fails. Couldnt find anywhere in BIOS, (advanced CPU) something like INTEL SPEEDSTEP, was no such entry in menu. System went with proc speed like 1.98 and 188FSB (which was set in bios to 240) - Have checked it with CPU-Z.
Unfortunately - went abroad for a few days so cant test my new stuff. But NET is great and i can post
GREETZ

 

[Peav]

Ahh well my SATA2 did not last long.

Was playing Armed Assualt earlier today and the pc crashed and reset itself. Now since then the pc just gets into an endless reboot loop. At 240FSB it is a bit more stable but still reboots every 2-3 minutes.

I've pulled the machine apart and stuck it all into my VSTA board, and it all works, albeit at the 5% downclock. Even the same PSU. Only difference was the mobo.

Ive still to put in my spare celeron d 341 in the SATA2 board yet to rule out the board. This is the 2nd SATA that has failed in 2 months so I think i am going to have problems getting it RMA'd for the 3rd time.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this with either the VSTA or Sata2 asrock boards ? Ive done the cmos reset, flashed the 1.60 bios again while in dos mode ( which seems stable )and ran memtest. The windows install is working fine on the VSTA mobo.

Worked great when it was stable.

 

[Microsystem]

I Found this:
Setting PCI Frequency to Sync with Cpu can solve boot problem due to overclocking
But cannot improve overclock capability.

 

[JayBirdJay]

pauliec77

I did have some case wires backwards. now the case will power up along with fans, hd, agp video card fan, cdrom, power light, cpu fan.....but the monitor will not get any signal from the video card. I know the card was good 2 days ago on the old mb it was installed in. tried other good ram from old system, no luck.

question could this be problem?
on the asrock 4coredual sata2 to motherboard layout illistration #2 is the ATX 12V Connector (ATX12V1), my new 500w power supply has a four pin connector (called the 4-pin 12v connector). Its guides do not line up with the guides on the motherboard. how can this be? I can force it to fit in one direction but then all I get is a quick squeak noise when I power on and no fan or anything will power on.

What is going on. Can anyone relate to my problem?

Thanks

 

[brokencase]

Originally posted by: JayBirdJay
pauliec77

question could this be problem?
on the asrock 4coredual sata2 to motherboard layout illistration #2 is the ATX 12V Connector (ATX12V1), my new 500w power supply has a four pin connector (called the 4-pin 12v connector). Its guides do not line up with the guides on the motherboard. how can this be? I can force it to fit in one direction but then all I get is a quick squeak noise when I power on and no fan or anything will power on.

What is going on. Can anyone relate to my problem?

Thanks

Yes, That is a problem. You should not have forced that wrong connector into the board and powered it up.

Look closely on your power supply harness. You should have ANOTHER 4 pin connector that does have the correct fit. This is the one you should have used. The one that does not fit you should leave disconnected and tie it off somewhere.

Not sure what kind of damage has occured. Could be very bad, or maybe you got lucky and the power supply short circuit protection kicked in.

I would say that if you get the right connector plugged in and you still have trouble then it means something cooked.

If it's any comfort, I am quite certain you're not the first to make such a mistake.

 

[pauliec77]

broken case

Hi you seem to know a bit about this motherboard. I was wondering can you help me with some advice. I recently upgraded from my old p4 to an intel e6600 with as rock 4 core dual sata 2 board. I seem to have an on going problems. My system keep locking up at random times and when ever I try to copy large files it instantly lock up. Do you have any suggestions for me?

 

[Peav]

Originally posted by: Peav
Ahh well my SATA2 did not last long.

Was playing Armed Assualt earlier today and the pc crashed and reset itself. Now since then the pc just gets into an endless reboot loop. At 240FSB it is a bit more stable but still reboots every 2-3 minutes.

I've pulled the machine apart and stuck it all into my VSTA board, and it all works, albeit at the 5% downclock. Even the same PSU. Only difference was the mobo.

Ive still to put in my spare celeron d 341 in the SATA2 board yet to rule out the board. This is the 2nd SATA that has failed in 2 months so I think i am going to have problems getting it RMA'd for the 3rd time.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this with either the VSTA or Sata2 asrock boards ? Ive done the cmos reset, flashed the 1.60 bios again while in dos mode ( which seems stable )and ran memtest. The windows install is working fine on the VSTA mobo.

Worked great when it was stable.

Hmmm.. left the board off overnight, with the cmso jumper bridged. Put everything back into it and it works.

No reboot loop, straight into windows at 266FSB and ram at 333Mhz.

Quirky. Still think its a timing issue and hope ASRock sort out a newer bios for the q6600's.

To Pauliec77, is it not a PSU issue ?? Post your PSU model if you get a moment.

 

[Peav]

well it lasted 2 hours.

Fired up race 07 and it crashed out and wont boot up at all.

Stuck everything back in the VSTA and all is fine.

Gonna test the SATA2 with the celey and see if i get it going.

Looks like its getting sent back for a refund though.


EDIT:::

Celey D341 booted once, i reset the machine so i could reboot off a linux live cd and the board never rebooted.

It gets power but screen stays blank and there are no beeps etc.

Wonder if the place I got it from will RMA it a second time.

 

[brokencase]

Originally posted by: pauliec77
broken case

Hi you seem to know a bit about this motherboard. I was wondering can you help me with some advice. I recently upgraded from my old p4 to an intel e6600 with as rock 4 core dual sata 2 board. I seem to have an on going problems. My system keep locking up at random times and when ever I try to copy large files it instantly lock up. Do you have any suggestions for me?

pauliec77 - Hard to say without knowing more information. Please describe entire system.

I'll take a shot in the dark... Since you mentioned lockup occurs while copying large files, then perhaps that is a clue.

I would default the BIOS, then set V-Link speed to NORMAL and set the IDE drive strength to high and see if that helps.

I would also test the memory. This motherboard does not do a BIOS memory test on bootup, so if your memory has a defect you would never know. Go to google and search for "memtest bootable iso". Download this iso file and burn it to a CD. Set the BIOS to boot off of CD and this will go right into a memory test program.

 

[pauliec77]

Thanks for the Reply brokencase.

I have a Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz Asrock 4core dual sata2 motherboard. Seagate 320gb sataII ST3320620AS (298gb). NETGEAR 108 Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter WG311T ATI Raedon 9550 256mb agp graphics card. Creative SB0090 Audigy Platinum Sound Card. Samsung Writemaster CD/DVDW SH-S182D. Corsair DDR2 XMS2 665MZ PC5400. XP pro SP2. Xsonic 450w power supply.

I have the same promblem even if I change the memory so I dont think its the memory. I have had problems since I put the system together. All the components are new except for the ATI agp card, there just seems to be something wrong with the bios? I will try you suggestions, thanks for replying to me.

 

[brokencase]

Peav, From your description it seems that the failure occurs only when your playing the games?

Maybe it's a video related issue?

Another possibility is that maybe it's heat related.
You stated:

"Was playing Armed Assualt earlier today and the pc crashed and reset itself. Now since then the pc just gets into an endless reboot loop. At 240FSB it is a bit more stable but still reboots every 2-3 minutes."

I am wondering if you let the machine cool down after the initial crash if the endless reboot would not occur?

Also did you disable Boot Failure Guard in BIOS?

 

[pauliec77]

brokencase, Where in the bios do I change the v link and the ide drive stregnth? Also when I look in my bios the memory is displayed as ddr2 533 but I have ddr2 667? If I change the Dram freq from auto to 333mhz 667 to match my memory the system still has the lock up problems and it causes an additional problem with the sound. It plays but there is distortion. I tried re installing the sound card but the distortion is still there and if i switch the dram freq back to auto it fixes the sound distortion but either way my system still locks up at random times and when transfering files but yet ifs fine to play games. If you could help me that would be great. Thanks Paul