Asrock 4CoreDual-SATA2

[cpmee]

Originally posted by: fritzfield
OK. This is what happens with A-DATA 2Gig DDR800 RAM. Running 5-5-5-18, DDR667 and memory voltage normal. FSB of 300.

The machine boots fine. The 1.80 BIOS reads each DDR2 slot as 2048MB of RAM, however it reports only 2816MB of available RAM

CPU-Z identifies the RAM as 2048MB each stick.

Vista Ultimate 64 only recognizes 2815MB RAM under system devices.

So, I guess thats it with the 2GB RAM sticks.

Well, look at the bright side, 2.8gigs is better than 2.0gigs.

2816mb is a weird number to stop at though. With just 1 stick in at a time, does it report the full 2.0 gigs ??

 

[cpmee]

Originally posted by: lowrider69
Great thread, i've been reading it on and off for a few weeks. I recently upgraded from a old socket A board to a 4CoreDual-SATA2 with a e6420, no problems at all..i'm very happy with this board.

Yep, its a great legacy board with core2 dual processing speed. Besides having agp and ddr1, its still got serial and parallel ports, 2 ide connectors for 4 ide drives, PS/2 plugs and a gameport connector. Stuff not found on a lot of the pricier end mobos anymore.

And SPDIF with the Intel/Realtek HD audio to boot. Im happy too. :thumbsup:

 

[martianmisfit]

Originally posted by: cpmee

Originally posted by: fritzfield
OK. This is what happens with A-DATA 2Gig DDR800 RAM. Running 5-5-5-18, DDR667 and memory voltage normal. FSB of 300.

The machine boots fine. The 1.80 BIOS reads each DDR2 slot as 2048MB of RAM, however it reports only 2816MB of available RAM

CPU-Z identifies the RAM as 2048MB each stick.

Vista Ultimate 64 only recognizes 2815MB RAM under system devices.

So, I guess thats it with the 2GB RAM sticks.

Well, look at the bright side, 2.8gigs is better than 2.0gigs.

2816mb is a weird number to stop at though. With just 1 stick in at a time, does it report the full 2.0 gigs ??

interesting indeed. at least we know it's somewhat workable.
2.8g is better than 2g especially when running crysis pushes 85+ % ram usage on my pc.

did you try these settings in your bios?
- DRAM frequency = DDR2 667
- DRAM voltage = Low

i'm gonna try to get some 2GB sticks and when i do i'll post my results.

 

[fritzfield]

So...

Running a 2GB DDR2-800 in 1st DDR2 slot, only 1 stick: BIOS recognizes 2048MB in slot and 2048MB of memory.

Running a 2GB stick in DDR2-slot-1 and a 1GB stick in DDR2-slot-2: BIOS recognizes 2048MB in slot 1 and 1024MB in slot 2, but a TOTAL memory of, again, 2816MB (as with 2x2GB sticks).

Running DDR-2 667 or Memory voltage on low, has NO effect.

Running at stock FSB, i.e NO OC, has NO effect.

I would say that, for now, without a BIOS update (if it is even possible) 2816MB of RAM is the MAX. The best configuration, to max out RAM, is 1 x2GB and 1x1GB. In order to run more RAM under 64 bit OS, you would need a different board.

Hey, wassup with that new Asrock 4CORE1600P35-WIFI+ mobo? Anyone see it being sold yet?
Asrock says that you can get 8GB RAM in that badboy,( and pick up that stray, er, unprotected, internet connection all with one board). No AGP and you lose the second IDE slot.

 

[lowrider69]

Originally posted by: cpmee
Yep, its a great legacy board with core2 dual processing speed. Besides having agp and ddr1, its still got serial and parallel ports, 2 ide connectors for 4 ide drives, PS/2 plugs and a gameport connector. Stuff not found on a lot of the pricier end mobos anymore.

And SPDIF with the Intel/Realtek HD audio to boot. Im happy too. :thumbsup:

It is impressive how much you get for your money with this board, hell it's great without taking the price into consideration. It was perfect for me..i've wanted to get off socket A for quite a while and this board let me do that without buying a SATA drive(s), new ram, or a PCI-E video card. Even with my old stuff(which isn't bad hardware) I still got a very impressive boost across the board with the 6420...night and day, which is what I expected.

 

[cpmee]

Originally posted by: fritzfield
So...

Running a 2GB DDR2-800 in 1st DDR2 slot, only 1 stick: BIOS recognizes 2048MB in slot and 2048MB of memory.

Running a 2GB stick in DDR2-slot-1 and a 1GB stick in DDR2-slot-2: BIOS recognizes 2048MB in slot 1 and 1024MB in slot 2, but a TOTAL memory of, again, 2816MB (as with 2x2GB sticks).

Running DDR-2 667 or Memory voltage on low, has NO effect.

Running at stock FSB, i.e NO OC, has NO effect.

I would say that, for now, without a BIOS update (if it is even possible) 2816MB of RAM is the MAX. The best configuration, to max out RAM, is 1 x2GB and 1x1GB. In order to run more RAM under 64 bit OS, you would need a different board.

Yep, thats basically what I read before IIRC, except that part with the extra 816mb of ram. (maybe thats an increase in the later bios releases)

What kind of scores are you getting in Sandra memory bandwidth benchmark ? I'd be interested in 1 2gb stick installed and with 2 2gig sticks installed.



I have 2 of the Adata pc6400 (the cheapest $18.99 a gig, 1.8v w/ no heatsinks, I love them) 1gb sticks. With 1 stick installed, my best scores were using 4-4-4-12, 4:5, at ddr2667, with about 4700mb/s. (1 stick installed, ddr2 533, 3-3-3-9 2T score is about 4100mb/s) Now with 2 sticks installed, my best scores are at ddr2 533, 3-3-3-9, 1:1, with about 5700mb/s. This is e2180 at 280 X 10. (2 sticks installed, ddr2 667, 4-4-4-12 2T score is about 5100mb/s)

Thats why before I couldnt duplicate the Anand tech scores at ddr2 533, I had only 1 stick at the time. (I bought 1 at a time instead of the the pair, just to test)

So in conclusion, with just a 1 gig stick installed, ddr2 667, 4-4-4-12 2T, 4:5 is best.

With (2) 1gig sticks installed, ddr2 533, 3-3-3-9 2T, 1:1 is best.

The performance figures reverse with 2 sticks installed, go figure.

 

[Hoskins]

Hoskins, 4CoreDual-SATA2 has an AMI BIOS with an much better boot block protection than AWARD for example. Chances are that you only corrupted the main BIOS area, not the boot block, so use the recovery procedure found here AMI-BIOS-recovery You only need a working floppy disk. About hot swapping... i've done countless times that - DFI maiboards come with a handy tool to extract the bios but you can find something similar - its really easy, but the trick part is to not push the bios all way down when swapping so that you do not break some legs of the chip. It really helps if the mainboard is out of the computer case, because the chip is not placed well on this one.

ok thanks,i'll let you know how it goes.

 

[fritzfield]

sandra schmandra. I'm done testing this mobo. I have a stable 300FSB OC and I've wasted $ on DDR2 RAM. Next visit is a new mobo (but you need a new PSU and vid card 2!!$$)

 

[cpmee]

Originally posted by: fritzfield
sandra schmandra. I'm done testing this mobo. I have a stable 300FSB OC and I've wasted $ on DDR2 RAM. Next visit is a new mobo (but you need a new PSU and vid card 2!!$$)

I wouldnt call it a waste, after all you got 4gb of ram cheap. If ddr2 prices go up, youll think its the smartest move you ever made. :laugh:

 

[fritzfield]

Yeah, I know that the 4GB A-data RAM was CHEEP (70$ no rebate). But I was gradually pulled in by the lure of getting a better OC if I just upgraded to DDR2 from my old DDR. I started with 2x1GB Corsair and actually did notice an, albeit slight, improvement over 2x1GBKingston DDR. Then I read the post about 2x2GB sticks and I just had to do it. So...I guess I will pass this mobo/machine onto child#3 when she goes to college and upgrade/new-build in the summer.

Damn it would be nice if the 4GB worked, though! Wouldn't it?

 

[cpmee]

Yes, for 64bit computing, if you have that need. 32bit windowsXP or Vista is only going to see 3gb anyway.

But I have the feeling that for solid 64bit use apps, even the 8gb currently on high end mobos isnt going to be enough.

 

[Steffche]

Hi Guys,

I just recently bought myself the E2160 CPU and swapped out my P4 640 CPU with it. I have been reading in here about people getting the E2160 to 260Mhz without the BSEL mod, so I figured I'd start off with that and see how it goes...

I am using G.SKILL F1-4400DSU2-1GBFC PC4400 RAM which is rated to run at 275Mhz bus freq...so I didnt think that RAM should be a problem...

However I cannot get a Prime (Orthos) stable system over 245Mhz FSB. My settings are pretty consistent with most others in here...

RAM speed (DDR400) ie, 1:1 with CPU I assume anyway...!
CPU bus speed 245Mhz
Spread Spectrum disabled
Vlink fast
RAM timings 2.5-4-4-8
AGP and RAM VOltage High

My RAM is what is holding me up I believe because it fails test 5 of MEMTest at this speed setting.

IS it related to the BSEL mod....I mean....would that allow me to push the RAM more?

Given that this CPU can run at speeds near 3.0Ghz, and mine is only sitting at 2.2Ghz at these settings, I can only assume its the RAM causing me issues and not the CPU.

Any suggestions?

 

[Steffche]

I did the bsel mod, and yes FSB can now go to 290 easily...but CPU:RAM ratio is now 4:3 and I cant get it to go 1:1 with my DDR1 RAM...

Any ideas?

 

[cpmee]

Originally posted by: Steffche
I did the bsel mod, and yes FSB can now go to 290 easily...but CPU:RAM ratio is now 4:3 and I cant get it to go 1:1 with my DDR1 RAM...

Any ideas?

Yes, 4:3 is correct, your ddr1 ram wont do 290fsb. You need ddr2 533 or higher for that. But 4:3 with ddr1 is pretty speedy. Just make sure it passes memtest for a stable system.

 

[Steffche]

Its DDR550 though, and in all benchmark tests and reviews I've seen on it they manage a 290Mhz FSB with it easily....but at the moment its only running at 210Mhz according to CPU-Z...?

 

[cpmee]

My RAM is what is holding me up I believe because it fails test 5 of MEMTest at this speed setting.

But you were failing at only 245 fsb.


Thats pricey ddr1 ram and should sell well. If you really want 1:1 ratio, youre better off selling it and get getting 2gbs of ddr2 ram for like around $30-40.

 

[Reyals]

Does this Mobo require the videocards to match with their list? ie. MSI NX8800GTS/320M is the listed model and I want EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card will it work 'normally'?

 

[jimmor]

Originally posted by: Steffche
Its DDR550 though, and in all benchmark tests and reviews I've seen on it they manage a 290Mhz FSB with it easily....but at the moment its only running at 210Mhz according to CPU-Z...?

Yes, you should be able to run your ddr550 memory 1:1 at highish overclock levels ?

My Geil 2x512Mb DDR550 (275Mhz) memory had no problems running 1:1 at 280-290 levels with a 4coredual mobo ---> bios memory settings had to be made manually, timings at 2.5-4-4-7, mem volts at high, mem speed at 400.

 

[Steffche]

Had you done the BSEL mod though? Prior to the BSEL mod I could run my RAM at 1:1 with CPU, but now it shows up as 4:3 in CPU-Z...??

 

[Microsystem]

set flexibility dissable and ram speed to 266

 

[Steffche]

I have got flexibility disabled. But when I look into BIOS at RAM settings the only option I have is DDR400, DDR330 and DDR133 I think from memory...there's no 266 option.

 

[jimmor]

Originally posted by: Steffche
Had you done the BSEL mod though? Prior to the BSEL mod I could run my RAM at 1:1 with CPU, but now it shows up as 4:3 in CPU-Z...??

Yes, since I was at the time using a E4300, I had done the 1066 BSEL mod !

 

[jimmor]

Originally posted by: Steffche
I have got flexibility disabled. But when I look into BIOS at RAM settings the only option I have is DDR400, DDR330 and DDR133 I think from memory...there's no 266 option.

To overclock your DDR550 at 1:1, Flexibility should be at "disabled" and Memory Speed at highest available setting of "400" !

Appears to me that you may not be setting bios latencies high enough for your 280-290 overclock ---> try 3-4-4-9 ?

My Geil ultra ddr1 memory will only run 1:1 when latencies are set at their ddr550 2.5-4-4-7 default rating; or higher. And depending on which lower settings I preset in bios (2-2-2-5 or 2.5-3-3-6), the mobo chipset would force a lower that 1:1 ratio. Since, at the time, I was more interested in running at 300 plus overclock levels, I was generally also more interested in finding "timings and fsb:mem ratio" that gave best performance, rather than just trying to run the memory at 1:1.

 

[Alex0915]

Thanks! Are people having any issues flashing this BIOS on the sata2 mobo? I think I read of some on here. Would feel better if I knew there were alot more good flashes! Also, would the new vapor cooled sapphire 3870 work well in this system? I need a single slot 3870 so I can keep my powerful pci slot fan (60cfm) under the card. Another issue: I remember reading that either/both the 8800gts (which im also getting) and the 3870 need to have pcie bidirectional bus shut off in the bios or else there is alot of artifacting in games. Is this true and if so where I can I find it in bios-- havent located it yet.

Thanks!

 

[Alex0915]

by "this" I mean the 1.80 BIOS