ASRock 4CoreDual-VSTA

[lookin4dlz]

Was able to take it down a little to 3-3-2-8 2T which gives me 6,165 in Sandra memory bandwidth benchmark.

 

[focussoft]

Originally posted by: lookin4dlz
Today I set the PCIe to 117 as someone had previously stated should be done even though I'm using an AGP card. This allowed me to move up to 295 fsb 3-3-3-8 & get above 6100 on the Sandra memory bandwidth benchmarks. Previously at 295 fsb the computer was a little flaky & it's smooth now. However, I cannot go above 295 at all, nor can I lower my memory timings at all while at 295.

Well i been messing around with those memory timings as well

at 300fsb 3-3-3-8 T1 i get 6274 in sandra
I managed to set it to 333 mode , but then the devider 3:4 kicked in making it 535Mhz while on 266 mode it was running 600Mhz
Benchmark in sandra showed proof of this dropping to the 5400 numbers

So back to 266 mode @ 300fsb 3-3-3-8 T1 and stable

Have to note that setting it to 333 mode i noticed windows boot screens loading slower then in 266 mode

ps i only gotten it to 300fsb because i used the pencil mod to rais the vagp a bit
Wanted at least 3.0Ghz out of this cpu :laugh:

 

[jugi]

Today 8800 GTS has been added to ASRock's support list.

 

[Ankh]

Originally posted by: jugi
Today 8800 GTS has been added to ASRock's support list.

Indeed...

This was also added with the v1.80 BIOS:

775 Core 2 Duo E4500(M0) 2.20GHz 800MHz 2MB Conroe P1.80

Very interesting, looks like a 11x multiplier CPU is on the way.

Ankh

 

[lookin4dlz]

Lowered timings a little. Now at 3-3-2-6 1T @ 295 fsb for Sandra memory bandwidth benchmarks around 6,300.

 

[Mr Vain]

Originally posted by: Ankh

Originally posted by: jugi
Today 8800 GTS has been added to ASRock's support list.

Indeed...

This was also added with the v1.80 BIOS:

775 Core 2 Duo E4500(M0) 2.20GHz 800MHz 2MB Conroe P1.80

Very interesting, looks like a 11x multiplier CPU is on the way.

Ankh

I have had my eye on that CPU for awhile now.

 

[lookin4dlz]

Down to 3-3-2-5 1T with three runs of Sandra memory bandwidth averaging 6,313. Probably won't get much better than this at the current fsb.

 

[lookin4dlz]

X-Fi isn't working... Finally installed the drives & now my system freezes & won't even boot into Windows. Tried setting thebios to default values, but still no go. Uninstalled the drivers & everything is back to the way it was.

Any secret to using the X-Fi or am I screwed as far as using it is concerned?

 

[bigsnyder]

@lookin4dlz
Mine has worked flawless. Vista or XP?

 

[lookin4dlz]

Hey bigsnyder thanks for the quick reply. Windows XP.

 

[Mr Vain]

Who is using the new 1.8 Bios?
Are there any notable improvements?

http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=4CoreDual-VSTA&s=n

 

[bigsnyder]

Are you using the drivers from the driver disk or the latest from the web? I installed the
driver and related software from the driver disk first and then updated from the web. The
Catalyst drivers for the 9600 might also be causing problems, so that might be worth looking
into. Last, you might need to try a different PCI slot. Uninstall drivers first and disable any
onboard devices you are not using first before moving to a new slot. I apologize for the
generic answers, but these are the three most common causes I have ran across.

C Snyder

Originally posted by: lookin4dlz
Hey bigsnyder thanks for the quick reply. Windows XP.

 

[lookin4dlz]

Thanks bigsynder. I tried the new pci slot after uninstalling everything. Funny thing is, there's no problem until I plug a speaker in. I might uninstall the ATI drivers next...

 

[bigsnyder]

Sounds like a grounding problem with your speakers (motherboard or PSU is possible). Can you try with headphones or a different
set of speakers? It wouldn't hurt to experiment with another PSU.

 

[lookin4dlz]

Thanks for the help! The speaker grounding sounds plausible, but this was happening with my PC speakers & the speakers running through my receiver. Well, I uninstalled the ATI pci driver for the s-video out, which goes to my TV. When I rebooted the computer, the driver automatically reinstalled & everything works fine. Who knows...

 

[allenlux]

Thanks to those who replied to my post on 19 May about problems repairing XP after the motherboard swap. Now, after some sticky moments, all is working and I have:

Asrock 4CoreDual-VSTA bios 1.8
E6420@2.33Ghz (290 FSB) w/stock Intel HSF
Corsair ValueSelect DDR2 533 2x512MB in dual-channel mode
ATI Radeon 9600SE AGP
SATA - 320GB Samsung

It's fast and stable, and I'm almost happy.

However, I decided I'd actually like to try the PCIe card I have to hand - an MSI RX600XT, which is similar to one on the Asrock compatibility list. I tried the following steps:

1. Disable existing graphics card in device manager.
2. Reboot to BIOS setup and set "primary graphics adapter" to PCIe, reset CPU to original speed (no overclock). Save and switch off.
3. Replace AGP graphics card with PCIe card, switch on PC.

Result: no output on the video (DVI) adapter, ie I don't see the BIOS screen on boot-up, monitor LED does not go gree.

Does this mean that my card just doesn't work with the mb, even though other makes with the same chipset are on the compatibilty list?

Is there something else I can do to try and get this to work? As I don't even see the boot-up screen, I guess this is not a driver issue.

 

[complain]

Hello Allenlux!

Try reset CMOS with jumper as described in Mobo manual. Hasnt your card external power connector? If yes, you must connect it to power supply.
Of course, there is always posibility that your MSI card may be incompatible - i ve already read on this forum that some brands of 8800 GTS runs well and others dont! But why?
If you turn on computer, are CPU and VGA fan working?

 

[linuxtiger]

Originally posted by: Mr Vain
Who is using the new 1.8 Bios?
Are there any notable improvements?

http://www.asrock.com/mb/downl...del=4CoreDual-VSTA&s=n

1. Updated from Bios 1.70 to 1.80 on 02-June-2007
2. Notable Improvements? Reply: None so far

 

[allenlux]

Originally posted by: complain
Try reset CMOS with jumper as described in Mobo manual. Hasnt your card external power connector? If yes, you must connect it to power supply.
Of course, there is always posibility that your MSI card may be incompatible - i ve already read on this forum that some brands of 8800 GTS runs well and others dont! But why?
If you turn on computer, are CPU and VGA fan working?

Complain, thanks for answering.

I've taken out the PCIe card so can't try a CMOS reset right now, but I'm doubtful if this will help.

No external power connector on card.

CPU and VGA fan were working OK.

It looks very much as if the MSI card may in some way be incompatible. I noticed that if I put in both video cards (AGP and PCIe) - which should be possible with this mb - then there is no video output from either card.

I may just go and buy a new higher-performance PCIe card, if I can make sense of the bizarre naming conventions of ATI cards (like, why does "PRO" indicate lower performance than "XT"....).

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: allenlux

Originally posted by: complain
Try reset CMOS with jumper as described in Mobo manual. Hasnt your card external power connector? If yes, you must connect it to power supply.
Of course, there is always posibility that your MSI card may be incompatible - i ve already read on this forum that some brands of 8800 GTS runs well and others dont! But why?
If you turn on computer, are CPU and VGA fan working?

Complain, thanks for answering.

I've taken out the PCIe card so can't try a CMOS reset right now, but I'm doubtful if this will help.

No external power connector on card.

CPU and VGA fan were working OK.

It looks very much as if the MSI card may in some way be incompatible. I noticed that if I put in both video cards (AGP and PCIe) - which should be possible with this mb - then there is no video output from either card.

I may just go and buy a new higher-performance PCIe card, if I can make sense of the bizarre naming conventions of ATI cards (like, why does "PRO" indicate lower performance than "XT"....).

I don't beleive the mobo was designed to work in this manner only either AGP or PCI-E not both simulataneously like DDR+ and DDR2.

 

[SethK28]

Will this RAM work in this board?


Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400 800MHz 240-pin DDR2

 

[Mr Vain]

Originally posted by: coldpower27

Originally posted by: allenlux

Originally posted by: complain
Try reset CMOS with jumper as described in Mobo manual. Hasnt your card external power connector? If yes, you must connect it to power supply.
Of course, there is always posibility that your MSI card may be incompatible - i ve already read on this forum that some brands of 8800 GTS runs well and others dont! But why?
If you turn on computer, are CPU and VGA fan working?

Complain, thanks for answering.

I've taken out the PCIe card so can't try a CMOS reset right now, but I'm doubtful if this will help.

No external power connector on card.

CPU and VGA fan were working OK.

It looks very much as if the MSI card may in some way be incompatible. I noticed that if I put in both video cards (AGP and PCIe) - which should be possible with this mb - then there is no video output from either card.

I may just go and buy a new higher-performance PCIe card, if I can make sense of the bizarre naming conventions of ATI cards (like, why does "PRO" indicate lower performance than "XT"....).

I don't beleive the mobo was designed to work in this manner only either AGP or PCI-E not both simulataneously like DDR+ and DDR2.

Via says you can run both cards at the same time.

Furthermore, motherboards based on the VIA PT880 Ultra support VIA DualGFX Express, by running both AGP and PCI-Express graphics cards simultaneously, providing the ability to connect to as many as four separate displays.

http://www.via.com.tw/en/produ...p4-series/pt880_ultra/

 

[Space Marine]

Hi new to these boards. I bought this motherboard a few days ago and trying to learn stuff
as to decrease the pc downtime until i transfer old things on this mobo and i have a few questions - please take in mind that i intend not to overclock anything:

1. Why the V-LINK is by bios default to normal and not fast? whats the difference? (cpu is 6420 1066 fsb) - i come from an amd chip the only vlink setting i've seen was the v-link data rate which most probably should be set to 8x. This motherboards chipset (via pt880ultra) has the ultra v-link bus which is described by via as an ultra-vlink type with 1gbs transfer.
2. Ide drive strength? Why bios default low and not normal ? I plan to use 2 36gb raptors raid0
and one "old" 200g pata ide wd.

ty

 

[bigsnyder]

Someone even hacked drivers to run the board in SLI (or Crossfire, can't remember which one).
I will try to find the link and post it.

 

[Sayyym]

Hi guys

just got this board and paired it with a new 6420, havent tryed OC'in yet but i bought this board so i could upgrade to a PCIe card at some point. I saw they have a lot of issues with geforce 8x00 series. anyone tried the new radeon x2900 with this board? any ways ive currently got an agp x850 pro @ xt, just wanted to know what you'd recommend as a good upgrade to PCIe. Also im using XP