ASRock 939Dual SATA MB bios settings.

[radink]

Hey all.

I have a question. I want to know what settings I should have in my bios when it comes to memory and the CPU. I have:

ASRock 939Dual-SATA MB (BIOS version 1.20)
1GB of PC3200 DDR400 Ram (2 sticks)
AthlonXP 64 3200+ (Venice)

When I run CPU-Z I get the ram frequency at 133mhz. That doesn't sound correct to me. Can anyone help?

Thanks!!

 

[radink]

According to EVEREST. 200mhz would be 3.0-3-3-8

So I set this to that value and I'm only getting 154mhz

CPU-Z says the FSB: DRAM is CPU/15
Bank cycles are 11
and idle timer is 16.

 

[Westmassguy]

In BIOS...
Set memory timings to manual.
Set memory speed to 200 MHz (1 to 1).
Set "Flexibility" to disabled.
You didn't specify what memory brand you are using, so I'd try setting the timings to 2.5,3,3,10 to start with.

 

[radink]

I'm using Corsair Value Ram DDR400. I will try that Flexibility thing. Thanks!!

 

[radink]

I tried disabling the flex option and windows will not boot. I'm guissing it doesn't like the value ram that much. I have 163mhz for my ram so I guess I probably won't notice that much of a difference. Who knows...

 

[gksl4]

In Bios -Advanced-CPU Configuration
Multiplier/Voltage Change set to [Manual]
Processor Multiplier set [x5 1000Mhz]
Select Memory Clock set [200 Mhz (DDR 400)]...
I think this will solve your problem.

 

[PingSpike]

There were two places that you change the ram frequency I believe. On the first bios screen and I think somewhere under cpu advanced options. Mine was running at 133mhz as well until I found the second one.

Edit: I checked last night and I'm wrong about that. There's only one place, the other I was thinking of is just a readout.

 

[BlackPear1]

Use Westmassguy's procedure above to get your memory working at 1:1. Don't set your processor multiplier to "x5 1000MHz" unless you want to run your processor at 1/2 its default frequency. Flex option reduces the memory clock - if you can't load windows with it disabled (and you're not o/c), you might want to run Memtest86+ to check for memory problems.

 

[Westmassguy]

Follow my instructions above, but try with looser timings 3,4,4,10 instead of 2.5,3,3,10.

 

[raanemaan]

Originally posted by: Westmassguy
Follow my instructions above, but try with looser timings 3,4,4,10 instead of 2.5,3,3,10.

Followed instructions and I am now running at 200. I set it at 3,4,4,10 first just to see. I will try to tighten my timings later. Is this a common problem with the Asrock board?

 

[radink]

As far as I can tell, none of this is working. I'm thinking i might have bad ram. Who knows.

 

[radink]

Well I guess it's the Mobo... I ran memtest and it crapped on test 5. So I reveresed the chips in the same slots. The memtest was worse. So I moved them from slots 1&2 to 3&4 and im running fine with the flexability option off and im at 200mhz now with 3-3-3-8 1T. So i guess all is good for now. I think im past neweggs return policy on Mobos, so I'm not sure if it's just that ram (crucial value ram) doesn't jive with those slots, or the slots are bad. Who knows. I will see how stable i run for now. Thanks for you help guys!!

 

[Burningcoals]

Originally posted by: radink
Well I guess it's the Mobo... I ran memtest and it crapped on test 5. So I reveresed the chips in the same slots. The memtest was worse. So I moved them from slots 1&2 to 3&4 and im running fine with the flexability option off and im at 200mhz now with 3-3-3-8 1T. So i guess all is good for now. I think im past neweggs return policy on Mobos, so I'm not sure if it's just that ram (crucial value ram) doesn't jive with those slots, or the slots are bad. Who knows. I will see how stable i run for now. Thanks for you help guys!!

Same thing happened to me. I can't run 1T, also would have strange WinXP instability, like pasting a print screen into ms paint, would reboot instantly. I switched the memory from 1-2 to 3-4 and then it worked much better. I am running kinda spendy OCZ EL Plat Rev2 1G sticks.

But the question is; is it the RAM or the Mobo? I think I might RMA the ram and see what happens. I can run 1T settings using 1 stick, but not 2.

I can't even run 1T at default speeds and settings. I can run 1T with 2 sticks if I back of the timing a lot 2.5-4-4-10 even then memtest86 will get errors and reboot my machine.

 

[BlackPear1]

Many users have reported 1T not working stable on this board. The 1T option doesn't even appear in any but the latest bios for those of us w/X2 processors. If your setup passes memtest at 2T, I doubt that your memory is to blame. I don't know how this will be resolved (new bios?) or even if it can be.

 

[radink]

Wierd cause now im passing tests with it set to 2T. I heard that this was a problem with Athlon 64s and the 939Dual-SATA from ASRock...

 

[radink]

Now im failing again. My new ram should be here today. Hopefuly all will go well. I miss my pc working good.

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: BlackPear1
Use Westmassguy's procedure above to get your memory working at 1:1. Don't set your processor multiplier to "x5 1000MHz" unless you want to run your processor at 1/2 its default frequency. Flex option reduces the memory clock - if you can't load windows with it disabled (and you're not o/c), you might want to run Memtest86+ to check for memory problems.

There is no "1:1" on AMD64 architecture, since the RAM controller is in the CPU core not some external northbridge chip. RAM clock derives DOWN from CPU core clock; on a 3200+ (2 GHz) you'll get a divisor of CPU/10 for 200 MHz RAM, and CPU/15 for 133 MHz.

OP, make sure you got your DIMMs in the right slots (one on each channel!), and then make sure the memory speed limit in BIOS is set to "Auto" or 200 MHz. Actually, make sure everything in BIOS is on "Auto" or "SPD" and let BIOS decide what's OK _before_ going to manual settings.

 

[BlackPear1]

I'm sorry that I didn't clearly make my point. What I was trying to say is that by following Westmassguy's instructions you are setting your HTT/memory clock ratio at 1:1. That is not the default condition observed by me and some other users of this motherboard including, it seems, OP.

 

[radink]

Originally posted by: Peter

Originally posted by: BlackPear1
Use Westmassguy's procedure above to get your memory working at 1:1. Don't set your processor multiplier to "x5 1000MHz" unless you want to run your processor at 1/2 its default frequency. Flex option reduces the memory clock - if you can't load windows with it disabled (and you're not o/c), you might want to run Memtest86+ to check for memory problems.

There is no "1:1" on AMD64 architecture, since the RAM controller is in the CPU core not some external northbridge chip. RAM clock derives DOWN from CPU core clock; on a 3200+ (2 GHz) you'll get a divisor of CPU/10 for 200 MHz RAM, and CPU/15 for 133 MHz.

OP, make sure you got your DIMMs in the right slots (one on each channel!), and then make sure the memory speed limit in BIOS is set to "Auto" or 200 MHz. Actually, make sure everything in BIOS is on "Auto" or "SPD" and let BIOS decide what's OK _before_ going to manual settings.

So I have 4 mem slots. 2 blue and 2 black. I should have 1 stick in the blue and one in the black?

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: radink

Originally posted by: Peter

Originally posted by: BlackPear1
Use Westmassguy's procedure above to get your memory working at 1:1. Don't set your processor multiplier to "x5 1000MHz" unless you want to run your processor at 1/2 its default frequency. Flex option reduces the memory clock - if you can't load windows with it disabled (and you're not o/c), you might want to run Memtest86+ to check for memory problems.

There is no "1:1" on AMD64 architecture, since the RAM controller is in the CPU core not some external northbridge chip. RAM clock derives DOWN from CPU core clock; on a 3200+ (2 GHz) you'll get a divisor of CPU/10 for 200 MHz RAM, and CPU/15 for 133 MHz.

OP, make sure you got your DIMMs in the right slots (one on each channel!), and then make sure the memory speed limit in BIOS is set to "Auto" or 200 MHz. Actually, make sure everything in BIOS is on "Auto" or "SPD" and let BIOS decide what's OK _before_ going to manual settings.

So I have 4 mem slots. 2 blue and 2 black. I should have 1 stick in the blue and one in the black?

The manual states otherwise for dual channel operation. And that is how I have mine setup and it reports dual channel on boot so it seems correct.

Both in black = dual channel. Both in blue = dual channel.

 

[radink]

Yeah I checked the book on that too. So both in blue.