Calling Shuttle AK31A owners..........

[HiHoStevo]

Hello, I am tearing my hair out with problems on an AK31A. I did a search, but cannot find the "Official" thread that used to be here.......

Would several of you AK31A folks mind posting all of your BIOS settings so I can compare mine and see if that is where my problem is???????

I am running the Shuttle AK31A with the latest BIOS revision and the following cards (in case your set up is similar).

VisionTek GeForce3 Ti/200

SoundBlaster Audigy Gamer

10/100 network card...... (first tried a D-link and then switched over to a SOHO trying to trouble shoot problems)

If you are really bored and want to spend some time reading....... here is a link to the problems I have been experiencing......

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=661632

link #2

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=29&threadid=662126


Thanks for your time,

Steve

 

[o1die]

Today I made a change. I pulled out a 128 meg dram chip, leaving only 1 256k micron 2.5 dram in the slot closest to the cpu. Now I can run the memory settings in manual. I suggest if you have more than 1 dram chip that they all be the same brand, size, maybe even registered to work well together. These are my new settings, and I haven't crashed once so far: athlon xp 1700, bios version ak312see, sisoft memory scores = 795/849. Frequency/voltage control: cpu voltage = default (1.74), cpu ratio = default (locked at 11.0), ddr voltage = auto, auto detect dim = enabled, spread spectrum = disabled, cpu clock = 138, Advanced bios features: virus warning = disabled, the other settings are up to you. Advanced chipset features: dram clock = host clock, dram timing = manual, sdram cycle length = 2.5, bank interleave = 4 bank, (trp) = 2T, (tras) = 6T, (trcd) = 3T, dram que = 4, dram command = 1T, agp aperature = 128m, agp mode = 4x, apg driving control = auto, agp fast write = enabled, agp master 1 write = enabled, agp master 1 read = enabled, memory hole disabled, system bios cacheable = enabled, video ram cacheable = enabled. Integrated peripherals all set at optimal default settings, Pc health status: cpu warning temp = 53/127, shutdown temp = 60/140. video card is gainward geforce 2 ti 500 at the default settings (261/470). Hope this helps. Still haven't got my new power supply; using a sparkle 235 watt.

 

[HiHoStevo]

Thanks Oldie...... I will run through my bios file and see how my settings compare... I have not overclocked the board at all yet..... just trying to get it to run stable with the optimized settings in the bios.

I think one of my problems has been to much ram, so I am pulling back to 512 until I can get it sorted out.

Thanks again,

Steve

 

[Ben]

I thought Win98 would ignore anything over 512MB anyway?

I've had some experience with AK31's. I put together a few systems using the rev.2 boards and they run great. Unfortunately, all three of the systems I did this month using the rev.3 boards didn't go so well. The last system was the most difficult. It was experiencing random crashing under load, failed boots, and sometimes wouldn't post after it had been sitting for a long time. After troubleshooting I finally got it 95% stabilized.

The random crashing was fixed by using the two DIMM slots closest to the chipset rather than the two farthest ones. Normally I use the two closest slots anyway but the friend that was building this system installed the RAM because he was "helping" me. We were using two 256MB sticks of DDR. I've also read that the AK31 has some issues dealing with all the DIMM slots being filled which may apply to you.

The no-post problem was fixed by removing the four case fans from the system. We were using an Enermax 330W PS which seemed like plenty, but when I unplugged all the case fans the no-post problem vanished. I later re-installed two of the four fans and it's still OK like that. I also have the two-wire tach sensor from the power supply plugged into the motherboard like you described and it works fine on this system.

It still occasionally will go to a black screen while booting. My feeling is that's a video issue that hopefully will be resolved with a BIOS update. The owner seemed pleased with it the way it was since the black screen problem only occurs once in a while, about 1/25 boots.

 

[Ben]

Scratch that last post. I'm now the proud owner of an AK31 motherboard that won't post about 50% of the time no matter what the hell I do to it.

I had to buy the customer a new board out of my pocket (MSI Pro2) and that makes me unhappy. Looks like no more AK31's for me.

 

[OverDose]

Damnit guys you depress me , The Shuttle AK31 r3.1 *IS* my baby, After some research a few months ago it appeared, on paper, to be the best board for the money in the KT266a play field so at work (computer shop, lots of service/upgrades/builds), we've adopted this board to be our Athlon DDR solution and i've installed 50 or more of them so far, like ANY motherboard, you can run into problems, but I give some words of wisdom that i've learned about this board:

1) ALWAYS run the newest bios, EE is the newest as of now and my home machine has been up for 72 hours (WinXP) no problems so far
2) NEVER install more than 2 memory modules of NON-ECC memory or your askin for problems (this goes for most DDR based athlon boards)
3) In the bios they set the command rate to 1T by default, if one were to run more than 1 memory module, 2T would be optimal to ensure stability (1T works fine on my home computer with 2 256mb modules with Hyundai chips but I expierenced a lot of system instability with the Nanya 7K series chips in multitude @ 1T, 2T worked though)
4) Use a quality PSU, the Enlight 300w, Antec 300w and Enermax 350w have showed me nothing but success
5) run any high drawing fans directly off the PSU, not the motherboard (get a 3pin to molex adapter), I haven't ever had to do this but I read time and time again it causes problems for some people

If all else fails, get ahold of me on AIM S/N "od517" and we'll figure it out, we order our boards from newegg and mwave and out of all the ones ordered i've only had ONE doa

Also, one last note, always install the via 4.37a's *AND* the VIA AGP 4.10, my GF3 ran funky with the VIA stock 4.05 AGP driver, but I also run a 142fsb and o/c TI200 so maybe that's why, but whatever, install em

 

[OverDose]

<< dram command = 1T. Still haven't got my new power supply; using a sparkle 235 watt. >>



it's imperative you change that 1T to 2T and get yourself a nice 300+ watt PSU, you'll find system stability with multiple modules for sure, this "dram command / command rate" setting only comes into play when 2 or more modules are in use, that's why you found stability with just one memory module.... I really wish shuttle would default 2T in their bioses like most manufacturors do