GA-K8NSNXP-939

[flawlssdistortn]

Quote from Gigabyte tech support:

Chris,

This is the memory we tested here in our lab with F4 BIOS. The other is OCZ500512ELDCGE-K Gold Ed with 2.5-4-4-7 timing. I?ll try to get the BIOS update text for the different BIOS revisions. Thank you.

Best regards,

Ching Shih

GBT Tech Inc.

He showed a pic of Corsair_Twinx_CMX512_3200LLPT. So these are two modules that are "guarranteed" to work in dual channel. He also said he would ask the BIOS department for some documentation of the different BIOS revisions. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

[GTTeamKiller]

hello all , i finally find how to get this f****ing mobo stable ...


NO solution except setting ram frequency at 166 mhz .... OMFG !!!

My favourite sport with my computer is to overclock it, i managed to hit 230 Mhz fsb since nforce2 rev A3 , and now with this card i m not even able to hit 200 mhz :Q
This is my first and last Gigabyte ... Thinking i had to order it in austria because it is still not available in france :/
I'm really disappointed

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Lol, i tried to tell you not to buy it...

 

[GTTeamKiller]

and i didnt listen , snif :'(

 

[Ballistyx]

Something that may be relevant to the issues we've all been experiencing:

http://forums.sudhian.com/mess...=18&threadid=66999

 

[flawlssdistortn]

whoa... It's like we're unravelling a conspiracy here. It started with simple temp issues, then BSODs, and now we're finding out more and more...

 

[Pohemi]

Originally posted by: pantner
@Pohemi420

You could find that it is your Windows cause SOME stability problems....if you install windows, and have RAM that isn't working properly, then parts of Windows can be corrupt upon install...

and mine WAS smoking...until it literally started smoking.....

"Zalman, Enermax, Antec (NeoPower) remain consistent in power output due to build quality and quality of a PSU is confirmed by weight! The heavier the PSU the better the transformer!" "As the K8NSNXP-939 is sensitive, arguably too sensitive, havoc occurs!"
quote from the link u posted flawlssdistortn

that could be SOME people's problems, and if true, explain why i have had very small problems with stability...and the fact that my RAM is on the unofficial supported list!

I have used both corsair and kingston ram. I've reinstalled Windows using different discs(XP Pro and XP home). I even installed Windows cleanly on a sata drive on my second computer, then swapped the drive back to the 939, and I'm still limited to the 166 "FSB" speed. I'm pretty sure that the problem is not faulty memory OR a faulty installation of Windows. I've even tried the F5 bios(actually still running it), and it didn't seem to make much difference. I can run my system super-stable at 166, but I don't think I should have to settle for that. I tried to build this system for performance, and so far I'm not impressed. Whether it's a problem with the memory controller on the processor or an outdated step-code on the mobo or chipset, I've gotten tired of all the companies involved trying to shift blame to other components or the end-user(me) themselves. This is obviously a well documented problem/problems, and I'm not entirely sure it can be remedied yet before changes are made in the hardware. *@#&mumble, mumble...$@#&

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Just got off the phone with AMD tech support - apparently, the memory controller is not guaranteed to support dual channel DDR400 regardless of whether it it 2 modules or 4. Timings should be backed down to 333Mhz when using dual channel. Now what pisses me off about this is that the motherboard companies still advertise their products as supporting dual channel DDR400. Obviously they have been able to get it to work with some degree of success... And Gigabyte seems to have done it to a lesser degree. I mean I'm not even trying to overclock. I just want to use what I thought were "stock settings." Wouldn't this qualify as false advertising?

 

[Pohemi]

I see it as false advertising not only on the part of the mobo manufacturer, but AMD as well. To some degree, they have led consumers to believe that the memory controller utilizes 3200 memory and below, now it is obviously not capable of those speeds in most cases. AMD still does not have any statements about their 64 bit CPU's on their website only being capable of 333 in dual channel. Someone had to find out from a tech support agent that probably broke some rules by telling him(j/k).

 

[pantner]

While im not happy about it, its not the motherboard manufacturer's fault it doesn't work in dual channel at DDR400...

Their boards can handle it, its AMD's CPU that doesn't handle it...


and im 99% sure that we have already covered the fact that the CPU won't work at DDR400 in dual channel mode...either that or i heard it somewhere else and didn't tel you guys

 

[flawlssdistortn]

The thing is though, most of the motherboards out there are able to support dual channel DDR400 for the most part. And all of them are reviewed with this configuration and all of them advertise it. In fact, I've seen reviews where this board and the MSI equivalent ran a stable DDR466. I'm guessing however, that this is where the "compatibility" list comes into play. We know it's not a very long one for the K8NSNXP-939, but what about the Asus A8V or the Abit one? I don't think I've heard of any dual channel problems with those boards. If we're talking about a limitation of the processor, then why aren't ASUS owners having the same degree of problems? Even if the cpu doesnt officially support dual channel DDR400, most people seem to get it working. I look at it as a default, not an overclock speed.

 

[JSmithy]

This board is a nice board, too bad the BIOS is not (at least what we think!)

I found a work around the BSOD's (NTFS ACPI ATAPI etc...) by setting my HTT to 455 Mhz then saving and rebooting. The system then defaults back to 200Mhz and everything boot's fine. I'm using F4 BIOS. It's a great shame I have to do this process everytime I reboot I'm considering taking the board back to the shop's but I really like the features this board has to offer :/ I also am not using Dual Channel Memory because there was none available at the time, it should arrive sometime this week it is corsair XMS bla bla...

 

[Brickster]

How can you tell if your Memory is running at 333 DDR instead of 400?

Is this a product?

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Well there are the settings in the BIOS. Also you can use CPUID or the Nvidia System Utility. Gigabyte has an "Easy Tune 5" that works.

 

[Brickster]

Originally posted by: flawlssdistortn
Well there are the settings in the BIOS. Also you can use CPUID or the Nvidia System Utility. Gigabyte has an "Easy Tune 5" that works.

Well, I have mine set to 218 in the BIOS. I assume that is 436 since I am running in Dual Channel mode.

I will check with CPUID.

Thanks,
Brick

 

[flawlssdistortn]

To clarify on the AMD dual channel memory issue: Just called again to verify and this time tech support said that the memory controller officially supports dual channel DDR400, but to run at this speed, one needs to have good quality memory (like the modules on the compatibility lists). Otherwise, it should be able to run all memory at dual channel DDR333. It was also said that the motherboard manufacturer still has an influence on the stability of the system, although not as much cause the memory controller is now on the CPU.

 

[coachrg]

I assembled my computer last week. Bought the MB / CPU combo from Monarch. It came with two 512 sticks installed and fired up immediately in dual channel with the DDR 400 running just fine. First problem was my 450 watt power supply was in adequate as it went black screen about every five minutes. I installed a 650 watt supply and it ran fine. In the continuous quest for more performance I ordered four more DDR 400 - two matched 521 pairs - from Monarch. Same part numbers. Neither of them worked. Well, more correctly when installed they came up at 512 meg in windows even when running with the orrigional pair that consistently come up at 1 gig when run alone. I tried everything I could think of and finally gave up and returned them. Im exchanging them for two 1 gig sticks in hopes that these will run better.

So far, I am having great stability running (cheap) memory in dual channel mode on either 1 + 2 or 3+4. It is as an interesting metric, I run PlanetSide. With the same video board (800 pro) my fps went from ~ 50-60 to a minimum of 90 and a max of 180 fps. This is with basically a "stock" FX with only 1 gig of RAM running through a 4 meg pipe.

The only real challenge I have had is with the driver for the on board SATA drive. I am running a single Raptor and am going to go to RAID just because I can and the board wants me to do it. I loaded windows xp home five times before I got the drivers right. Every time I loaded the SI SATA driver on the Gigabyte CD windows went belly up. So I just left it out and let XP load what it wanted. Then after a couple of days I crossed my fingers and let Windows update install a new driver from the manufacturers website. It has been running great since then.

As an aside, it only took like 15 minutes to do the total windows XP build so it was not terribly onerous. )

 

[pantner]

thats great to hear coachrg...

i think im gonna sell my K8NSNXP-939 and get a DFI instead....i sold my old Fx5700 to my boss, and it performed better in his machine (DFI 250Gb with Sempron 3100) then it did in mine (GB board and 3800)..

but im gonna see how my new Alabtron 6800GT runs with the GB board...

i'll hopefully have the 6800GT today/tomorrow, and my GB board back from RA in another 2 or so days...YAY!

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Man, everyone's bailing on the K8NSNXP-939 Even Gigabyte apparently, they put out an identical mobo minus the dual power system.

 

[Netgeek]

Okay, let me share my story with this board. Bought it as part of a custom system from Monarch. Had periodic blue screens under XP up until 9/16. For some reason (and I have not changed any BIOS settings) the system has suddenly become rock solid w/no blue screens.

Here are the numbers I'm getting from CPU-Z

RAM: Slots 1 & 2, OCZ4001024ELDCPE-K

SPD Timings: 200 MHz, 2-3-2-5

When I view the Memory tab I see
201.0 MHz, 2-4-2-6 and Bank Cycle 11, DRAM Idle 16. It also notes it is 'Dual' channel.

So it looks like I'm getting dual-channel, 400 MHz RAM (?).

 

[pantner]

im not getting rid of it because im unhappy....im getting rid of it cause the DFI is better ....but like i said,

im gonna see how my new Alabtron 6800GT runs with the GB board...

 

[Pohemi]

Originally posted by: pantner
thats great to hear coachrg...

i think im gonna sell my K8NSNXP-939 and get a DFI instead....i sold my old Fx5700 to my boss, and it performed better in his machine (DFI 250Gb with Sempron 3100) then it did in mine (GB board and 3800)..

but im gonna see how my new Alabtron 6800GT runs with the GB board...

i'll hopefully have the 6800GT today/tomorrow, and my GB board back from RA in another 2 or so days...YAY!

Here's my build:

GA-K8NSNXP-939(F5)
Athlon 64 3500
(Corsair TwinX1024-3200XL)-OR-(Kingston KHX4000 1024K2)
BFG GeForce 6800 Ultra OC
WD Raptor 74gb sata drives in RAID 0
Maxtor 250gb 16m cache sata drive
Windows XP Pro SP2
Thermaltake Xaser III

I took out my 6800 and stuck it in my friends machine to make sure at leastit was working correctly since my 3Dmark scores were disappointing me. I was getting 9900 in 3Dmark03. His machine:

Asus A7N8X-E deluxe
AMD AthlonXP mobile 2600(OC'd to 2.4ghz)
1gb Corsair(1 512mb stick 3200LLPro, 2 256mb sticks 3200 value)
WD Caviar 120gb IDE 7200rpm drive
Windows XP home SP2

His machine with my card got as high as 12000 in 3Dmark03, and 20500 in 3Dmark01SE. Just thought I'd post this for amusement now that I've finished raging about it :|

 

[pantner]

see why i want the DFI....

comparing Aquamark 3 score....

a system with a Sempron 3100, 1024mb RAM, Fx5700nu 128mb and a DFI Lanparty UT 250Gb got about 25,000....even with my A64 3800, 1024Mb RAM, Fx5700nu 128mb and K8NSNXP-939 i used to get about 23,500...

both systems were at stock! (the Sempron 3100 actually beat my old AXP3200 at stock aswell...)

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Pohemi420, that is really weird... what drivers were you using? Something's wrong, there's gotta be a software setting or something that's holding you back. It can't be the mobo. My 3DMark03 score for the 65.73 drivers was 10738. For 3DMark05 it was 3923.

Pantner I would be interested in your benchmarks with the 6800gt as well.

 

[Ballistyx]

Uninstall the GFX and nForce chipset drivers. Re-install the chipset driver first, then re-install the graphics driver.

If you read back in this thread, you'll find an older post of mine where something similar happened to me too. It was all related to my drivers.