GA-K8NSNXP-939

[secreed]

also in BIOS there is option for top perfomance anybody played with that?

 

[Brickster]

Some very interesting issues going on here for this Gigabyte Mobo.

I am running it, and have had some of the expressed problems that I am seeing here, but have been able to troubleshoot the majority of them.

BSOD issues - I was having memory access BSOD, which was fixed by upping voltage by 0.2V to 2.7V. My sticks are Corsair XMS Pro 3200XL. Recomended voltage is 2.75V. 2.7 seems to work fine.

EasyTune4 - when I installed it, it did load, but didn't seem to be functioning properly - it prompted me for a really, really long download from Taiwan to update the program. Harward tab still doesn't work, but ET4 does.

Driver issues -
1) Marvell Yukon LAN drivers were not correct on the CD, or are the correct in "Windows Update". That's right, the one's identified in Windows Update don't seem to work for my board. Proper ones can be found here: v.7.14.1.3 Found this on page 9 of the MediaMan review.

2) Nvidia RAID service fails to run at start up everytime. I am not running RAID, but for some reason nvidiaraidservice.exe fails to run/load.

3) Updated to latest nForce Forceware chipset drivers. Cannot access Network Access Manager. This button is greyed out, and teh Nforce Networking Controller is shown as "disconnected". Not sure what I am doing wrong here. I am think about going back to driver on CD.

^^^^^^
Please let me know if anyone can help here


I have yet to go to 4 DIMMS, but hopefully with the purchase of the exact same RAM, and possibly enabling 2T timming in BIOS, I souldn't have issues with a drop to 166.

I have this thing OC'ed as such:
218x11 = 2.4 Ghz A643500+ w/ 1.6V VCORE
HT Frequency = 4X (lowered from 5x)
Memory voltage (VDIMM) = 2.7V
Relaxed timings on Corsair XMS 3200XL to 2-3-2-11 (sweet spot)

Rock solid in FarCry, 12700 in 3dMark03.

Check my sys in my sig.

Cheers,

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: secreed

wish i could try and run memtest, my pc is fried now, i can load BIOS and soon as it starts loading windows i get error /windows /system32/config file missing, now normaly i could try and reboot in safe mode but nope can't do it, this happen after updating my pc last night. The only thing that might screwed up windows is that microsfoft.net framework update. could anybody help me here, i just don't know what to do now, memory is my last problem i just wish i can boot in safe mode or from cd.

Ah, memtest runs off a bootdisk, if your Windows is screwed it doesn't matter....

It sounds like you need to do a Repair on your system, either that or just a clean re-install....

Actually, I read the opposite is true. The SilImage controller is attached through the PCI bus, but the nvidia controller isn't. It's supposed to be faster on the nvidia controller, since it isn't limited by the speed of the PCI bus. Then again, two SATA drives are going to be hard pressed to saturate the PCI bus just by there lonesome selves.

Yes, the silicon controller is on the PCI BUS, but that is only an issue if it saturates the Bus (like you said) and that actual Silicon controller is better the NVIDIA one (according to Gigabyte)

 

[Coldrum]

Originally posted by: Ballistyx


Right-click on MY COMPUTER, and select PROPERTIES in the menu that appears.

Click the ADVANCED tab, and then click the STARTUP AND RECOVERY button.

Under the heading "System Failure", UNcheck Automatically Restart (and if it's selected, UNselect "Send and administrative alert" No sense broadcasting an alert message if you're the only PC on your network. ).

Now when you get a BSOD, you'll be able to read it.

I suggest trying what Savoybc did (at the top of page 4). Set the memory voltage to +0.2, and enable 2T timmings in the BIOS. Enabling 2T timmings made my system rock stable, where before it'd BSOD when I had all four DIMM sockets filled. It might be all you need to get your two DIMMs working stabily.

-B

The first bit works like a charm, i can now at least read the BSOD ;o)

The second bit, I found T2Timmings and I assumed that DDR Memory Voltage was the setting I was looking for and moved that to +0.2v. Got a BSOD after about 5 minutes so I brought HT down to 4x and it SEEMS to be reasonably stable now.

Can I ask something, people talk about changing their latencies on their memories, like 2-2-2-5 etc. and that this makes a difference. If you know, could you tell me what the settings in the bios are to actually change these latencies so what is the first 2 called, the second 2 called etc etc or do I need a software program to change these?

Thanks,
Robin

 

[Coldrum]

I tell a lie. Still not stable. It's complaining about NTFS.sys. A memory_page_dump_error this time.

I might see if I can get a bios upgrade to f4p and adjust my memory timing if there aren't any other ideas floating around out there.

I'm still not very sure on adjusting the 2-2-2-5 timings, if you could point me to a tutorial or just let me know which bios settings adjust which numbers that would be great.

Thanks,
Robin

 

[imported_Hornswoggler]

Bottom line:

Either this CPU is crap, or the chipset is crap. Not sure which yet. Hit or miss, to say the least.

Depends on how much success the VIA boys are having.

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: Hornswoggler
Bottom line:

Either this CPU is crap, or the chipset is crap. Not sure which yet. Hit or miss, to say the least.

Depends on how much success the VIA boys are having.

I don't think its either....

i think you just have to use the supported RAM that AMD have released (well, most of the time...my PQI seems to do quite well...)

The CPU is just very fussy with RAM...

 

[imported_Hornswoggler]

Originally posted by: pantner

Originally posted by: Hornswoggler
Bottom line:

Either this CPU is crap, or the chipset is crap. Not sure which yet. Hit or miss, to say the least.

Depends on how much success the VIA boys are having.

I don't think its either....

i think you just have to use the supported RAM that AMD have released (well, most of the time...my PQI seems to do quite well...)

The CPU is just very fussy with RAM...

How about this:

You tell me my Corsair 3200XL and Crucial PC4000 Ballistix are junk!

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: Hornswoggler

Originally posted by: pantner

Originally posted by: Hornswoggler
Bottom line:

Either this CPU is crap, or the chipset is crap. Not sure which yet. Hit or miss, to say the least.

Depends on how much success the VIA boys are having.

I don't think its either....

i think you just have to use the supported RAM that AMD have released (well, most of the time...my PQI seems to do quite well...)

The CPU is just very fussy with RAM...

How about this:

You tell me my Corsair 3200XL and Crucial PC4000 Ballistix are junk!

Ok...
1. i honestly don't know because i have never used them before....
2. Im not saying they're junk, im saying they're *POSSIBLY* incompatible with the A64 and the on-die memory controller...

 

[Ballistyx]

Originally posted by: Coldrum
I tell a lie. Still not stable. It's complaining about NTFS.sys. A memory_page_dump_error this time.

I might see if I can get a bios upgrade to f4p and adjust my memory timing if there aren't any other ideas floating around out there.

I'm still not very sure on adjusting the 2-2-2-5 timings, if you could point me to a tutorial or just let me know which bios settings adjust which numbers that would be great.

Thanks,
Robin

Humm... definitely sounds like it's memory related (Yes, I know I sound like Captain Obvious ).

The memory settings you want to change are:

T(RAS) - Row Address Strobe. In your example, it's the number 5. Set it higher to relax the timings. A good starting point is 7. On the older nForce2 boards, 11 was a good setting. I recently read that settings betwee 9 - 11 are good on A64 systems. Don't know how true that is though.

CAS - Column Address Strobe. Set this to 3

T(RCD) - RAS to CAS (column address strobe) access. Set this to 3

T(RP) - Memory Bank Switch. Set this to 3.

BTW, those settings are what I'm using.

Also, if you turned on Top Performance, TURN IT OFF. For me, it should read "Top Crashing Performance". The only thing it does is crash my machine right at POST.

 

[Ballistyx]

Originally posted by: pantner

Originally posted by: Hornswoggler
Bottom line:

Either this CPU is crap, or the chipset is crap. Not sure which yet. Hit or miss, to say the least.

Depends on how much success the VIA boys are having.

I don't think its either....

i think you just have to use the supported RAM that AMD have released (well, most of the time...my PQI seems to do quite well...)

The CPU is just very fussy with RAM...

I have to agree with you. This thing is E-X-T-R-E-M-E-L-Y picky about RAM. Maybe we should start an un-official qualified DIMM list?

 

[tieros]

You left off one option, the motherboard

The parts that were all unstable on my Gigabyte mobo work just fine on my MSI one, including the 3500+ and Corsair Twin1024-3200XL PRO.

I have two MSI Neo 2 plats, and both of them passed 48 hours of Prime95 torture test. The biggest part of the torture is not having your computer for two days

 

[Ballistyx]

Originally posted by: Hornswoggler

How about this:

You tell me my Corsair 3200XL and Crucial PC4000 Ballistix are junk!

Your Corsair 3200XL and Crucial PC4000 Ballistix are junk.






























.... well, you TOLD ME to tell you they were junk.


It's not a matter of whether "Brand X" is better than "Brand Y". It has to do with how the memory controller interacts with the memory chips on the DIMMs themselves, and the quality of the motherboard. For example, on my old rev 1.04 Asus A7N8X Deluxe board, I couldn't get ANY DIMM that had Infineon DRAMs on it to work at anything over 133Mhz. Even with a BIOS update that supposedly fixed the issue, I couldn't get it to work. Even threatening the board with annihilation from the business end of a shotgun didn't help. The SAME RAM that wouldn't work in my Asus board worked PERFECTLY in my Gigabyte 7NNXP. Go figure.

 

[Ballistyx]

Oh yeah.. in case any of you were wondering (probably not, but here goes anyway). My handle has nothing to do with RAM. It's the name of an old Commodore Amiga game from Psygnosis.

 

[imported_Hornswoggler]

Originally posted by: tieros
You left off one option, the motherboard

The parts that were all unstable on my Gigabyte mobo work just fine on my MSI one, including the 3500+ and Corsair Twin1024-3200XL PRO.

I have two MSI Neo 2 plats, and both of them passed 48 hours of Prime95 torture test. The biggest part of the torture is not having your computer for two days

I also have an MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum for testing, and everything crashed on that board too. :/ That's why I say it could be the chipset.

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: Hornswoggler
That's why I say it could be the chipset.

I don't think so....not in the A64 case

 

[Zoomeez]

Right then peeps

For all who are having memory trouble check out this link:

http://www.houseofhelp.com/for...4&page=1&pp=15

My system is fully complete except one thing - I cant run my bling bling memory higher than 333Mhz otherwise system keeps crashing

Gigabyte are due to release another mainboard BIOS update (F4) which apparantly will address the issue so I am hanging fire - no point switching to an MSI board when they suffer from the same problems hence giving me only a 50/50 chance of it working.

I'm pretty sure the memory issues (peeps getting BSODs) are to do with the following:

A)- BIOS - Gigabyte board can only give out a steady 2.7v (2.5 + 0.2v) hence stability issues with memory like Corsairs bling bling stuff - that memory is actually tested at 2.75v and corsair recommend running it at 2.8v - we cant!!!!!!!

B)- Nforce 3 Ultra chipset thing - probably board related - The HT is slightly overclocking itself - could be another cause.

The only advice I have for you all is: Hang fire - lets see wot this new BIOS can do - for those who care - dont bother tryin the Beta F4p bios - made no difference to me at all!!!.

PS - Get yourselves a bad ass power supply - most problems are PSU related.

The only other problem I have with this board is that the Hard disks on the NVRaid refuse to operate the HDD LED on my case - this is a known issue with the gigabyte boards as MSI dont suffer from the same thing. - Hopefully BIOS update should address.

Oooooh - I heard MSI and Gigabyte are gunna merge? Bloomin 'eck - we're in for it now!

 

[secreed]

Originally posted by: pantner

Originally posted by: secreed

wish i could try and run memtest, my pc is fried now, i can load BIOS and soon as it starts loading windows i get error /windows /system32/config file missing, now normaly i could try and reboot in safe mode but nope can't do it, this happen after updating my pc last night. The only thing that might screwed up windows is that microsfoft.net framework update. could anybody help me here, i just don't know what to do now, memory is my last problem i just wish i can boot in safe mode or from cd.

Ah, memtest runs off a bootdisk, if your Windows is screwed it doesn't matter....

It sounds like you need to do a Repair on your system, either that or just a clean re-install....

Actually, I read the opposite is true. The SilImage controller is attached through the PCI bus, but the nvidia controller isn't. It's supposed to be faster on the nvidia controller, since it isn't limited by the speed of the PCI bus. Then again, two SATA drives are going to be hard pressed to saturate the PCI bus just by there lonesome selves.

Yes, the silicon controller is on the PCI BUS, but that is only an issue if it saturates the Bus (like you said) and that actual Silicon controller is better the NVIDIA one (according to Gigabyte)

Actually i needed to go out and get retail version of XP home- i tried to transfer the 1 from my old crashed syetma but it didn't work ( damn Microsoft).
Now i have 4 sticks of 512, 2 from corsair and 2 from ballistix so far i was unable to run Corsair in dual chanell hope ballistix will work.

 

[savoybc]

24 Hours of Prime95 torture test passed successfully with my memory (Corsair XMS TwinX 2GB DDR400 PC3200.)

The only thing I did this time was leave Voltage at +0.2 and made no other changes.

Edit: This is also in Dual channel mode. Maybe the FX 53 processor works fine with the Corsair memory modules - anyone else with a FX 53 processor can try this?

 

[Brickster]

Originally posted by: Coldrum

I'm still not very sure on adjusting the 2-2-2-5 timings, if you could point me to a tutorial or just let me know which bios settings adjust which numbers that would be great.

Thanks,
Robin

Check what Ballistyx said, he summed it up well.

I am running at 2-3-2-11

2 = Cas to Ras Latency (I think) ...I left this.
3 = tRCD
2= yet another setting I didn't change
11 = tRAS

After testing with SuperPi and 3DMark03, I found this to be a sweet spot.

Thanks,

 

[pantner]

Do i have to worry about all the other RAM Timings in the BIOS....or just those 4 main ones???

I have found (using Memtest86 to see the bandwidth) that my 'sweet spot' is

Cas 2.5
tRCD 3
other one 3
tRAS 9

which gave my 2353mb/sec, opposed to 2190mb/sec before hand...and going to mess around with all the other settings see if i can get it higher..

 

[Zoomeez]

i gots the FX-53 processor - cant run my sticks in dual channel at 400mhz :<

 

[savoybc]

I am running in DDR400 fine...

 

[pantner]

maybe you should try relaxing your RAM timings, or enabling T2 Timings....
or maybe increasing the RAM voltage....

 

[imported_Hornswoggler]

Some of us have tried all of the above.