GA-K8NSNXP-939

[pantner]

oh, and do you happen to know wat stepping your CPU is Ballistyx???

all 939s are CG, but mine is a Model 4 CG, yours may be a Model 5 CG or something.....

if you know wat was written on the top of your CPU, wat are the last two letters of the top line...

AS or AW????

 

[Ballistyx]

I have no idea what the last two letters are on the top of the CPU. I'd have to pull the waterblock off to check.

If it's any help, the nvSystem Utility says the following:

Brand: AMD Athlon(tm) 64
Name: AMD (tm)
Family: 15
Model: 15
Stepping: 0

Here's the CPU-Z report about my CPU:

Number of CPUs 1
APIC ID 0
Name AMD Athlon 64 3800+
Code name NewCastle
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3800+
Family/Model/Stepping FF0
Extended Family/Model F/F
Brand ID 1
Package Socket 939
Core Stepping DH7-CG
Technology 0.13µ
Instructions Sets MMX, Extended MMX, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, x86-64
Clock Speed 2499.6 MHz
Clock multiplier x10.0
HTT Bus Frequency 250.0 MHz
L1 Data Cache 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L1 Instruction Cache 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L2 Cache 512 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L2 Speed 2499.6 MHz (Full)
L2 Location On Chip
L2 Data Prefetch Logic yes
L2 Bus Width 128 bits

It's *POSSIBLE* that my watercooling rig has something to do with it, but to be honest, I highly doubt it. When I get a chance, I'll take the waterblock off and read the markings on the CPU itself.

What happens when you just set the HT multiplier to 4x? Will the machine boot?

 

[pantner]

ok that doesn't help...

Hmmm, im 99% sure it boots with the HTT muti at 4x... just not when i increase the FSB....although, i'll try the 215mhz first, and see if that helps...


do you run aquamark3???

could you post your CPU score, of beforehand and after this overclock...
(if you don't have it, you can download it from www.guru3d.com)

 

[pantner]

whoooooo!!!

i got it working....i had to goto 215mhz first....then up in incriments of 10mhz, and got to 255mhz no probs...

i wasn't able to boot into windows, but i expect that was because i was resuming from hybernation...

i only had 2 mins to try it out.....

when i get home, i'll try again!!!

thanks Ballistyx

 

[Ballistyx]

No problemo. I think this is a BIOS bug, and I reported it to Gigabyte. It makes no sense why it'd work after a reboot, but not during a cold start.

BTW, here's the info you wanted:

ADA3800DEP4AW
CBAUL 0420RPMW

 

[Ballistyx]

AM3 scores:

No OC (on vid card ,or CPU)
GFX: 1590
CPU: 4268
TOTAL: 13410

OC (CPU & Vid card)
FSB set to 255Mhz X 10x multi.

GFX: 1581
CPU: 4608
TOTAL: 13502

 

[pantner]

OMG....something is seriously wrong with your Aquamark 3 score...im not sure wat you did.....

Link
Check out my score (CPU at stock, GFX overclocked...)


AND, i was wrong...it wasn't because of the hibernation that it didn't boot....

i can get it up to 250Mhz (or 255), and it posts....but windows won't boot...

as far as im aware, the only way to make it boot at higher FSB speeds is to increase the Vcore...is that correct, or is there something im missing...

or the CPU could just be overheating.....

i am still using the F4k BIOS, i may change to the F3....just to make sure everything is the same...

 

[Ballistyx]

I know. 3DMark does the same crap whenever it does the CPU tests. I'm thinking it's the F3 BIOS myself, but it's a possibility that it's because I'm using four DIMMs. I'll pull them and re-try it.

 

[Ballistyx]

To elaboarate... whenever I do the CPU tests (or run AM3), the framerate drops into the single digits. I have OC'ed my video card (9800Pro to XT speeds), but even when I un-overclock it, it still runs that way.

 

[Ballistyx]

OK, it's not the DIMMs causing the problem. It was a driver problem.

You see, I didn't do a clean install when I upgraded from my AthlonXP 3200+ to this Athlon64 3800+. It was two things:

nForce drivers
video drivers

Although I re-installed these drivers, obviously something went wrong. So, after removing both drivers, and installing the latest versions, here's my AM3 scores. Tell me if this sounds better now.

Non CPU OC - 1GB RAM (2 DIMMs @ DDR400)

GFX: 5,808
CPU: 9,919
Total: 44,936

I'll post my CPU OC'ed scores w/3GB of RAM scores shortly.

[edit]

Here's the OC'ed w/ 3GB of RAM scores:

GFX: 5,823
CPU: 9,980
Total: 45,081


Overall, it's not much faster, which to me sounds normal. I'm happy that the scores are close since I'm using all four DIMM sockets.

Oh yeah. Pantner. Make sure you set your RAM speed to 166Mhz before you set your CPU clock to 250Mhz. You're probably overclocking your RAM too high.

[/edit]

 

[GTTeamKiller]

Hello all,

first know that i'm french so sorry for bad english

I started to upgrade my computer and i was waiting for socket 939 to do that ... I ve looked 939 MB and the only one that could be good is this gygabite ...

As google is my friend , i ve found many reviews ( this one is the most common http://www.pcstats.com/article...icleid=1639&page=1 ) and all reviewers are so enthousiasts with this motherboard ...

but on this topic i saw so many people with problem that i m wondering if it is really a good card

I ll buy this mb with an A64 3500+ or 3800+ , i have already the memory ( 4*512 Mo OCZ PC 3700 EL Gold edition rev2 ) to make a massive overclock ( i have a quite powerful watercooling system ) and i see that memory have to be @ 166 Mhz when 4 Dimms are used :Q

Has someone found how to fix that ???

 

[flawlssdistortn]

I would be hesitant to buy this board if you want to overclock, it's got many stability issues even at stock speeds. Why dont you look into the Asus A8V rev 2, i understand it now has a working AGP/PCI lock.

 

[GTTeamKiller]

due to problems with some previous chipsets VIA , i do not want VIA on my computer anymore


thanks anyway

 

[flawlssdistortn]

Ballystix and Pantner, i was wondering if you noticed any BIOS problems for the stock speeds? I mentioned earlier that every time after booting up when i check the Nvida system utility, the HT bus is at 1005MHZ and the RAM is running at 205 instead of 200. Also, the AGP bus is at 67MHZ if im not mistaken should be at 66. I took these frequencies down a notch to what they should be, and that actually seemed to stabilize my system. I've only had one BSOD in over a week, and a few crashes to desktop (which could be a software issue). This is a lot better than what it was before. Prime95 however, doesnt make it past an hour.

 

[flawlssdistortn]

lol, ok well let me say this GTTeamKiller - you should make sure the memory you use is on the compatibility list for this motherboard, otherwise there is no guarantee of stability. You have been warned.

 

[GTTeamKiller]

Originally posted by: flawlssdistortn
lol, ok well let me say this GTTeamKiller - you should make sure the memory you use is on the compatibility list for this motherboard, otherwise there is no guarantee of stability. You have been warned.

i didn't checked that ... i ll do it immediatly

indeed i never had to check that because i always used good memory that was able to work on every mb i had ... but it seems that it is quite different with *this* mb ...

thanks

 

[Brickster]

Originally posted by: Ballistyx
Minor update.

Methinks there's a bug in the BIOS with regards to the base CPU/HT clock speed.

When I cold-boot the computer, it reverts the clock back down to 200Mhz, and resets the SPD settings back to automatic. If I try to set the speed directly to 250Mhz, it will revert back to 200Mhz. If I first set the speed to 215Mhz and Save & Exit, it will take the new speed. I can then go back into the BIOS and set it to 250Mhz and it will then work at this speed.

It seems to me like this is a minor BIOS bug. There's no physical reason why it shouldn't work on a cold boot, but works if I do a two-step increment of the speed.

I am experiencing the same issue...a revert back to a stock speed of 200 FSB. I keep setting it back, and I guess it may be cold boot that does it, but not sure - I haven't tested the pattern.

I am still using F3 BIOS.

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: Ballistyx
OK, it's not the DIMMs causing the problem. It was a driver problem.

You see, I didn't do a clean install when I upgraded from my AthlonXP 3200+ to this Athlon64 3800+. It was two things:

nForce drivers
video drivers

Although I re-installed these drivers, obviously something went wrong. So, after removing both drivers, and installing the latest versions, here's my AM3 scores. Tell me if this sounds better now.

Non CPU OC - 1GB RAM (2 DIMMs @ DDR400)

GFX: 5,808
CPU: 9,919
Total: 44,936

I'll post my CPU OC'ed scores w/3GB of RAM scores shortly.

[edit]

Here's the OC'ed w/ 3GB of RAM scores:

GFX: 5,823
CPU: 9,980
Total: 45,081


Overall, it's not much faster, which to me sounds normal. I'm happy that the scores are close since I'm using all four DIMM sockets.

Oh yeah. Pantner. Make sure you set your RAM speed to 166Mhz before you set your CPU clock to 250Mhz. You're probably overclocking your RAM too high.

[/edit]

ROFL, i also upgraded from an AXP 3200! (was about to get mine to 235FSB on 1:1 ratio....at 11x multi!)

if i was overclocking my RAM too much, it wouldn't post at all...and i have even tried it at a 1:2 ration (setting the RAM to 100!) and still no luck...looks like it could be the CPU temp or something, damn you people and your water cooling

wat GFX card do you have???

and that CPU score seems a TAD low...it could be the windows....i did a freash install onto striped hard drives when i got mine... Its always best to do a clean format/re-install whenever you change the motherboard!


and yes, my clock frequencys are not correct....my CPU runs at 2411Mhz at stock....not sure wat the actual problem is though...

 

[Ballistyx]

The CPU score is a tad low because of me running with four DIMMs. I tried the same test, but instead of running at DDR400 equivalent speeds on the RAM, it's running at about DDR355. I barely get over 8,000 CPU points in AM3.

I have an ATI 9800Pro (128MB card). I'm waiting a little bit before I do any upgrading. I don't have the stock heatsink on it either. I've got a Swiftech MCW-50 waterblock on it, and some BGA coolers on the RAM chips.

.. actually, I had a AthlonXP-3000+ (Barton core, 166Mhz FSB), BUT it ran flawlessly at 3200+ speed, and is exactly what my 7NNXP would report it as. With my WC setup, I could push it faster than a 3200+ though, but I saw little point in it since it didn't give me back any tangeable performance gains.

 

[Ballistyx]

BTW, here's what I posted earlier on page 6 of this thread. It's pretty much everything I've got in my system.

Originally posted by: Ballistyx
Here's what my system consists of, and what I have set in the BIOS. If there's anything you want to know, just ask.

Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939 Rev 1.0 - F3 BIOS
Athlon64 Socket 939 (obviously) 3800+
Enermax 550W PSU (outputs 36A on all power rails)
Corsair TwinX 2048-3200 memory kit
Geil 512MB PC3200 ValueRAM x 2
ATI 9800Pro 128MB
Two 72GB WD Raptor SATA HD's (attached to nvidia PHY. NOT set up in a RAID config)
Two 120GB WD SE PATA HD's (connected to the SilImage controller with PATA->SATA adapters). Configured as a RAID1 mirror.
Swiftech MCX-159R heatsink slightly modified to fit onto the NF3 chipset.
Swiftech MCW5000A waterblock, modified with Swiftech's A64 retrofit kit.
Swiftech MCW-50 VGA waterblock
Swiftech MCP-600 rev.2 water pump
Dual Blackice Micro radiators
Custom fill n' bleed setup
Lite-On DVD-ROM drive (attached to primary PATA controller)
Plextor 8X DVD burner. (attached to secondary PATA controller)
Mitsumi double-speed USB FDD drive (I don't have an internal FDD drive, since I rarely use it).

 

[GTTeamKiller]

Ok, i have mailed OCZ to know about compatibility of my ram and this mb, because this mb was only listed compatible for the DDR-Booster and not the ram ... ...

Their answer is direct :
" Our compatibility list is not up to date with certain modules. We
discontinued PC-3700 Gold Rev. 2 quite some time ago. I don't believe it
will work under four module load in the Gigabyte, as the board will default
to 333 MHz with four modules installed."


Man, why the hell did they put 4 dimm slots on that card if there is so many problems with 4 dimm ???


Anyway , i think i ll try with only 2 dimms and sell the 2 others ...
and by doing this , i ll get the free slot i need for the ocz DDR-booster if i can t get any mod for this mb :evil:

 

[GTTeamKiller]

and i just see F4 bios is here since yesterday

 

[Ballistyx]

Cool! I just downloaded the official F4 BIOS, and I've already seen some stuff that I don't like... GRRRRRRR!!!

My machine WILL POSITIVELY, ABSOLUTELY,WITHOUT A DOUBT not boot with all four of my DIMMs installed. If I try, the DualBIOS kicks in and boots from my secondary BIOS that has the F3 BIOS on it.

It seems as if now the board doesn't play well with Corsair and GEiL installed at the same time. No biggie. I just removed the GEiL, and I still have 2GB of RAM.

When I go into the BIOS, I noticed that the DIMM speed timing keeps resetting itself to 200Mhz (even after I put it to either AUTO or 166Mhz). It's not the end of the world, but it's annoying nonetheless.

I see Gigabyte fixed the LED issue too. Kudos to them for that though.

GTTeamKiller, try running all four DIMMs anyway. You *CAN* run them, but the board is just really picky. You might luck out and have some RAM that the board likes. Worst case, you can probably just set the HT multiplier to 4x, the CPU base clock to 250, and lower the multiplier so that the final CPU speed is close to what it originally is. When you do that, the memory speed goes to DDR400. I ran it like this for a short bit. No issues, even with mis-matched DIMMs.

 

[Ballistyx]

HAHAHA!!! I just noticed something else about this POS F4 BIOS. It thinks my case temp is 73C, and my CPU temp is 76C! HAHAHAHAHAH Good one Gigabyte! Tell me that one again!!

 

[GTTeamKiller]

Crazy bios


I do not have this card yet, i ll probably use it with an A64 FX53 , so i want to be sure that i ll get THE ultimate card for this cpu ...
i'm looking for all things i can see on the net on this motherboard ... and i d like to find the Vdimm mod before i ll buy it ...

my position for now is : wait and see ... but i wont wait eternally ...