KT7 UL103b1 BIOS upgrade

[NiPNi]

I just downloaded the UL103b1 BIOS upgrade for the KT7-RAID, and it says in the .txt-file that it might solve the lock-up problems when copying files on the RAID array. I have that problem, and I would really like to get rid of it. But the BIOS upgrade is beta.

So, I was just wondering if anyone have tried it yet (it's dated Oct. 20th) and if it seems to be working fine. If it means even more trouble than I alredy have, I think I'll pass.

I found it on Abit's FTP. The reason I found it is an announcement on a Norwegian hardware page (www.hardware.no), but I guess most of you who read this don't read Norwegian... Anyway: any comments?

 

[Spearfodder]

I just noticed that they're there. I had given up trying to use the hpt370 since I'd get frequent crashes on the hipoint Vxd's. Maybe this will fix that.

 

[AbRASiON]

will you still get highpoint crashes on the highpoint controllers WITHOUT raid enabled, just as standard UDMA 100 ports?


what software and patches did you install for the via / amd setup in windows? 0- i hear a few thigns are needed?

 

[NiPNi]

I tried it last night, and it certainly did fix my problems! My computer is more stable than ever, no more lockups when using the RAID array! Before I upgraded the BIOS, the RAID array also worked really slowly at times (those few times it didn't lock up, it sometimes took up to 15 minutes to write 600MB!), and even that problem is gone!

Finally I'm totally happy with my KT7

 

[AbRASiON]

Nipni: i JUST ordered one, can you give me any information on this motherboard please?


Do you use the 4 in one drivers - any microsoft patches, what video card and ram do you have? etc?

 

[moolman]

Go to the faq at http://go.to/kt7faq it will answer many questions. I updated to that new bios and I see no difference except when doing standby using STR it just restarts the computer now, it used to say that it couldn't go into standby because of my USB mouse, the other standby works though.

Alex

 

[NiPNi]

Got another reply while I was writing my own reply

Oh, well, here's the answer to that one: I haven't tried it without RAID enabled, because the array's capacity is 60GB, and it's more or less full. If I should back that up to CD-R with my 4x recorder... well, I have always looked at that as a final, desperate option, and luckily I didn't do it, because the flash upgrade solved my problem.

Anyway, you're right that a few things are needed. I used the VIA 4in1 v4.25a and the 1.0.3 HPT370 drivers, and my BIOS was UL. Which is what is required if I'm not mistaken. And it still didn't work. But now it does, thanks to the BIOS upgrade. And suddenly the KT7 became the best mobo I've ever tried!

 

[AbRASiON]

Nipni: so bios, via drivers and hpt, pretty easy huh?


nothing else??? - nvidia video card = ? .. which one ? - what card have you got?
where do i get that new version of 4 in 1 ?

 

[NiPNi]

Wow, where do all these people come from? I posted the thread 24 hours ago, and suddenly, now, it just explodes

Okay, this is to clear thing up, especially for AbRASiON. This is how my computer looks now:

KT7-RAID (and that's with the 103b1 BIOS. Yup!)
TBird 800@900
1 stick of 128MB PC100 RAM (yeah, yeah, I know. I took the RAM from my previous computer)
1 stick of 128MB PC133 RAM
ATI Radeon 64MB Vivo (bulk 166MHz version)
SB Live 1024 (I have heard that some people have problems with this one. I don't.)
Adaptec AHA-2940AU SCSI controller
Plextor UltraPlex 40Max SCSI CD-ROM
Teac CD-R55S SCSI CD-R
3Com (don't remember model name, it's something like 905B-TX or whatever) 10/100 nic
2 IBM GXP75 30GB HDDs in RAID0. (IDE3 & 4 masters)
1 IBM 18GB ATA (IDE1 master, I use this one as my system disk)
1 Seagate 9.1GB in a mobile rack (IDE3 slave)
+ Lots and lots of extra fans in my AOpen HX08 case

I am running Win98SE, with VIA 4in1 4.25a and the new HPT370 1.0.3b1 drivers (to fit my upgraded BIOS). As for video drivers, I tried the Special Purpose drivers from ATI, and that gave me 200 extra points in 3DMark 2k, but the antialias function went crazy with those drivers, so I'm back to ATI's latest official drivers for the Radeon.

I think that pretty much says what my computer looks like. If I forgot something important, I'm sure you'll tell me

 

[AbRASiON]

nice - you must have an ASS KICKING powersupply

 

[NiPNi]

Actually, my power supply is the standard one shipped with the AOpen HX08 case. I think it's 300W. It's not a lot, but it's enough. From what I've read, 300W is what you need when running a T-Bird, but I bought that case in 1998. And it certainly did kick ass back then

 

[SmackdownHotel]

NiPini, could you email me, I'd like to go over some RAID benchmarks and such with you since you have the new BIOS and I still have the older one. Also, I distinctly remember reading somewhere that your Highpoint driver version should match your BIOS version. This new bios, it's labeled 1.03b, correct? I'm safe to assume that it should work with the 1.03 drivers from Highpoint? I remember I tried using the 1.0.06 drivers with the 1.03 BIOS and it totally slowed things down. Anyhow, please get in touch with me.