MSI K8N Neo4 nForce4 Ultra Socket 939

[letsgetsilly]

Can someone please let me know where the memory timings are in the BIOS? I have some older ram that can't go much beyond 200 mhz, but other than the HT speed I can't figure out how to keep the memory speed down.

I forget my numbers right now but I'm running a 1.8 3000+ @ 2.25ghz @ 39C stock cooling. I can't push it farther because of ram (i'm assuming, seeing as how cool the processor is)

 

[nole1fan]

so how is everything experience with this MOBO? People who bought these are still happy with their puchase?

 

[letsgetsilly]

My experience was traumatic at first when I couldn't get the thing to boot off a windows CD for some unkown reason. It was strange to see a "fijitsu" motherboard screen when I turned it on. Once again, after flashing with the bios mentioned in this forum everything went extremely well. My a64 3000 is overclocking extremely well, whether that's due to the motherboard or not is unknown.

I've recommended the same system to a friend and we're going to setup his computer exactly the same. Going through the initial flashing shouldn't be as traumatic.

 

[nyker96]

letsgetsilly what's the highest FSB you able to achieve with this board during OC?

 

[letsgetsilly]

I'll have to let you know when I get home. I think that my HTT divider is set @ 4, CPU speed is @ 2.25 ghz, and I think the multiplier is 9. That means roughly 266mhz fsb?


I'll get back to you with solid information later tonight.

 

[nyker96]

according to this info, you FSB is set at 250Mhz. I've seen one more person at this rate of FSB. Appreciate your info.

 

[kentondb]

No, I bought one of these MSI boards as well.

I was wondering where LiveUpdate can be downloaded for the MSI board, but it seems I'll just burn a CD and flash the BIOS that way, a lot safer -- I'm just scared after having a motherboard die after using a Windows flasher, even though I previously used the SAME BOARD with the SAME WinFlasher. Anyways..

 

[letsgetsilly]

Originally posted by: nyker96
according to this info, you FSB is set at 250Mhz. I've seen one more person at this rate of FSB. Appreciate your info.

You're right, let me get back to you with my specs, I'm not sure what they are off the top of my head. I know my memory isn't running that fast because it can't, but I'm having trouble identifying where the divider is. I was under the impression that there is some kind of divider specifically for the memory on all AMD- based motherboards

 

[mangust]

Originally posted by: maildude
Thanks mangust.....that's good to hear. Guess I'll give it a try. Any input on what the new bios improves besides the startup screen?

The OEM BIOS shipped with the board is stripped down. The original MSI BIOS has a plethora of setting that will let you adjust a great number of aspects, especially if you are into overclocking.

 

[imported_maildude]

Originally posted by: kentondb
No, I bought one of these MSI boards as well.

I was wondering where LiveUpdate can be downloaded for the MSI board, but it seems I'll just burn a CD and flash the BIOS that way, a lot safer -- I'm just scared after having a motherboard die after using a Windows flasher, even though I previously used the SAME BOARD with the SAME WinFlasher. Anyways..

If you go to the very first post on page 1 of this thread you can click on the product at Geeks. Towards the bottom of that page is a link to the drivers for this card and you can find Live Update there.

 

[nole1fan]

has anyone tried to run dual-core with this MOBO?

 

[nyker96]

Originally posted by: letsgetsilly

Originally posted by: nyker96
according to this info, you FSB is set at 250Mhz. I've seen one more person at this rate of FSB. Appreciate your info.

You're right, let me get back to you with my specs, I'm not sure what they are off the top of my head. I know my memory isn't running that fast because it can't, but I'm having trouble identifying where the divider is. I was under the impression that there is some kind of divider specifically for the memory on all AMD- based motherboards

Yes, you right about your RAM, if you running DDR400 RAM, you are on 4:5 divider to keep RAM on 400 speed while the FSB at 250.

 

[parkerlewis]

has anyone tried to run dual-core with this MOBO?

I'm running a 2.0GHz Athlon 64 X2 3800+ that's overclocked to 2.5GHz on this board and everything's working great.

 

[nyker96]

you're also doing 250FSB. Seems this board can do 250 easily. WOnder if anyone has gotten it higher.

 

[nole1fan]

Originally posted by: parkerlewis

has anyone tried to run dual-core with this MOBO?

I'm running a 2.0GHz Athlon 64 X2 3800+ that's overclocked to 2.5GHz on this board and everything's working great.

Thanks. I should not do this, but damn, price on the board is too good to let it pass with the P180 case, it is way to go

 

[nyker96]

you got the 99 buck P180 too? Man you got a nice deal.
45 for this board, 99 for P180. Where is the world going?
I saw people paying 2x over just 6 months ago for these items.

 

[kenton]

I got my motherboard today and was very happy with packaging. First thing I did was flash the BIOS using a DR-DOS CD and then swapping over to my BIOS files CD. No problems!

Vista RC2 would not install with a CDRW set to master and a DVD-ROM set to slave on IDE2. I set the DVD-ROM to master and CD-RW to slave and it installed perfectly. No, I did not put my Vista DVD into my CDRW drive. Just letting you know.

I've yet to overclock because I'm waiting on my 2x1GB Ultra DDR400 and I'll be swapping my A64 3400+ Venice for a DC Opty or X2 soon.

 

[vadp]

Originally posted by: kenton
I've yet to overclock because I'm waiting on my 2x1GB Ultra DDR400 and I'll be swapping my A64 3400+ Venice for a DC Opty or X2 soon.

Is there any deal going for 2x1GB Ultra DDR400?

 

[kenton]

No. I bought one stick off eBay brand new (described as UPS removed and brand new, so it's a TD) and one stick through TD when it was still $50AR+ship. I needed a new mouse anyways.

As far as the board, it overclocks well and has up to 1.8v vCore, at least on my 3400+ Venice. I took the Venice up to 2.65GHz (HTT265x3) with memory right at 200MHz and it Primed for a couple of hours in Vista RC2.

Also, the DRAM speed calculated in the CoreCell menu in the BIOS is incorrect, use these formulas to figure out your memory speed:

200MHz = CPU Speed / 12 (i.e. 2400MHz / 12 = 200MHz)
166MHz = CPU Speed / 14 (i.e. 2400MHz / 14 = 171MHz)
133MHz = CPU Speed / 17 (i.e. 2400MHz / 17 = 141MHz)

Now, as far as I can tell, when the bus is locked at 200MHz it will prove it's own special memory dividers to hit 166MHz and 133MHz respectively -- but this means you aren't overclocking.

Since I'm going to be running crappy Ultra CAS3 RAM (I just want the massive giggage) I'll be keeping memory as close to 200MHz as possible. My plan of attack on an Opteron 170 (2.2GHz/Dual Core) is as follows:

Mulitplier: 11x
HTT: 255
DDR: 200.35MHz
CPU: 2800MHz

I understand that should easily be possible with around 1.5v

 

[vadp]

Cooling?

 

[kenton]

I'm just using AMD's 4 pipe FX/Opty heatsink with the 70mm fan. Thin application of AS5 all over the IHS. Do you think it's good enough?

I'm running another 3400+ Venice in a S754 board at 2.6GHz at 1.6v around 50C full load (hardforum says 1.55-1.6v are ok if temps <60C)

Note that I'll be using less vCore on the Opty because they require less

 

[wayne1935]

I've had this board since late Sept, but just got around to setting up a machine last night with a Athlon64 venice core 3000+ and Vista.

Everything workes fine except the MSI Utilities aren't suuported in Vista yet and the board I received doesn't have the JFP2 Front Panel Connector; I have no Power LED and no case speaker. I did get rid of the Fijitsu splash screen in the included BIOS.

I may install XP later but I'm using the machine as a Vista test box.

Wayne

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: kenton
use these formulas to figure out your memory speed:

200MHz = CPU Speed / 12 (i.e. 2400MHz / 12 = 200MHz)
166MHz = CPU Speed / 14 (i.e. 2400MHz / 14 = 171MHz)
133MHz = CPU Speed / 17 (i.e. 2400MHz / 17 = 141MHz)

I usually "faked" the memory speed calculation in my head. Now, these "actual" dividers are based on the top multiplier of your CPU, right? For instance your example was for a 3800+/4000+ with 12x multiplier. How about the 11x multiplier of a 3500+/3700+? Would it be something like:

200MHz = CPU Speed / 11 (2200MHz / 11 = 200MHz)
166MHz = CPU Speed / 13 (2200MHz / 13 = 169MHz)
133MHz = CPU Speed / 17 (2200MHz / 17 = 137MHz)

Is there any source for the "official" different memory dividers of various multipliers? That would be handy to have.

 

[kenton]

Actually, according to CPUID, at least with my specific processor it's 200 = /12; 166 = /14 and 133 = /17

I don't know too much about overclocking the A64 because this is only my second A64 machine but it's pretty simple. Drop the memory speed, raise the HTT and voltage, stress, lather rinse repeat

 

[SithSolo1]

Anyone tried an Opty 165 on this board yet?