MSI P6N SLI-F

[Remdog]

Hi all, new to the forums here.
I just purchsed this board after going thru 2 Asus 650i boards that I wanted to run over with my car. Seems to be a decent board, however I don't like the NB heatsink at all (very flimsy). Has been running well for two days with 1 GB Mushkin XP6400 ram at 4-4-3-10-2t. Rest of setup below.

 

[normalicy]

The North Bridge heatsink is pretty flimsy on the FI. However, I have plenty of other good ones to swap in eventually. However, currently I'm doing just fine with the stock one at 3ghz. Heck, I'm sure with a little fan on it, it would be more than enough. As for the capacitors, I'm not too worried. I'm pretty sure that they cleared out all of the messed up Chinese ones from a few years ago now & as long as they are just average they should last a decade or more. I won't use this board over 2 years anyhow.

For everyone's info, here's what I did pretty much.

I got the FI version of the board here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130082
I got this ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178134
I got the E4300 here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115013

Also, I'm using the stock intel heatsink. I'm running the ram at 800mhz at 5/5/5/15 @ 1.95 volts. I didn't try more agressive timings, because I was just happy to get it at 800mhz.

I went to this post & copied the settings suggested with a little extra voltage on the core, NB, & Ram to make me feel better (just a few ticks for each):
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1030857458&postcount=251

I eventually hope to put this on my northbridge (and I like that there is no fan): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118214

 

[Remdog]

I need a little help reading Speedfan temps.
Here's the temps I get, seem strange to me.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/derhut/wtf.jpg

Thanks.

 

[Edge1]

Doesn't look to strange to me. Core temps are 21c (67F)and 24c (75F), respectively. That's each core of your processor. I don't use SpeedFan for temp measurement though, as they're about 15c below actual readings, at least according to CoreTemp http://www.thecoolest.zerobrains.com/CoreTemp/ and TAT http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/392/mirrors.php.

 

[Remdog]

Thanks Edge1, guess I should have said confused rather than strange. Yep, those two programs show about 38, 39 core temps, about 15-18 above speedfan. I am using the paste that came with the freezer pro, and was thinking about going to arctic silver 5. Is it worth my time?

 

[Edge1]

Hmm..I'm not a paste expert, LOL, but I do use AS5. And I have an e6300 with the same idle temps as you, except mine's OCed a bit to 2.66gHz and is also dealing with a bump in CPU and NB voltage of .05. So I think your idle temps seem a little high for a non-OCed system, but certainly not dangerously so. We also have different coolers. Have you tried Orthos, and if so, what's your temp under full blended test mode?

http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm

Mine gets as high as 60C with tests 4 & 8, 52-56C with the other tests. No apps or programs should push your processor like Orthos, or so I'm told. Intel puts the cap number on 65C for safe computing, but I'd hate to get near that with everyday use.

 

[Remdog]

I will try Orthos, I am not familar with it though. I goto go I'll check back later, Thanks.

 

[jplb70]

Hi all

I've been running my rig @ 3Gig rock stable BUUUT I can't get my RAM to run at 800Mhz I can run my timings nice and tight at 667 but no matter what I do voltage/timing wise @800 system won't even POST. Maybe I'm missing somthing anyone have any ideas? I'm running pqi TURBO 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 667 Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PQI25400-2GDB

Though I realy can't complain a whole lot I've been running my E6400 @ 3Gig and my Leadtek 8800GTS 320 @650/1000 W/no problems scoring well over 10,000 in 3DMARK HL2 Lost Coast runs about 152fps @1680x1050 w/all the eye candy on and Antialiasing @6x and Anisotropic @16x. But I'd like to try to push it JUUUST a little more

 

[Remdog]

I ran Orthos on the default settings for an hour and my temps were 49 and 51 on the cores.

 

[Edge1]

That sounds OK, Remdog, although I'd be interested in your values if you upped the clock on her. Some guys might say they're a bit on the high side. Completely safe at these levels, mind you, just perhaps not perfectly ideal. Looking back at my screenshots of CPU-Z, CoreTemp, and TAT at various OC levels (2.45,2.59, 2.66) my numbers matched those @the 2.45 level.

Your values are absolutely fine, but hang out in the cooling section and someone might give more insightful feedback. Are you particularly concerned about temps? Do you plan to OC at all? If so what case do you have? Things like cable management and proper airflow can have a noticeable impact on temps. Ambient temps (room the PC is in) also matters, cause it represents the low starting threshold. Mine is in a pretty cool basement setting, probably low 70s.

 

[Assimilator1]

What's the typical FSB the Platinium & FI versions can hit?

 

[Remdog]

Thanks a lot for the help Edge. I am not concerned about the temps now, but if i try and push it I would be. I would love to overclock, that is why I bought the E6300 and the Freezer 7 Pro, but I am new to that and have only got upto 2.22ghz. Everything else has not run. I will have to do some research about overclocking, the odd numbers frazzle my brain

I have an Alienware case from a couple years ago (full tower). I have 3 80mm fans, the intake is in front of my hard drive. Exhaust up by heatsink and one in the side panel blowing directly on my video card. I have only 2 riddon cables and they are out of the way. Room temp 68-70.

 

[Edge1]

Here's an awesome place to start:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1164174

If you haven't disabled EIST and C1E, that should be on your list of things to do.

 

[Remdog]

Nice, ty.

 

[Remdog]

After messing around I got the E6300 to 2.450ghz.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/derhut/normal.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/derhut/2450.jpg

Orthos was only run 17 minutes, but that's all I have time for now.

 

[Assimilator1]

Btw I keep reading about 'straps' wth is that about? lol ,something to do with memory?

If you haven't disabled EIST and C1E, that should be on your list of things to do.
What do those do anyway?

<blockquote>quote:
Originally posted by: jplb70
Hi all
Well I decided to give oc'in my P6N rig a go so I just set my E6400 to a FSB of 1333 set my RAM at 4-4-4-12-16 and BAM runnin great at 2.67 at stock voltages. Did a little stess testing so far no problems. I'm going to run orthos on it for a few hours tonight and see how it holds up. If everything is good I'm going to se how far I can push her </blockquote>
Prime95(Orthos) should be run for 24hrs for a proper stabilty test.

 

[jodansmif]

Hey... does anyone know whether the FI version has any fan headers? The MSI website doesn't say and no one has reviewed the FI version in much detail online. I'm guessing there's at least a 3 pin for the CPU fan but I'm wondering if there are any more and whether they are 3 or 4 pin. Thanks in advance!

 

[Remdog]

http://translate.google.com/translate?u...=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

Page is translated from German I believe. Down on the right it states.

further connections
1x parallel interface (LPT)
1x serial interface (COM)
1x similar CD entrance
4x of exhaust connections, 1x4Pin (CCU FAN), 3x3Pin (SYS FAN)
1x PS2 mouse and keyboard
1x housing contact switch

 

[jodansmif]

ahh sweet, Remdog... I can't believe you found that, thanks!

 

[Remdog]

:| Well I tried deleting this post....Argh.....

 

[Remdog]

Originally posted by: Edge1
Here's an awesome place to start:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1164174

Your welcome. But it was Edge1's post that led me to it.

 

[jplb70]

Can I go on record as saying I Love this board

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
What's the typical FSB the Platinium & FI versions can hit?

Anyone?

 

[Spanki]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
What's the typical FSB the Platinium & FI versions can hit?

Your question is contradictory . The 'typical' (majority of board owners) are probably running at the stock 200 or 266 FSB. But you also seem to be asking what it 'can' reach, by those who try... most of the site reviews of the board are reporting 430-450 range as a 'top-end', but some users have reported hitting 500+.

I'd note that a E4300 (with a 9x cpu multiplier) running on a 400FSB would be screaming along at 3.6GHz (assuming your cpu will run that fast) and generating more heat than you'd want unless you enhance your cooling setup. So it kind of depends on what you want to do with the board.

I guess I'd say that there is enough info around to help you get to the 430-450 range with an after-market cooler if you are reasonably well skilled at overclocking and provided your particular cpu will run there. If you've got some more exotic cooling and are an experienced overclocker, you can get higher.

 

[Remdog]

I am very new to overclocking but here is what I've been able to do on my E6300 at default voltages. My ram however, I upped to 2.00.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/derhut/350fsb.jpg