*** Official Gigabyte 8KNXP/Ultra (875P) Thread ***

[NathanTX]

Thanks, Jaeger66!

I had not seen the description regarding improved support for Willamette CPUs in BIOS version F5. I wonder how the Gigabyte technicians who told me that a 400MHz FSB is not supported by this MB are going to explain this? Maybe they will stop feeding me BS and actually put me in touch with someone who knows something.

Previously, they had told me that the online GA-8KNXP User's Manual is incorrect because the Intel 875P chipset was not made to support a 400MHz FSB, but when I referred them to Intel's website (see previous entry), which states otherwise, they just started ignoring me. Unfortunately for them, this is something that I would really like to know.

 

[Wurrmm]

Originally posted by: NathanTX
Wurrmm,

I apreciate you trying to help me out, but have you read the GA-8KNXP User's Manual? You can view the first portion of it at the following website:

http://america.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/FileList/Manual/manual_8knxp_e_1.pdf.

Support for a 400MHz FSB is listed throughout this manual. Specifically, take a look at page 5 (page 9 of the PDF). Does your user's manual have the same information? Should I believe the information on the GA-8KNXP Detailed Specifications webpage or the online GA-8KNXP User's Manual?

This same quandry is present on the Intel website at:

http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/875P/?iid=ipp_home+spot1_text&.

The "Intel 875P Chipset Features" chart lists that the motherboard supports "800-/533-MHz System Bus." However, if you view any of the "Technical Information" documents, you will see that support for a 400MHz FSB is stated, repeatedly. Even the chipset diagram on this webpage shows that the CPU-MCH connection operates at "6.4, 4.2 or 3.2 GB/s."

The technical support staff at Gigabyte could not answer this question, so I don't trust the information on their website and I am hoping that someone who has actually tried an Intel P4 CPU with a 400MHz FSB in this MB could give me an answer. No one at Gigabyte can figure out how to do this. However, I'm sure that someone else has tried this at some point.

I never checked the manual. I never really looked into it that much since I am getting an 800FSB cpu anyway... I guess it is good to know so if anyone asks again.

 

[Paradoxx]

Are all 800fsb processors going to be hyper-threading?

 

[Schneider]

Originally posted by: Paradoxx
Are all 800fsb processors going to be hyper-threading?

Yes

 

[NathanTX]

Wurrmm & Jager66 & anyone else who might be interested:

I spoke with a Gigabyte technical support representative named Chris tonight, who informed me that he and several members of the technical support staff were following up on my inquiry about 400MHz FSB support for the GA-8KNXP. They were in the process of testing the GA-8KNXP with an Intel Pentium 4 2.4A GHz CPU. The processor was properly recognized and functioning normally after several hours of testing. At the time, they had been testing the system with CPU Burn-in for over two hours. Chris will call me tomorrow evening after their testing is complete to give me an update.

At this point, I'm convinced that this motherboard will support all Northwood and Willamette 400MHz FSB CPUs. I am also convinced that it was the intention of Intel's development department for this chipset to support 400MHz FSB CPUs all along, but when their marketing department realized that many system builders would do what I am attempting to due (delay purchasing a new Intel CPU until they become more affordable) they quickly came to the conclusion that it would be more profitable to "brush it under the rug," making support for the 400MHz FSB suddenly disappear, so that anyone who buys an 875P-based motherboard would believe that they must also buy a new and expensive 533MHz or 800MHz FSB Intel CPU. It seems that Gigabyte was merely following step with the rest of the motherboard manufacturers, and the review sites were more interested in testing the maximum potential of the 875P chipset than in accurately defining its specifications. Reviewers typically will get motherboard specifications straight from the motherboard manufacturers without questioning their reliability, thus propagating any disinformation supplied by Intel.

Hopefully, I will be ordering my GA-8KNXP tomorrow night.

 

[Skoal]

I have a random question for those who have gotten this MB... I just got mine in the mail today, and a couple things struck me funny. First, although the MB was purchased new, I failed to find any seal or sticker on the MB box to demonstrate that it had not been opened. Has anyone else experienced this, or did you have seals on yours? Also, I discovered that no screws, or MB risers had been included in my box for motherboard to case attachement. This is the first time, I have ever come across a gigabyte motherborad that did not include attachment screws and risers. Has anyone experienced this? TIA

 

[fLoOdY]

My GA-8KNKP Ultra box did not have seals on the endflaps either.

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: Skoal
I have a random question for those who have gotten this MB... I just got mine in the mail today, and a couple things struck me funny. First, although the MB was purchased new, I failed to find any seal or sticker on the MB box to demonstrate that it had not been opened. Has anyone else experienced this, or did you have seals on yours? Also, I discovered that no screws, or MB risers had been included in my box for motherboard to case attachement. This is the first time, I have ever come across a gigabyte motherborad that did not include attachment screws and risers. Has anyone experienced this? TIA

I've bought dozens of motherboards over the last 6 years or so, including GB, and not a single one ever came in a sealed box or had mounting hardware(except a custom I/O plate if needed).

 

[fLoOdY]

Question: How to get into Adaptec SCSI Select on GA-8KNXP Ultra??

I've been working on this project for the last few days with a Lian Li PC75 and 2x512 Corsair TwinX 3200LL. 3.0 GHz/800 MHz P4. (The Alpha PAL8942 Cooler fits great)

Going swimmingly except for this stupid issue.

This question is a show-stopper for me as I planned to take Sunday and a vacation day off to backup apps and data to move them over to this machine.

Storage will be (2) 72 GB 15k.3 Cheetahs striped for RAID 0.

There is no documentation to speak of for the Adaptec AIC-7902 interface, but I know SCSI Select well. The normal key combination to get into the SCSI BIOS is <CTRL-A>. Docs at Adaptec support seem to reflect this.

When the Adaptec SCSI BIOS comes up on a boot, there is no "Press <CTRL-A>..." prompt to enter SCSI Select or any kind of key sequence. It does not respond to <CTRL-A> even entering without the prompt!

I do have this running on a test install of WinXPPro SP1 with a single disk, but this stupid issue is going to waste my time off if I can't get into the stupid @%$& SCSI BIOS to configure HostRAID.

Does someone know? I feel like an idiot... been using Adaptec SCSI for a decade. Help!

Thanks.

 

[Javic]

Question for you with your set up. What speeds are you running your TwinX PC3200 512x2 LL RAM at? I experienced continual random BSOD's and reboots when running mine at 2-2-2-6. It wasn't until I changed the settings to 2-3-3-6 that it became stable.

I posted a question in the Corsair forum for Compatibility issues with the GA-8KNXP and this is the reply I received from the Corsair tech...

Originally posted by RAM GUY
Well for any MB with the Intel 875 or 865 chipset we would suggets the CMX512-3500C2 as it will leave more room to grow or over clock with this chipset. The CMX512-3200C2 will also work but our Low latency is not suggetsed for this chipset at this time.

Now, although they aren't suggesting the TwinX memory, I think I'm going to stick with it for now, seeing as how I finally don't seem to have any problems. I ran SiSoft's Sandra 2003 burn-in for almost a full day and didn't experience a single crash. Also my benchmark speeds seem to be pretty good. I guess I'll save the final decision after I see how well it performs overclocked.

Anyone else with good/bad stories of their GA-8KNXP and TwinX memory?

 

[harddrive747]

Originally posted by: fLoOdY
Question: How to get into Adaptec SCSI Select on GA-8KNXP Ultra??

I've been working on this project for the last few days with a Lian Li PC75 and 2x512 Corsair TwinX 3200LL. 3.0 GHz/800 MHz P4. (The Alpha PAL8942 Cooler fits great)

Going swimmingly except for this stupid issue.

This question is a show-stopper for me as I planned to take Sunday and a vacation day off to backup apps and data to move them over to this machine.

Storage will be (2) 72 GB 15k.3 Cheetahs striped for RAID 0.

There is no documentation to speak of for the Adaptec AIC-7902 interface, but I know SCSI Select well. The normal key combination to get into the SCSI BIOS is <CTRL-A>. Docs at Adaptec support seem to reflect this.

When the Adaptec SCSI BIOS comes up on a boot, there is no "Press <CTRL-A>..." prompt to enter SCSI Select or any kind of key sequence. It does not respond to <CTRL-A> even entering without the prompt!

I do have this running on a test install of WinXPPro SP1 with a single disk, but this stupid issue is going to waste my time off if I can't get into the stupid @%$& SCSI BIOS to configure HostRAID.

Does someone know? I feel like an idiot... been using Adaptec SCSI for a decade. Help!

Thanks.

I was up at Adaptec web site and one thing that I found interesting is with the RAID controlers. Now what I found were the old controlers, but they said to get into SCSI select "you must now hit the F6 key when prompted to access the SCSI Select utility."

I hope this works for you.

 

[fLoOdY]

Originally posted by: Javic
Question for you with your set up. What speeds are you running your TwinX PC3200 512x2 LL RAM at? I experienced continual random BSOD's and reboots when running mine at 2-2-2-6. It wasn't until I changed the settings to 2-3-3-6 that it became stable.

I posted a question in the Corsair forum for Compatibility issues with the GA-8KNXP and this is the reply I received from the Corsair tech...

Originally posted by RAM GUY
Well for any MB with the Intel 875 or 865 chipset we would suggets the CMX512-3500C2 as it will leave more room to grow or over clock with this chipset. The CMX512-3200C2 will also work but our Low latency is not suggetsed for this chipset at this time.

Now, although they aren't suggesting the TwinX memory, I think I'm going to stick with it for now, seeing as how I finally don't seem to have any problems. I ran SiSoft's Sandra 2003 burn-in for almost a full day and didn't experience a single crash. Also my benchmark speeds seem to be pretty good. I guess I'll save the final decision after I see how well it performs overclocked.

Anyone else with good/bad stories of their GA-8KNXP and TwinX memory?

Also running TwinX PC3200 512x2 LL RAM initially at 2-3-3-6 pursuant to research gathered before receiving the mobo and cpu. On the WinXP test install, running fine, Sandra 2003 Burn-In also fine. Also seems ok with "Top Performance" enabled too.

Now if I could just get into the Adaptec SCSI BIOS to do the real install with RAID 0 reference to above message.

BTW, what has the 3.0 GHz CPU Temps been? Mine is hovering around 40C. Not sure if this is poor/fair/good.

 

[fLoOdY]

Originally posted by: harddrive747

Originally posted by: fLoOdY
Question: How to get into Adaptec SCSI Select on GA-8KNXP Ultra??

I've been working on this project for the last few days with a Lian Li PC75 and 2x512 Corsair TwinX 3200LL. 3.0 GHz/800 MHz P4. (The Alpha PAL8942 Cooler fits great)

Going swimmingly except for this stupid issue.

This question is a show-stopper for me as I planned to take Sunday and a vacation day off to backup apps and data to move them over to this machine.

Storage will be (2) 72 GB 15k.3 Cheetahs striped for RAID 0.

There is no documentation to speak of for the Adaptec AIC-7902 interface, but I know SCSI Select well. The normal key combination to get into the SCSI BIOS is <CTRL-A>. Docs at Adaptec support seem to reflect this.

When the Adaptec SCSI BIOS comes up on a boot, there is no "Press <CTRL-A>..." prompt to enter SCSI Select or any kind of key sequence. It does not respond to <CTRL-A> even entering without the prompt!

I do have this running on a test install of WinXPPro SP1 with a single disk, but this stupid issue is going to waste my time off if I can't get into the stupid @%$& SCSI BIOS to configure HostRAID.

Does someone know? I feel like an idiot... been using Adaptec SCSI for a decade. Help!

Thanks.

I was up at Adaptec web site and one thing that I found interesting is with the RAID controlers. Now what I found were the old controlers, but they said to get into SCSI select "you must now hit the F6 key when prompted to access the SCSI Select utility."

I hope this works for you.

 

[fLoOdY]

I was up at Adaptec web site and one thing that I found interesting is with the RAID controlers. Now what I found were the old controlers, but they said to get into SCSI select "you must now hit the F6 key when prompted to access the SCSI Select utility."

I hope this works for you.[/quote][/quote]

Yes I saw that also, and tried it but F6 does not work. That was in reference to higher-end RAID HAs, roather than the HostRAID family.

In fact, there is _no prompt at all_.

I have the Adaptec HostRaid .pdf for the 39320 PCI Family, and that indicates that it also applies to the AIC-7902 ASIC. They still indicate <CTRL-A>.

Thanks for this though.

Michael

 

[Javic]

BTW, what has the 3.0 GHz CPU Temps been? Mine is hovering around 40C. Not sure if this is poor/fair/good.

Mine runs a little hotter than that actually. it's usually around 38-45 under low load, and I've seen it as high as 49 under increased load. This is most likely due to the current poor airflow through the case. I'm in the process of swapping systems between cases, but I couldn't wait to get the 800MHz system up and going so I just threw it into an older case I had sitting by.

I'll probably reapply my HSF as well because there was some slippage when initially mounting it, and I'm sure it doesn't have the best contact with the CPU.

 

[alancabra]

I'm having trouble running a Sapphire Radeon 9700 pro on this motherboard with win2k. I get that stupid hang after agp440.sys loads. Apparently agp440.sys hangs are common and can mean a variety of different things but in my case it really does seem to be agp440.sys because I can disable the service and the os with load or I can uninstall the radeon catalyst drivers and the os will load.

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

for the 3.06ghz anyway - the temps for that rang from 40 to 55. I can't imagine why the 3.00ghz would be any different.

 

[pr497]

Originally posted by: NathanTX
Wurrmm & Jager66 & anyone else who might be interested:

I spoke with a Gigabyte technical support representative named Chris tonight, who informed me that he and several members of the technical support staff were following up on my inquiry about 400MHz FSB support for the GA-8KNXP. They were in the process of testing the GA-8KNXP with an Intel Pentium 4 2.4A GHz CPU. The processor was properly recognized and functioning normally after several hours of testing. At the time, they had been testing the system with CPU Burn-in for over two hours. Chris will call me tomorrow evening after their testing is complete to give me an update.

At this point, I'm convinced that this motherboard will support all Northwood and Willamette 400MHz FSB CPUs. I am also convinced that it was the intention of Intel's development department for this chipset to support 400MHz FSB CPUs all along, but when their marketing department realized that many system builders would do what I am attempting to due (delay purchasing a new Intel CPU until they become more affordable) they quickly came to the conclusion that it would be more profitable to "brush it under the rug," making support for the 400MHz FSB suddenly disappear, so that anyone who buys an 875P-based motherboard would believe that they must also buy a new and expensive 533MHz or 800MHz FSB Intel CPU. It seems that Gigabyte was merely following step with the rest of the motherboard manufacturers, and the review sites were more interested in testing the maximum potential of the 875P chipset than in accurately defining its specifications. Reviewers typically will get motherboard specifications straight from the motherboard manufacturers without questioning their reliability, thus propagating any disinformation supplied by Intel.

Hopefully, I will be ordering my GA-8KNXP tomorrow night.

the 8KNXP will work with the older 400FSB P4's....i know because i used my 8IK1100 (lite version of the KNXP) with a P4 1.8A for about a week before i got a P4 2.26. the only problems that you will encounter are:

1) you will not be able to overclock past ~147 FSB with any 400mhz FSB P4. even though you set 200FSB in the BIOS, the board will set the FSB to ~147 FSB, as long as theres a 400mhz FSB P4 in this motherboard, there will be no overclock past ~147 (even if your cpu can handle that).

2) the memory ratios that are in the BIOS are useless. the board will ALWAYS default to the 1:1 ratio, no matter what ratio you put in the BIOS. in the manual (page 60) it says that there are 3 ratios avaible for a 400mhz FSB P4: 2.0, 2.66, and AUTO. however, the only ratios that you will get are 2.66 and AUTO and it wont matter which one you pick because the motherboard will always give you the 2.0 option (irronically enough, that option isnt avaible in the BIOS).

my suggestion, i think you should use this board with at least a 533mhz FSB P4. the 400mhz FSB P4 should be treated as a "temporary" cpu. but you can do whatever you want with the board and cpu because it will work.

for more information about this board....visit ABXZone.com...formally known as Asusboards...there are some very helpful people there.

 

[Badash7]

Floody, you have to copy the scsi raid driver off the gigabyte cd onto a floppy then press F6 when you first install windows with the floppy in the drive. I dont know why gigabyte doesnt include scsi and sata raid floppy's it was real inconvienent on my 8inxp but I had my second pc up running to install the 8knxp ultra to copy the scsi files to floppy. The files are on the gigabyte cd under "other", as far as cntrl-A in past Adaptecs you could turn that on/off in the scsi setup to display it but you could still hit cntrl-A. I haven't tried it yet on the 8knxp ultra cause I didn't need it. If you have scsi speed trouble with XP this patch fixes it, I've used it on 2 different scsi drives XPCacheFilter

 

[fLoOdY]

Originally posted by: Badash7
Floody, you have to copy the scsi raid driver off the gigabyte cd onto a floppy then press F6 when you first install windows with the floppy in the drive. I dont know why gigabyte doesnt include scsi and sata raid floppy's it was real inconvienent on my 8inxp but I had my second pc up running to install the 8knxp ultra to copy the scsi files to floppy. The files are on the gigabyte cd under "other", as far as cntrl-A in past Adaptecs you could turn that on/off in the scsi setup to display it but you could still hit cntrl-A. I haven't tried it yet on the 8knxp ultra cause I didn't need it. If you have scsi speed trouble with XP this patch fixes it, I've used it on 2 different scsi drives XPCacheFilter

Badash7: Oh yes... I know this.

I have a test install going with ONE of the two new Cheetahs and using the "NOHOSTRAID" drivers. Problem is, when the Adaptec SCSI BIOS loads, it does not display the prompt and does not load SCSIselect even when mashing down on "<CTRL-A>. He just proceeds along and scans for SCSI targets.

The BIOS display looks more minimal than a typical PCI 39160 U160 HA I also have, which makes me suspect that they might have some different code in there. Yes, there is a toggle in there to hide the prompt. I tried it on the 39160 in the machine I'm using right now, and yes <CTRL-A> still works. Doesn't work on the new Gigabyte machine with the AIC-7902 ASIC! :-E

You have to be able to get in there first to enable HostRAID to add your spindles to a RAID array. THEN you can begin an XP Install on this RAID array with <F6> to load the Adaptec HostRAID drivers. Problem is, I just can't get in there at all. HostRAID has to be configured first.. before proceeding with the XP install.

I use an ATA CD-ROM to get the install done. THEN, once XP is booting from the RAID array, you have to go back to DeviceMangler and migrate the second U320 SCSI channel back down to standard SCSI substituting the NOHOSTRAID drivers. Then you can connect all those Single Ended SCSI Plextors; tape, etc and remove the ATA CD-ROM from the case. (maybe I'll leave him in there)

I'm a StorageWorks SAN Engineer at HP, and mildly inconvenient driver stuff like this happens all the time... no big whoop. It's HW and Firmware stuff that drives me crazy. I hate how something like this pervades one's thoughts... thinking about a stupid computer problem which is insignificant in the larger scheme of what really matters in life... family, work, health, finances, getting to heaven, connubial bliss, sex, sleep... We all know how it is.

The XP patch looks interesting anyway though; thank you for this.

Thanks for your response. I'll get this licked somehow. I have other machines that work so not down or anything.

---

PS: I found a cure for rattling Lian Li side panels if anybody is interested. Finally got the rattles out of this new PC-75 with the big window and will also fix my other three PC-60s This thing is _quiet_ now.

Michael Flood "fLoOdY"

 

[Badash7]

I have one problem with the 8knxp ultra. I can't get the USB 2.0 controller installed because Gigabytes disc tells me to get SP1 for the driver and I hate SP1. I don't know if it's a NEC USB 2.0 or what? I have a USB 2.0 NEC driver on my 8inxp disc that I could use. Anyone know how to get it installed? Besides this and the scsi and sata drivers not coming on a floppy, which are not "problems" with the board, this board has been the smoothest to set up EVER! No bugs for me, it was cake.

 

[fLoOdY]

Originally posted by: Badash7
I have one problem with the 8knxp ultra. I can't get the USB 2.0 controller installed because Gigabytes disc tells me to get SP1 for the driver and I hate SP1. I don't know if it's a NEC USB 2.0 or what? I have a USB 2.0 NEC driver on my 8inxp disc that I could use. Anyone know how to get it installed? Besides this and the scsi and sata drivers not coming on a floppy, which are not "problems" with the board, this board has been the smoothest to set up EVER! No bugs for me, it was cake.

Badash7: http://www.usbman.com/USB 2 News.htm

This is the procedure to get the USB 2.0 Drivers for XP. However, nothing comes up on the search when I do it. I have them running on this machine.

Hey if you have an ULTRA, could you tell me if You are getting the Adaptec <CTRL-A> prompt pls? I'd appreciate it very much!

Thanks,

Michael

 

[Badash7]

The USB thing doesn't work I'm going to try to find it on P2P, No their is no CNTRL-A displayed and I also tried it and nothing happened. I am using only 1 SCSI drive. However I remember one of the best ways to format your drive is in the scsi utility, also was like a low level format and synched it with the controller. But my system is working flawlessly. I updated to the F5 bios. Just need the USB 2.0 driver, I don't understand why microsoft has to hide drivers in SP1, I'm pissed about it. Apparently USB is controlled by the southbridge on this board. I looked on Intels site for drivers also. I'm moving the 8inxp into my old pc, which is why I got this board in the first place, my old pc needed a new board.

 

[fLoOdY]

Originally posted by: Badash7
The USB thing doesn't work I'm going to try to find it on P2P, No their is no CNTRL-A displayed and I also tried it and nothing happened. I am using only 1 SCSI drive. However I remember one of the best ways to format your drive is in the scsi utility, also was like a low level format and synched it with the controller. But my system is working flawlessly. I updated to the F5 bios. Just need the USB 2.0 driver, I don't understand why microsoft has to hide drivers in SP1, I'm pissed about it. Apparently USB is controlled by the southbridge on this board. I looked on Intels site for drivers also. I'm moving the 8inxp into my old pc, which is why I got this board in the first place, my old pc needed a new board.

Good! So it's NOT just ME.

Perhaps there is a Gigabyte BIOS isssue in play here. Exists with F3, F4 and F5. Old School thought was to do a LLF on SCSI disks every one to two years; but probably not necessary with current genre.

Yes the Ms USB 2.0 delivery stinks. It is integrated into the Canterwood SouthBridge; not the separate NEC ASIC with this one.

Mine is not working yet either, but I need to get SCSI RAID 0 working first. Will need USB 2.0 to get my backed up files back in from Maxtor 120 USB 2.0 External drive.

Thanks again for confirming the <CTRL-A> issue.

Michael

 

[NathanTX]

PR497,

Thanks for the information. You described exactly what I was planning on doing, although "temporary" for me might be more like 6 months to 1 year, depending on my pocketbook and CPU prices. My main goal is to build a computer now with a MB that is highly upgradable, but saving on other components until I can afford the best. BTW, if I can OC my P4 1.8A up to 2.4GHz on a 133MHz FSB for now, I will be ecstatic.