The *Official* MSI K8NGM2-FID GeForce 6150 Motherboard Thread

[mrnuxi]

ajemm:

I would reiterate what someone else has suggested: get yourself a Knoppix [live linux-on-a-CD] CD. Assuming you use DHCP to get IP address, gateway, and DNS server under Windows, Knoppix should boot right up and get all your settings and be live on the network. Test that for an hour or so (use the Firefox browser that is part of the distribution). If it works without problems, you will then know that the problem is with your Windows networking configuration. If, on the other hand, you experience the same type of problems as you had under Windows, then you know that it is not a virus or spyware, and either:

1. There is a problem with your FID ethernet hardware [I tend to dismiss this since local networking seems to work]
2. There is some kind of problem on your router (firewall settings, etc).
3. Your ISP is causing some downstream problem.

Good luck!
--mrnuxi

 

[aka1nas]

Hi all,
I built two servers using this board and I am having a minor issue. I have 4 SATA drives set up in 2 RAID 1s. On cold boots, the SATA drives do not get detected and the machine sits at the Mediashield screen. If resetting the machine or on any subsequent warm boots the drives get detected just fine. These are Maxtor DiamondMax 10 3.0Gbps and I noticed they are listed at the beginning of this thread.

# Maxtor DiamondMax 10 SATA (3.0Gb/s) drives (model number 6Vxxxxx). OS cannot be installed in this drive. Need to change the jumper from "Normal Operation (3Gbps)" to the "Limit Data Transfer Rate (1.5Gbps)". (Confirmed by MSI.)

I have tried jumpering the drives and that has not had any effect. Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[grits]

I just got this board and here's an update on what now comes in the box.
1. the video bracket (as before)
2. a new sound bracket; has the three surround plugs + spdif
3. a two port usb bracket. 6 total now.
No more serial bracket.

 

[ajemm]

Originally posted by: mrnuxi
ajemm:

I would reiterate what someone else has suggested: get yourself a Knoppix [live linux-on-a-CD] CD. Assuming you use DHCP to get IP address, gateway, and DNS server under Windows, Knoppix should boot right up and get all your settings and be live on the network. Test that for an hour or so (use the Firefox browser that is part of the distribution). If it works without problems, you will then know that the problem is with your Windows networking configuration. If, on the other hand, you experience the same type of problems as you had under Windows, then you know that it is not a virus or spyware, and either:

1. There is a problem with your FID ethernet hardware [I tend to dismiss this since local networking seems to work]
2. There is some kind of problem on your router (firewall settings, etc).
3. Your ISP is causing some downstream problem.

Good luck!
--mrnuxi

Turns out the problem was with my firewall config. Thanks for all the help.

 

[mrnuxi]

Turns out the problem was with my firewall config. Thanks for all the help.

Kind of what I would have expected. Glad you're operational again. I would still suggest burning the following two CDs and keeping them around for times like this and/or disaster recovery:

1. Knoppix
2. Ultimate Boot CD

later,
mrnuxi

 

[Steve52]

Originally posted by: ajemm

Originally posted by: mrnuxi
ajemm:

I would reiterate what someone else has suggested: get yourself a Knoppix [live linux-on-a-CD] CD. Assuming you use DHCP to get IP address, gateway, and DNS server under Windows, Knoppix should boot right up and get all your settings and be live on the network. Test that for an hour or so (use the Firefox browser that is part of the distribution). If it works without problems, you will then know that the problem is with your Windows networking configuration. If, on the other hand, you experience the same type of problems as you had under Windows, then you know that it is not a virus or spyware, and either:

1. There is a problem with your FID ethernet hardware [I tend to dismiss this since local networking seems to work]
2. There is some kind of problem on your router (firewall settings, etc).
3. Your ISP is causing some downstream problem.

Good luck!
--mrnuxi

Turns out the problem was with my firewall config. Thanks for all the help.

I am having a problem with my Linksys BEFSR41 that sounds very similar to yours. My internet connection will drop several times a week for some unknown reason, and usually when I am not using the computers. Can you share with me what firewall settings you changed to fix this problem? Was these changes on the router or Windows?

Thanks!

 

[klaatu3]

Please can someone confirm that the Aspire X-Qpack case front panel connector to connect to the motherboard, follows the Intel Front Panel I/O Connectivity Design Guide, and that it is AC'97 , and therefore will work with the MSI K8NGM2-FID motherboard when set to disable jack sensing ?

I have one of these cases and the supplier seems at this moment reluctant to provide an RMA number to return for an replacement. (see my earlier message on this page regarding a front panel problem)

Thanks for your help.

Gary

 

[ascully]

Originally posted by: grits
I just got this board and here's an update on what now comes in the box.
1. the video bracket (as before)
2. a new sound bracket; has the three surround plugs + spdif
3. a two port usb bracket. 6 total now.
No more serial bracket.

Does anyone know where you can buy the serial bracket for this motherboard, I would like to use it in a new HTPC build which drives a motorola cable box via serial. Any help would be great.

 

[amaramrahul]

I have recently purchased a new MSI K8NGM2-FID motherboard and Athlon64 3500+ processor. I would like to know if I could use the SMPS which I was using for my previous motherboard (ASUS A7N266-VM) and processor (AthlonXP 2000+). It is 20-pin ATX power supply, 300W with 12 V powe connector outputting 15A. The manual for MSI motherboard recommended 350W power supply with 12 V power connector outputting a minimum of 18 A. I would like to know if this is mandatory condition i.e. whether I can use the current SMPS or should I buy a new one. Also is there any potential harm to the motherboard or processor if I use the current SMPS?

 

[renethx]

ascully,

DB9M SERIAL ADD-A-PORT ADAPTER WITH BRACKET - Serial expansion port with bracket; Crossed-configuration (Compatible with most brands of motherboards and I/O cards)

There is another serial port bracket:

DB9M SERIAL ADD-A-PORT ADAPTER WITH BRACKET for INTEL MOTHERBOARDS - Serial expansion port with bracket; Straight-through configuration (Compatible with Intel D815EEA and like motherboards)

According to Intel® Desktop Board D815EEA2/D815EPEA2 Technical Product Specification (p. 78), the first row is pins 1-9 and the second row is pins 2-8, that is different from the pin assingments of K8NGM2-FID (the first row is 1-5 and the second row is 6-9; manual p. 2-20).

 

[renethx]

amaramrahul,

Perhaps you'd better buy a new PSU. Of course you may try your PSU to see if your system runs stabley. There is nothing harmful.

 

[avi85]

Originally posted by: avi85
I was wondering which SATA ports on this board are locked (if any).

I was also wondering if anyone managed to install RMclock on this board cause whenever I try to set up p-states my system locks up and I noticed that renethx reported something similar in the master post

Originally posted by: renethx
...Unfortunately my system often locks up when RMClock Utiltiy is running...

I still have not received any answer to this post.
renethx, is the answer known or is it a mystery...

 

[Raydur]

Originally posted by: Raydur
I've decided to give the MSI Live Monitor utility a try. I've downloaded it from the MSI site and installed it, but when I try to run the "Auto Search" to see if there are any updates, it simply says:

Download check list fail!
Can not connect to the internet or the server is busy.
Please connect to the internet first, and try it later.


I'm already connected to the internet through both wired and wireless connections. I've disabled my firewall and antivirus just in case they were blocking something.

I've also tried it through the web based version, but as soon as it tries to connect, the frame in the middle says "page cannot be displayed".

Am I missing something?

I also have not received any replies. Anyone have any luck getting the MSI Live Monitor utility working? Anyone experience the same thing I am?

Thanks.

 

[renethx]

avi85,

I am pretty sure that all 4 SATA ports are locked although I have not confirmed it with MSI Tech Support. (I confirmed that the PCI bus and hence all SATA ports are locked in another MSI board, K8N Neo4 Platinum. There is no reason why MSI would have changed it.)

I don't know much about the lockup problem of RMClock Utility. In my previous system (ABIT AX8, Athlon 64 3200+ Venice, Win2KSP4) it worked fine. But it causes lockups in my current system.

 

[renethx]

Raydur,

Auto Search of MSI Live Monitor v3.77 (default settings) works just fine in my system.

However one of MSI Live Update 3, MSI Live Driver, stops working while searching. Perhaps it is a browser-related problem. The others (Live BIOS etc.) work fine.

 

[avi85]

Originally posted by: renethx
avi85,

I am pretty sure that all 4 SATA ports are locked although I have not confirmed it with MSI Tech Support. (I confirmed that the PCI bus and hence all SATA ports are locked in another MSI board, K8N Neo4 Platinum. There is no reason why MSI would have changed it.)

I don't know much about the lockup problem of RMClock Utility. In my previous system (ABIT AX8, Athlon 64 3200+ Venice, Win2KSP4) it worked fine. But it causes lockups in my current system.

thanks renethx,

is there anybody on this forum who has gotten RMclock to work with this board?
and if so did you have to do anything special?

 

[Zekey]

I am running bios 3.4, but cannot get the config listed on the Speedfan website to work. It loads, but simply wiill not detect anything other than my two HDDs, is anyone else having this issue?

 

[cka]

Originally posted by: Zekey
I am running bios 3.4, but cannot get the config listed on the Speedfan website to work. It loads, but simply wiill not detect anything other than my two HDDs, is anyone else having this issue?

Did you download the beta release from their server, and follow the instructions on the first post of the thread to download the config for this board?

 

[amaramrahul]

Below is the response I got from MSI technical support team for my query. Guess shouldn't be an issue using the old 300W SMPS with 12 W power connector generating 15A .

------------------------------------------------------

Dear Rahul,
You can try with your old SMPS and might it works without problem and please
don't worry if it doesn't support then it would not damage anything.

Thanks/Regards,
Technical support - India
Micro-star International
Email: technical@msi-india.com
Visit us at www.msi-india.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Rahul Amaram [mailto:amaramrahul@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2006 4:21 AM
To: technical@msi-india.com
Subject: query reg. SMPS

Hi,
I have recently purchased a new MSI K8NGM2-FID motherboard and Athlon64
3500+ processor. I would like to know if I could use the SMPS which I
was using for my previous motherboard (ASUS A7N266-VM) and processor
(AthlonXP 2000+). It is 20-pin ATX power supply, 300W with 12 V supply
outputting 15A. The manual for MSI motherboard recommended 350W with 12
V supply outputting a minimum of 18 A. I would like to know if this is
mandatory condition i.e. whether I can use the current SMPS or should
buy a new one. Also is there any potential harm to the motherboard or
processor if I use the current SMPS ?

Regards,
Rahul.

 

[tomt4535]

Ive had this board for some time now, and Its treated me relativley well up untill maybe a month ago. Latley, Ive been getting a ton of random BSOD's, crashes, and restart loops. I didnt add or change anything to the system, the problems just seemed to come out of nowhere. I didnt even install any new software or drivers. My system has been the same since day 1.

Sometimes it saves a memory dump, but most of the time it bluescreens and reboots before windows starts. All the blue screens have been diffrent pretty much. They dont display the same messages every time, so its a lot harder to pinpoint the problem. The event viewer isnt much help, the errors arent getting logged I dont think.

I reformatted the comp a few weeks ago, to see if that would solve the problem, and it worked good for a few days, then started up again. Also, I loosened up the memory timings a bit and added more voltage, that didnt seem to do much.

I was able to get onto the comp today and copy some of the memory dumps, Ill upload them and link to them below. Im really stumped at this problem, I bet its something simple, I just cant figure out what it is.

Here are my system specs:

A64 3500+ venice, Stock speed, opteron heatpipe heatsink
K8NGM2-FID
2x512mb Crucial Ballistix PC4000
Evga 7600GS
WD 80gb Boot, 2x200gb Seagate RAID0 storage
Powercolor theater 550 pci-e, visiontek theater 550 pci, Avermedia A180 pci
Enermax 431w psu
benq 16x dvdrw

A few of the Dump Files:
Text
Text
Text
Text
Text

I really have no clue whats going on here, If you need more info, just let me know.

 

[Mark9]

Have you run Memtest86 on your memory? How old is the 80 gig drive (which is your C: drive I would assume).

Blue sceening while booting typically isn't a heat problem - BUT - You might try putting a small fan on the northbridge - or remove the case cover and place a table top fan blowing into the system for better cooling anyway.

 

[tomt4535]

Originally posted by: Mark9
Have you run Memtest86 on your memory? How old is the 80 gig drive (which is your C: drive I would assume).

Blue sceening while booting typically isn't a heat problem - BUT - You might try putting a small fan on the northbridge - or remove the case cover and place a table top fan blowing into the system for better cooling anyway.

The memory passes memtest in several diffrent systems. The C drive isnt that old, maybe a few years? What are some good apps to test if my drive is ok? Its a WD drive if that matters.

EDIT: I touched my finger to the northbridge and it was cool, but It seemed really really loose to me. I didnt touch it hard, and it slid around a little bit. Anyone else have a loose northbridge heatsink?

 

[renethx]

Data Lifeguard Diagnostic is the diagnostic tool for WD drives. You can download it from the WD website. Ultimate Boot CD includes it.

If the onboard video is disabled, the NB heatsink is usually very cool, around 40°C or below. It is attached with two plastic pins and loose as compared to CPU heatsinks. This is normal.

 

[Mark9]

Actually, I feel the northbridge heatsink is much looser than it should be. I popped the cooler off on one of my K8NGM2-FID boards and found that there is a "stand off" material that holds the heatsink up slightly. By removing this material, and applying a thin layer of Artic Silver 5, I note that the before and after temp reading (as measured by the thin themocouple on the case readout) dropped by nearly 4 degC. - this on a 3800+ system using the on-board video..

Regardless, it would be difficult to see the northbridge chip heating up enough to blue screen during a boot, anyway.

How frequently does the problem occur? Every boot? or is it a random thing. Also, when it bluescreens, will it reboot OK immediately aftward?

 

[mshan]

I have a mobo with BIOS 3.20 and 2 x 512 MB Corsair Value Select PC3200 (originally released version which was advertised as being guaranteed compatible with everything).

I am getting lots of errors in Memtest. (I know these memory has been error free with MemTest on an Asua A7N8X v2 deluxe mobo).

Are these artifactual "errors" because of the BIOS I have or are they real errors that can create system problems?