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

[avi85]

Originally posted by: Mark9
Well my initial K8NGM2-FID system is starting to "go south". It won't recognize the mouse or keyboard (tried new units and still no recognition). It's not a Windows problem because the bios doesn't see them on startup any longer. And, Yes, all my systems have UPS protection. I've been building computers before Microsoft came into being, and have built hundreds over the years. Currently I have 14 systems on-line on my network doing various work related duties. I have no problem in troubleshooting systems, in fact I usually enjoy straightening out problems - it's just that after the RMA hassles with a second system I built based on a K8NGM2-FID board (that would never start on the first power up despite a LOT of troubleshooting) I just don't want to screw around with this MSI board model any longer.

I realize that all manufacturers produce a percentage of boards that aren't the best of quality, that's real life. But, despite using boards from all major board manufacturer, I've never had two boards of the same model fail identically with so little use.

This list is an outstanding resource for K8NGM2-FID users, and I've enjoyed logging on frequently, so it's with a bit of sadness that I sign off.

We'll miss you...

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: solaris9000
Has anyone experienced jerky pictures with the MSI K8NGM2-FID board when used with a PCI based DVICO digital TV card?

Thanks.

Is it always jerky, or are there some instances when you get a good picture? I'm having tons of problems with my PCI based Vbox DTA-150 OTA HD tuner. I don't think it's the board or the tuner though, as I only have problems when recording with the Media Center shell open and even then only if recording an analog program at the same time. It's off topic here, so view this thread over at TheGreenButton if interested.

 

[blimey]

Originally posted on 07/07/2006 by: Mark9
Also, this new system is the first of two replacement for THREE!!! failed ChainTech motherboards (in two different systems). I have another K8NGM2-FID's coming this week based on how well this current board has performed.

Which brings up another point: Over the past year I have had 1 BioStar fail and the previously mentioned Chaintech failures, out of the 12 systems on my network. All systems are UPS protected so the failures seem due to poor quality of the boards themselves.

Originally posted on 10/09/2006 by: Mark9
Well my initial K8NGM2-FID system is starting to "go south". It won't recognize the mouse or keyboard (tried new units and still no recognition). It's not a Windows problem because the bios doesn't see them on startup any longer.

I realize that all manufacturers produce a percentage of boards that aren't the best of quality, that's real life. But, despite using boards from all major board manufacturer, I've never had two boards of the same model fail identically with so little use.

Yikes, if I had that much bad 'luck', I'd probably swear off computers completely! (much like how I've sworn off girls, because I've had a lot of problems with them).

My FID, on the other hand, has been problem-free for 8 months so far. I hope I'm not on borrowed time, because I really like the system as it is now. However, I did order a Foxconn 6150K8MD-8EKRSH to have as a backup just in case.

Is your keyboard/mouse failure for USB or PS/2 devices, or both? If it is just PS/2, have you considered switching to all USB devices so you can get some more time out of the motherboard?

Hope your 'luck' with motherboards is better in the future!

 

[h0mi]

Placed an order through pcuniverse and it was canceled since the MB is no longer being manufactured by MSI... they claimed to have had ~4 mbs in stock when I ordered so I'm kind of pissed. Oh well, I'll never shop there again.

I'm hoping pcdirect has one in stock.

 

[aeroguy]

More 7600 GS problems, or is my motherboard's PCIe x16 slot bad?

I bought an eVGA GeForce 7600 GS passive from Circuit City to see if it would solve my HD recording problems.

I installed the card, entered the BIOS and chose PCI Express as the primary graphics adapter and Disable onchip VGA if have PCIe VGA. The computer booted fine, but I got no video feed. Restarted and hooked back up to the onboard and I got a picture. It wouldn't even detect the new card. No new hardware wizard, and nothing in the device manager. I tried restarting several times.

I gave up and shut down the computer. I restarted awhile later and got a blank black screen from the onboard, so I hookup up the video card it booted fine! Got the add new hardware wizard and everything. Well, I restarted the computer after some windows updates, and you guessed it, black screen. Hooked up the onboard again, and I got a picture. Now no matter what I do, I can't get a video feed from the video card. The heatsink is warm, so I know it's getting power, and I've reseated it several time. eVGA tech support said it's a bad video card or the motherboard, but I don't have another motherboard to try it on.

I'm guessing the PCIe x16 slot on the motherboard is bad, but am wondering if there is any way to test it. If not, I'll exchange the card and try a new one before contacting MSI.

Incidentally, for the few minutes I had the card working, HD recordings were great. I was so excited it may have fixed my problems only to have this happen!

 

[blimey]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

I installed the card, entered the BIOS and chose PCI Express as the primary graphics adapter and Disable onchip VGA if have PCIe VGA. The computer booted fine, but I got no video feed. Restarted and hooked back up to the onboard and I got a picture. It wouldn't even detect the new card. No new hardware wizard, and nothing in the device manager. I tried restarting several times.

When you;

"installed the card, entered the BIOS and chose PCI Express as the primary graphics adapter and Disable onchip VGA if have PCIe VGA"

Were you still connected to the onboard video when you entered the BIOS? Or was the 7600GS working as you entered the BIOS?

It sounds like sometimes the BIOS doesn't detect the card.

I use those same BIOS settings for my 7600GS and it works fine. However, if I use some of the other BIOS settings which allow both the PCIe and onboard to be active, then the PCIe doesn't display anything until windows boots (it stays blank during the BIOS text, etc). Try playing with the BIOS settings that allow both to be active, and see if your PCIe card then comes up only after windows starts. I'm assuming that you're using v3.5 of the BIOS.

 

[aeroguy]

Yes, I was still connected to the onboard graphics when I changed the BIOS settings because the video card won't display anything (except for the 1 time). I tried enabling both and booting all the way up and it didn't help. I'm connected via DVI to my TV with the onboard graphics and via VGA to a computer monitor on the 7600GS.

And yes to using BIOS 3.5

Also, the device manager only lists NVIDIA GeForce 6150 under Display adapters. I agree that it seems like the BIOS is not detecting the card, even though it is heating up like it is being used. Weird.

 

[h0mi]

Looks like they do... it's in transit.

Have a question about the MSI and Asus boards (since I will have both very soon). Is anyone aware of any issues with any brand of ram? I own another asus board that has issues with some Kingstom memory modules so I've avoided them like the plague, and wanted to know if I need to continue my "boycott" of kingston with these 2 motherboards or not.

 

[blimey]

Originally posted by: aeroguy
Also, the device manager only lists NVIDIA GeForce 6150 under Display adapters. I agree that it seems like the BIOS is not detecting the card, even though it is heating up like it is being used. Weird.

Hmm.. does the card have a BIOS/copyright notice that appears at boot (before even the motherboard BIOS comes up)? I suppose if it does, you would only have seen it once.

To test if the motherboard BIOS needs more time to detect the card, I would try pausing/unpausing the system using the pause key/ctrl-break before the BIOS starts to scroll at boot.

If you were able to install the 7600gs drivers once, they are still there. When I had both running I would see 6150 and 7600 in the device manager. Windows just isn't loading the 7600 drivers if the BIOS doesn't pass on the info that the card is present.

 

[aeroguy]

Interesting. Thanks for the suggestion blimey. I didn't know about the pause/ctrl-break thing and will try it out.

So do I simply press the pause/break button, or ctrl+pause/break?

I think a friend of mine might have an old ATI card that I can try also (if it is PCIe). If it boots off of that, I will exchange the video card. If not, I guess it's the motherboard.
Edit: Never mind, it's an AGP card.

 

[blimey]

The pause key (labeled pause/break) will pause the boot process.

Ctrl-break (press and hold ctrl, then press break (labeled pause/break)) will start the process again. Or, the enter key will also start the process again.

It is a longshot, but I had a network card that wasn't detected and pausing helped detect it.

 

[aeroguy]

Well, I exchanged the video card for the exact same model and am having the same problem. I can't get any video displayed at all. Pause/Break suggestion didn't help either.

So either the motherboard is bad, or the motherboard and video card are incompatible. I'll contact MSI.

 

[fresnoboy]

According to this link, the new Abit NF-M2 looks like it will be THE successor for the venerable MSI K8NGM2-FID.

It has HD audio via the ALC883, which means it should be able to do bitperfect 44.1 Khz SPDIF for music, and autoswitch to 5.1 DD/DTS for movies (even in MCE). Not quite as good SNR as it's ALC882 brother for analog out, but still pretty good.

It appears to have lots of options for overclocking, and the japanese web site shows it running at a 315 Mhz clock rate on an 10X multiplier. Looks like very decent overclocker for a 6150 board. Nice GigE support.

Available at Newegg now.

Thanks,
FB

 

[aeroguy]

Just to update everyone, MSI tech support thinks my PCI-E slot is bad. They said I can RMA the board, but I really don't want to be without it for 2-4 weeks. I don't know what to do now

 

[blimey]

Originally posted by: aeroguy
Just to update everyone, MSI tech support thinks my PCI-E slot is bad. They said I can RMA the board, but I really don't want to be without it for 2-4 weeks. I don't know what to do now

Well, I wouldn't be so quick to say that it is the motherboard. There are known compatibility problems with several brands of 7600GS cards (some mentioned in this thread). If I were you, I would try another brand of card in your motherboard before you RMA it.

I use the Biostar V7602GS51 7600GS. If you want to try that - it is confirmed to work with the K8NGM2-FID.

 

[aeroguy]

Thanks blimey, that's a good idea to try another brand/card first. Maybe a PNY 7300GT from Best Buy just to test it.

 

[knightc2]

Originally posted by: fresnoboy
According to this link, the new Abit NF-M2 looks like it will be THE successor for the venerable MSI K8NGM2-FID.

It has HD audio via the ALC883, which means it should be able to do bitperfect 44.1 Khz SPDIF for music, and autoswitch to 5.1 DD/DTS for movies (even in MCE). Not quite as good SNR as it's ALC882 brother for analog out, but still pretty good.

It appears to have lots of options for overclocking, and the japanese web site shows it running at a 315 Mhz clock rate on an 10X multiplier. Looks like very decent overclocker for a 6150 board. Nice GigE support.

Available at Newegg now.

Thanks,
FB

EDIT: This is an AM2 board and it does not have a TV-out connector onboard. Read the OP for more info.
Link to Newegg.

 

[aeroguy]

Okay, last update from me. Tried a PNY 7300 GT and got video output from the card 1 time. Computer froze while installing new hardware, so I had to restart and have had no luck since. I guess my motherboard's PCI-e slot is a dud.

Regards,
Nick

 

[dbenhur]

I've built 3 linux developer workstations with this board and been very happy. Cheap, fast stable, gig enet, dual monitor support out of box. Yet, now I can't seem to find the board in stock anywhere, so I guess it's discontinued? Tsk.

Is there an AM2 geforce 6150 board with equivalent functionality and quality? What's the goto board for decent integrated dual monitor (DVI + DSUB) video and amd64-x2?

 

[fresnoboy]

Originally posted by: dbenhur
I've built 3 linux developer workstations with this board and been very happy. Cheap, fast stable, gig enet, dual monitor support out of box. Yet, now I can't seem to find the board in stock anywhere, so I guess it's discontinued? Tsk.

Is there an AM2 geforce 6150 board with equivalent functionality and quality? What's the goto board for decent integrated dual monitor (DVI + DSUB) video and amd64-x2?

The closest board in AM2 is the Abit NF-M2. Looks like a winner.

Thanks,
FB

 

[h0mi]

Will the k8ngm2-fid work with a 380 watt PS with 20 pins? I have an antec truepower (i think) from my sonata and would like to use it with this MB.

 

[rfan622]

 

[rfan622]

Well here's some good news. I think I debugged my own issue. I think my constant crashing was due in part to all the USB devices I had plugged in. I am using a USB hub to expand the number of ports however, I wasn't powering this hub and was so all devices were relying on mobo power. (The devices to my knowledge aren't power hogs - they are all USB hard drives). As soon as I turned off all my USB peripherals, the system was stable!

So the moral of my story (so far) is if you are going to be running a USB hub, make sure you power it. Otherwise you'll be plagued with random crashes, which in my opinion kinda makes sense. The random voltage drain from the mobo was causing system instability.

Hopefully this is the solution (system hasn't crashed yet but it's only been 24 hours, normally it would've died at least once by now). Anyone else think this is a possible situation?

Originally posted by: rfan622
Not too sure if I have a possible bad motherboard. I've been having major instability issues and I've followed the FAQ to a tee in the installation.

Basically the system will randomly jam or stall requiring a hard reboot. Here is a list of some of instances in which it'll crash:
-Playing MP3's for any random amount of time
-Watching DVD's any random amount of time
-Screen saver just going (usually after a night or a day away from the computer)
*With all these instances sometimes I can play MP3's, watch DVD's, and walk away from my computer with no crash occuring.

When the jam occurs, the entire system is stalled and I have to hit the reset button (there is no response from the keyboard). The screen jams up and whatever sound is playing just sits repeating in an endless loop.

 

[DaveA28]

I've been looking into building an HTPC system with a 6150 based MB. Right now I just have SD tv and analog cable. I'm thinking of running MythTV - I've been using linux for a while for other things.

I was leaning heavily towards the MSI K8NGM2-FID, but it seems to be discontinued now. Now I am looking at the K9 version - I think it doesnt come with the TV out bracket with S-Video. I need to look at the ASUS and Abit boards also.

Anyone have any comments on which might be best for what I need?

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: h0mi
Will the k8ngm2-fid work with a 380 watt PS with 20 pins? I have an antec truepower (i think) from my sonata and would like to use it with this MB.

From the manual:
"You may use the 20-pin ATX power supply as you like..."