An announcement for the SL-K8TPro-939 review by Mr. Fink

[Naso]

I have decided to go another route for mirror/backup/redundancy. While I still would like to know why Windows XP fails installation (when setting up promise raid drivers), I decided to get Norton Ghost (included in Norton/Symantec Systemworks 2005 Premiere) and just run a scheduled backup once a week. That way, if data gets eaten by user error (me, wife, cat), the backup will still hold the data for a limited time.

Had the motherboard/windows/drivers acted as stated in the manual without error, I probably wouldn't have gone this route. But this is probably a safer solution anyways. I'll post later on how this solution works - after I get the software and run it for a few weeks.

 

[LydiAtSoltek]

Hi Punkitup,
I found that my colleague Ring got your email today and has replied to you.
In case you missed it, I post her reply here:

"This problem is caused by power supply, the cause is some of power supplies don't provide -5V as attached (refer to the link below), please check your power supply out.
if so, this behavior is normal, our R&D engineer also indicated that none of component takes -5V on the K8TPro-939. So you don't worry about it
when the system is running fine."

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/LydiAtSoltek-123.jpg

Naso,
I believe that you have received the reply from my colleague Ring. Therefore I will not post her suggestions here.

C3p0,
Could you please clear CMOS data by jumper JBAT1 and re-build RAID again to see if that works?

Thanks and regards,

 

[c3p0]

LydiAtSoltek, thanks for your suggestion. I will give that a try, although I don't feel that is the issue. The drives are recognized in the BIOS and during POST. It's when I try to install the OS that the problem occurs.

c3p0

 

[punkitup]

Originally posted by: LydiAtSoltek
Hi Punkitup,
I found that my colleague Ring got your email today and has replied to you.

Yes she did get my email Lydia, but I believe only because I sent it to sales@soltek.com.tw and asked that it be forwarded to the support address that was kicking back mail. I still maintain that your company needs to upgrade its web presence.

But that aside, I am most thankful to both you and Ring for your excellent help, and in particular taking the time to upload the photo.

I would ask though, that if this is an issue, and the voltage is not required anyway; why not remove the ?5V reading from the BIOS? I have just checked two other computers I have here and they do not list the ?5V in their BIOS readings.

And at the very least why not remove it from the Soltek HM software or allow it to be disabled. As it stands now this lack of a proper ?5V reading causes the software to present a Red Alert (lighting up the image of the red lamp) instead of no alert (green lamp light). I would think this would be a priority issue for the next revision of this software; it seems a major flaw.

Once again I praise you for your help and will look forward to your reply.

Peace
James

 

[LydiAtSoltek]

Hi Punkitup,
I guess that something is really wrong with the account of support@soltek.com.tw. Now our webmaster is still checking it.
Regarding the "-5V" issue, since the schedule of our BIOS team is so tight now that they have no plan to modify it for the time being. Sorry!

Thanks and regards,

 

[punkitup]

Originally posted by: LydiAtSoltek
Regarding the "-5V" issue, since the schedule of our BIOS team is so tight now that they have no plan to modify it for the time being. Sorry!

Ok, then how about a revision of the Soltek HM software, or at least instructions on how a user can modify it to negate the false alarms brought on by the -5V issue?

Peace
James

 

[Zero1]

Lydi please can you give me somehting on the IOQD issue?
something around: our bios team is working on it.
OR
no way -its not bios fixable

please something... anything.

 

[LydiAtSoltek]

Sorry Punkitup,
At present, the "-5V" item will not be removed from HM software because some other M/Bs are still using it. So there is no way for users to modify it by themselves.

Zero1,
So far our BIOS engineer have not found what item relates to IOQD in BIOS. Sorry!

Thanks and regards,

 

[X2C]

Damn. I was hoping he had found out about the IOQD by now.

On a side note the thermalright XP-120 does fit on these boards
Pictures

 

[rocketman14]

how does the IOQD issue affect your system? does it slow it down?

 

[punkitup]

Originally posted by: LydiAtSoltek
Sorry Punkitup, At present, the "-5V" item will not be removed from HM software because some other M/Bs are still using it. So there is no way for users to modify it by themselves.

That's a shame, oh well it's still a good motherboard. I hope you will understand when I say that I will have to note this BIOS and HM software issue in any reviews I write for forums and mailing list, as well as my Newegg product review. I will still be recommending the board, and commending you on your interaction; but I would feel amiss if I didn't mention the issue and the apparent lack of plans to deal with it.

Drop a note if your BIOS Team or HM software designers decide to re-think things.

Peace
James

 

[Unaimed]

LydiAtSoltek

I ordered this board (SL-K8TPro-939) from swedish webshop. The thing is that the webshop now says that the next delivery is on the 20th of february. I simply cannot wait that long. Can you give a reason for its delay? The distributor it will most probably be delivered to in sweden is "Shoppingsajterna Svenska AB" or something along the lines of "datorbutiken.com".

Also, i have not received any response from soltek.nl about the cables.

//Thank you

 

[c3p0]

I got this board for Christmas along with an Athlon64 3200+ CPU. I was really excited about these new parts and could hardly wait to get them set up. To date, I still have not been able to set up RAID and my CPU temps read incorrectly. I have emailed Tech Support 3 times with NO reply and can rarely even get on the SolteK Web Site. I have always bought ASUS/ABIT and have been pleased with their products. I don't see myself buying another SOLTEK after this experience.

c3p0
:beer:

 

[punkitup]

I am looking to get some feedback from you guys that are running Zalman 7000 & 7700 HSF on this board as to what temperature readings you are getting. I have read of one person in this thread who had issues, but I would like more input.

I have an A64 3500+ (Newcastle) with a Zalman CNPS7700-AlCu and I am using Artic Silver 5 (yes, the right amount). I am not using the fan controller, the fan is plugged straight to the board and turning at 1,834-RPM. I also have good air flow in the case with four 80mm fans at 3,000+RPM and a dual fan PSU. Opening up the side of my case will only lower RT1 (ambient case temp) by 1-2 degrees at the most.

Here is the deal, generally the RT1 is reading at 20C, which is about right for the room. The CPU however is reading 49-50C at idle for those same ambient temps. I have got to tell you I have a hard time believing this CPU is running at 50C with this monster 120mm Zalman on top of it and nothing overclocked.

I should note that if I open the a window in the room and let in some of that nice frosty Massachusetts air then I can bring the RT1 temp down to about 15C pretty quickly, and the CPU maintains that same roughly 30C spread and comes down to a corresponding 45C meaning the two temps are staying consistent to one another, I just think the CPU one is wrong to begin with.

If I have to sit around in a room that?s 9C (48F) to get this thing to operate under 40C then I am going to have a real problem with my Wife.

So what do you guys think, bad board readings? Bad CPU? What are your readings and setup?

Peace
James

Edit: spelling

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Waylay00
Hmm this review said that they got theirs to an FSB of 275mhz http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/printpage.php?id=337

The review also said that 260MHz FSB was the highest stable. 275 would run, but crash out of benchmarks.

 

[X2C]

Originally posted by: punkitup
I am looking to get some feedback from you guys that are running Zalman 7000 & 7700 HSF on this board as to what temperature readings you are getting. I have read of one person in this thread who had issues, but I would like more input.

I have an A64 3500+ (Newcastle) with a Zalman CNPS7700-AlCu and I am using Artic Silver 5 (yes, the right amount). I am not using the fan controller, the fan is plugged straight to the board and turning at 1,834-RPM. I also have good air flow in the case with four 80mm fans at 3,000+RPM and a dual fan PSU. Opening up the side of my case will only lower RT1 (ambient case temp) by 1-2 degrees at the most.

Here is the deal, generally the RT1 is reading at 20C, which is about right for the room. The CPU however is reading 49-50C at idle for those same ambient temps. I have got to tell you I have a hard time believing this CPU is running at 50C with this monster 120mm Zalman on top of it and nothing overclocked.

I should note that if I open the a window in the room and let in some of that nice frosty Massachusetts air then I can bring the RT1 temp down to about 15C pretty quickly, and the CPU maintains that same roughly 30C spread and comes down to a corresponding 45C meaning the two temps are staying consistent to one another, I just think the CPU one is wrong to begin with.

If I have to sit around in a room that?s 9C (48F) to get this thing to operate under 40C then I am going to have a real problem with my Wife.

So what do you guys think, bad board readings? Bad CPU? What are your readings and setup?

Peace
James

Edit: spelling

I think it is just a bad reading and I dont belive it.
I have the XP-120 on my 3200+ and the fan is spinning at about 3000RPM (90CFM or higher) and I'm still in the 40s idle

 

[X2C]

I might sell this board. To many faults and not getting any fixes.

 

[rocketman14]

a lot of the reviews have noted that this is one of the fastest boards. have you guys noticed it running faster then your other machines?

 

[c3p0]

It runs just a little faster than my ASUS A7V8X with an Athlon XP2600+ Tbred. It might be a little faster if I could get the RAID working right on it.

c3p0
:beer:

 

[X2C]

Originally posted by: rocketman14
a lot of the reviews have noted that this is one of the fastest boards. have you guys noticed it running faster then your other machines?

*Edit* Nevermind

 

[jackeyzhao]

Guys, I ran into some serious problem with a new system for my friend. rig specs as below:
___________________________
A64 3200+(Winchester)

Zalman 7000u

K8Tpro939

2X512mb Kingmax DDR 500(running a 400)

PowerColor X800pro VIVO 256GDDR

Antec 550W psu

NEC 3500A DVDRW

ST 80G PATA
_____________________________

I set up the whole thing at the computer shop, it shows bios. But when we get back home, and try to hook it up again. This is where the problem started. All the fans run, all the lights are on, and the debug led says "FF" all the time. But the monitor just won't give me any signal, I pull out the PowerColor and fill up the AGP slot with my old (working ) ATI 9100. Still the same! Any help would be appreciated.

 

[X2C]

Have you tired to clear the cmos?
Make sure everything is still connected after the ride home, nothings come loose?
Tried a different monitor?

 

[rocketman14]

X2C, you said the board has too many faults. What are the problems you are having and would you recommend this board over the asus?

 

[CReatiVe]

I've ran multiple setups on this motherboard and tried to overclock it. The 'Async AGP/PCI' lock does NOT work. I can't get it over 205ish without the graphics card eating dirt. My friend is having the exact same problem with his, too. This is ridiculous, im going back to Asus.

 

[punkitup]

Rocketman14, I can?t speak for X2C. But as for myself the only confirmable problem I have had so far is with the erroneous ?5V reading in the BIOS and HM software, relief for owners with this problem is not on the way apparently, as Soltek?s representative here has stated they have no plans to fix it. You can find more info by reading back into this thread

There may be another problem, and that is the reported temperature reading for the CPU in both BIOS (Version W1.3) and HM Software (Version 1.26i). I have not gathered enough info from others to be certain of this, but for my own part I am pretty sure that it is an incorrect reading.

What I would like to see is people report their exact Ambient (RT1) temperatures and CPU temperatures, along with what CPU and HSF you are using, this includes stock AMD HSF.

The only way you will get relief for any problem with a board is to group together, determine there is a problem and then press the manufacturer to correct it; and if they will not correct the problem then spread the word that is their position and create as much bad publicity for them as possible.

I had said in an earlier post that I would recommend this board despite the ?5V problem. But I take that back, the more I tough about it the more I realized that would be stupid of me, they have my money and I have a board that does not function properly, and their answer was "they don?t have time to fix it". The problem is a silly oversight on Soltek?s part and the refusal to deal with it is unacceptable. They are more or less telling people who bought this board ?yes we know it is a problem, but tough luck?. So I say, do not buy this board till they agree to correct the problem.

Now let?s find out if there is a temperature reading problem, please post your temps.

Peace
James

Edit: spelling