ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 - Socket 939 with PCI-E and real AGP and Socket AM2 upgrade path

[chieftang]

Throwing in my experience with the ASRock 939 Dual SATA2.... Bought it to use in a Linux server I built with an Opteron 144 CAB2E. Got the 144 running at 2.65GHz and called it a day. I've been up and running since Friday serving webpages running server side CGI scripts, and all is well. One annoying thing however, is current support (or lack thereof) for the ULi chipsets namely the network chip under Linux. No native Debian support, so I had no network. Rather than building a new module by compiling what ULi had online for Linux drivers, I simply plugged in a Linksys PCI NIC. Problem solved.

I think the BIOS leaves a little to be desired. I much prefer the EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra NF4 BIOS for flexibility, but for low cost and seemingly stable operation - thumbs up to ASRock.

 

[Lord Banshee]

I am currently back down to 2.4Ghz

it seems either the chipset is getting hot at 300HTT but something werid happen

1) at 300HTT and 133 Divider windows will not load says some kind of hard disk crash. But once i put 100 Divider it works fine??

2) Because of (1) i have to used A64 tweaker to get DRAM to desired speeds. This gives me a 1/5 rebot crash when making it set dram speeds at start. Possible a program bug.. not sure here.

3) at 300HTT USB stuff seems not to work well?, When i try to print i get a BSOD. My MS optical mouse goes crazy (turns off and on)

4) AGP seems to not work so well with my video card. 3dmark05 scores are werid but 3dmark03 scores are great. So far have not had many problem with in games though.

5) Can not load quadrofx bios mod. AGP driver will not load and will freeze computer. Work fine on nf3 & i875 chipset.. werid?

Good things i found about this board so far.

1) AGP and PCI-E
2) i can use up to 225Mhz on my RAM !!!!


I do not know though, my first motherboard from chaintech(754 nf3) was about the same price 70 bucks and i never had one problem with it and that was 1.5 years ago for price. People say it packs alot for a value board but it seems so unstable for minor things and require alot of trial and error if you try to run the board in any form other than stock.

I am getting a new PSU and a SATA2 drive so. Will report to say if any of these problem go aways.

 

[designit]

I am using 1.55v and yes i did the volt mods, VID3 to SGND.

Edited:

Ok I broke my record again. I can go as high as 365x8=2920mhz, but within 20 seconds the computer locks up. no bsod. didnt give me a chance to screenshot.
I was able to screenshot 9x311=2799mhz and after 4th iteration of 32M superpi it froze on me.
I think the problem is the video card. I am using an old cheapo 32mb card. Planning to buy a good v card and see if better luck.
screenshot below:

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3364/112120050033201ta.jpg

 

[Lord Banshee]

Hey designit,
What bios you using?
does your 133 Mem Clock work over 300? or what Divider are you running
Are you using a windows a64 tweaker/overclocker of some sort?

Hopefull i have less problems with my new PSU and hard drives (i been using IDE thinking maybe it becomes out of sync at 300/133 for some reason...)

Thanks,
Chris

 

[designit]

Originally posted by: Lord Banshee
Hey designit,
What bios you using?
does your 133 Mem Clock work over 300? or what Divider are you running
Are you using a windows a64 tweaker/overclocker of some sort?

Hopefull i have less problems with my new PSU and hard drives (i been using IDE thinking maybe it becomes out of sync at 300/133 for some reason...)

Thanks,
Chris

I am using OCWB1 bios. No I dont have problem w/ 300 fsb. Only think is you have to use 2T. Anything over 275fsb 1:1 got to be 2T .
Need good rams too. Also increased the vdimm to 3.05. did the 3.13 voltmod. The plate under the ram slot, connected to vdimm solder point w/ a wire and got 3.05-3.10 v vdimm. If planning to overclock higher than 270fsb you need the voltmods.

 

[ncage]

What is the general consensus on the bios revision you should go with? I am currently in the process of rma my board because a bad bios update i guess. I got the windows version of their bios update from their web site (1.4 version) and shut down every program i had running and tried to updtae the bios. The bios utility showed my bios getting updated and the check portion of the bios update showed everything worked just fine. It then told me i had to reboot my system for the changes to take affect which i then did. My system never seen the light of day after that. I would get no video at all. No bios screen no anything. System would just sit there and spin. I tried all the normal stuff clear cmos, take cmos battery out, disconnect the system for a day with no luck. I was at 1.2. The only reason i updated to 1.4 was because for some reason my network was flakey and would disconnect periodically. Almost makes me afraid to update the bios on the replacment board i will get. I have update bios for years on lots of boreds ive had and this is the first problem ive ever had. I guess i will never update the bios in windows again (which ive done before with no problem).

Oh on a side note, i disconnected the clamps on the HSF and then when i pulled on the hsf to remove it from the cpu...the cpu came with it. Scarred the holly cr$p out of me. I thought i had ruined my dual core cpu. I inspected the cpu carefullly and it looked like only one pin had been slightly bent. So i bent it back carefully and put it back in the boared and they connect everything i needed just to see if i got system spin up which i did....so i don't think it harmed anything but it scared the living bejesus out of me. If it would have been ruined i would have sent it back to AMD though because i really don't think this was my fault. IT was their HSF and the goop on top stuck to the cpu so much that it pulled the cpu with it when i went to remove it. ITs not like i could have twisted the hsf to remove it because of the guard around it.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG

I just remembered what another person was told to do when he had a similar problem to yours, he took out the battery and it fixed his problem. I am not sure if it will fix your problem but it's worth a try.

Thanks man, I'll try that, I'm not at home right now... installing an airport card on a friend's imac

OMG it worked!!! :Q

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Right, dumb question #1, where's the Command Rate setting in this BIOS? I can't get it stable with 2 DIMMS...

 

[nemesismk2]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG

I just remembered what another person was told to do when he had a similar problem to yours, he took out the battery and it fixed his problem. I am not sure if it will fix your problem but it's worth a try.

Thanks man, I'll try that, I'm not at home right now... installing an airport card on a friend's imac

OMG it worked!!! :Q

I am glad it worked!

 

[nemesismk2]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
Right, dumb question #1, where's the Command Rate setting in this BIOS? I can't get it stable with 2 DIMMS...

which bios are you currently using?

 

[Jacksn]

Still running great with this board and the Opteron 148.
I still had the voltage underclocked @ 1.35v lastnight when I took the chip to 2.5Ghz.
Memory running @ 178Mhz 7-2-2-2 1T
It never got above 42c with stock fan while "burning". I ran some loops of 3Dmark2001 and Super pi together for about a 1/2 hour and it never even broke a sweat. This chip and motherboard have some serious potential for the investment. Next mark to reach is 2700Mhz... will keep you posted.

Jacksn

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: designit
I am using 1.55v and yes i did the volt mods, VID3 to SGND.

Edited:

Ok I broke my record again. I can go as high as 365x8=2920mhz, but within 20 seconds the computer locks up. no bsod. didnt give me a chance to screenshot.
I was able to screenshot 9x311=2799mhz and after 4th iteration of 32M superpi it froze on me.
I think the problem is the video card. I am using an old cheapo 32mb card. Planning to buy a good v card and see if better luck.
screenshot below:

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3364/112120050033201ta.jpg

Which Vmod are you guys using? Did anyone did the Vdimm mod?
With the Vmod, will the higher numbers than 1.55V shows up or we have to use a software to read the voltage? Is there any reference chart to it?
Thanks.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: nemesismk2

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
Right, dumb question #1, where's the Command Rate setting in this BIOS? I can't get it stable with 2 DIMMS...

which bios are you currently using?

Using Asrock 1.2.

What I said above isn't quite correct. It's memtest86 stable at 200MHz, mediocre timings with one DIMM. With 2 dimms DC I have to back down to 166 (!) at 2.5-3-3-7 or so. Memory is Corsair XMS 3200C2 - each stick was purchased three years apart though, so yeh a little mismatched. OC'ing I'll have to run this divider anyway so I guess it's no biggie. I was just wondering if I'm running 1T, and that's what's holding me back.

 

[SynthDude2001]

wooo...finally got my backplate in just now, so I can start assembling my system

Question for those with the board and who've upgraded from older setups...do you suggest a reinstall (repair reinstall maybe) of Windows XP, then installing the AMD processor drivers and the X2 hotfix? Or would it work well enough to just stick with my current install (and installing new drivers as needed)?

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: ncage
What is the general consensus on the bios revision you should go with? I am currently in the process of rma my board because a bad bios update i guess. I got the windows version of their bios update from their web site (1.4 version) and shut down every program i had running and tried to updtae the bios. The bios utility showed my bios getting updated and the check portion of the bios update showed everything worked just fine. It then told me i had to reboot my system for the changes to take affect which i then did. My system never seen the light of day after that. I would get no video at all. No bios screen no anything. System would just sit there and spin. I tried all the normal stuff clear cmos, take cmos battery out, disconnect the system for a day with no luck. I was at 1.2. The only reason i updated to 1.4 was because for some reason my network was flakey and would disconnect periodically. Almost makes me afraid to update the bios on the replacment board i will get. I have update bios for years on lots of boreds ive had and this is the first problem ive ever had. I guess i will never update the bios in windows again (which ive done before with no problem).

Oh on a side note, i disconnected the clamps on the HSF and then when i pulled on the hsf to remove it from the cpu...the cpu came with it. Scarred the holly cr$p out of me. I thought i had ruined my dual core cpu. I inspected the cpu carefullly and it looked like only one pin had been slightly bent. So i bent it back carefully and put it back in the boared and they connect everything i needed just to see if i got system spin up which i did....so i don't think it harmed anything but it scared the living bejesus out of me. If it would have been ruined i would have sent it back to AMD though because i really don't think this was my fault. IT was their HSF and the goop on top stuck to the cpu so much that it pulled the cpu with it when i went to remove it. ITs not like i could have twisted the hsf to remove it because of the guard around it.

No one has any comments for my question?

 

[Bad Dude]

I want to buy the board at Newegg, does any one knows if they sell the metal back plate?

Thanks.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: ncage

Originally posted by: ncage
What is the general consensus on the bios revision you should go with? I am currently in the process of rma my board because a bad bios update i guess. I got the windows version of their bios update from their web site (1.4 version) and shut down every program i had running and tried to updtae the bios. The bios utility showed my bios getting updated and the check portion of the bios update showed everything worked just fine. It then told me i had to reboot my system for the changes to take affect which i then did. My system never seen the light of day after that. I would get no video at all. No bios screen no anything. System would just sit there and spin. I tried all the normal stuff clear cmos, take cmos battery out, disconnect the system for a day with no luck. I was at 1.2. The only reason i updated to 1.4 was because for some reason my network was flakey and would disconnect periodically. Almost makes me afraid to update the bios on the replacment board i will get. I have update bios for years on lots of boreds ive had and this is the first problem ive ever had. I guess i will never update the bios in windows again (which ive done before with no problem).

Oh on a side note, i disconnected the clamps on the HSF and then when i pulled on the hsf to remove it from the cpu...the cpu came with it. Scarred the holly cr$p out of me. I thought i had ruined my dual core cpu. I inspected the cpu carefullly and it looked like only one pin had been slightly bent. So i bent it back carefully and put it back in the boared and they connect everything i needed just to see if i got system spin up which i did....so i don't think it harmed anything but it scared the living bejesus out of me. If it would have been ruined i would have sent it back to AMD though because i really don't think this was my fault. IT was their HSF and the goop on top stuck to the cpu so much that it pulled the cpu with it when i went to remove it. ITs not like i could have twisted the hsf to remove it because of the guard around it.

No one has any comments for my question?

Well evidently 1.3 and 1.4 are really flaky so don't upgrade to them. Stick with 1.2 or go with OCW3 if you're voltmodding. I'm not aware of any reason to go to OCW1 or 3 unless you're doing the voltmod. Maybe someone who's had the board longer can give you a better answer.

Re your heatsink: wasn't the metal bar holding the CPU down? The little latch thing on the right I think.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
I want to buy the board at Newegg, does any one knows if they sell the metal back plate?

Thanks.

The anrock does NOT come with a backplate for aftermarket HSF's. The backplate should be included with your cooler. If you use a stock cooler you shouldn't need one AFAIK.

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
I want to buy the board at Newegg, does any one knows if they sell the metal back plate?

Thanks.

The anrock does NOT come with a backplate for aftermarket HSF's. The backplate should be included with your cooler. If you use a stock cooler you shouldn't need one AFAIK.

OK, clearly I am not talking about the same backplate as you are... this is what I think of as a backplate: http://www.short-media.com/images/mm/Ar...ld_computer/installation/backplate.jpg

Can you provide a pic of what you're talking about?

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: niggles

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
I want to buy the board at Newegg, does any one knows if they sell the metal back plate?

Thanks.

The anrock does NOT come with a backplate for aftermarket HSF's. The backplate should be included with your cooler. If you use a stock cooler you shouldn't need one AFAIK.

OK, clearly I am not talking about the same backplate as you are... this is what I think of as a backplate: http://www.short-media.com/images/mm/Ar...ld_computer/installation/backplate.jpg

Can you provide a pic of what you're talking about?

Ah yes, never mind. The user manual usually refer to that as the "I/O shield." That is included with the ASRock, yes. There was a big confusion on this very topic about 3 pages back

Edit, here's a picture of the Zalman backplate (along with some other stuff).

SynthDude: i fyou swap out your motherboard, a clean install is pretty much required... is that what you were asking?

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
I want to buy the board at Newegg, does any one knows if they sell the metal back plate?

Thanks.

The anrock does NOT come with a backplate for aftermarket HSF's. The backplate should be included with your cooler. If you use a stock cooler you shouldn't need one AFAIK.

Hi,
I have the XP90 and not the stock cooler. I don't think this cooler came with it.

Thanks.

 

[Stern]

ok i read up to about page 15 and i have no time now. Basically i have an AGP x850 xt pe and i would like to upgrade to an X2 processor with this mainboard and 1-2 GB of ram.
i was thinking maybe 3800+ or 4200+. However I don't know what is good RAM or PSU, or if i will have to purchase a CPU fan to replace the fan that comes with it. The board is about ?55, the processor about ?425, i have another ?200-?300 to spend on the memory and PSU.

 

[SynthDude2001]

OK, I've got my Opteron 170 installed now and it seems to be working fine at stock, great temperatures and everything...I tried to overclock to 2.4 and then 2.3GHz on 1.4V though, and it wouldn't boot at either setting, shouldn't that be enough for at least 2.3?

Also, I've noticed that I can only select up to 1.40V in the BIOS, I thought it let you choose up to 1.45...? I guess I should probably try OCWB1 instead of the 1.20 that came with the board...might try the conductive pen voltmod later too if I feel like it.

Edit: Never mind that first question...I figured it out. Turns out I forgot to set the memory speed to 166MHz (which really means ~199MHz in this case, putting my PC3200 back in spec), and I also forgot to lower the HTT to 4x to keep it under 1000MHz (or at least that's what I assumed the CPU-NB and NB-SB link speed settings of 800MHz did). In any case I just booted up at 2.4GHz at 1.4V with no problems (I've yet to test games or anything demanding though).

The fact that the overclocking options in the BIOS are so cryptic, combined with the fact that I'm obviously a n00b to A64-platform overclocking, means I don't know what I'm doing sometimes Still can't select more than 1.40V in the BIOS though...

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

SynthDude, I assume you've read Zebo's thread (sadly un-stickied) on A64 overclocking? It's easy to understand and covers all your bases. This is my first A64 as well (I certainly waited long enough).

Re the voltage, the Asrock only lets you overvolt by .05v. What this means is that if you have a venice, for example, you can go to 1.45. If you have an X2 or 939 Opty, which run at 1.35, you can go to 1.4...make sense? I foresee a voltmod in my future... if I don't RMA it first.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
SynthDude, I assume you've read Zebo's thread (sadly un-stickied) on A64 overclocking? It's easy to understand and covers all your bases. This is my first A64 as well (I certainly waited long enough).

Re the voltage, the Asrock only lets you overvolt by .05v. What this means is that if you have a venice, for example, you can go to 1.45. If you have an X2 or 939 Opty, which run at 1.35, you can go to 1.4...make sense? I foresee a voltmod in my future... if I don't RMA it first.

Aha...yeah, I'd read that thread before, but I guess it's been a while and I forgot things I'll probably go through later and explore the options more in depth, and find the limits for my different components.

Thanks for the heads-up anyway, I'll probably be voltmodding my board too...1.4V is not enough for this Opteron's full potential