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

[uo7]

My max voltage in the bios is 1.4 for an opteron 170 but the board undervolts to 1.35 or so. I got real lucky with my chip though so 1.35 is perfect for me. Obviously if you plan to watercool etc this board probobly isn't for you. I like it because i'm getting 170 @ 2.7 ghz doesn't get to hot unless I run S&M alot For some people this is the perfect board. I'm real tempted to get a pci-e card and a dfi board just to see what this chips max is.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

OK I can't install the AGP driver on this board. Installing the AGP driver results in not being able to boot - driver loads and system freezes, before you get the little XP screen. I have to boot into LKGC and remove the driver, then everything's fine.

I'm guessing this is related to everyone's problem with unexpectedly low AGP perf in some apps? I'm making a thread to find out.

doesn't get to hot unless I run S&M alot

S&M doesn't get me hot, but whatever works for you...

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
OK I can't install the AGP driver on this board. Installing the AGP driver results in not being able to boot - driver loads and system freezes, before you get the little XP screen. I have to boot into LKGC and remove the driver, then everything's fine.

I'm guessing this is related to everyone's problem with unexpectedly low AGP perf in some apps? I'm making a thread to find out.

doesn't get to hot unless I run S&M alot

S&M doesn't get me hot, but whatever works for you...

*shrug*

I had no problems installing the AGP driver, performance on my 6800GT is great.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Edit, - My AGP problem seems to be fixed. I simply booted LKGC, didn't uninstall AGP drivers, then rebooted. Weird.

My question again: Is there a setting to adjust the command rate in the 1.2 BIOS? Edit, nevermind, I found out the option isn't there in 1.2 - at least with dual-core...

 

[ironique]

OK, so I finally got round to OC'ing my asrock, this is what I have so far (no vcore/vdimm mods, bios v1.2):

1. CPU = 2.4Ghz, 240x10 @ 1.4v, RAM = 240Mhz, 2.5-3-3-10 @ 2.7v (high) - Prime stable
2. CPU = 2.5Ghz, 250x10 @ 1.45v, RAM = 250Mhz, 2.5-3-3-10 @ 2.7v (high) - Not 100% prime stable but will run 3Dmark and games without issues

This CPU (week 37 winnie) used to clock 2.6 @ 1.5v on my previous mobo (Neo2 plat) before the mobo developed a bios problem, so I know it can got higher. Is there no way to up the voltage on this thing without actually soldering something? No easily reversable mod e.g. "pencil trick"?

Plus, i noticed that my gfx OC is better on this board!? I used to get artifacts with my X800XT at 510/520. Now I run at 520/540 artifact free! Wierd!?

Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks dudes.

 

[andyd00]

Sounds like the cheapest upgrade path for me since I have to upgrade EVERYTHING to get SLI. Then when SLI configs get cheaper, I'll just need to buy a new board and the cards.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: ironique
OK, so I finally got round to OC'ing my asrock, this is what I have so far (no vcore/vdimm mods, bios v1.2):

1. CPU = 2.4Ghz, 240x10 @ 1.4v, RAM = 240Mhz, 2.5-3-3-10 @ 2.7v (high) - Prime stable
2. CPU = 2.5Ghz, 250x10 @ 1.45v, RAM = 250Mhz, 2.5-3-3-10 @ 2.7v (high) - Not 100% prime stable but will run 3Dmark and games without issues

This CPU (week 37 winnie) used to clock 2.6 @ 1.5v on my previous mobo (Neo2 plat) before the mobo developed a bios problem, so I know it can got higher. Is there no way to up the voltage on this thing without actually soldering something? No easily reversable mod e.g. "pencil trick"?

Plus, i noticed that my gfx OC is better on this board!? I used to get artifacts with my X800XT at 510/520. Now I run at 520/540 artifact free! Wierd!?

Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks dudes.

Um, the OCW 1.55v mod doesn't require soldering, I think...

 

[Bad Dude]

Hi all,
Regarding the OCW mod, do you have to set the voltage to 1.150v before you do the mod or you can just do the mod then set it to 1.150V and it will be 1.55V?

Thanks.

 

[Greenman]

It sure seems like the ASRock board has more than it's fair share of issues. Does anyone have one that doesn't have any problems?

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
Hi all,
Regarding the OCW mod, do you have to set the voltage to 1.150v before you do the mod or you can just do the mod then set it to 1.150V and it will be 1.55V?

Thanks.

Do the mod and then change your voltage., because if your voltage is set at stock, it will still be at stock. 1.150 is what you want to set it to, then, when you want the 1.55. At least that's what the guide says, yes?

Weird thing, my board is having issues POSTing at any memory speed above about 198. Not really a stability thing, because when I can get it to boot above that speed, (which has to be a cold boot), it's memtest and prime stable, but then try and reboot and nothing... (fans spin, no VGA, no beeps, PS2 is polled)

Finally getting around to OC'ing my Opty 165. Great way to spend Thanksgiving. Hot little ah heck, 47C load temp so far....

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Greenman
It sure seems like the ASRock board has more than it's fair share of issues. Does anyone have one that doesn't have any problems?

I haven't had any problems so far.

 

[Bad Dude]

So where can I buy this metal backing plate for the board?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
So where can I buy this metal backing plate for the board?

Text

I bought mine from the second link - Paragon Computer Accessories.

 

[Jacksn]

Well... I'm dancin' that jig this afternoon!
I've got the Opteron 148 running @ 11 x 255= 2.82Ghz default volts (1.35) stable.

HTT=600Mhz
Memory=166Mhz divider (volts=high) memory @ 200.03 Mhz
The rest of the CPU settings = AUTO
Fast Writes= Disabled

It was begging me to go higher, so we skipped the 36 hour burn-in and went for it!
The system was stale so far thru, 4 loops of 3Dmark2001 @ 16x12x32x4XAA w/ SuperPi in the background calculating to 32M. We still have many hours of "Burn" to verify but, DAM!! this ASRock/Opteron upgrade has turned out to be the best PC purchase/Upgrade I've ever made... and I mean that. Cheers to ASRock with the finest budget board ever made that competes more then well enough with the premium products out there right now (Nforce4, etc.). I am one happy skunk right now. BTW- This is all with a stock cooler HSF on the CPU not ever getting above 42c.
Great stuff!

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Jacksn
Well... I'm dancin' that jig this afternoon!
I've got the Opteron 148 running @ 11 x 255= 2.82Ghz default volts (1.35) stable.

HTT=600Mhz
Memory=166Mhz divider (volts=high) memory @ 200.03 Mhz
The rest of the CPU settings = AUTO
Fast Writes= Disabled

It was begging me to go higher, so we skipped the 36 hour burn-in and went for it!
The system was stale so far thru, 4 loops of 3Dmark2001 @ 16x12x32x4XAA w/ SuperPi in the background calculating to 32M. We still have many hours of "Burn" to verify but, DAM!! this ASRock/Opteron upgrade has turned out to be the best PC purchase/Upgrade I've ever made... and I mean that. Cheers to ASRock with the finest budget board ever made that competes more then well enough with the premium products out there right now (Nforce4, etc.). I am one happy skunk right now. BTW- This is all with a stock cooler HSF on the CPU not ever getting above 42c.
Great stuff!

Very nice. :thumbsup:

I'm still working on my CPU (Opteron 170). Running at 2.5GHz on 1.4V right now, though I don't think it's 100% stable. I do plan to voltmod the board soon though so I can get 1.55V, which I hope will get me at least a few more hundred MHz.

Edit: And yeah, I'm pretty happy overall with the motherboard too so far. It's not a great overclocker's board out of the box (with the 1.4V or 1.45V default Vcore limit), but it's simple enough to mod to get a little more out of it. Plus AGP performance is great (which is why I bought the board in the first place). Well worth the $68 I paid for it.

 

[afrost]

Originally posted by: Greenman
It sure seems like the ASRock board has more than it's fair share of issues. Does anyone have one that doesn't have any problems?

I haven't had any problems with it using bios 1.2 or bios 1.4. It obviously doesn't overclock as well as other boards, but you can still get a decent overclock.

It seems like EVERY motherboard I buy lately there are a bunch of people complaining about them.....but I never have any problems with them. I think a large part of the time it's because people don't know what they are doing, overclock too far without properly testing stability, or have crappy power supplies and crappy heatsinks etc.

I'm running an Opteron 146 at 2.6 ghz.....at 2.7 ghz i'm unstable....but that's not bad for a $65 board.

 

[BlackPear1]

That's been my experience too. I can bench my X2 3800+ at 2.7 GHz at default voltage, stable at 2.6 and I run at 2.4 or less just because I don't need the extra speed. Inability to run 1T command has been my only lingering issue, if you can even call it that, so I'm satisfied with the performance of the cheapest board I've bought in years.

 

[Bad Dude]

I just bought myself a refurbed board from Newegg. I have not yet test it.
However, it was sent to me without the metal I/O shield plate.
Has anyone tried to mount like an XP90 without the back motherboard back plate like we have been discussing? If yes then how?

Thanks.

 

[Creig]

Looks like we might have another hot AGP/PCI-E combo board coming from ASRock. This time with dual x16 PCI-E slots! It would be based on the familiar M1695 chipset as well as ULi's new M1697. The M1697 would bring:

1) HD Azalia audio support delivering 7.1 channel surround.
2) AHCI based SATA II 3 Gbps host controller with NCQ.
3) RAID 0,1,0+1,5,JBOD for optimum storage and improve disk efficiency.

It is to my knowledge that we should be seeing retail boards based on the new ULi M1697 chipset to be available as early as January 2006. This new single chipset supports PCIe x16 slot and has SATAII support. It can also be paired up with the current popular M1695 chipset to form a Dual PCIex16 + AGP design. From my understanding, the former 1695 players will be making M1697 based boards. There maybe a few surprises in the months to come.

OCWorkbench thread about ASRock M1695+M1697 reference board

OCWorkbench M1697 Reference board intro article

 

[Bad Dude]

Where can I get the RAID drivers to install Windows by hitting F6? I bought the refurb board so it does not have the CD.
Thanks.

 

[Bad Dude]

I used CPUz and even though I set the Memory to 200Mhz in the BIOS, it still reads 150Mhz, anyone knows why?

Thanks.

 

[afrost]

i think you can set the SATA controller to IDE mode in bios and then you don't need raid drivers unless you are actually going to do raid

there is a setting you have to turn off to be able to succesfully change your divider.....i forgot what it is called. It should be listed towards the beginning of this thread. .....it's "memory flexibility" or some obscure crap like that. I think what they are trying to say is "memory compatibility" if that makes any sense. The board is sure to be compatible when it's only running at that low divider

 

[designit]

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
I used CPUz and even though I set the Memory to 200Mhz in the BIOS, it still reads 150Mhz, anyone knows why?

Thanks.

disable flexibilty option right there wher the memory timing is located in bios. set the bust lenggth to 4 beat.
if you are unfamiliar w/ mem dividers here it goes.
setting mem speed to 100/200 =1/2
to 133/266 = 4/6
to 166/333 = 5/6
to 200/400 = 1:1
lets say you set the mem divider to 166/333, and cpu to 275mhz, then your memory will be @ 5/6*275= 229 mhz.CPUz will show 229
if you set mem to 200/400 divider, the you are @ 1:1 ratio which means memory running the same speed as cpu.
disable SATA (sata1) if not using it. if you use sata 1 instead of sataII the disable sataII.
do a freash winxp install. have the sata driver in a floppy and press F6 when win began to install.
Follow the asrock instruction on how to install sata drivers and the raid set up. If you dont install sata drivers correctly you win will not correctly (optimal). if you dont use raid, as said disable it in bios, and run under Sata2 w/ the driver installed. a lot of time crashing is cause because of this, that has nothing to do w/ 1T/2T, memory, cpu, of lack of voltage.
Also installing AGP driver befor your video card's own driver is a must. another reason people having problem.
set your ram to high voltage. good idea to get the vdimm mod or memory booster (ocz bosster)
there are a lot of reasons why people cant overclock or dont have stable system. above are some of the reasons.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: Bad Dude
Where can I get the RAID drivers to install Windows by hitting F6? I bought the refurb board so it does not have the CD.
Thanks.

http://www.asrock.com.tw/support/Download/dl_939Dual-SATA2.htm

Is anyone using the Logitech MouseWare drivers with this board? About 50% of the time when I boot up, I would have no mouse. The pointer would be there, but it wouldn't respond to the mouse. I uninstalled Mouseware and no problem but I lose some functionality of the MX700....

 

[mattspierce]

My two cents. I finished loading up XP on my new system at home. 939dual-sata2 with Athlon 64 3400 venice core. The only catch I had in installation was that the system would only post if I had my memory in the 2nd bank (black sockets) I tried a single dimm and double dimm in the blue socket with no love. The memory is pc2700 Dell OEM I borrowed till the corsair dimms come in from newegg. After that little hitch everything else runs great. I would have liked for the drive cables to be better placed, but I'll live with it as is. AGP x8 is working well. I installed the ULI unified 2.1 driver and then radeon cat 5.11. Never a hitch. I'm really very happy with this setup.