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

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Bad Dude

Originally posted by: Ike0069
I was planning to get this board and put my AGP 6800GT in it, but I've read of several people having serious problems with the AGP drivers. So now I'm having second thoughts.

It this really a common problem, or maybe more problematic with ATI vice nVidia cards? It does seem that the problems I've read have mainly been with people using 8700/9800 ATI cards, but that could easily just be a coincidence.

Neal's problems make me very nervous about geeting this board.

You don't need to worry, the AGP works fine for me.

Works fine for me too, and I'm even using the same video card (AGP 6800GT). To be honest I don't know why some people seem to have issues and some don't, but I don't think it's an inherently bad board at all. Just make sure you install the AGP drivers before your video drivers and you *should* be fine...

 

[nealh]

well I have no idea why I had AGP issues but the newest AGP driver off there website killed my system

I installed WinXP and nothing else then installed the intergrated 2.13 drivers..AGP/LAN..no issues
first time ..I then installed AGP 2.30 drivers next...bad news

Second time winxp install first thing I installed where the AGP 2.30 drivers and boom killed it again

In fact I could no longer for some odd reason even reparitition my HDD..ad to use a new one

I never even got a chance to install the ATI drivers..only what the basic install does prior to its first boot

Now I am up and going fine...but I will no update those AGP drivers

Looks like I need to update the bios as version 1.4 will not keep my vcore changes at all

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Bad Dude

Originally posted by: Ike0069
I was planning to get this board and put my AGP 6800GT in it, but I've read of several people having serious problems with the AGP drivers. So now I'm having second thoughts.

It this really a common problem, or maybe more problematic with ATI vice nVidia cards? It does seem that the problems I've read have mainly been with people using 8700/9800 ATI cards, but that could easily just be a coincidence.

Neal's problems make me very nervous about geeting this board.

You don't need to worry, the AGP works fine for me.

Works fine for me too, and I'm even using the same video card (AGP 6800GT). To be honest I don't know why some people seem to have issues and some don't, but I don't think it's an inherently bad board at all. Just make sure you install the AGP drivers before your video drivers and you *should* be fine...

SynthDude, which AGP driver you are using?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Bad Dude

Originally posted by: Ike0069
I was planning to get this board and put my AGP 6800GT in it, but I've read of several people having serious problems with the AGP drivers. So now I'm having second thoughts.

It this really a common problem, or maybe more problematic with ATI vice nVidia cards? It does seem that the problems I've read have mainly been with people using 8700/9800 ATI cards, but that could easily just be a coincidence.

Neal's problems make me very nervous about geeting this board.

You don't need to worry, the AGP works fine for me.

Works fine for me too, and I'm even using the same video card (AGP 6800GT). To be honest I don't know why some people seem to have issues and some don't, but I don't think it's an inherently bad board at all. Just make sure you install the AGP drivers before your video drivers and you *should* be fine...

SynthDude, which AGP driver you are using?

Driver Version 5.1.2600.2300 listed in Device Manager...so I'm assuming 2.30

 

[nealh]

well as is often the case...who knows why it works for some and not others..ie 2.30 agp driver

SynthDude 2001..did you install AGP 2.30 after upping to bios 1.50 or before

I updated to BIOS 1.50 and the vcore issues....not mainting what I set in 1.40 are gone...

Priming with no issues so far at 240HTT 1.45v on BIOS 1.50

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: nealh
well as is often the case...who knows why it works for some and not others..ie 2.30 agp driver

SynthDude 2001..did you install AGP 2.30 after upping to bios 1.50 or before

I updated to BIOS 1.50 and the vcore issues....not mainting what I set in 1.40 are gone...

Priming with no issues so far at 240HTT 1.45v on BIOS 1.50

I'm pretty sure I installed the 2.30 AGP drivers when I was still on the BIOS that shipped with my motherboard (1.20).

 

[nealh]

Hmm...wonder if it is an issue with ATI 9700 pro and this driver..I see you are using a 6800GT

I am not looking for performance as it is for my wife...just needs to run smooth all the time

Anyway...A64 3200 winny@2400 w/1.45v at 5hr large fft prime95..I figure for her needs if I get 6hrs....with this Prime95 torture test she is fine

As stated this winny did 2550@1.55v prime 95 15hrs on small,large fft ..so I am pretty sure I am fine

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: nealh
Hmm...wonder if it is an issue with ATI 9700 pro and this driver..I see you are using a 6800GT

I'm thinking that it might be an ATI isue with these drivers because it seems that the AGP issues I've read about are usually coupled with AI cards.

 

[niggles]

I was running an X800XL ATI card on it AGP with no problems at all. I just upgraded to a BFG PCI-e 7800 GT OC also no issues.

 

[hclarkjr]

does anybody in this thread have one of these motherboards running a radeon X800XT? if so could you please post what your results are with this board? i am considering it but want to see some comments on it

 

[nealh]

Originally posted by: niggles
I was running an X800XL ATI card on it AGP with no problems at all. I just upgraded to a BFG PCI-e 7800 GT OC also no issues.

what AGP driver 2.13 or 2.30..2.30 nuked my system and HDD....2.13 no issues with 9700pro

 

[fustercluck]

Can any idiot do the vcore mod? I don't know if i have all the needed tools. It looks really confusing, maybe i'm just better off avoiding it. What's the best guide to follow? The one linked in the first post?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: jacktackle
Can any idiot do the vcore mod? I don't know if i have all the needed tools. It looks really confusing, maybe i'm just better off avoiding it. What's the best guide to follow? The one linked in the first post?

I thought the "conductive pen" mod was pretty easy, and I'd never done any modding before. I followed this guide. The only thing I'd warn about, is that the solder pads (or whatever they're called) are very small, so much so that I had to hold the board like 6-8 inches from my face to see what I was doing (I also don't have the best vision though).

There are a few variations on this particular mod based on which pads/pins you connect to ground, and they modify different BIOS voltage choices. I've also read some postings suggesting that this mod may be permanent (that is, you can't remove it and have the board be totally stock later). That's why I would recommend doing the VID4-SGND variation, where only lower voltage options in the BIOS are modified (1.15V and below, it looks like). If I wanted to run at stock, reset the CMOS, or whatever - 1.35V chosen in the BIOS (and voltages around it) is still 1.35V. You actually have to select a lower voltage in BIOS to get the higher/modded one - in my case I use 1.10V or 1.15V in the BIOS to get 1.50V or 1.55V actual. The other variations on this Vcore mod alter voltages around 1.35-1.40V in the BIOS, so if it does turn out that you can't remove or reverse the mod, running at "stock" would actually be overvolting somewhat. This may or may not be important to you, but I personally like the first variation the best.

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks for the info.

I guess i could probably do it, i just need some sort of conductive metal...i have a feeling i don't have any around the house.

 

[nealh]

well damn...I ram Prime 95 large fft for 6hrs yesterday..rock

wife gets on today for first time..machine seems much faste honey

2 min later, I in my yahoo email and I wrote and email and set it and my computer flashes no signal and rebbots

WTF

Hmm..it appears the 1t/2t bug is present in BIOS 1.5

My ram 512x2 KVR 3-3-3-8-1t...so I quickly try 2t and seems fine

Anyway is 1t/2t bug present in the OCW bios beta bios 3...looks like I may have to go try this bios

If I use winflash to flash OCW beta 3 bios ...wil lthis work as I have no floppy

 

[SoylentG]

I apologize for not reading through the entire thread...but...

My main thing with this board is overclocking ease and capability. I'm new to overclocking, and I'm wondering if I'll need to be doing the vcore mod to get it to overclock optimally or not? I'll be getting an opteron, however I'm not sure if it'll be dual or single core. Thanks for the info.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: SoylentG
I apologize for not reading through the entire thread...but...

My main thing with this board is overclocking ease and capability. I'm new to overclocking, and I'm wondering if I'll need to be doing the vcore mod to get it to overclock optimally or not? I'll be getting an opteron, however I'm not sure if it'll be dual or single core. Thanks for the info.

You can still OC nicely without the vcore mod. That is really only for extreme OC's.

 

[SoylentG]

What's the 1t/2t bug?

 

[mkp920]

Hello guys, I have Windows xp 64 Bit Edition, and when I try to install the AGP drivers, it says "windows 64bit already has drivers, need special patch" where can I download this patch?

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: SoylentG
What's the 1t/2t bug?

This board doesn't like to run RAM at 1T, even at stock speeds. Some have got it to run stable at 1T, but they seem to be few.

 

[Export]

Hi all,

As you can see I am new to this forum and this MB. So please be gentle.

I was just wondering if anyone has used headphones with this board. I was under the impression that when you plug headphones in, it should turn the speakers off that are connected to the rear. This does not seem to be the case with this board. Or I have my front panel connections incorrect.

Thanks,
Ex

 

[imported_Seer]

Any info on whether or not oversized heatsinks Zalman CNPS-7700/9500 will work with this mobo? Or any others?

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Seer
Any info on whether or not oversized heatsinks Zalman CNPS-7700/9500 will work with this mobo? Or any others?

I'm using the older (and smaller) 7000 model Zalman. The problem I ran into was I upgraded from a socket A board, and I had lost all the extra mounting brackets that originally came with the Zalman. ASRock boards are the only ones I know of that hold the stock mounting brackets down by push-pins instead of screws. So I made a compromise with the install. I've got an extra mounting bracket now that uses screws, but I'm going to wait until I need to take apart the machine before swapping brackets.

Anyways, there's nothing even close to the hsf with the 7000 model, shouldn't be any trouble with the newer over-sized Zalmans - just make sure the package includes new mounting brackets.

 

[Wi1z]

Hiya, first post here, but have been reading this forum for a while now.

Has anyone tried to install Vista Beta? All I get with several versions including 5270 is wierdo dos looking TRAP errors. ULI chipset not compatable to Vista? I hope thats not true.

Anyways, a great MB, I had a 6800GT (AGP) and upgraded to a 7800GT no probs at all.

 

[qsrk]

Originally posted by: qsrk
An update on Windows XP Pro SP2 seeing only 2.00GB out of 4.00GB installed:

I was quiet for a few days while I made sure that I had good RAM. I replaced all 4 sticks with new ones, and had the same problem. I tried a mix of old & new RAM (all identical brand etc.), and still the same problem.

I tried a suggestion from another forum of reducing Virtual Memory, and set a static size of 200MB, since Windows wanted that as a minimum for debugging purposes. Still the same problem.

Everest Home Edition 2.20 can see all 4 sticks at 1024MB each. The RAM is rated at 2-3-2-5-2T, and I have the motherboard set similarly, with Everest confirming the settings.

SpeedFan 4.27 sees all 4 sticks at 1024MB each.

CPU-Z 1.31 reports 1024MB in each of the 4 slots, and NOTHING ELSE on the rest of the tab. The memory tab reports 2048MB (not 4096MB !!!), Dual Channel, the correct timings, plus TRC at 11, and the DRAM idle timer at 16. It has no entry for Bank Interleave, although I have selected Auto in the BIOS (the only other option is "Disabled"). It isn't reported anywhere, but the BIOS also has a memory setting for 4 Beats.

Any new insights?

If anyone is interested, this turned out to be a combination of Memory Hole, AMD X2, and video RAM. See here for details.