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

[MatthewF01]

I have a Hitachi 250GB SATAII drive...
I THINK I set SATAII mode to SATA in BIOS when I installed windows a few weeks ago, but I do recall loading SATAII drivers at least.

Question is, can I change to SATA mode in BIOS (in case I havent already done so, cant remember right now), and enable SATAII mode using the Hitachi Tools app without corrupting my Windows installation?


Another question, my new 3200+ (so new I had to borrow a friends 3500+ for a bios flash) is only supported by the most recent BIOSes. Would a vcore mod still work?

 

[EKTELESTES]

Maestro, are you sure u copied the files needed for a sata II driver disk?? There is a readme.txt in the cd, located in the drivers directory. Sth tells me you didn't copy all the files needed. Check it again

 

[Richdog]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Richdog
I advised my boss to get an Opty 146 and an Asrock and it got delivered to work yesterday... however I noticed sub-par performance compared to a colleagues 3200+ AXP.

I am presuming the board is running at 2T as i couldn't find an option in the BIOS to fix it and my SANDRA memory score came out as 4000 at around 177mhz using a divider... is 1T a pipe dream on these boards and is it automatic and not selectable?

Some people have had problems running at 1T, but you can at least try. The BIOS that comes with the board (or at least that came with my board), 1.20, does not have a 1T option visible...however in newer BIOS versions you can change it. I'm using 1.50 and on the CPU configuration page where you change speed/multipliers/voltage/etc., there's an option that says something like "MA Timing", and that can be set to Auto, 1T, or 2T.

Ahhh I missed that thanks mate! So unfamiliar with the damn BIOS and I didnt have long to fiddle, will get him to bring it in on monday and give it a go!

 

[torpid]

I think I have a bad board. The fans power on but there's no beep and no video. I have to unplug the power cord to turn it off. I'm using an opteron 144. One thing I noticed is that on the Asrock website it says opterons are only supported by bios 1.4 and higher. Could this be why my system isn't booting, or would it still boot and/or give an error? I really really hate having to RMA a motherboard/cpu, so would like to investigate all possibilities first.

 

[niggles]

OK, just dropped my new WD2500KS SATA II (not SATA2, didn't know there was a difference) 250 Gig drive in and had no end of changes trying to get it to install Windows. The bios would see the drive, but Windows would not accept the drive... that is of course until I cam here and found that there would be a driver issue. I then set everything to IDE instead of SATA II and all was good and it can see the drive now. So question one is will there be any issue once I install windows with me switching the Bios to show it as a SATA II drive.
Now for the weird bit, it only sees the drive as 131 Gigs, not the 250 that it actually is. I believe that this is likely a BIOS issue, so my second question is has anyone had this or could enlighten me as to what I would need to do to fix this and have it see the entire drive?

Thanks in advance

 

[niggles]

ack!!! this is not an Asrock issue, this is a Windows issue... I just found this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013
Apparantly if your copy of Windows predates SP1 then you can't access more than 131 Gigs. I've been scouring around, but it's looking like I either have to get a new copy of Windos, or a copy of Partition magic. This totally sucks!

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: torpid
I think I have a bad board. The fans power on but there's no beep and no video. I have to unplug the power cord to turn it off. I'm using an opteron 144. One thing I noticed is that on the Asrock website it says opterons are only supported by bios 1.4 and higher. Could this be why my system isn't booting, or would it still boot and/or give an error? I really really hate having to RMA a motherboard/cpu, so would like to investigate all possibilities first.

I'm running a 146 with bios 1.2, and no problems. Try re-setting the bios with the jumper.

 

[professor1942]

Has anyone here successfully used the 183 MEMCLK frequency on this board with A64Tweaker? I just get an instant BSOD when I hit "Set" (RAM is still below spec) so I'm guessing it's a no-go, at least with this chip.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Richdog

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Richdog
I advised my boss to get an Opty 146 and an Asrock and it got delivered to work yesterday... however I noticed sub-par performance compared to a colleagues 3200+ AXP.

I am presuming the board is running at 2T as i couldn't find an option in the BIOS to fix it and my SANDRA memory score came out as 4000 at around 177mhz using a divider... is 1T a pipe dream on these boards and is it automatic and not selectable?

Some people have had problems running at 1T, but you can at least try. The BIOS that comes with the board (or at least that came with my board), 1.20, does not have a 1T option visible...however in newer BIOS versions you can change it. I'm using 1.50 and on the CPU configuration page where you change speed/multipliers/voltage/etc., there's an option that says something like "MA Timing", and that can be set to Auto, 1T, or 2T.

Ahhh I missed that thanks mate! So unfamiliar with the damn BIOS and I didnt have long to fiddle, will get him to bring it in on monday and give it a go!

Someone else in here has been saying that 1.20 does have the MA Timing option available, but only for single-core processors (which would explain why I've never seen it on my Opty 170). You could always try to see if it's there before trying to flash it.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: professor1942
Has anyone here successfully used the 183 MEMCLK frequency on this board with A64Tweaker? I just get an instant BSOD when I hit "Set" (RAM is still below spec) so I'm guessing it's a no-go, at least with this chip.

I think I've tried 150, but I don't think I've tried 183 yet. (Usually I'm running at such a HTT that 183 would still be too high for my RAM). I'll see if I can remember to try that later.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: niggles
ack!!! this is not an Asrock issue, this is a Windows issue... I just found this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013
Apparantly if your copy of Windows predates SP1 then you can't access more than 131 Gigs. I've been scouring around, but it's looking like I either have to get a new copy of Windos, or a copy of Partition magic. This totally sucks!

If nothing else, since you're just installing Windows for the first time on that drive anyway, you could do what's called slipstreaming SP2 into your Windows CD installation files (and burn a new disc with them). There are lots of guides for this available on the internet.

 

[Maestrokneer]

Maestro, are you sure u copied the files needed for a sata II driver disk?? There is a readme.txt in the cd, located in the drivers directory. Sth tells me you didn't copy all the files needed. Check it again

Yeah....I read the readme. I copied the X32 and X64 directories (even though I don't htink I need the X64 directory) to my A:/ directory in addition to the Jmicron file and txtsetup.oem. So my floppy looks like this:

Jmicron
txtsetup.oem
\X32\jahci.cat
\X32\Jahci.sys
\X32\jgogo.sys
\X32\Jmahci.inf
\X64\jahcix64.cat
\X64\Jahcix64.sys
\X64\jgogox64.sys
\X64\Jmahci.inf

And when Setup prompts me to insert MAnufacturere's disk, I get nothing. It doesn't even try to read the A: drive. It just pauses and asks for it again. But I've switched floopy drives with one I know that works. And still nothing. So i think I'm going to install Windows on IDE mode, and make sure that my floppy drive controller on the new motherboard works, by seeing if the floppy works. (because so far I haven't even been able to make the floppy spin on the new computer. The power's on, and BIOS recognizes it...but now response). But if it doesn't (or even if it does for that matter) I'm not sure what to do next. I haven't found any info on anyone having problems with their floppy during Windows Setup.

So that's why I was hoping to find a workaround for the whole "NTDLR is missing" error once I switch back to SATA mode after installing Windows. Though I could avoid the whole floppy debacle (Especially since I'm just going to trash it once I'm done with it).

Anyway, if you could point me in the right direction, or lend some advice I'd much appreciate it.

Maestro

 

[Eserim]

Question is, can I change to SATA mode in BIOS (in case I havent already done so, cant remember right now), and enable SATAII mode using the Hitachi Tools app without corrupting my Windows installation?

I have a similar question, is enabling SATII with the Hitachi feature tool going to effect data already on the drive? And is it reversible?

E

 

[imported_Matthew]

Maybe a dumb ? but have you tried the cable going to the floppy. Switch it and see if that works. Might try and plug it in another way might be pluged in wrong. I know I had my backwards when I installed mine. Light stayed on switched it around and works fine now.

just a though and you might have already said you tried it but not sure.

Matthew

 

[Maestrokneer]

Hey all.... I found a workaround. (But yes I did check the cables...and all was AOK)

I installed Windows again with my hard drive in IDE mode, and updated the SATA II drivers using the CD-ROM shipped with the MOBO. But what I did differently this time, was I let Windows restart again before I switched back to SATA mode in the BIOS. Once Windows restarted, I shut down again, switched to SATA mode, and voila....working Windows in SATA mode.

The only "bad" news is that I never did figure out what's wrong with the floppy. I think it may be the MOBO, but I'm not really sweating it at this point since I don't intend on installing a floppy in my new rig.

Anyway, thanks for all the help and suggestions. Definitely helped to keep my wheels turning on it. If anyone else is having the same difficulty, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Maestro

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: niggles
ack!!! this is not an Asrock issue, this is a Windows issue... I just found this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013
Apparantly if your copy of Windows predates SP1 then you can't access more than 131 Gigs. I've been scouring around, but it's looking like I either have to get a new copy of Windos, or a copy of Partition magic. This totally sucks!

If nothing else, since you're just installing Windows for the first time on that drive anyway, you could do what's called slipstreaming SP2 into your Windows CD installation files (and burn a new disc with them). There are lots of guides for this available on the internet.

yeah, when I found out that it was a windows issue I posted in the Genreal Hardware Forum. I didn't really have the time to follow the instructions he gave yet. I find it so bizarre that this is not posted about even more.

 

[MatthewF01]

Originally posted by: Eserim

Originally posted by: Matthewf01Question is, can I change to SATA mode in BIOS (in case I havent already done so, cant remember right now), and enable SATAII mode using the Hitachi Tools app without corrupting my Windows installation?

I have a similar question, is enabling SATII with the Hitachi feature tool going to effect data already on the drive? And is it reversible?

E

anyone have an answer on this??

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Richdog

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Richdog
I advised my boss to get an Opty 146 and an Asrock and it got delivered to work yesterday... however I noticed sub-par performance compared to a colleagues 3200+ AXP.

I am presuming the board is running at 2T as i couldn't find an option in the BIOS to fix it and my SANDRA memory score came out as 4000 at around 177mhz using a divider... is 1T a pipe dream on these boards and is it automatic and not selectable?

Some people have had problems running at 1T, but you can at least try. The BIOS that comes with the board (or at least that came with my board), 1.20, does not have a 1T option visible...however in newer BIOS versions you can change it. I'm using 1.50 and on the CPU configuration page where you change speed/multipliers/voltage/etc., there's an option that says something like "MA Timing", and that can be set to Auto, 1T, or 2T.

Ahhh I missed that thanks mate! So unfamiliar with the damn BIOS and I didnt have long to fiddle, will get him to bring it in on monday and give it a go!

Someone else in here has been saying that 1.20 does have the MA Timing option available, but only for single-core processors (which would explain why I've never seen it on my Opty 170). You could always try to see if it's there before trying to flash it.

I have it on my single core venice, so...I am...confirming that I guess.

 

[imported_DarkPenguin]

Run memtest if you go with 1T on this board. Mine seemed to work until I got a big enough image loaded in photoshop. Reboot city. After memtest it was obvious why.

 

[Spineshank]

Hmm and ive been getting random reboots ever since installing new SATA drives. Im been thinking its been overclocking but after setting it to stock i still get it. Games dont reboot and no single program does it constantly. Maybe its the 1T issue with me as well. Yet i had it at 1T with my IDE drive and had no problem.

 

[torpid]

Well, I decided to try another motherboard. Everything is working now, but I have a far more expensive A8N-SLI Premium. that was the only decent board I could find locally.

I guess I'll RMA the board and hope they agree that it is defective.

By the way, I never got around to trying it on the board (never got it to boot without vCore mod so never got around to modding it), but it was clear from my testing on cardboard that a conductive pen should not be applied directly to the board when doing the mod. It releases too much liquid. Maybe I should be glad I didn't get around to trying the mod, otherwise the board would not be RMA-able.

 

[quandasar]

i have this mobo with a amd 3700+ san diego core, i am running with the stock heatsink/fan and it doesn´t go above 40 degrees celsius
i am kind of new to overclocking but the below speed is as high as i can get it without getting a BSOD at windows startup, i must admit i don´t know alot about the settings i have fiddled with in the bios but do you guys have any idea how i might get it faster without too much risk.

I have a SilentX "flower" cpu heatsink/fan that is probably better than the stock cooling, but i am wondering how the heck i can attatch it since it wont fit on the bracket that was already installed on the motherboard

Motherboard:
CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 2433 MHz (11 x 221) 4000+
Motherboard Name ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 (3 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16, 1 AGP, 1 Future CPU Port, 4 DDR DIMM, Audio, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset ULi/ALi M1689, AMD Hammer
System Memory 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (12/06/05)

Processors / AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+ ]

Processor Properties:
Manufacturer AMD
Version AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+
Serial Number TBD
Asset Tag TBD
Part Number TBD
External Clock 200 MHz
Current Clock 2433 MHz
Type Central Processor
Voltage 3.3 V, 2.9 V
Status Enabled
Socket Designation CPUSocket


SPD Memory Modules:
DIMM1: G Skill 1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (3.0-4-4-8 @ 200 MHz) (2.5-3-3-7 @ 166 MHz)


Graphics Processor Properties:
Video Adapter nVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP
GPU Code Name NV43GTAGP (AGP 8x 10DE / 00F1, Rev A2)
GPU Clock 301 MHz
Memory Clock 450 MHz

Temperatures:
Motherboard 27 °C (81 °F)
CPU 34 °C (93 °F)
Aux 17 °C (63 °F)
GPU 41 °C (106 °F)
WDC WD1200JB-32EVA0 26 °C (79 °F)

DIMM1: G Skill (1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM) ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name G Skill
Serial Number None
Module Size 1024 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-4-4-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name GSkill International Enterprise
Product Information http://www.gskill.com/products.html


sorry if i have posted wayy to much information but more is better than too little i think

 

[imported_Imp]

Well, just an update from a bit back. Apparently my disabling of unused controllers in BIOS was only a temporary fix to my no-boot issue; it died again yesterday ,and wouldn't re-boot/boot at all after 30 ish resets. Opened it up today ready to start pulling, and reread the label about HDs on IDE1 and CD drives on IDE2. I have an SATA HD so didn't take note when putting it together; put CD on primary which may explain why it was(I hope) extra screwy when I boot with something in the CD drive. Hope it's 'fixed' for good this time...and I must learn to read.

 

[niggles]

I want to set my 250 Gig WD Sata II drive up and I want to make sure it's got optimal settings. Asrock makes a great mobo, but their documentation leaves a lot to be desired. Anyone know what the best Bios settings are for this is I wish to use this as my primary HD?

 

[professor1942]

Originally posted by: quandasar
i have this mobo with a amd 3700+ san diego core, i am running with the stock heatsink/fan and it doesn´t go above 40 degrees celsius
i am kind of new to overclocking but the below speed is as high as i can get it without getting a BSOD at windows startup, i must admit i don´t know alot about the settings i have fiddled with in the bios but do you guys have any idea how i might get it faster without too much risk.

Is your memory set to DDR333? If you left it on "Auto" or DDR400 then that is most likely th reason for the BSOD's... you are running it at 221 Mhz and it is only rated at 200.

So, your options are, setting it to 333 and seeing how far you can go with the cpu or just leaving it as is... you'll probably need to increase the cpu voltage to 1.45 if you get past 2.6 Ghz.

Also, make sure your DRAM voltage is set to High.