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

[professor1942]

@ SynthDude... I'm using 4x512 Kingston Values at DDR400, dual channel and it's fine. Tried putting it up to 410 a while ago though and the machine wouldn't even post...

The only thing that's bugging me about this board right now is the max cpu volts (only 1.45)... I can run my 3700+ at 2.7 Ghz but not without machine check exceptions that I think could be avoided with higher voltage... I may just have to try the volt mod to give it 1.55.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
Well, I can't help you with your question as I'm only running 2x1 GB. But I will say that I had 2x512 and decided to go with 2x1GB. Now the decision was easier for me because I just dropped the 2x512 in my kids PC that I recently upgraded to A64. I read far too many people having issues with 4 sticks of RAM.

Even if you can't use the 2x512 sticks, you could always sell it and probably only lose a few $$.

Yeah, selling my current RAM is an option, but if I can get 2x512 cheaply and add it to what I already have, I'm not entirely sure that it would be worth the extra money and/or hassle to sell my current stuff to buy 2x1GB. I say this because, assuming I'll have no problems running 4x512 at DDR400, it would make the most sense for me to spend the least amount of money possible on this upgrade - because 2GB should last me for a while (I've had 1GB for 2.5 years and only recently has it started to feel inadequate), and the next time I do a major upgrade it'll probably be DDR2/3 anyway (at which point all my current DDR will be worthless).

So it all depends on the prices I find (both how much I might be able to sell my current RAM for, how much 2x1GB sticks are going for around here, and how much it would cost to just add 2x512 from the FS/T forums here).

I do appreciate the input though.

Originally posted by: professor1942
@ SynthDude... I'm using 4x512 Kingston Values at DDR400, dual channel and it's fine. Tried putting it up to 410 a while ago though and the machine wouldn't even post...

The only thing that's bugging me about this board right now is the max cpu volts (only 1.45)... I can run my 3700+ at 2.7 Ghz but not without machine check exceptions that I think could be avoided with higher voltage... I may just have to try the volt mod to give it 1.55.

Thanks for your input too...what worries me somewhat about trying to run 4x512 is that I'm obviously overclocking my CPU, so unless I can find a HTT/RAM ratio that gives me pretty much exactly 200MHz/DDR400 speeds, I'm afraid that I'd have problems over 400. For example I'm running 260x10 right now, RAM divider at 166 (5/6) for 216MHz. If other people with the same setup (4x512) are having similar frequency issues, that would be a big factor in deciding to go for the 2x1GB and sell what I've currently got (though that would be more of a hassle). I'm not even entirely sure that I could find a ratio that would put my RAM speed very near 200MHz... (though 300x9 and 133MHz RAM divider could work...)

About your CPU voltage issue...2.7GHz is a very nice overclock for a 3700+, and it doesn't surprise me that it's not entirely stable at 1.45V - that voltage isn't very high (and isn't the default already 1.40 for that chip?). I did the voltmod myself and it helped quite a bit - anything over about 2.4GHz was a no go on my Opty 170 at 1.4V, but now 2.6GHz is rock stable and I've seen it as high as 2.75 while playing with it (soon I'm going to go back and try to make 2.7+ a permanent overclock, just haven't had the time to mess with it lately). I do wish this board weren't quite so voltage-limited by default, but at least it is rather easily moddable (to 1.55V anyway, which is sufficient for most non-extreme overclocking) - and you can't expect to have it all in a $70 board.

 

[logicmaster2003]

Hi all Sorry I have been absent from all of the forums that I joined in, due to excessive school work and stuff. But I was just wondering if all of us who owns ASROCK 939 Dual Sata2 motherboard could post what video card you're using, the resolution that you're running at, and your pros and cons.

The reason why I need your input is because I plan to upgrade to PCI-Express video card but I have no idea what to get, or how long to wait. My budget is under $300

I'll start with mine..

videocard: Sapphire Atlantis 9800 AGP8X 128MB.
resolution: 1280x720 on Olevia Syntax 27" LCD
pros: good enough for Counter Strike / BF1942
cons: not good for F.E.A.R.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: logicmaster2003
Hi all Sorry I have been absent from all of the forums that I joined in, due to excessive school work and stuff. But I was just wondering if all of us who owns ASROCK 939 Dual Sata2 motherboard could post what video card you're using, the resolution that you're running at, and your pros and cons.

The reason why I need your input is because I plan to upgrade to PCI-Express video card but I have no idea what to get, or how long to wait. My budget is under $300

I'll start with mine..

videocard: Sapphire Atlantis 9800 AGP8X 128MB.
resolution: 1280x720 on Olevia Syntax 27" LCD
pros: good enough for Counter Strike / BF1942
cons: not good for F.E.A.R.

Welcome back. We've been looking everywhere for you.
Anyways, I think the 7800GT is absolutely the best deal for the money right now. You can find them for <$300 if you're patient, and are much better performers than the $200 cards (6800GS for example). But if you can wait until nVidia releases their next gen cards, prices on the 7800's might drop even more. Or if you have the budget, maybe you can gow with one of them or an ATI x1900XT.

I'm using an AGP 6800GT and run all my games at 1280x1024/960 with some AA/AF without issue. This includes BF2 and FEAR. Of course upgrading to 2GB RAM has helped also. But I suspect that with new games coming out, this will become much more difficult.

 

[WT]

Logic, I just upgraded to a 7800GT in my Asrock rig (just a few posts up on this page) and it does an excellent job playing what I run. I hafta admit to passing on BF2 and F.E.A.R as neither one floats my boat for whatever reason. I had demos of both and it just wasn't the type of game that made me want to play it every night. I still play Enemy Territory almost every night, but its now ... what, three years old.... but still my ideal game. Here's hoping ET: Quake Wars has the gaming legs that ET has.

After every video card upgrade, I usually sit back and wonder why I paid all that $$$, as the screen looks the same in my dated gaming arsenal, but I am not the 'average gamer' playing the newest games to offer a fair comparison of video card upgrades either.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: logicmaster2003
Hi all Sorry I have been absent from all of the forums that I joined in, due to excessive school work and stuff. But I was just wondering if all of us who owns ASROCK 939 Dual Sata2 motherboard could post what video card you're using, the resolution that you're running at, and your pros and cons.

The reason why I need your input is because I plan to upgrade to PCI-Express video card but I have no idea what to get, or how long to wait. My budget is under $300

I'll start with mine..

videocard: Sapphire Atlantis 9800 AGP8X 128MB.
resolution: 1280x720 on Olevia Syntax 27" LCD
pros: good enough for Counter Strike / BF1942
cons: not good for F.E.A.R.

Mine:

PNY Geforce 6800GT AGP (8x/256MB)
1680x1050 usually
Pros: still plays everything pretty decently for a nearly 2 year old card (no AA anymore though)
Cons: FEAR runs alright, but I have to drop the resolution to 1280x800 (not enough to justify an upgrade yet, but it's coming in the next few months probably)


I agree with the suggestion above - a 7800GT is the best card in your price range right now, and it would be a pretty sizeable jump over your 9800 Pro (my 6800GT is probably just over 2x the speed of your 9800 Pro, and the 7800GT would be a little faster than that still).

 

[soup006]

There is now a version 1.60 BIOS out.

 

[professor1942]

"Add one item "AGP P2P Deep Fifo" in BIOS setting."

What the hell does that mean?

I dunno, I'm kinda partial to my shallow Fifo.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: professor1942
"Add one item "AGP P2P Deep Fifo" in BIOS setting."

What the hell does that mean?

I dunno, I'm kinda partial to my shallow Fifo.

Who the hell knows...I've never heard of such a setting in my life

I'll add it to the first post anyway though... Thanks for the heads up, soup006.

 

[logicmaster2003]

hi Ike0069 thanks for the warm welcome

and thanks to everyone's suggestion ... yes I think I will be getting 7800GT around March or April.

The question remains :
1) when is the best time to buy
2) what brand to buy

hehe thanks again for all your help

 

[Canterwood]

AGP P2P Deep FIFO. In the bios it says that if you have a bridged Nvidia AGP card then you should have it enabled.

 

[Dragonslayere]

?

how do i bridge cards and would it work with any cards?

@SynthDude2001
i ran the mem test and it passed i also reseated the mem, but it still beeps...

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Dragonslayere
?

how do i bridge cards and would it work with any cards?

@SynthDude2001
i ran the mem test and it passed i also reseated the mem, but it still beeps...

By "bridged card" I assume they mean a native PCI-E card that uses a PCI-E-->AGP bridge, like (I believe) the 6600GT. Not just any video card.

About your RAM issue...I really don't know what it could be. Are you getting any specific pattern of beeping, maybe? Just steady repeated beeps? I'm really grasping at straws here, never heard of a problem quite like that...

 

[Dragonslayere]

no pattern at all.... just random beeps

 

[Neptune3000]

get teh DFI

I wish I did. This board is not worth the hassle.

 

[trevor0323]

Hey guys need a little help here and it appears that I am stuck. I am running 1.5 bios and cannot go higher then 276htt on the cpu. Is this because of the 1.5 bios or because it is the max I can do without voltmod? Also I am new to OCing and am confused about ram settings. Is it optimal to be running the 1 to 1 divider rather than the 5/6 divider? Also it 1t better than 2t?

I am currently running the 5/6 divider and have 1t on along with 8 bit processing. Other options such as cas latency and the 3 below are set to auto. In CPUZ my timings are
217.6mhz frquency with 2.5-3-2-5 for the timings. The spec on my ram (OCZ Platinum 2x1gb) Is 2-3-2-5 I believe. I currently have that ram adjust feature off. (the one that says allows for better compatibility with ram or whatever)

I had it up to 276 for the cpu and had the ram set on 1to1 divider with the timings at their spec 2-3-2-5. But I also had the ram compatibility thing on. In cpuZ my timings were right but my frequency was at like 170mhz? I dont understand why this happened.

Also I was wondering about the settings for the NB and SB? I read in the thread that some set to 800mhz while others set to 600mhz? Is there any difference in the two. I tried both with my above setting and turning off the memory compatibly function without any luck.

Im pretty sure its the memory comatibility function that is letting boot, I have yet to try running with the above settings and 2t Maybe that will do the trick.

Anyways Is it more important to have the higher memory frequency or the tight timings?

another problem I have with this board is that the onboard audio is a dumpster. If I turn up my volume alls I get is fuzzy distortion. Looks like I got one of the boards that shipped with broken onboard audio.

 

[professor1942]

Max HTT is limited in official BIOS, to go above 274 you'll need one of the beta BIOS'es (I think OCWorkbench has them?)...

1t is better than 2t but much less likely to be stable (didn't work for me).

Flexibility option should always be disabled as it runs your memory ridiculously slow.

CPU-NB link speed: for HTT speeds between 200 and 250, set it to 800; above 250 set it to 600. Leave the NB to SB link speed at default.

If your RAM is rated DDR400, I'd try to keep it close to 200 Mhz (use the divider for faster cpu). Timings don't make a huge difference but it's good to set it to the official spec.

Hope that helps.

 

[mordantmonkey]

I have weird issues with the 9800pro in this board and i'm wondering if the card is crapping out or if it's the board. It's a sapphire 9800pro with arctic silnecer and OCZ copper ramsinks. It worked flawlessly in my old rig (P4P800, 2.6C). But as soon as i switched to my 146 ASROCK setup, i noticed large discolored (orange green purple) squares in BF2. I changed drivers to the ones i had in my old setup, and they went away... sort of. They still show up, very, very occasionally(i might see one in an hour of play) and are much smaller when they do. now about the area of a soldier on foot, before they were the size of transport heli.
think this is due to heat because of the placement of the AGP slot? I'm thinking driver problem though, since it mostly went away with the driver change.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
I have weird issues with the 9800pro in this board and i'm wondering if the card is crapping out or if it's the board. It's a sapphire 9800pro with arctic silnecer and OCZ copper ramsinks. It worked flawlessly in my old rig (P4P800, 2.6C). But as soon as i switched to my 146 ASROCK setup, i noticed large discolored (orange green purple) squares in BF2. I changed drivers to the ones i had in my old setup, and they went away... sort of. They still show up, very, very occasionally(i might see one in an hour of play) and are much smaller when they do. now about the area of a soldier on foot, before they were the size of transport heli.
think this is due to heat because of the placement of the AGP slot? I'm thinking driver problem though, since it mostly went away with the driver change.

Heat is possible (I'd been having pretty high temps on my 6800GT for a while on my old NF7-S 2.0, and they just got worse when I moved to this board since I'm using all 3 PCI slots...luckily a removal and re-do of the heatsink and thermal paste got everything back under control in my case)...I'm not sure I remember any posts from anyone using a 9800 Pro or similar ATI card on this board, so I can't say for sure that it is or isn't an issue with the board. You shouldn't have to play "musical drivers" to get it working though...

Just out of curiosity, do you happen to have another computer around where you could test the video card? (maybe the old rig if you still have it in a closet or something)

 

[mordantmonkey]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Just out of curiosity, do you happen to have another computer around where you could test the video card? (maybe the old rig if you still have it in a closet or something)

nope, sold my old board and CPU. I do have another pc, an old pIII. don't think it'll play BF2...
i'm thinking it's software related because BF2 is the only thing giving me problems. CS:S DOD:S are both fine. I'll try doom3 when it gets here.

 

[professor1942]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Just out of curiosity, do you happen to have another computer around where you could test the video card? (maybe the old rig if you still have it in a closet or something)

nope, sold my old board and CPU. I do have another pc, an old pIII. don't think it'll play BF2...
i'm thinking it's software related because BF2 is the only thing giving me problems. CS:S DOD:S are both fine. I'll try doom3 when it gets here.

It's funny you say that because I used to get weird pink triangles in BF2 with my old 2.8c, but in the new AMD system with the same card they're gone.

 

[CharlesMcKinney]

This probably doesn't belong here, but I figured I'd field a question to the fellow owners of this board (which I love btw). I am currently trying to overclock my CPU, and can get up to 250HTT if I enable the memory flexability option, but the memory runs at ~150MHz. However, if I disable that option, the motherboard runs my memory in sync with my HTT, and I can only get up to 225HTT, with my memory also running at 225. My question is, how do I keep my memory speed at around 200MHz, while pumping my HTT to 250, which I know it's capable of?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: CharlesMcKinney
This probably doesn't belong here, but I figured I'd field a question to the fellow owners of this board (which I love btw). I am currently trying to overclock my CPU, and can get up to 250HTT if I enable the memory flexability option, but the memory runs at ~150MHz. However, if I disable that option, the motherboard runs my memory in sync with my HTT, and I can only get up to 225HTT, with my memory also running at 225. My question is, how do I keep my memory speed at around 200MHz, while pumping my HTT to 250, which I know it's capable of?

Thanks in advance!

You'd change the RAM speed/divider to 166MHz (meaning 5/6)...that would put you at about 208MHz RAM speed for 250HTT, which should be doable with most any PC3200 RAM I imagine.

Should be listed on the same page where you change clock frequency and voltage and such.

 

[professor1942]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: CharlesMcKinney
This probably doesn't belong here, but I figured I'd field a question to the fellow owners of this board (which I love btw). I am currently trying to overclock my CPU, and can get up to 250HTT if I enable the memory flexability option, but the memory runs at ~150MHz. However, if I disable that option, the motherboard runs my memory in sync with my HTT, and I can only get up to 225HTT, with my memory also running at 225. My question is, how do I keep my memory speed at around 200MHz, while pumping my HTT to 250, which I know it's capable of?

Thanks in advance!

You'd change the RAM speed/divider to 166MHz (meaning 5/6)...that would put you at about 208MHz RAM speed for 250HTT, which should be doable with most any PC3200 RAM I imagine.

Should be listed on the same page where you change clock frequency and voltage and such.

Isn't that a 9x cpu? so at DDR333:

250 HTT x 9 = 2250 Mhz, divided by 11 = 204.5 Mhz

sounds perfect

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: professor1942

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: CharlesMcKinney
This probably doesn't belong here, but I figured I'd field a question to the fellow owners of this board (which I love btw). I am currently trying to overclock my CPU, and can get up to 250HTT if I enable the memory flexability option, but the memory runs at ~150MHz. However, if I disable that option, the motherboard runs my memory in sync with my HTT, and I can only get up to 225HTT, with my memory also running at 225. My question is, how do I keep my memory speed at around 200MHz, while pumping my HTT to 250, which I know it's capable of?

Thanks in advance!

You'd change the RAM speed/divider to 166MHz (meaning 5/6)...that would put you at about 208MHz RAM speed for 250HTT, which should be doable with most any PC3200 RAM I imagine.

Should be listed on the same page where you change clock frequency and voltage and such.

Isn't that a 9x cpu? so at DDR333:

250 HTT x 9 = 2250 Mhz, divided by 11 = 204.5 Mhz

sounds perfect

I was under the impression that the CPU multiplier didn't really affect the RAM divider/speed