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

[Wi1z]

Originally posted by: Imp

Originally posted by: Wi1z
Anyone had any SATA issues?? (Bios 1.8)

I recently ditched my old system and decided to go for a brand new install on a SATA, old one was IDE. But just recently is BSOD mania,
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x000000f4
Googalicious mainly comes up with RAM errors or other hardware issues, changed ram, no different, ram in different slots, single sticks dual sticks all sorts, no difference. So I was getting freaked it could have been MB, before change that it'd been back to IDE drive on a fresh install. But I plopped the drive onto the SATA-II and so far it seems to be stable. Does this board have issues on STA controller being flakey? I have ULI 220 driver. Considered taking off ULI SATA driver? installing an older driver? Obviously for now I'll stick to SATA-II controller.

Only stuff on it Nvidia 91.28, SAV Corp 10.1, all updates, ULI 220, Oblivion, GRAW and Americas Army. Nero and Daemon Tools.

Yes.

Search for ASsrock and that'll point you to a very enticing thread about disatisfaction about the quality of SATA ports on a certain POS revision and batch.

Its been a while now and the drive is still on the SATA-II interface with no problems at all, I assume my poor old SATA controller went to the nut house, oh well, its a £40 MB! Its a great board, but I cant complain, well I can but wont , I normally stick a mega branded baord, and yeah I'm sure these are just cheapo brand asus boards?

I also was having to install XP in non-raid mode to get xp on the sata, then change it to raid mode to make it boot regular, so thinking back the SATA I/F may habe been unreliable from the start.

I have also flashed around 4-500 MB with dos and haven't had any trouble, apart from the old days of flashing the wrong bios by accident, oops, hehe. But these days they finally figured out, lets do a check first DOH!

Bios 2.10
Still there.

 

[WT]

Running stable @ 2.7 on my Opty 144 (CAB2E stepping) with everything at default. A little tweak here and there in the BIOS and it looks like I'm running quite the budget gamer setup. Oddly enough, using the 1.80 BIOS does not offer any voltage bumps whatsoever, so its locked at 1.45, even though I am sure 1.55 was available using my previous 1.20 BIOS. No point in dwelling on my temps, as I run DC and my PC is maxed at 100% 24/7, so my temps are at 48c, again with the stock heatsink fan. Nice chip, and I'm glad I picked it up when I could. Great board as well, as I will be using this setup in some form or other for as long as it lasts.

 

[Araemo]

Originally posted by: EKTELESTES
guys, the 2.10 bios ur talkin about, IS NOT in the official download page in Asrock website anymore...why's that?? did it have any probs???

Its still there. I was bored today and decided to do some tweaking - I downloaded the 2.10, hoping to run my Opty at 300x8(normally at 267x9) so my ram is right at 200.

I could not, no matter what I did, get it to boot at 2.4 Ghz at all. 267x9 or 300x8, both would hang and eventually bump me back with the boot failure guard.

So then I tried the 1.80 bios. Same deal.

I went back to my 1.50 bios and was able to get back to 267x9. This board still annoys me.

So, maybe something changed between 1.50 and 1.80 that makes overclocking my chip harder? Who knows... I guess I'm stuck using a64tweaker to get my ram right.

And WT:
"Oddly enough, using the 1.80 BIOS does not offer any voltage bumps whatsoever, so its locked at 1.45"

I know at least since 1.50, 1.45V is the highest that I've seen. My board came with 1.50 pre-flashed, and I've never tried a lower bios.

 

[StormRider]

I kind of wish they didn't have the AM2 socket and had another PCI or PCI Express slot in that space instead.

 

[flashbacck]

Hey Synthdude, thanks for keeping the first post updated. It really makes catching up on this long @ss thread easier.

I didn't see this posted: http://www.ocworkbench.com/2006/asrock/am2%20cpu%20board/g1.htm

it's a review of the AM2 riser card. Looks like it performs equivalent to a native AM2 board. Although, the whole board looks like it's going to fall apart under the weight of the HSF

One thing they don't mention is that the board looks really wide. It looks like it extends an inch or two past their graphics card. Most people's cases end an inch after that point.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: flashbacck
Hey Synthdude, thanks for keeping the first post updated. It really makes catching up on this long @ss thread easier.

I didn't see this posted: http://www.ocworkbench.com/2006/asrock/am2%20cpu%20board/g1.htm

it's a review of the AM2 riser card. Looks like it performs equivalent to a native AM2 board. Although, the whole board looks like it's going to fall apart under the weight of the HSF

One thing they don't mention is that the board looks really wide. It looks like it extends an inch or two past their graphics card. Most people's cases end an inch after that point.

That link was posted, in the 5/29/06 update. But thanks for making sure though

That thing does look ridiculously large, but it's cool to at least have the option. And I thought my X1900XT was a tight fit.

I noticed that eWiz has the AM2 riser board in stock for $30.90. Great price for those who are interested in that upgrade path, no more expensive than any of their previous socket riser cards (as I suspected to begin with). It would almost be worth picking one up just to have a spare working AM2 platform in the future (for testing or whatever)...

 

[spedmen]

Hi, this is a basic question, but i am not sure, anyway I am getting an Asrock M1965 + Opteron 165 combo, and i read in the Asrock forum that i need to upgrade my BIOS, so does that mean that it will not work with out upgraded bios or is it possible to install it with stock bios and download and install the one that i need??

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: spedmen
Hi, this is a basic question, but i am not sure, anyway I am getting an Asrock M1965 + Opteron 165 combo, and i read in the Asrock forum that i need to upgrade my BIOS, so does that mean that it will not work with out upgraded bios or is it possible to install it with stock bios and download and install the one that i need??

I'm not sure what exactly you were reading that you need to upgrade your BIOS, but it'll work fine with the BIOS that came with the board. I bought an Opteron 170 and the ASRock board back in November and they worked together right out of the box...Newer boards would probably have somewhat newer BIOS revisions too.

However, if you are going to be overclocking, I would recommend upgrading to one of the BIOS releases from 1.80 or later...they greatly improve the usability of HTT (FSB) speeds of over about 260MHz. Of course, there's still the voltage limitation, but IMO the recent BIOS releases are great. I'm running 2.10 myself now...

 

[flashbacck]

Originally posted by: spedmen
Hi, this is a basic question, but i am not sure, anyway I am getting an Asrock M1965 + Opteron 165 combo, and i read in the Asrock forum that i need to upgrade my BIOS, so does that mean that it will not work with out upgraded bios or is it possible to install it with stock bios and download and install the one that i need??

I'm not sure... I suppose it would depend on what version bios it comes with. http://www.asrock.com/support/download.asp?Model=939Dual-SATA2#bios

it looks like opteron support was added with v1.4 and that was last November. I would imagine a newer board would come loaded with a more recent bios.

 

[spedmen]

alright, thanks, i was unsure since opterons are server CPUs and this is not the highest end Mobo on the market, but thanks for the clerification.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

I just flashed to 1.80, and now I have no idea what the memory timings are. What are good timings to run for Samsung UCCC (it's rated at 3-4-4-8)? thanks.

Thanks for the heads up on the new BIOS, synthdude. Although, as it turns out, I can only push this opty 165 up a couple more MHz to 2520 -- and I have to up the volts to do it

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
I just flashed to 1.80, and now I have no idea what the memory timings are. What are good timings to run for Samsung UCCC (it's rated at 3-4-4-8)? thanks.

Thanks for the heads up on the new BIOS, synthdude. Although, as it turns out, I can only push this opty 165 up a couple more MHz to 2520 -- and I have to up the volts to do it

The timings are in a slightly different order than you'd find them listed in CPU-Z or in the specs, etc. For example, the "8" in 3-4-4-8 is the first timing number listed (unless CAS Latency is first, I forget....but in that case 3 is the CAS Latency). I forget exactly where the others are, but they're the same so it shouldn't matter too much...

If you really want to be sure, download and run A64tweaker and make note of the names of the different timing options so you'll know what is what... As far as what timings to use, I don't really know. I just run 2.5-3-3-7 since that's what I'm limited to by two of my four 512 sticks...basically just run them as tight as you can stably. The "High" RAM voltage option on this board isn't particularly high either, only 2.8V or so.

When you're overclocking your chip, are you lowering the CPU-NB Link Speed in the Chipset Configuration page? 2520MHz on a 9x chip is about 280HTT, so you'll want to lower the Link Speed to 3x (600MHz) at that point...

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Yeah, I figured it out, thanks. I run link speed at 3x. IIRC the high volts are 2.7, "regular" is 2.5. 2.5 actually works better with this ram

It really sucks, because evidently I can't push my 165 past 2.475 on this board. Voltage fluctuates a lot on this, the temps go up to 56C while priming with 1.4v (Zalman CNPS-7700Cu)... maybe with a different motherboard, but I really can't justify the puchase....

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
Yeah, I figured it out, thanks. I run link speed at 3x. IIRC the high volts are 2.7, "regular" is 2.5. 2.5 actually works better with this ram

It really sucks, because evidently I can't push my 165 past 2.475 on this board. Voltage fluctuates a lot on this, the temps go up to 56C while priming with 1.4v (Zalman CNPS-7700Cu)... maybe with a different motherboard, but I really can't justify the puchase....

Yeah, I've noticed voltage fluctuations too, not too bad though...2.7 seems to be stable for me. I'm also running an SI-120 and 3000rpm 120mm fan though...so my temps are pretty manageable even at my overclock (something like 50-52C at load).

Have you done the "conductive pen" Vcore voltmod? I'm assuming you haven't - back when I got the board (and before I did the voltmod), I could only get my Opty 170 up to 2.4GHz or so on 1.4V. So if you're using a stock (unmodded) board, 2.4-2.5 is pretty much a standard overclock on 1.4V unless you have some wonder chip that can do 2.8 on stock volts or something.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

That's pretty interesting. No, i've not done the voltmod, since that would make it higher than I would want to run - something like 1.5, right? I'm hoping that, with a different board, I can reach around 2.6 with under 1.45 or less. That seems pretty standard with these Opterons, usually more than 1.425 isn't needed, although I guess it varies from chip to chip (as always).... I'm just amazed that the gigantic coolers are actually needed with these things

 

[SynthDude2001]

Well, the voltmod (the one I'm talking about, at least) opens up the whole range from 1.4V (max possible at stock) to 1.55V, so you can choose whatever you want in between.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Ah--didn't know that, thanks. From what people were saying when I first got the mobo, I thought it was fixed at 1.55 or something

 

[SynthDude2001]

In case anyone cares (this is really only of interest to AM2 users as far as I can tell), BIOS 2.20 is now out with support for the AM2 3800+...

 

[toogood]

Hi Guys

My first post.

I am intertested in buying his board because I would like to use my parts that I already have. Vid card,IDE hard drives,etc.

I have one question about the AM2 riser board. Is it compatible of Dual core X2 4200 AM2 CPU?

Thanks in advance!

Toogood

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: toogood
Hi Guys

My first post.

I am intertested in buying his board because I would like to use my parts that I already have. Vid card,IDE hard drives,etc.

I have one question about the AM2 riser board. Is it compatible of Dual core X2 4200 AM2 CPU?

Thanks in advance!

Toogood

Welcome to the forums (and to my huge thread ).

To be honest the AM2 board is still pretty new and a quick search on a few forums doesn't seem to yield any posts from people already running the riser board with an AM2 X2 4200+. It doesn't seem to be officially listed in ASRock's BIOS updates, but I would guess that the situation is similar to how it was with the Socket 939 Opterons last year. That being, the chip will probably boot just fine in the board, but its name may not be displayed correctly in the BIOS yet.

I don't imagine that you'll have any problems, but just to be sure, you may want to call or email ASRock before you buy and ask them specifically if your CPU will work with the riser board.

 

[Araemo]

http://www.asrock.com/support/CPU_Support/show.asp?Model=939Dual-SATA2

It seems to be listed.

 

[toogood]

Originally posted by: Araemo
http://www.asrock.com/support/CPU_Support/show.asp?Model=939Dual-SATA2

It seems to be listed.

Thanks guys.

According to the list provided by Araemo the AM2 X2 4200 CPU is supported with the Riser card.

Toogood

 

[teiresias]

Has anyone used an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro on this mobo? Any problems getting it to fit? Does it block alot of RAM slots? I'm still debating between the Freezer and a Scythe Ninja Plus.

 

[Wi1z]

Hiya, I use an Artic Cooler 64 Pro no problems at all. I also read these coolers fit to AM2 sockets!

 

[teiresias]

OK, I just got my board in from Newegg and I have a question. Is anyone else's board missing the retention "clamps" that are on the ends of the agp and pci-e slots? Mine has neither. The picture at the Asrock site shows both slots having the clips, but the newegg site shows it only having the clip on the pci-e slot.

I was just wondering if I should maybe RMA it? Generally, I don't really care for the clips, particularly since my AGP board is so long it's a pain pulling it out because I can't get to the clip. The clips aren't loose in the bag as if they've been broken off so I guess it was made this way, just wanted to see if anyone else has seen this?