Thanks for that info gumba. Looks like the 90nm socket 939's don't suffer from the same problem as the 130nm ones. As a precaution, I'll be avoiding 130nm till it's fixed. I would point out that freezing is a common problem with this motherboard and very few people have managed correct it. Those that have have adjusted the memory timings. Basically, I'm now waiting for Asus to issue a bios that names this problem as fixed. In the mean time, with Twinx1024-c3200C2 runnning dual channel, I managed to avoid all freezes with these settings based on the corsair recommendation for Asus a8v using this memory, and my changes marked *** - which were worked out after many days testing.
Dim Voltage set to 2.7 Volts:
CAS Latency CL=2.5
Row Cycle Time tRC Bios Default *** I had to use tRC 12
Row Refresh Cyc Time tRFC Bios Default
Ras# to CAS# delay tRCD 3
Row to Row delay Bios Default
Min Ras# Active Time tRAS 6 ( 10 recommended for 64 bit nvidea/via )
Row Precharge Time tRP 3
Write Recovery Time Bios Default
Write to Read delay Bios Default
Read to Write Delay Bios Default
Refresh Period tREF Bios Default
Enable 2T Timing AUTO
*** I also had to change to Asynclat 8
Remember my changes are for my memory and cpu. Other memory/cpu combnations will differ. Basically, in order to make this work for the 3500+ 130nm newcastle, I had to use tRC=12 and asynclat=8
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Here is the fault as I raised it with Asus:
Note: this hang can even happen whilst just looking at the bios settings, so that rather excludes most
drivers as the problem.
I have 2 identical setups here, both brand new, and both systems have the same hanging problem.
This removes the CPUs as the potential source of the problem. Both A8V boards are rev 1.02.
The systems will hang, at infrequent intervals, mostly when idle. The mouse, keyboard and the power
switch are non responsive. If the screen saver has engaged when it freezes, the monitor too is
unable to come back on. The only option is the reset button. Sometimes, the freeze will happen whilst
I am examining the bios settings and before anything has booted. The freeze will especially happpen
when the system is completely idle. There have been no system crashes, no bsod, no entries in the
event logs. This is a minimal XP installation.
I have tried all the bios settings at default/automatic and also with changes like turning off the
advanced AGP options, and using AGP4. I have tried all three 1006 Bios - The original one on the
motherboard dated june, the release 1006 bios and the beta 1006.006. I have also cleared the
NVRAM before updating the bios.
I have also tried all the VIA chipset drivers, including the latest, I have tried all the ATI drivers,
including the latest ATI drivers. I have tried a 64MB Nvidia Geforce 4 MX440 with the latest drivers
and also a Radeon 9600XT 256MB, and a Radeon 9500, both with the latest drivers.
I have tried running the memory at 2.7V as well as the normal default settings. I have also tried 2
other matched pairs of the same twinx-1024c2 corsair memory. The memory sticks are in the 2 blue
sockets. I tried single channel memory and 1 stick as 512MB only
I have changed the Power supply to another Tagan 480W TG480-U01
In other words, there is nothing left untried except the motherboards
I must conclude that either this particular Motherboard needs new updated BIOS, or I have 2 faulty
boards.
Some advice please, perhaps memory timings for the corsair twinx1024-3200C2 that are tested and
known to work?
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