Lots of questions about the MSI K8N Neo2 plat

[hmmzzz]

Hi all...I come in peace and have a few (?) questions about the MSI K8n Neo 2 plat motherboard...(i have done the search thing, but it didnt help much)

Im having some problems:

First of all - my memory doesnt seem to want to run in dual channel mode (<sorted)

- I can only run 1T with 1 memory bank, with 2 memory banks i have to use 2T

- I cant seem to turn on Fast-Write, i can only choose the "auto" option?

- the A64 Tweaker says that my memory controller is 64 bit..shouldnt that be 128 bit? changing it to 128 bit results in a freeze-up (sorted, kinda stupid of me)

- (this one is particularly stupid).. I would like to see something in the bios called : "Search for DMA resources: > Yes/No" ...How is it called in this BIOS?

- Is there any way to unlock the greyed out/locked features in the BIOS ?

- Bios Flash: is there a particular bios i should want to install?

Although i got it up and running pretty easily, thank god.. (few little problems like re-installing windows, and then getting on the internet), i could really use some help with this board..And before overclocking (im somewhat formilar with that on my previous board) i'd really like to get those issues out of the way...

I have searched for guides regarding this board, and will continue that, but any links or comments would be greatly appreciated..........

 

[Duvie]

That memory issue could possibly be a bad slot...I assume you are using 1-2 at the moment and yiou have tried 3-4 as well, right??? I would find it hard to belive both sets are fubarred...In the end that leads me to memory compatability issues....

What vidmm are you pushing as well as timings....Dont be stuck cause you feel compelled to have to run the rated timngs...It just may not due it period....

Dual channel is and has always been more tough to run usually requiring in more vdimm and more relaxed timings. I would suggest seeing if you can try a different set of sticks to rule them out. also if this was sold as a dual channle kit and it WONT do its SPEC SPEEDS at STOCK...then RMA them to the manufacturer....If you are ocing all bets are off as ram specs possibly degrade as you climb...

 

[hmmzzz]

I was using the wrong slots appearantly, in the manual it says: use the green slots first, but now that i have put them in the first two slots (like u suggested) the memory runs in dual channel....so thx for clearing that up! (asus a8v was my previous board, i just assumed that i should use same coloured slots, maybe i have misread the manual as well, and it said "use the green coloured slot first, instead of slotS)....

p.s: i just saw your signature omg ... thats a pretty impressive overclock (1.54 v!)

 

[hmmzzz]

Hmm, This is very weird, ....

I cant change my HT frequency, its set to 5, but whenever i hit enter on it in bios it freezes and i have to CTRL alt del my way out of the bios....

 

[Xed]

use plus or minus to change it

 

[Duvie]

Do not hit enter...Just page up and down to the right number and dnt hit enter...hit esc and exit with saving...

common known problem since back in last year....

 

[hmmzzz]

allright, that worked!

I have also noticed that flashing the bios is not as easy as it is with the A8v motherboard, i havent really checked yet what bios im running (i saw something like 4.2 flashing by, but that cant be right, right?), But are there bios'es with problems or bios's that work best?
So, is it worth flashing my bios at all?

 

[Duvie]

http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46730

This has all the known issues, quirks, hints,secrets, etc....

Use winflash and flash from inside windows...

best Bioses I have seen are 1.41mod, 1.62, and old fail safe 1.37mod....all can be had through that listing and links to sites holding all the bioses...MSI official bioses have not been as good...sad to say...

 

[hmmzzz]

Ok, im going to check that link (and what bios im currently running obviously) and use win-flash to flash if needed/prefered...These answers already helped a lot,..Now running dual channel 1T, 1 : 1 with a shy overclock of 220 FSB....thx again

 

[hmmzzz]

ok, this is going good so far... 10 x 240 > at 1 : 1 and 1T in dual channel....

I have bios 1.4, does this mean that all AGP frequencies are locked? Or should i use 66 or 67?

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Duvie
Do not hit enter...Just page up and down to the right number and dnt hit enter...hit esc and exit with saving...

common known problem since back in last year....

thats weird cuz i had heard of that issue with the boards but it never happend with me, i use the up and down arrow key and hit enter just fine with no problems

 

[Duvie]

It is listed on that link as well but I cant remember if it happens to me...It may have been an early bios thing and doesn't exist any longer..

 

[hmmzzz]

Well, i sure like this board...(so far)
255 FSB and memory at 1 : 1, dual channel 1T,...No matter what i tried i couldnt make that happen on the A8v....

And by the way, for some reason i now can use enter for the HT as well, could that have something to do with installing msi-update and receiving an update without me knowing or something? I didnt flash the bios...Well, its sorted anyways...somehow...

thx

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: Duvie
http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46730

This has all the known issues, quirks, hints,secrets, etc....

Use winflash and flash from inside windows...

best Bioses I have seen are 1.41mod, 1.62, and old fail safe 1.37mod....all can be had through that listing and links to sites holding all the bioses...MSI official bioses have not been as good...sad to say...

Thanks Duvie...I also needed to update my bios, went from 1.4 to the 1.8 mod. I can now reach a stable HTT of 315 (prior max was 270 or so). This now allows me to run the memory @ 209, 2-2-8-2 1T with a divider. VDimm dropped from 2.85 to 2.7, and VCore dropped from 1.57 to 1.47. Prime has been running for 40+ hours without a problem and I have also run memtest at bootup without a hitch. The 1.8mod bios did change my temps though, regardless of what vcore I put through the chip I stay at 40c idle and 48c loaded. Curious change from my old 43c idle and 52c loaded range using Everest.

Update...I had to reload Everest Home as it locked up for some reason, so I installed v2.00.312Beta...now it's showing 36c idle and 46c loaded...sweet.