Major video and processor problems with my MSI K7N2 Delta-L

[vicks]

Alright, I really have some major problems with this motherboard...

Firstly, I have gone through 2 AthlonXP 2500+ Bartons and both didnt work....but I pop in my 1800+ Palomino core and it works fine....ok, so maybe its my Processor, but 2? Thats some coincidence...

And my graphics problem, which will probably end up with me RMAing the motherboard, or going with another brand...

Firsly, my 9800pro got major artifacting during 3d gameplay/benchmark, but 2d stuff like web surfing, etc. it was fine. Basically blamed it on the graphics card so ATI has it right now...


Bought a Radeon 9200 non pro and that just freezes during 3d gameplay after about a minute or two....ok...returned it....

Bought a nVidia GeforceFX 5200......same problem ast the 9200...

Ive finally narrowed it down to the motherboard since Ive gone through 3 video cards.....even a different brand and all still have some pretty bad problems during 3d...

So I ask you, has anyone else had these types of problems with their MSI board, or should I ::sigh:: go ahead and RMA or return it....Im interested in going with that Soltek nforce2 board.....this is really an inconvience...I really thought this board would do wonders for me....apparently not..

AMD AthlonXP 1800+ Palomino core
2x256mb Kingston HyperX PC2700 DDR333 @ cas 2 2-2-2-5-1t dual channel enabled
eVGA GeforceFX 5200
MSI K7N2 Delta-L w/ nforce2 Ultra 400 chipset
Maxtor 40 gig and 80 gig HDs @ 7200 rpm
Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer

Turbolink 420watt PS

+3.3 - 28A
+5 - 40A
+12 - 18A

Which isnt great, but should be enough to run said system fine since it ran the 9800pro, if I cant find a fix here and have to RMA the board and that doesnt work, probably go with a better PS...but positive it isnt the problem..

For cooling the processor, Im using a Thermalright SK7 (all copper, great heatsink) and a Thermaltake SmartFan II - processor temps under 30 degrees C when not overclocked..also have 2 case fans one sucking in on the front, and one sucking out in the back...

I honestly believe the problem is something the AGP port since these video cards seem to be overheating...at least thats what I believe was the problem with the 9800pro, the problems it shown were symptoms of overheating issues, maybe get a PCI fan to help the problem since the cooling on these cards are minimal (both the 9200 and the FX 5200 dont have fans, and the 9800pro hs and fan dont seem very effective, but it has been known to run hot)

Im running out of ideas here...I really dont want to have to RMA the board, but I may have to. Ive already RMAed my processor, got it back yesterday and it doesnt post (the lights on the little box thing that comes with the mobo says the processor is damaged or not installed properly, but I know it is since I put in my 1800+ and it works fine)

I know the ram is fine (ran memtest overnight, no problems whatsoever) and I have tried another stick of 512mb DDR266 PC2100 and that gave me the same problems...



- vicks

 

[Double Trouble]

Vicks, the symptoms you are having are also completely consistent with having memory problems. I noticed that the memory timings (cas 2, 2-2-2-5 1t) are very aggressive. Yes, I know the memory is 'rated' to be able to do it, but still. Also, some of the MSI boards read the SPD settings from the memory module incorrectly, and as a result use timings that are too aggressive and cause problems.

Since you've tried different vid cards etc, I'd say change your memory timings to cas 2.5 3-3-3-6 just for kicks to see if it helps. If it doesn't, you can scratch something else off the list. If it does, you have to experiment and find out what the fastest timing settings are that you can have with the PC still being stable.

 

[vicks]

Alright, thanks for the suggestion....hopefully it narrows down my problem...

EDIT:::

Ran 3dmark2k1 with Cas2.5-3-3-8 timings and it quit to the desktop after 2 tests....

🙁

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Does your board have the jumper for 100fsb? If so set it to 100 and see if it'll boot with the Barton underclocked or try holding the insert key down then powering the system on and it may surprise you by booting and allowing you to manually set the bios parameters.

The ATI symptoms are exactly what I experienced with a 8500LE and NF2 board and had me saying WTF? because I knew the board and card both worked perfectly. The fix was to turn on video shadowing and turn off 8x AGP support and AGP fast writes in the bios, then verify fast writes was turned off in the SMARTGART tab of the ATI control panel. After that it ran perfectly again, HTH 🙂

 

[vicks]

I got the Barton working now...dunno what was wrong before....but I read in the manual to push it down a bit to make sure it is seated. Well, thats the only think different I did from before and now it works...

As for the graphics card solution, Ive disabled agp 8x and fast write but where is video shadowing? In the BIOS I assume?