New BIOS Version 3.1 available for MSI K8NGM2-FID

[renethx]

Originally posted by: pctwo
What's the proper sequence for installing the mobo as far as drivers go?

I posted "Installation Procedure of Windows in MSI K8NGM2-FID" in the thread NV GeForce 6150 Board Shootout.

 

[renethx]

Originally posted by: zardozwildman
All OSes worked fine, except for Win2k. It BSODs with an INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE error.

Have you slipstreamed SP4 into Windows 2000 Professional? If not, you will definitely encouter problems. MSI tests their boards only with "Win2K Pro SP4" and assumes that the user installs Win2K Pro SP4 in their boards. If you have not done it yet, I recommend you to download nLite and create a "Windows 2000 Professional SP4 Installation CD", then try to install it in the MSI board. I should have suggested it earlier.

Microsoft "hotfix for X2" fixes stuttering in a dual-core system when gaming. This is Windows XP only.

 

[pctwo]

thank you renethx. exactly what i needed 🙂

 

[justincranford]

Has anyone on this thread tried the v3.20 BIOS? It is up on the MSI web site and dated Feb 8, 2006. The date is rubbish though. It seems MSI backdated it because I was in contact with their customer support on Feb 15. They only had v3.10 on their web site at that time.

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/d.../dld/spt_dld_detail.php?UID=702&kind=1

Currently I suffer from the same problems many others on this thread are experiencing. My board came with a system BIOS v3.00 and a VGA BIOS that says Engineering Release - Not For Production Use!!! I get poor 3dmark03 scores (741 with an AMD 3700+) and occasional lockups in games like NHL2k6.

I flashed to v3.10 and my 3dmark03 scores almost doubled (1450). However, I experienced more frequent lockups in 3d games and the computer was not able to run windiag memory test from Microsoft reliably. I had to go back to v3.00.

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

I contacted MSI support about the problems and they told me to use v3.10 with fail-safe BIOS settings, increase the DDR voltage from the v2.55 default (I used v2.75), and slow the CAS setting from 2.5 to 3.0. I am using two identical MarkVision 512MB CL2.5 DIMMs (double-sided) in slots 1 & 2.

Using optimal 3.10 BIOS settings causes the windiag tests to lock up my computer immediately when it starts running. Doing what MSI support said helped because the tests actually ran without locking up, but all 11 memory tests failed. I wrote back to MSI customer support on Feb 15 with the results and asked what else to do but I have yet to receive a response.

Right now I am back on the poor performing v3.00 BIOS. I just happened to check their web site today to follow up my inquiry and saw the v3.20 BIOS. I am crossing my fingers and hoping this will solve all of my problems once and for all. However, my experience with this motherboard and MSI's customer support has been lackluster so far. I am not holding my breath.

 

[renethx]

The following tip may (or may not) be helpful:

If "CPU to NB Frequency" or "NB to SB Frequency" in "Advanced Chipset Features" is 400MHz (this is the default in v3.10/v3.20), the performance of onboard video will degrade. Raise them at least 800MHz.