Cas 2-5-2-2 is default but I changed the ratio from 1/1 to 5/4 and bumped the DDR from 2.6 to 2.8 so it would be stable when I increased the FSB.
>I know on ABIT's website it says 6 Channel, but does this mean Dolby Digital 5.1, or some sort of proprietary ABIT software emulation?
Here's how I understand it.
Abit uses the AC97 codec which doesn't 'officially' use Dolby Digital. For them to use it they would have to licence it from Dolby Labs and most likely through a driver or added codec of some sort.
Here's the bad part, the AC97 codec will use DAC which is the Digital to Analog Converter to simulate surround sound on a 6 channel setup, on top of that it doesn't include the A3D nor the EAX features. So if games are your strong point then the sound on this wont be advisable.
On the other hand, the Intel boards and the Asus P4C800 includes the AD1985 CODEC and SoundMax on their boards with is a step up. "Integrated into the PC?s audio subsystem, the SoundMAX feature set includes a state-of-the-art DLS2 MIDI synthesizer with the popular Yamaha DLSbyXG sound set, the award-winning Sensaura 5.1 Virtual Theater? surround sound, and support for all major game audio technologies, including Microsoft DirectX? 8.0, Microsoft DirectSound 3D?, A3D, MacroFX, ZoomFX, MultiDrive 5.1, A3D, EAX and SoundMAX SPX?"
This is similar to what the KT600 chipset will have as a standard and if I'm not mistaken very similar to the xbox sound. Sensura 5.1 Virtual Theater basically means Dolby Digital, instead of going with the DD licence they went with the Sensura which is quite good but probably a cheaper licence. The only board that has the true DD on board is nForce2.
In other words if onboard sound is important go with the P4C800 or just add an Audigy2 or Accoustics Edge or Hercules' Game theatre XP which support Dolby Digital EX and DTS through the Power DVD Pro Ex.
Here's how I understand it.
Abit uses the AC97 codec which doesn't 'officially' use Dolby Digital. For them to use it they would have to licence it from Dolby Labs and most likely through a driver or added codec of some sort.
Here's the bad part, the AC97 codec will use DAC which is the Digital to Analog Converter to simulate surround sound on a 6 channel setup, on top of that it doesn't include the A3D nor the EAX features. So if games are your strong point then the sound on this wont be advisable.
On the other hand, the Intel boards and the Asus P4C800 includes the AD1985 CODEC and SoundMax on their boards with is a step up. "Integrated into the PC?s audio subsystem, the SoundMAX feature set includes a state-of-the-art DLS2 MIDI synthesizer with the popular Yamaha DLSbyXG sound set, the award-winning Sensaura 5.1 Virtual Theater? surround sound, and support for all major game audio technologies, including Microsoft DirectX? 8.0, Microsoft DirectSound 3D?, A3D, MacroFX, ZoomFX, MultiDrive 5.1, A3D, EAX and SoundMAX SPX?"
This is similar to what the KT600 chipset will have as a standard and if I'm not mistaken very similar to the xbox sound. Sensura 5.1 Virtual Theater basically means Dolby Digital, instead of going with the DD licence they went with the Sensura which is quite good but probably a cheaper licence. The only board that has the true DD on board is nForce2.
In other words if onboard sound is important go with the P4C800 or just add an Audigy2 or Accoustics Edge or Hercules' Game theatre XP which support Dolby Digital EX and DTS through the Power DVD Pro Ex.
I'm having similar problems with my NEC 1100 +RW burner. It looks like its happening to quite a few people. It looks like it's in the Intel iosubsys driver(can't remember exact name). I'm not sure if it's a known issue, but I hope it gets fixed soon. It doesn't happen every time, but enough to waste quite a few discs.
Hi guys, need some help with a new system I'm building. Here are the system specs, does anyone see a problem with any of the components below?
PSU - Antec True Blue 480watt
Mobo - ABIT IC7-G
CPU - P4 2.4C 800MHz FSB
Ram - 2X 256MB Corsair PC3500C2 (will probably add two more 256MB chips later on)
HD - 2X Maxtor 80GB 8MB cache (using SATA RAID, Abit adapters)
Video Card - ATI All in Wonder 9700 Pro
I've already got the PSU, and HD's, the rest I hope to purchase soon. I'd like to get all the stuff together and set it all up at once to avoid any major driver issues. From what I see I guess one of the first things to do is to flash the bios to the newest version. Thanks.
:beer:
PSU - Antec True Blue 480watt
Mobo - ABIT IC7-G
CPU - P4 2.4C 800MHz FSB
Ram - 2X 256MB Corsair PC3500C2 (will probably add two more 256MB chips later on)
HD - 2X Maxtor 80GB 8MB cache (using SATA RAID, Abit adapters)
Video Card - ATI All in Wonder 9700 Pro
I've already got the PSU, and HD's, the rest I hope to purchase soon. I'd like to get all the stuff together and set it all up at once to avoid any major driver issues. From what I see I guess one of the first things to do is to flash the bios to the newest version. Thanks.
:beer:
Just built one over the weekend:
IC7 (shipping BIOS, no idea which one, dated 3/27)
2 x 512 MB Corsair PC3500 Platinum CAS2
P4 2.4C (800 fsb)
Burned in for 48 hours at 2.4 GHz. Last night I cranked the fsb to 250, RAM to 5:4, cpu voltage to 1.55, DDR to 2.55v. Flying along at 3 GHz for 24 hours so far running SETI the whole time.
One odd thing. I thought it had the 1.2 BIOS because when I ran CPU-Z the first time, it said ram was at CAS2.5, even though SPD is CAS2. Then I messed with the system for a couple days, changing a lot of settings, and last night when I ran CPU-Z it reported CAS2!!! I rebooted a couple more times and checked and it stayed at CAS2....wtf?
That's the only problem I've had....I love this mobo!!
IC7 (shipping BIOS, no idea which one, dated 3/27)
2 x 512 MB Corsair PC3500 Platinum CAS2
P4 2.4C (800 fsb)
Burned in for 48 hours at 2.4 GHz. Last night I cranked the fsb to 250, RAM to 5:4, cpu voltage to 1.55, DDR to 2.55v. Flying along at 3 GHz for 24 hours so far running SETI the whole time.
One odd thing. I thought it had the 1.2 BIOS because when I ran CPU-Z the first time, it said ram was at CAS2.5, even though SPD is CAS2. Then I messed with the system for a couple days, changing a lot of settings, and last night when I ran CPU-Z it reported CAS2!!! I rebooted a couple more times and checked and it stayed at CAS2....wtf?
That's the only problem I've had....I love this mobo!!
I got mine just now. I'll assemble tonight. There was a rubber band around the RAM retention clips to prevent their breaking as was reported previously. The 2.8c came also, and its box was kind of smooshed. I hope it's okay.
Does anyone have a link to somewhere I can quick learn about RAM timings? I'm kinda new to this.
Thanks for the info badthad, sounds good to me.
Anyone have any issues with an All in Wonder 9700 Pro on the IC7-G?
Anyone have any issues with an All in Wonder 9700 Pro on the IC7-G?
Anyone have an answer to the CAS2.5 > CAS2 issue other than install the 1.3 BETA BIOS? I'm hesitant to switch to a beta bios after I've read some of the issues with 1.3...namely SATA issues. It's just strange it was 2.5 then it went to 2.0 by itself.
Think there might be something in this thread that might help. Something about the memory settings changing.
http://www.asusboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42761
http://www.asusboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42761
I dont see anything that says BETA at the Abit download site. The 11 BIOS fixed the problem as verified by many that have used it including myself. Dont use SPD. Set the timings manually.
I dunno about those timing issues. I have found that after the first cmos flash, the bios sets the ram to very lax settings with 3's, 4's and 7's 
However, after my first reboot, the ram ALWAYS switches into high gear (C2-2-2-2-6). Mabye this is just a failsafe routine to help eliminate ram timings from initial troubleshooting steps?
I use a 512mb corsair 3200C2PT in single channel mode currently and will augment it with a second down the road.
Just a thought- I could be wrong. Until I am proven wrong, I will continue to set via SPD.
However, after my first reboot, the ram ALWAYS switches into high gear (C2-2-2-2-6). Mabye this is just a failsafe routine to help eliminate ram timings from initial troubleshooting steps?
I use a 512mb corsair 3200C2PT in single channel mode currently and will augment it with a second down the road.
Just a thought- I could be wrong. Until I am proven wrong, I will continue to set via SPD.
i wouldnt use SPD, 3 differant bios's, a couple times clearing the CMOS, and practically every time I get differant SPD settings, anywhere from 6-3-3-2 to 7-5-5-2.5. I'm using Geil, but my friend with Kingston gets the same thing. Just set it manually if you want good performance, resetting the bios only takes a few minutes if you go to far.
Kevin
Kevin
Can't you use the insert key holding it down and then power up the computer until it boots then hit delete?.
Just finished putting together my IC7-G but the HD LED stays lit all the time even though the drives are not being accessed.When I switch the HLED pins the LED goes out.I can't seem to have it working as it should.Using 3HD's one IDE and 2 Raptors on the Intel SATA connectors.
I thought I had the pin polarities switched but thsi doesn't seem to be the case.
Any ideas?
Thanks
I thought I had the pin polarities switched but thsi doesn't seem to be the case.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Okay, I have assembled the system and have managed to get everything recognized:
Xoxide LL Warrior Case (Lian Li PC-61 USB with extra fans)
ANtec True 430w Power Supply
IC7-G Mobo
P4 2.8c (800MHz FSB)
2x Corsair PC3500C2 512MB RAM
Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy2 Platinum
ATI Radeon 9700
Seagate Barracuda 80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
Plextor CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD drive
Floppy Drive
Enermax UC-A5FATR2 Thermal Control Panel
The Enermax control panel has been largely useless so far. The fans are all 4-pin and the control panel can only connect to 3-pin fans. I have one of its two temperature sensors taped to the side of the (Intel stock) CPU cooler plastic bracket, the other taped to the bottom of the case 'cause I couldn't figure out where to attach it. Neither location is probably ideal (suggestions, anyone?). The thing is an octopus of unbelievable proportions. I wish I hadn't spent the $$. Oh well.
I connected the Seagate to SATA1 off the Southbridge and the Plextor to IDE2. The BIOS posted fine but wouldn't recognize the SATA drive. Turns out the SATA power cable adaptor was bad, so I swapped for another. Once it recognized the SATA drive, it would no longer recognize the CD-ROM on IDE2. So I put the Serillel2 on the Plextor and rebooted. It didn't recognize it. Checked the connectons and the Serillel2 was loose, so I tried to put it on, and it wouldn't go on since I couldn't see what I was doing in the cramped space. I pulled the drive out, connected it while outside the case, and the BIOS found it, so I put it back into the case, and again the CD drive couldn't be found. I checked the connections, they were fine, so I pretended to sacrifice a chicken, crossed my fingers, turned around three times counterclockwise and spat over my left shoulder, and finally rebooted -- it found the CD-Drive just fine. I set the RAM to 2-3-3-6 at 2.6v (seems to be a common recommendation--feel free to suggest otherwise), and am now formatting the HD for WinXP Home installation.
I'll keep going if people are interested.
**EDIT 1**
Okay, partway through XP install and apparently I boo-booed somehow with the front-panel USB installation, as the right-side USB port works but the left side does not. I'm not sure I want to reach down into that tangle and find the problem!
For some reason, WindowsXP Home won't finish booting most of the time. It hangs at the little back and forth "ceylon eye" and the HDD light stays lit.
**EDIT 2**
Flashed the BIOS (I knew there was a reason I did this at work) and left the RAM timings at default just in case. It booted fine into Windows. Adjusted some settings, ran some installers from the ABit CD. Rebooted and froze again while loading WindowsXP, HD light on. So now I'm going to wipe the drive and reinstall Windows. Ugh.
**EDIT 3**
Reinstalled windows, no change. Mucked about with everything for hours, noticed that some of the wire bundles on the Antec PSU are threaded together in ways that are impossible to separate. That's annoyiing, cause i really wanted to tuck away some of the unused cables.
Well, while i was playing with PSU leads, I ended up accidentally disconnecting the power lead on the Plextor CD/DVD drive. Windows booted every time after that (tooke me a minute of looking to notice). I moved the drive down lower in the tower so it was on the lowest, easiest-to-reach bay, and reconnected the Serillel2 adapter. Reboot... Won't load Windows. :| Pull the drive, and I notice that it has the "DMA" jumper connected (meaning "no Ultra DMA available on motherboard, so disable it on drive"), so I remove it, reconnct via Serillel2, reboot, same problem.
:| :| :| :disgust:
I count to ten, get a Twix bar from the vending machine and refill my water bottle, then try again. I pull the drive, remove the Serillel2, reconnect the IDE ATA cable (like I need another effing cable in my den of octopi), reboot...
Windows boots up FAST now, holy buckets!!!!! I mean FAST!!!!! :Q In just seconds I'm looking at that pretty green hill on the XP desktop!!!!! Sigh. I guess I'll leave it on IDE ATA then; originally I had it on IDE ATA and then couldn't detect it in the BIOS (prior to flashing BIOS). I guess I'd kind of prefer the faster bus for the CD/DVD drive, but we'll live. I changed RAM to 2.7v, 2,3,3,6, too. I wish someone would tell me what that means.
I go home now, go bed. Sleep good. :moon:
Xoxide LL Warrior Case (Lian Li PC-61 USB with extra fans)
ANtec True 430w Power Supply
IC7-G Mobo
P4 2.8c (800MHz FSB)
2x Corsair PC3500C2 512MB RAM
Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy2 Platinum
ATI Radeon 9700
Seagate Barracuda 80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
Plextor CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD drive
Floppy Drive
Enermax UC-A5FATR2 Thermal Control Panel
The Enermax control panel has been largely useless so far. The fans are all 4-pin and the control panel can only connect to 3-pin fans. I have one of its two temperature sensors taped to the side of the (Intel stock) CPU cooler plastic bracket, the other taped to the bottom of the case 'cause I couldn't figure out where to attach it. Neither location is probably ideal (suggestions, anyone?). The thing is an octopus of unbelievable proportions. I wish I hadn't spent the $$. Oh well.
I connected the Seagate to SATA1 off the Southbridge and the Plextor to IDE2. The BIOS posted fine but wouldn't recognize the SATA drive. Turns out the SATA power cable adaptor was bad, so I swapped for another. Once it recognized the SATA drive, it would no longer recognize the CD-ROM on IDE2. So I put the Serillel2 on the Plextor and rebooted. It didn't recognize it. Checked the connectons and the Serillel2 was loose, so I tried to put it on, and it wouldn't go on since I couldn't see what I was doing in the cramped space. I pulled the drive out, connected it while outside the case, and the BIOS found it, so I put it back into the case, and again the CD drive couldn't be found. I checked the connections, they were fine, so I pretended to sacrifice a chicken, crossed my fingers, turned around three times counterclockwise and spat over my left shoulder, and finally rebooted -- it found the CD-Drive just fine. I set the RAM to 2-3-3-6 at 2.6v (seems to be a common recommendation--feel free to suggest otherwise), and am now formatting the HD for WinXP Home installation.
I'll keep going if people are interested.
**EDIT 1**
Okay, partway through XP install and apparently I boo-booed somehow with the front-panel USB installation, as the right-side USB port works but the left side does not. I'm not sure I want to reach down into that tangle and find the problem!
For some reason, WindowsXP Home won't finish booting most of the time. It hangs at the little back and forth "ceylon eye" and the HDD light stays lit.
**EDIT 2**
Flashed the BIOS (I knew there was a reason I did this at work) and left the RAM timings at default just in case. It booted fine into Windows. Adjusted some settings, ran some installers from the ABit CD. Rebooted and froze again while loading WindowsXP, HD light on. So now I'm going to wipe the drive and reinstall Windows. Ugh.
**EDIT 3**
Reinstalled windows, no change. Mucked about with everything for hours, noticed that some of the wire bundles on the Antec PSU are threaded together in ways that are impossible to separate. That's annoyiing, cause i really wanted to tuck away some of the unused cables.
Well, while i was playing with PSU leads, I ended up accidentally disconnecting the power lead on the Plextor CD/DVD drive. Windows booted every time after that (tooke me a minute of looking to notice). I moved the drive down lower in the tower so it was on the lowest, easiest-to-reach bay, and reconnected the Serillel2 adapter. Reboot... Won't load Windows. :| Pull the drive, and I notice that it has the "DMA" jumper connected (meaning "no Ultra DMA available on motherboard, so disable it on drive"), so I remove it, reconnct via Serillel2, reboot, same problem.
:| :| :| :disgust:
I count to ten, get a Twix bar from the vending machine and refill my water bottle, then try again. I pull the drive, remove the Serillel2, reconnect the IDE ATA cable (like I need another effing cable in my den of octopi), reboot...
Windows boots up FAST now, holy buckets!!!!! I mean FAST!!!!! :Q In just seconds I'm looking at that pretty green hill on the XP desktop!!!!! Sigh. I guess I'll leave it on IDE ATA then; originally I had it on IDE ATA and then couldn't detect it in the BIOS (prior to flashing BIOS). I guess I'd kind of prefer the faster bus for the CD/DVD drive, but we'll live. I changed RAM to 2.7v, 2,3,3,6, too. I wish someone would tell me what that means.
I go home now, go bed. Sleep good. :moon:
Lots of interesting problems going on in here right now.
Couple people asked about my DDR voltage settings @ 2.8v. If I go to 2.7v I can crash the system looping 3dmark 2001SE . I could relax the timings but I just wanted to see how it would perform at 2-5-2-2 which incidentaly are the SPD settings in the bios for the Corsair XMS 3200LL sticks I have. EDIT: Now running settings@ 2-6-3-3 and 2.6v and cranked her up to 260 FSB for 3.12MHZ CPU and 416MHZDDR.
One interesting thing I noticed in the manual was about the Intel Application Accelerator progarm. It's not very clear I think especially for the non "G" version of the board. In the manual it says Raid must be turned on in the bios to install the IAAs. I of course only have one Sata drive running in my box. So, when I insert the Abit install CD it inspects my curent system and only offers the Intel INFs for installation. I didn't download the latest IAAs from Intel and install them manually but I wonder if some have and are having conflicts due to it or do I need them? Under IDE controllers in Device manager it shows Intel 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers installed by XP. It's not clear either about whether to install the drivers off the Sata driver disk when XP starts its install. The manual simply goes from Bios settings to installing the INFs after OS install is done. IC7 doesn't have the 2nd set of Sata connections VIA the Silicon Image PCI chip so those drivers aren't needed off the floppy, but there are Sata raid drivers apparently for the Southbridge chip. Anyway, I just wish they'd spell out the optimal method of installation for various configurations for us Boneheads (Speaking for myself) in the manual or on their website. :beer:
Bottom line I love the performance of this board so far. Albeit the Sata drives are boldly going where I aint been before.
IC7 with a 2.4C @ 250FSB and 3000MHZ @ default vcore. Now 260FSB/3.12MHZ @default
2X512 XMS 3200LL @ Cas 2-5-2-2 running @2.8v and a 5/4 ratio = DDR400 Now 2-6-3-3/DDR416 @2.6v
Single SATA WD Raptor on Sata1
Plextor 40XCDRW and Toshiba 16XDVD on IDE2
XP SP1, bios 1.3 curently
Couple people asked about my DDR voltage settings @ 2.8v. If I go to 2.7v I can crash the system looping 3dmark 2001SE . I could relax the timings but I just wanted to see how it would perform at 2-5-2-2 which incidentaly are the SPD settings in the bios for the Corsair XMS 3200LL sticks I have. EDIT: Now running settings@ 2-6-3-3 and 2.6v and cranked her up to 260 FSB for 3.12MHZ CPU and 416MHZDDR.
One interesting thing I noticed in the manual was about the Intel Application Accelerator progarm. It's not very clear I think especially for the non "G" version of the board. In the manual it says Raid must be turned on in the bios to install the IAAs. I of course only have one Sata drive running in my box. So, when I insert the Abit install CD it inspects my curent system and only offers the Intel INFs for installation. I didn't download the latest IAAs from Intel and install them manually but I wonder if some have and are having conflicts due to it or do I need them? Under IDE controllers in Device manager it shows Intel 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers installed by XP. It's not clear either about whether to install the drivers off the Sata driver disk when XP starts its install. The manual simply goes from Bios settings to installing the INFs after OS install is done. IC7 doesn't have the 2nd set of Sata connections VIA the Silicon Image PCI chip so those drivers aren't needed off the floppy, but there are Sata raid drivers apparently for the Southbridge chip. Anyway, I just wish they'd spell out the optimal method of installation for various configurations for us Boneheads (Speaking for myself) in the manual or on their website. :beer:
Bottom line I love the performance of this board so far. Albeit the Sata drives are boldly going where I aint been before.
IC7 with a 2.4C @ 250FSB and 3000MHZ @ default vcore. Now 260FSB/3.12MHZ @default
2X512 XMS 3200LL @ Cas 2-5-2-2 running @2.8v and a 5/4 ratio = DDR400 Now 2-6-3-3/DDR416 @2.6v
Single SATA WD Raptor on Sata1
Plextor 40XCDRW and Toshiba 16XDVD on IDE2
XP SP1, bios 1.3 curently
JUST SO SOMEONE WILL DRILL IT INTO MY HEAD, so I will save myself a few hours of pain: Please Answer this Question:
I will not have a RAID setup. I have NO SATA drives. I have the IC7, NON-g version. Are the Intel Application Accelerator drivers ONLY for SATA-Raid setups? Is there any performance benefit to installing it if I don't have this type of setup?
Thanks
About the 9700 Pro AIW on IC7-G---
On mine, I had to double the default AGP aperture in BIOS, otherwise the RAID BIOS screens were completely corrupted. After that, no problems.
About onboard sound asus vs. abit---
I've got both boards, I can hear electrical noise from drives with the asus, I can't with the abit, which is a showstopper for me. I also use headphones, so 5.1/6.1/7.1, etc. are meaningless for me. Sensaura can do some great stuff with headphones, but I'm just not playing games where it makes a real difference. I've not tried the digital out to see if I can feed a useable bitstream to the denon4802 nearby, but I'll try it later this week when new sub/surrounds arrive for the HT setup.
On mine, I had to double the default AGP aperture in BIOS, otherwise the RAID BIOS screens were completely corrupted. After that, no problems.
About onboard sound asus vs. abit---
I've got both boards, I can hear electrical noise from drives with the asus, I can't with the abit, which is a showstopper for me. I also use headphones, so 5.1/6.1/7.1, etc. are meaningless for me. Sensaura can do some great stuff with headphones, but I'm just not playing games where it makes a real difference. I've not tried the digital out to see if I can feed a useable bitstream to the denon4802 nearby, but I'll try it later this week when new sub/surrounds arrive for the HT setup.
What is this all about? Does anyone else have this problem (BSOD when trying to burn DVDs via the std. IDE controller, and running Raid0 via the Southbridge chip)?
Who is responsible for a fix, would that be Abit (Bios) or Intel (Driver)?
Also, please can someone help me on the "turn-on" issues I have: I have set the jumper on "PS2-PWR1" as 2/3, so I can turn on the PC by moving my mouse or pressing a key, but it doesn't work?????
replacing my vp6 (dual p3 866's) with the IC7-G.
ordered that with a p4 3ghz, corsair xms 3500 (2 512 sticks) and a radeon 9800.
this shoud be alot faster than my geforce2 on the vp6. i cant wait. ill post back with how it runs. should have it by friday.
Matt
ordered that with a p4 3ghz, corsair xms 3500 (2 512 sticks) and a radeon 9800.
this shoud be alot faster than my geforce2 on the vp6. i cant wait. ill post back with how it runs. should have it by friday.
Matt
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