*** Official ABIT IC7/G (875P) Thread ***

[mngisdood]

Relax those timings a bit, and you'll be able to get that fsb up quite a bit (maybe 215 @ 3's)

Otherwise, take it to 5:4..... P4C's don't take a huge hit on asynchronous fsb performance.

 

[Wurrmm]

I went to bed kinda early and let Prime95 go until about 730AM, which makes 30hrs no errors or warnings on my one remaining stick set to 2-2-2-6 2.7v performance mode disabled. Gona try it on Turbo mode tonight. I got no memory errors with memtest86 when set to ultra, but then again, I am gona go the middle road so I know if I can go up or down.

Still trying to figure out what these do:
Performance Mode (Testing Turbo now) (I kinda have an idea what it does, but would like more info.)
Refresh Cycle Time (Auto)
Read Delay (Auto)
read Delay Adjust (Auto)
Command Per Clock (Auto)
CPU THRM-Throttling (63.5%)

If anybody knows please let me know.

 

[psmcginnis]

I posted this in the general motherboard section, but thought I would get a better response here.

Just finished a fresh build and I can't get the SATA drive working properly. On-chip SATA is enabled in bios running in Enhanced mode (I aready flashed to BIOS 1.3). Everything else is running at default settings. The hard drive is connected to SATA1. Only other drive I have is the CD-ROM on IDE-2.

When I try to use Seagate's formatting utility, it doesn't seem to work. At the step where I tell the utility to format the drive, the program closes and there is a message at the top of the screen: "remove cd or floppy and hit cntl + alt + del to reboot."

I have also tried formatting the drive and installing windows with XP Pro. Windows sees the drive and goes through the motions of formatting the drive. Then it starts to install windows. Almost immediately I get an error message, and I am instructed to reboot. When I reboot I get something to the effect of "ntldr is missing".

I have tried formatting/installing windows with and without installing the Intel SATA RAID drivers that came with the Abit motherboard (using F6) even though I have only one drive, with no success.

Please help! Very frustrated!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[anomaly]

Originally posted by: 69matrix69
Im running my Geil DDR 3500 1GIG Dual Channel ram at:

Cas 2
Act to Precharge 5
Dram ras# to cas# delay 2
Dram ras# precharge 2

N/B Strap: PSB800
Dram Ratio 1:1

Is there anything i can do get better performance?

Running your AtP at 5 you are risking data corruption. Atleast set it to 6 if you don't change any other setttings.

 

[69matrix69]

ok, i canged it to 6, but what does Act to Precharge actually do? and why do i risk coruptions if i have it at 5?

 

[KillerBob]

I am new to using Prine95 as a buring test. If you get an error in one of the first iterations, and the test stops, I assume that indicates an error in your system. Can that be a software installation error, or is definately hardware?

 

[Wurrmm]

The first time I got an error, it was after 7 hours. I then tested 2 ram chips individually and found one to be bad. After removeing that chip, I was able to tighten my mem timings and still not get a single crash even after 30+ hours (no crash but I just tunred it off). In my case, I had a hardware issue. Generally, errors mean there is DEFINATELY a problem. It may not be widely noticeable in normal operation, but down the road, it may, and you may even get a random BSOD becasue of it.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: psmcginnis
I posted this in the general motherboard section, but thought I would get a better response here.

Just finished a fresh build and I can't get the SATA drive working properly. On-chip SATA is enabled in bios running in Enhanced mode (I aready flashed to BIOS 1.3). Everything else is running at default settings. The hard drive is connected to SATA1. Only other drive I have is the CD-ROM on IDE-2.

When I try to use Seagate's formatting utility, it doesn't seem to work. At the step where I tell the utility to format the drive, the program closes and there is a message at the top of the screen: "remove cd or floppy and hit cntl + alt + del to reboot."

I have also tried formatting the drive and installing windows with XP Pro. Windows sees the drive and goes through the motions of formatting the drive. Then it starts to install windows. Almost immediately I get an error message, and I am instructed to reboot. When I reboot I get something to the effect of "ntldr is missing".

I have tried formatting/installing windows with and without installing the Intel SATA RAID drivers that came with the Abit motherboard (using F6) even though I have only one drive, with no success.

Please help! Very frustrated!!

Thanks in advance!

Sounds like you need to enable IDE Bus Mastering in the BIOS. Iforget where it is, just look around.

 

[etrin]

Ok I finally ordered everything ....IC7 (not g) 2.6 processor and 2 256m sticks of Hyper 3500.
Zalman 70000 and all the cooling parts.
ran out of money so I could only get a ATI 9700.

I hope to make it till the new boards make all my stuff useless....you know about a year from now LOL


But I have 2 questions I have to ask.

I am using a dual boot 98se and xp pro.

1) will this board boot with 98se? (no raid or sata drives)

2) will XP work or will I have to reinstall it ? Hope not I just got it running the way I want it.


Big thanks for all help ....and a BIG BIG thanks for all the great people here who helped me decide.

thanks again
Etrin

 

[mngisdood]

Originally posted by: etrin

But I have 2 questions I have to ask.

I am using a dual boot 98se and xp pro.

1) will this board boot with 98se? (no raid or sata drives)

2) will XP work or will I have to reinstall it ? Hope not I just got it running the way I want it.

Etrin

1) Will work, tho you'll probably need the cd's to load the drivers and such (assuming you're using fat32)...

2) XP will most likely give you a blue screen on boot with this new mobo, and so you'll need to install XP. If perchance it does boot, you still should probably reinstall XP, as to not have multiple motherboard drivers sitting in the same system folders which could cause some instablity etc....

 

[etrin]

When you say install. Is that a format and full reinstall or install over whats there?
I assume you mean format and install but had to ask.
Its been a few months since I installed it I hope I don't have to call and get a new
number ..... that is a pain ... ms is a pain ....

my old board is an asus p4b266.

thanks big time for your help

Etrin

 

[Wurrmm]

New mobo usually means fresh install. I did it several times until things were right, but only called ms twice.

On a different topic:
My Prime95 experiment has been going along well. With my mem set to 2-2-2-6 2.7v Performance Mode set to Turbo, Prime95 has been going steady for 15hrs straight. If it goes all the way through till 10pm tonight, I will switch to Ultra an give that a whirl.

 

[mngisdood]

Originally posted by: etrin
When you say install. Is that a format and full reinstall or install over whats there?
I assume you mean format and install but had to ask.
Its been a few months since I installed it I hope I don't have to call and get a new
number ..... that is a pain ... ms is a pain ....

my old board is an asus p4b266.

thanks big time for your help

Etrin

Etrin,

It's a pain, but it's worth it not to have to deal with bsod's and overall system instability

 

[Wurrmm]

I just dled a new revision of the IC7-G manual. It sort of tells what the new functions are, but not that well.

Performance Mode - Determines DRAM performance mode (turbo mode looks to be pretty rock stabel so far after 16hrs).

The rest of these are also DRAM adjustmants, and probable best kept to auto.
Refresh Cycle Time
Read Delay
read Delay Adjust
Command Per Clock
I am gona ask the RAM guy about customizing these based on what kind of RAM I have.

 

[thatsright]

TWO QUESTIONS for any IC7 Owners:

Just got my NEW ABIT IC7-NON-g version and I have a question for any owners of the IC7 as well. I opened up the box yesterday afternoon, and I could of swoorn that there was One Abit Serillel 2 Adapter in the box. Maybe I'm just remebering something else?

Have any other owners of the IC7 received one of the Adapters in their Accessories Box?

Just curious.

Also, I have a older 6.4Gig drive that I believe is ATA66, now If I was going to hook this up on my IC7, from what I can tell in the MB manual, It won't work if I put it on a Adapter on a SATA channel, as it is not a ATA100 Drive, right??.

Thanks if anyone can help me out.

 

[kaps]

I just got and installed an IC7-G. It replaced an MSI 875P Neo-FIS2R, which was just too buggy. Now I know what all you have beem talking about. This board Rocks. I have twin Corsair PC-3200C2PT and a P4-300 800 FSB and this thing just screams. I agree that the Turbo setting seems the most stable and gets the best benchmarks.

Karl

 

[KillerBob]

I am getting a bit frustrated.

When I set the "Performance Mode" to anything but "Disabled", and/or set the mem timings any lower than 2-5-3-3 I get BSOD getting into WinXP. The error is "PFN_LIST_CORRUPT". Then I set the Performance Mode back to Disabled, and revert my mem settings, and I can get in fine.

What gives.....

 

[Wurrmm]

Originally posted by: KillerBob
I am getting a bit frustrated.

When I set the "Performance Mode" to anything but "Disabled", and/or set the mem timings any lower than 2-5-3-3 I get BSOD getting into WinXP. The error is "PFN_LIST_CORRUPT". Then I set the Performance Mode back to Disabled, and revert my mem settings, and I can get in fine.

What gives.....

I think it has to do with setting the Bank cycle time (or tRAS) to anyhting less than 6 and memory quality. I sent a stick back a stick of XMS PC3500C2 that was not performing at it's spec time of 2-2-2-6 400MHz.

Edit:
Turbo Mode and 2-2-2-6 2.7v has lasted 24hrs and no errors. Testing Ultra Mode later on tonight.

 

[etrin]

I have 2 sticks of 256m hyperX 3500 coming for my new board.
My friend wants to trade.
He has 2 sticks of 256m Corsair XMS 3500..

Should I do it ?????

I read that Corsair will clock higher but HyperX beats it with good memory
timings.

Opinions welcome

Etrin

 

[dartworth]

I prefer the Corsair myself.

As far as stressing with Prime95. According to Windows Task Manager, Prime95 is only using 50% of the CPU. So I am also running SETI along with it. This is giving me 100% CPU usage.

I ran Prime95 for about 24 hours at 260 FSB. It passed with no errors. I think I am close to its sweet spot so I am only bumping it up 2 MHz at a time now. This is a great cpu/ mobo combo. 750 MHz OC is nice.

 

[KillerBob]

Temps. Temps. Temps.

What's the low and dirty on them?

I have a ThermalRight SLK-900 with a Pabst 90mm fan blowing air onto the heatsink. The CPU is an Intel P4 C 3.0, OCed to 3.30GHz. The box is a CoolerMaster 210, with 3 CD/DVDs, 3 HDs, Floppy, and a wiring mess. The PSU is an Enermax 465.

After running for a few hours the system temp. is 32, the CPU is 60.5, and the PWM is 41 deg. The CPU fan spins at 2K RPM, and the NB fan at 6.5K RPMs.

Is this a high temp., or am I unduly worried? Also, the instant I install MB Mon I get lots of problems in WinXP. So, I am sticking with the Abit provided Winbond Hardware Monitor.

 

[Blackhawk66]

jfano, what voltage are you setting the cpu at? I set mine to default and o/c to 250fsb, ram ratio (5:4) @ 2-3-2-5 at 2.7V, 3dmark2001 & 3dmark2003 went through okay but Prime95 just reported an error within 5 minutes, would you tell me your hardware setting in detail??

Mine:

Abit IC7-G
P4 2.4C o/c 3.0 (250fsb) @ default voltage
2x256MB Corsair 3500C2 @ 2-3-2-5
Albatron FX5600 (not o/c yet)
Lite-on CDR
Sony DVD Rom

 

[Intelligence3]

KB - I have a stock Intel CPU cooler and a Xoxide LL Warrior case (which is a modded Lian Li PC-61 with four input 80mm fans, one output 80mm fan, and a 120mm blowhole fan). I have a 2.8GHz P4c, and an Antec True 430w power supply. I am getting between 61 and 65 degrees centigrade under load. No idea what my idle is, I'm always running SETI. That seems to be the temp for hoggier apps, too, like Planetside. I have emailed ABit tech support to see what they think.

 

[KillerBob]

For instance right now my CPU temp. is 50 degrees, but I continue to hear about pepole who are running at 35-40 degrees, and I only marginally overclocked (200 --> 220).

Also, I wonder what's up with MB Monitor?

 

[dartworth]

Settings

Ram: 2-6-3-3
Core Voltage: 1.625v
AGP Ratio: 5:4
AGP/PCI Freq: Fixed
AGP Voltage: 1.6v
DDR SDRAM Voltage: 2.8v

Currently I have the FSB at 263. I am running it through Prime95/ SETI currently, and its looking good.

Temps are about 59 - 60 C according to ABIT temp program which came with the board. This temp is at 100% CPU usage too.