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

[apd]

Hello all, Please bear with my laborious post

Am assembling my first pc and am getting random reboots.

I had problems form the start while installing XP pro (oem version) that came with the SP1. I kept getting lookups as I was installing the XP. After a few tries, I got a message about the ps2 keyboard and mouse not being digitally signed? I went ahead and then the keyboard and mouse started locking up on the XP logon screen.

I re formatted and reinstalled XP and this time I was able to install completely. But the system was extremely unstable. It rebooted randomly even while installing the drivers.

Finally I took everything apart, put it back and moved the memory sticks to different dimms and reinstalled XP. Only one problem while installing XP this time (cannot read file). But as soon as I got to installing the 9700 Pro drivers, system becomes unstable. Now it reboots on a whim and always within 10 minutes.

I most probably am missing something in the bios or one of the components is not compatible or bad. I did not install the latest drivers from abit or ati this time around.

My system:

Coolermaster 201 sx1
Antec true power 430W
IC7 G ( bios 13)
P4 2.4C 800 ? stock cooler
Ati 9700 pro
Corsair twinx 1024 3200LL (2 x 512)
Ati 9700 Pro -- buit by ati (the last 2 digits on the board say 30)
Segate SATA 80GB
Sony 16x DVD

Any help or pointers or sample bios setups is greately appreciated. The winbond utility shows system temp as 31-32, cpu temp as 41-46.


Thanks in advance

Apd.

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: apd
Hello all, Please bear with my laborious post

Am assembling my first pc and am getting random reboots.

I had problems form the start while installing XP pro (oem version) that came with the SP1. I kept getting lookups as I was installing the XP. After a few tries, I got a message about the ps2 keyboard and mouse not being digitally signed? I went ahead and then the keyboard and mouse started locking up on the XP logon screen.

I re formatted and reinstalled XP and this time I was able to install completely. But the system was extremely unstable. It rebooted randomly even while installing the drivers.

Finally I took everything apart, put it back and moved the memory sticks to different dimms and reinstalled XP. Only one problem while installing XP this time (cannot read file). But as soon as I got to installing the 9700 Pro drivers, system becomes unstable. Now it reboots on a whim and always within 10 minutes.

I most probably am missing something in the bios or one of the components is not compatible or bad. I did not install the latest drivers from abit or ati this time around.

My system:

Coolermaster 201 sx1
Antec true power 430W
IC7 G ( bios 13)
P4 2.4C 800 ? stock cooler
Ati 9700 pro
Corsair twinx 1024 3200LL (2 x 512)
Ati 9700 Pro -- buit by ati (the last 2 digits on the board say 30)
Segate SATA 80GB
Sony 16x DVD

Any help or pointers or sample bios setups is greately appreciated. The winbond utility shows system temp as 31-32, cpu temp as 41-46.


Thanks in advance

Apd.

Is your 9700 pro an older revision 1 card? I've heard some of them are having problems with the new canterwood/springdale boards. Set your AGP to 4X and it should make your problems go away.

 

[apd]

How would one find out the revision of the 9700 card?

 

[roystarman]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
What's the trend here? Is everyone installing the new beta or are most of us staying with 13 until a final version of 14 comes out? I just finished my dream machine for under a grand and now I want to get past 15660 3dmarks

 

[roystarman]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
What's the trend here? Is everyone installing the new beta or are most of us staying with 13 until a final version of 14 comes out? I just finished my dream machine for under a grand and now I want to get past 15660 3dmarks

I'm standing pat for now with 1.3. It is stable and has respectable bandwidth. I looked at the descriptions of 1.4 on the web and I'm still a little confused as to what will happen. Finally the 1. BIOS is mostly compatible with the manual (1.1) avaialble at the Tiawan site of ABIT. For some reason the US site still has the older version. The BIOS is complicated enough already, not having a current manual will be a real nightmare. A question for thosed more informed, if ABIT and the others keep tweaking the BIOS to maximize teh performance of the board at stock, will htis impair it's ability to overclock. I actually tried some overclocking the other day and was excited at how easy it is with ths IC7-G.

Once the 1.4 is offcialy releases and the manual is in agreement with it then I'll review it and see.

 

[Intelligence3]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
What's the trend here? Is everyone installing the new beta or are most of us staying with 13 until a final version of 14 comes out? I just finished my dream machine for under a grand and now I want to get past 15660 3dmarks

Waiting for final version.

 

[KillerBob]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
What's the trend here? Is everyone installing the new beta or are most of us staying with 13 until a final version of 14 comes out? I just finished my dream machine for under a grand and now I want to get past 15660 3dmarks

Guys,

"Just jump off the cliff, and learn to fly on the way down." That's what my old flight instructor said at the academy, and he was right!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Beta BIOS, if anything it only enhances your system. My system gained a few valuable 3DMark2001 points, and a bit more stability, if possible.

 

[Intelligence3]

Originally posted by: KillerBob

Originally posted by: acemcmac
"Just jump off the cliff, and learn to fly on the way down." That's what my old flight instructor said at the academy, and he was right!

:Q Not a physics or biology instructor, that's for sure!

 

[KillerBob]

Nope, Danish Air Force Academy. Gud Bevare Danmark.

 

[dwb122]

Two questions. But first, my complete specs:

IC7, out-of-box bios version
P4 2.4C
2x256mb Kingston HyperX PC3500 RAM
Antec Solution Series SLK3700AMB case with Antec 350w Smart Power Supply, just stock cooling
ATi Radeon 9800, latest Catalyst drivers
Philips Acoustic Edge soundcard
Linksys NIC
Seagate 120gb SATA drive w/8mb cache
Pioneer DVD 16x
WinXP Home, DirectX 9

Firstly, I'm having a problemo with my floppy drive. It's hooked up properly, has power (the light turns on), but my computer just won't read it. In Windows and DOS. In windows when I put a diskette in there it says "insert a disk". Duhh, I already did! Is there something I have to change in the bios? The disk drive was working in the computer it was in before just a few days ago.


Secondly, as you can see above, I have one SATA drive in my machine. I plan on putting in a 60gb IDE drive in there from my older computer, as well as its Sony CD-RW. What will I have to set the relevant bios setting to?


Okay, and a third question. After I update the bios, considering my setup, what 'Game Accelerator' setting would it be safe to set it at? And I've heard if you put it at F1 you should put RAM timings back to default because the F1 setting maxes out your RAM as it is........truth to this?

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: dwb122
Two questions. But first, my complete specs:

IC7, out-of-box bios version
P4 2.4C
2x256mb Kingston HyperX PC3500 RAM
Antec Solution Series SLK3700AMB case with Antec 350w Smart Power Supply, just stock cooling
ATi Radeon 9800, latest Catalyst drivers
Philips Acoustic Edge soundcard
Linksys NIC
Seagate 120gb SATA drive w/8mb cache
Pioneer DVD 16x
WinXP Home, DirectX 9

Firstly, I'm having a problemo with my floppy drive. It's hooked up properly, has power (the light turns on), but my computer just won't read it. In Windows and DOS. In windows when I put a diskette in there it says "insert a disk". Duhh, I already did! Is there something I have to change in the bios? The disk drive was working in the computer it was in before just a few days ago.


Secondly, as you can see above, I have one SATA drive in my machine. I plan on putting in a 60gb IDE drive in there from my older computer, as well as its Sony CD-RW. What will I have to set the relevant bios setting to?


Okay, and a third question. After I update the bios, considering my setup, what 'Game Accelerator' setting would it be safe to set it at? And I've heard if you put it at F1 you should put RAM timings back to default because the F1 setting maxes out your RAM as it is........truth to this?

The floppy drive error means the cable is not on properly or is damaged. Put the IDE drive on the first IDE channel and the CD-RW on another channel and you should be fine. Not sure about the F1 settings since my board arrives on thursday However, with a setup like that I've seen people disabling those acceleration settings, setting strap to 533 and o/c'ing the cpu like mad :beer:

 

[vailr]

Use the "Abit Bios Flash Menu" to flash the bios from within Windows. Latest version is 1.20.

 

[Wompa164]

Hey guys, what do you think about this? Is this the final?

http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjsp/english/download_content.jsp?pTITLE=IC7&#Bios

ic7g14.exe Bios Issue Date: 2003/06/18
New Fixes/Features

Added new option "HDD Change Message" in Advanced BIOS Features and the default setting is "Disabled". If this option is changed to "Enabled", the system will show warning message and prompt for a confirmation when one or more than one HDD had been added into or removed from the system.
Changed the default setting of "OnCip Serial ATA" to "Auto".
Revised the wording of IDE channels inside the BIOS Setup. IDE Channel 0, 1, 2, and 3 are changed to 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Revised the error reading of fan speed for specific CPU cooling fan when FanEQ 60% enabled.
Fixed "CPU THRM-Throttling" function.
Fixed the slow detection problem when HDD simulation card installed.
Fixed the problem that SMARTDRV.EXE malfunction in DOS 6.22 environment.
Fixed the problem that Windows 98 bootable floppy disk causes system hang up during loading CD-ROM driver when "OnChip Serial ATA" is set to "Auto".
Added "Game Accelerator" technology.
Removed options "Virus Warning" and "Force Update ESCD".
BIOS Compile Date: 6/9/2003.

Actual BIOS file is here: ftp://ftp.abit.com.tw/pub/download/fae/ic714.exe

Think I should take the plunge?

 

[thatsright]

Sighhh.......... I always hoped I could be the 1st one to tout the new "BIOS IS UP, AND ITS ON ABITS SITE NOW!!!!!".

Man, if thats the case, I need to get a life. But I just say that, as I type these letters, I'm in the middle of my O'C endeavor, so hopefully the new BIOS will help.

And Thasts my $0.02

 

[dwb122]

Well this is crappy, I can't download the new bios. Looks like the file isn't there, even though it's still listed. Why isn't it even listed on the US site?

 

[kaps]

Try this link:

ftp://ftp.abit.com.tw/pub/download/fae/ic714.exe

There is no "g" in the file name, as the web site suggets. It is the right BIOS though.

Karl

 

[Wompa164]

BIOS is up and running on the new 1.4.

Used FlashMenu to flash from within Windows XP, and it worked like a charm!

 

[dwb122]

I'd do the same on my new computer, only I'm really worried that it would restart on its own during the bios flash. It's been doing that quite a bit ever since I got Windows up and running on it yesterday, random restarts here and there and everywhere. Definitely worrying.

 

[Intelligence3]

Well, how is it? I didn't get a chance to update last night.

FlashMenu doesn't include the IC7-G in its list of boards on the website, is there something special to do to get it to work? I presume you still have to do the CMOS jumper with FlashMenu, right?

 

[apd]

Cable Modem question:

Can you (and how to) connect cable modem/internet to the gigabit lan or do I need a nic card ?

I was using a usb so far.

Apd

 

[Ketchup]

Originally posted by: dwb122
I'd do the same on my new computer, only I'm really worried that it would restart on its own during the bios flash. It's been doing that quite a bit ever since I got Windows up and running on it yesterday, random restarts here and there and everywhere. Definitely worrying.

Use a boot disk to get your computer into DOS. Let it sit there for a while and see if it crashes. If it doesn't, you should be able to safely flash the BIOS with a bootable floppy. If it continues to reboot, you have hardware problems that need to be addressed. I am not talking about just the board either. Try checking out you other components.

 

[etrin]

This is in a new IC7 board with a 2.6G p4.

I have 2 sticks of 256m Crucial pc3500

But I wanted to ask do you think that 512m of memory is
enough for the new games that are coming out in the near
future.... doom3 and half life 2

Man I hate to upgrade but I don't know if the canterwoods
run well with 4 sticks of memory?

If its a good idea to upgrade should I be looking at 2 sticks of
512m instead of 4 sticks of 256?

Etrin

 

[dwb122]

Getting more than half a gig of ram won't really do anything that noticable for you in games for a while.

 

[roystarman]

http://tech-report.com/ja.zz?comments=5264
news article

Have any of you seen this? Ichecked with the Corsair page and it shows that the timings have indeed changed to 2,6,3,2 in their XMS series product descriptions, while their old advertising says 2,6,2,2. I've run the 2,6,6,2 and the SPD setting in the ABIT IC-7G which I think is 2.5,5,3,2 with no problems. Both have many hours of memtest 86 and prime 95 under their belts. I'm using the 1.3 BIOS.

As for more than 2 sticks I have 4 sticks for 2GIG running stock speeds and even slightly overclocked to about 220MHZ vs 220. I didn't run memory tests but it did survive 30 cycles of Sandra Burnin testing with the file options disabled. This really puts a load on the CPU and memory but not as systematic as the oter 2. I did have to change timiming to 2.5,6,3,3 though to get it to run at that speed. This is only 3200 memory so is only guarnteed for 400MHz, which it seems to run fine. So the ABIT IC-7G seems very capable of running with full slots. I think anandtech even did the same thing.

 

[thatsright]

PLEASE HELP!!!

I have a PowerColor 9700NP AGP 8X card, yet I think it?s giving me all the problems with my CPU overclocking? In the IC7 NON-g 1.13 BIOS, for the last 10 days I just noticed that it was running at a default of 1.55Volts. This seems incorrect, and would explain why when running stress testing things are 'fine' until I run Prime95 & 3dMark2001SE Demo in loop mode. The Demo will either lock up, or the PC will just restart by itself. I am trying to OC my 2.4c. It does this when I get the FSB to 274, Vcore 1.525 Vdimm 2.8 CAS 2-3-2-5 & Even CAS 2-3-3-7 in Manual mode, with no 'Performance mode'. I am running 5:4Div. NB PSB800, AGP Fixed, System BIOS Cacheable Disabled, Video Bios Cacheable Disabled, AGP Aperture Size set to 128MB.

I think the 3dMark2001SE Demo downing my rig, while running Prime95 is due to the 0.05overvolt for the AGP Voltage. What do you think, or is my CPU cooling/settings not good enough?

I also have a Zalman 7000AlCu, Antec True 430W PS, SB Live Original, Samsung SyncMaster 955df set to 0.7V Input Level. And I have 3 case fans, so I think I'm ok there, but when I run prime95 & 3dmark2001SE demo, my P4c Temp is 'reported' as 64C.

Any suggestions