The *Official* MSI K8NGM2-FID GeForce 6150 Motherboard Thread

[Madellga]

After reading your first thread, I decided and went for the MSI a few weeks ago. I had all items for a second box (except mobo and video) and this was an excellent choice).

I also recommend the MSI over Asus - in the last years I had only problems with Asus boards - including problems with cold boot and finally a sudden death on the first AN8 board - it was not even overclocked. After that, I have stayed clear of Asus. I had many MSI's in the meanwhile and ZERO problems.

In my case (3700+ San Diego, 1GB Crucial Ballistix) the original BIOS 3.00 was not stable even at default speeds. After going through your thread I tried the Beta 3.13 and despite the fewer choices for O/C (ram dividers), it was stable.

I am running my SD @ 2400 (218x11) and Crucial Ballistix @218 (2.5-2-2) since many days, no problems. Prime95 stable for 16 hours (I stopped the test). I am using also Cool and Quite, it works when overclocked also.

Now the rig is a Aspire Qpack case. I have just to replace the original case fan for a quiet operation.

Many thanks for your thread!!

 

[josh2e]

I have the MSI K8NGM2-FID running 3.1 w/ MIT's MyHD card for capturing OTA HD. It seems to be working fine but unfortunately I can't seem to get nVidia to allow me to output over the supplied component output bracket. when i go into the video properties settings (xp pro) - there isn't any sign of a 2nd monitor (or TV). when i go into advanced and go to the GForce 6150 tab, i have checked the troubleshooting box that says, "if you have a tv connected and it is not being deteced, select the checkbox below" - Force TV Detection. i am currently only getting a signal to my monitor over RGB. i haven't tried hooking up my TV w/ RGB eventho it does have that option.

does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[renethx]

New Sections Added

The following new sections were added to my first post:

• Why should you choose MSI over ASUS?
• Performance of GeForce 6150
• Quick Overclocking Recipes
  • Overclocking X2 3800+
  • Overclocking Venice 3200+
  • Overclocking Venice 3000+/Opteron 144
  • Overclocking Venice 3500+/San Diego 3700+
• Choosing Components
  • Case
    • Front Panel Audio

"Why should you choose MSI over ASUS?" is intended for GeForce 6150 board buyers. "Quick Overclocking Recipes is for first time overclockers who hesitate in overclocking because too much knowledge is required. "Front Panel Audio" is added to clarify some confusion about AC'97 and Intel HD Audio.

 

[Raydur]

Thanks for the reply, renethx. Your instructions were clear and worked well (at least for the initial settings, I have not incremented them to find limits).

One peculiarity - according to CPU-Z, the memory only runs at the calculated frequency when the CPU is at idle and CnQ is active, otherwise the frequency of the memory is at 180.8 when under load.

So, at idle it's 191 as it was calulated in your post, but under load it drops to 180.8. Any ideas why that happens?

Also, I read the "quick and dirty" overclocking link you posted (thanks) and it mentions that the HT multiplier needs to be reduced from 5 to 4 to prevent the hypertransport from exceeding 1000 MHz. Do we not need to worry about this on the MSI boards, or should I be setting that somewhere?

Finally, since the integrated video card uses the onboard memory, would this method of overclocking be slowing down the video card? Games are about the only reason I would want more power from my box, so if this method of overclocking increases CPU speed but has a negative affect on playing the few games that I do play, it would be a negative effect. thoughts?

Thanks again, you've already been a huge help!

 

[renethx]

Originally posted by: Raydur
One peculiarity - according to CPU-Z, the memory only runs at the calculated frequency when the CPU is at idle and CnQ is active, otherwise the frequency of the memory is at 180.8 when under load...

Let me know your CPU-LDT Frequency. Low mem frequency is safe. Extreme high mem frequency causes not only system crash but also file corruption.

NF4 is a single chipset, while GeForce 6150/NF430 has North (GeForce 6150) and South (NF430). In the MSI board, CPU to NB Frequency and NB to SB Frequency take the place of the single HT Frequency (frequency of signals bewteen CPU and the single chipset). In NF4,

HT freq = (CPU-LDT Frequency) x (HT Multiplier).

For example,

HT freq = 200MHz x 5 = 1000MHz (OK)
HT freq = 250MHz x 4 = 1000MHz (OK)
HT freq = 250MHz x 5 = 1250MHz (Unstable)

Games depends on GPU freq and CPU freq (higher is better). Another factor that affects onboard video performance is memory assignment in RAM (default 64MB, I believe). Overclocking has only positive effect.

 

[MaxDepth]

Buy.com has no more stock.

Currently Unavailable: This item is currently unavailable from the Manufacturer.

 

[bigfootindy2k6]

I've got one and it's been running great. However, after looking into the manual, it appears if you put 4x512MB modules in, it will force the speed down to DDR333 instead of DDR400. I've currently got 2x512MB and would love to go to 2GB of memory. Can anyone confirm if this is true or not, and if you can force the timings to be DDR400? Or is this a limitation of the chipset?

 

[Raydur]

my settings are exactly as you have them listed in your example 3700+ overclock instructions (166 memclock,230 CPU-LDT, 1T, 1000MHz for both).

I just thought it was wierd that the actual memory frequency (according to CPU-Z) was changing depending on whether the system was at load, and more so because the memory frequency (again according to CPU-Z) was actually decreased to 180.8 when under load, and 191 when idle and Cool n Quiet was working (which is what you calculated it would be without CnQ).

I have 128MB assigned to video.

So, as a recap, you are saying that:
1. There is no HT multiplier in our boards because we set the HT frequency directly using the "CPU to NB" and "NB to SB" settings?

2. The video performance will not be degraded by reducing the memory frequency to below 200 MHz even though the onboard GPU uses this memory as well?

Cool! Thanks!

 

[renethx]

Originally posted by: Raydur
my settings are exactly as you have them listed in your example 3700+ overclock instructions (166 memclock,230 CPU-LDT, 1T, 1000MHz for both)...

Thanks for important information. It seems that 200/166 x 11 = 13.25 is not rounded off to 13, but carried to 14. So mem freq is

(230MHz x 11)/14 = 180.71MHz.

If the system is idle, CPU multiplier is lowered to x5. 200/166 x 5 = 6.0241 is rounded off ot 6 and mem freq is

(230MHz x 5)/6 = 191.67MHz.

I corrected the description in my first post. Thanks again.

1. It is not clear that when "CPU to NB Frequency" is set to 1000MHz and "CPU to LDT Frequency" to, say 250MHz, its actual frequency is 1000MHz. It could be that 1000MHz simply indicates "CPU to NB Multiplier" x5, so that the actual frequency is 250MHz x 5 = 1250MHz. However my system is stable even if "CPU to LDT Frequency" is 250MHz and "CPU to NB Frequency" is 1000MHz.

2. You are right. Low mem freq could affect onboard video perfomance. However I recommend first to determine the max Prime stable CPU freq with Memclock Value 166MHz (isolate the problem). Then try to raise Memclock Value 183MHz and DDR Voltage to 2.75V and see the system is stable. If Memclock Value is 183MHz, then 200/183 x 11 = 12.0219, that will be rouded off to 12. So if your system is stable at 2750MHz, actual mem freq will be

2750MHz/12 = 229.17MHz.

Corsair XMS should run at this freq and overall system performance will be better than mem freq

2750MHz/14 = 196.43MHz.

 

[andrewjnyc]

I'm very eager to get SPDIF output running on this motherboard, and the official bracket seems impossible to find. I have two options using parts I have:

1) From an old PC, I have an MSI S-Bracket, which has an 11-pin connector (vs the 3-pin SPFIF header on the K8NGM2-FID)

2) From a Biostar mobo, I have an SPIF bracket with the same 3-pin connector as the MSI, but with the wires in a different order (Biostar is +5V, SPDIF Out, GND from left to right, MSI is SPDIF Out, GND and NC from left to right--I assume NC is the power connector?).

I'm scared to try and switch the wired around on the Biostar bracket, since i'm not sure I can reconnect them once I pull them out of the connector (are the soldered in there? Is the connector sealed so that you can't open it without destroing it?). A theoretical possibility would be to remove the female socket from the motherboard and map the holes on the 11-pin connector to the mobo's three pins--but it looks like the size of the bracket may cause problems with adjacent headers. Anyone have advice on how I should proceed?

 

[MaxDepth]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Buy.com has no more stock.

Currently Unavailable: This item is currently unavailable from the Manufacturer.

Hmmm... Now out of stock at New Egg...Must have that post on the New Egg review site refering to this thread.

 

[Raydur]

ok, Problems, HELP!

I followed the instructions for determing the maximum speed. I raised the CPU-LDT by 4 MHz and then re-ran SuperPI until I received a rounding error. At that point, I noticed something wierd in CPU-Z: The HTT value in the "Clocks" section was 242.2, even though I had just bumped it from 242 to 246. Since the SuperPI test failed, I figured it was just something to do with the fact that I had gone over the capabilities of the CPU. However, that value is now set NO MATTER WHAT I DO. Prime95 fails instantly no matter what settings I set my computer to. I've even loaded the BIOS defaults and it still comes up as 242 (with the corresponding memory and CPU speeds to match that, including mem Freq now equating to 242.2 MHz at auto setting!). It is actually running at this speed, because SuperPI is finishing 8M quicker than ever!

HELP!

 

[renethx]

Originally posted by: Raydur
ok, Problems, HELP!

1. Turn off switch on your PSU. Clear CMOS. Then leave your system for a couple of minutes. Then see if the default settings are loaded by checking CPU-Z.
2. If this does not work, reflash BIOS in Windows mode.

If fixed, resume your test. Always lower "CPU to NB Frequency" and "NB to SB Frequency" to [800MHz] (isolate!). This is particularly true for BIOS v3.00.

 

[Raydur]

I'll give that a try.

I've never cleared CMOS before. any tips?

 

[renethx]

Originally posted by: Raydur
I've never cleared CMOS before. any tips?

Just turn off your PSU and push the small CMOS Clear button in the lower right part of the motherboard.

 

[Raydur]

OK, crisis over

That was easy. I thought there were jumpers/batteries and such that had to be messed with. Gotta love design improvements...

OK, back to the grind...

Thanks! (again)

 

[renethx]

The support for Sempron Socket 939 was confirmed, though nobody can get it in US right now.

A Secret Disclosed: AMD Sempron 3000+ for Socket 939 Review in Xbit Lab

 

[rcllbrg]

Can an ATI PCI(non-e) Video card run together with the onboard Geforce6 of K8NGM2-FID?

Will Nvidia Foreceware/Nview cause conflicts for ATI Catalyst/Hydravision?

 

[renethx]

New Content Added

Quick Overclocking Recipes > Remarks > Use of Performance RAM for BIOS v3.00

 

[BernardP]

BIOS UPDATE ALERT :music: :music:

BIOS Version 3.2 is now available for the K8NGM2-FID on this MSI Download Page

It is dated Feb 8, my birthday...Maybe a sign from the gods.

I can't wait for a report on this version. Does it include improvements from the 3.13 beta?

Any other fixes? New options? Stability?

 

[Artanis]

Posting with 3.2 BIOS version. I keep my Venice 3200+ (E3) at 10x250MHz with C'n'q enabled. No issues so far in Prime95 and SuperPI, going from 3.13 beta. Sadly, they didn't increased the max. LDT (still 250).

 

[BernardP]

Originally posted by: Artanis
No issues so far in Prime95 and SuperPI, going from 3.13 beta.

Thanks,

Any configurable setting missing or added when comparing with 3.13 beta?

What update method did you use?

 

[Artanis]

I haven't noticed any differences yet. I haven't had the time. I used C:\Program Files\MSI\Live Update 3\FlashUty\AMI\WinSFI.exe for updating in Windows mode.

BTW, the 3.2 is dated in Feb 7

 

[aeroguy]

I need one of these really bad for my nMediaPC 200 HTPC build. Does anyone know of anywhere this it's in stock? Wonder how long until newegg gets some in.

 

[pctwo]

did they add vcore adjustment? (I can hope, can't I?)

it says fixed bios reporting wrong cpu temp. so did your cpu temp go up or down after flashing?

(my board is in RMA at the moment)