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

[StillGaming]

QUESTION!

I currently have a K8NGM2-FID in my eMachines, and I'm wanting to upgrade the processor from an Athlon 64 3500+ to an Opteron 165 and flash the bios. The problem is, there's some freaky deeky eMachines BIOS on here, and I do not know if it's safe to flash the BIOS to MSI V3.00.

Let me know if I can flash the bios without a problem. Thanks!

 

[renethx]

Which model number? There are a bunch of GeForce 6100 eMachines (D3132, E3024, E3026, E3031, E3035, C6535, T3410, T6420, T6528, T6532, T6534, T6536, T6216 and more) but I haven't seen GeForce 6150.

 

[StillGaming]

double post

 

[StillGaming]

T6528. I may not have this board after all. Which board do I have, and can I flash its bios with MSI's versions?

 

[renethx]

Syrus

It's hard to tell you the cause of your problem. I suggest you use BIOS v3.13 (that unlocks CPU multiplier) and test "Memory MAX" of your memory, following the article Quick and dirty A64 clocking guide by Zebo. Don't forget to run Memtest at each time you change BIOS settings.

 

[renethx]

T6528

Sounds like your board is MSI K8NGM2-L (MS-7207). I cannot see BIOS updates for this board in the MSI Global site MSI » Download » Mainboard BIOS List » Detail:

"BIOS 3.xx only for K8NGM2-FID, please DO NOT use on K8NGM2-IL & K8NGM2-L."

The only BIOS I can find is that in eMachines site:

T6528 Support Information

BIOS Version A7207NE7.117, Date: March 10, 2006

Opetron 165 Denmark = Toledo was released a long time ago (May 2005). So this BIOS should work with Opetron 165.

 

[RishiK]

just got a Leadtel 7600gt....working fine with the K8NGM2 FID )

 

[Syrus]

renethx

thnx, I'll try with 3.13 BIOS ... I also intend to find some good ram (but not GOODRAM ) and to test my system using this one
hmm, 3.13?? I have only 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.40, 3.50, 3.60

I tested my memory MAX 2 or 3 months ago, it was about 215-216MHz with no errors in tests (SnM, memtest)
but there should not be a problem with its MAX until I use Memclock Value = 133 or 166 ... even at 133 I can't set my FSB at 240MHz, only at Memlock = 100 I can easely set 240-248MHz ... theoreticaly, at Memlock=166 I should set FSB=240 and RAM frequency should be ~200MHz < my "mem MAX = 215MHz"

... and where can I find BIOS 3.13?

 

[renethx]

Your calculations are right. Maybe using another memory stick is the only way to identify the problem.

BIOS v3.13 is here at AVS Forums.

 

[StillGaming]

Originally posted by: renethx
Opetron 165 Denmark = Toledo was released a long time ago (May 2005). So this BIOS should work with Opetron 165.

Thanks much for the information, but I have decided to go with a different processor. Will an Athlon X2 4400+ or 4600+ work with this machine as well? Thanks

 

[renethx]

Yes.

K8NGM2-FID/ IL/ L CPU Support Status

 

[h0mi]

Got a question for anyone still reading this thread.

I've got the Asus and MSI versions of this MB in 2 different machines. The thought has occurred to me that I can connect 1 of these to my LCD HDTV (a vizio VX37L which is a 1366x768, 720p set), and I'll probably do the Asus setup (which has a 7950GT video card; its my gaming system).Would I be better served using VGA or HDMI? I don't know the pros/cons to either, and I can't do this until I get a wireless keyboard/trackball.

 

[RishiK]

well i somthing strange seems to have happened....everytime i run MSI PCAlert it shows the cpu fanspeed as 210...
i tried uninstallating n re-installing the lastet version but it still shows the same...but the cpu fan is running normally...

i have the lastest bios 3.60

 

[korinel]

I'm thinking about switching my K8NGM2-FID based home media system to Vista (current XP SP2 plus Beyond TV 4.5). Does anyone have any experience running Vista Media Center on this group, and can they confirm how stable it is? I checked out RC1 & 2 some time ago, and all of my hardware worked, but had some stability issues with my main ATSC TV tuner.

 

[radpilot]

I have the MSI K8NGM2-FID board in my HTPC and cool'n'quiet was working perfectly with xp sp2 but it doesn't work in Vista home premium. I tried all power schemes tried all the settings (CnQ enabled in BIOS) but nothing works. Cool'n'quiet was a nice way reducing the noise and heat of my case.

Does anyone know anything?

 

[chinna]

Terminally ill K8NGM2-FID!!? :brokenheart:

I have been running this setup for a while, now suddenly seeing Random hangups even at default speed. (see my signature for config) When it is hungup sometime I see horizontal lines on screen( Typical Under- volted CPU crash). No recent changes to configuration at all. After few Power supply swaps and a Memory swap, I still have no clue. Upon careful observation I see the CPU core voltage is fluctuating more than it used to be. I took values from speedfan vcore log and at default 1.35v voltage it is varying from 1.28v to 1.39v. That is freaky 110mv change in CPU vcore voltage!? MSI Hardware monitor PCAlert 4 sometimes show no core voltage at all and gives alarm sound( as if no voltage is supplied to CPU or voltage is completely out of bounds).

This hangs has nothing to do with load, as they can happend when sitting idle on desktop, or while just browsing. It did not even happen while 12 hours of Prime95, but few minutes after stopping Prime95 it just hung. Sometime it will work fine for 2-3 days, but next time it may happen few minutes after log on to desktop.

CPU temps are normal always below 50c. (NB is around 60c) When this hang started I also observed weird bios problem, as it is not able to save any bios changes, can not load defaults etc, only way I can reset is by pushing the CMOS clear button. So, I upgraded to 3.73 from 3.5 in hopes of improving situation, but it did not help at all.

I was wondering if anyone seeing similar situation!? If anyone can check to see if CPU core voltage is varying as much as mine( pls use speedfan log).

Here are some PCALert images of weird conditions
http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=128vatdef135sp5.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/my.php?image=novoltageif5.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=132vredbi3.jpg

Help and suggestion will be highly appreciated.

Thanks
Chinna

 

[renethx]

chinna,

A possibe cause is bad capacitors.

As the capacitor ages, its capacitance decreases while its equivalent series resistance (ESR) increases. When this happens, the capacitors no longer adequately serve their purpose of filtering the direct current voltages on the motherboard, and system instability results. Some common symptoms are:

• Instabilities (hangs, BSODs, kernel panics, etc.), especially when symptoms get progressively more frequent over time
• Vcore or other system voltages fluctuating or going out of range, possibly with an increase in CPU temperature as the core voltage rises

Source: Wikipedia - Capacitor plague

If this is your case, you need to replace bad capacitors.

 

[chinna]

Originally posted by: renethx
chinna,

A possibe cause is bad capacitors.

As the capacitor ages, its capacitance decreases while its equivalent series resistance (ESR) increases. When this happens, the capacitors no longer adequately serve their purpose of filtering the direct current voltages on the motherboard, and system instability results. Some common symptoms are:

• Instabilities (hangs, BSODs, kernel panics, etc.), especially when symptoms get progressively more frequent over time
• Vcore or other system voltages fluctuating or going out of range, possibly with an increase in CPU temperature as the core voltage rises

Source: Wikipedia - Capacitor plague

If this is your case, you need to replace bad capacitors.

renethx, thanks for quick reply and pointers.
If it is Capacitor problem it really sucks, Now I have to replace the board. I hate it, it is my main PC.

But right now I am testing with CNQ disabled with all stock settings. Sofar it is okay, but it was same before also and runs fine for few days. Let me see for couple of days more.

Still wondering if anyone can pls verify the core voltage fluctuation range with a quick speed fan log.

If it is capacitor problem I think it should be covered under warranty.
Does anyone have any experience with MSI warranty? How it works and how long it takes??

Thanks

 

[chinna]

:Q Based on renethx suggestion,
I looked at the VRM Capacitor on my Motherboard, and they indeed look suspicious to me. but not sure yet. The VRM capacitors looks like they have little bulge on the top( no leaking fluids or breakage seen), especially one on the top. Other capacitor nearby has very flat top surface, where as VRM capacitors have little bulge on top. These two are different capacity/tolerance , VRM one is with Goldband vs white/gray band on the other one. The bulge is varying in 5 big capacitors, top most having little more, then gradually bulge decreasing as coming down to next capcitors.

But I am not sure if it still Capacitor issue, or it is how these capacitors look like when they made and variance in bulge could be just manufacturer variance. But I was wondering if anyone can verify with their( by comparing to uploaded photos). The VRM capacitor brand I could not see with MB inside, but other ones looks like nichicon.

Here are the photos
http://img441.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2398detcropjm5.jpg]

[/URL]
http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2398detcropte6.jpg]

[/URL]
http://img455.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2402detcroprn8.jpg]

[/URL]

Thanks

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: chinna

If it is capacitor problem I think it should be covered under warranty.
Does anyone have any experience with MSI warranty? How it works and how long it takes??

Thanks

Had to RMA mine due to a bad PCI-e x16 slot. Turnaround is about 3 weeks.

 

[grits]

Chinna, I have vcore range of 1.33-1.38.

That is with all combos of load and CnQ.

 

[chinna]

Originally posted by: grits
Chinna, I have vcore range of 1.33-1.38.

That is with all combos of load and CnQ.

Hi Grits,

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate the help.

Now I think I can confirm I had Bad Capacitor case.

In your case lowest 1.33v is only 20mv undervolt(1.35v), in my case I see as low as 1.28v may be even low when it actually crashes.

Now, I really hate, I have to RMA the board and wait until I get another one and 3 weeks seems too much for my main system, I need to see alternative solution.

Thanks

 

[hewho]

 

[hewho]

This board hs been solid in my wife's puter from day one.

This mornimg it started to show some artifacts on the bottom of screen,
then developed 2 vertical lines on one side .
Could it be a driver issue?

Is it possible to update the Video driver without messing with the rest of the chipset drivers?

Thanks
JT

 

[renethx]

hewho,

The video driver can be installed/removed independently of the other chipset drivers.

I am not sure of your video problem. If the problem began to appear suddenly, it could be a hardware problem. Maybe the northbridge is overheating? Reseat the heatsink and/or attach a fan.