Official MSI P7N Diamond (780i) Discussion/Review/Overclock/Guide/BIOS Thread

[loonym]

You're using that HP usb format tool?

[malik22]

edit: malik, here's that bios. If anyone else wants any previous bios' just let me know and I'll put them up.

Thank you very much loonym ill update later and tell you how it went

[Overspeed]

You're using that HP usb format tool?

No, Im using the actual tool created by MSIHQ:

MSIHQ USB Bootable tool and BIOS Helper

New news on this issue ... when I plug the USB key into my monitors USB hub, Vista can load fine with it plugged in during startup. Also when I reboot, the BIOS doesnt hang and the USB drive is in the option of bootable devices. That said, when I try to boot from it, it says that the USB drive has no bootable partitions. I know the drive has the necessary boot files on it, now i'm more unsure than b4. Why would the USB key only work when plugged into monitor USB hub? Why does BIOS complain about no bootable partition? Sigh.

[loonym]

I've never used it. Maybe Aaron can help you or just go on msi forum and ask BossKiller.

[Overspeed]

I got it to boot finally using the newest version of the MSIHQ tool. It can repair the data geometry of certain USB keys. So I am now on 1B3.

Loonym, I'm now ready to replace my 4x1GB Transcend PC8500 with my new Mushkin Ascent 2x2GB PC8000. I would like to see if I can get the same results from my E8400 as you have had using my new BIOS and RAM. Can you please post the various BIOS configuration settings/voltages you used to get the best & stable results from your E8400? It would be very helpful and appreciated.

Robert

[loonym]

lolol... ummm that was a long time ago? 2 weeks might as well be 200 years the way my brain is fried, I did lotta drugs in the 80's If you run into troubles I'll put that cpu back in the 780i and see what I come up with.

[Overspeed]

lolol... ummm that was a long time ago? 2 weeks might as well be 200 years the way my brain is fried, I did lotta drugs in the 80's If you run into troubles I'll put that cpu back in the 780i and see what I come up with.

My problem is that since the BIOS was changed to reflect actual voltages instead of the integer numbers, there is very little documentation on this thread as to what settings users used with success, and as such i'm not sure where to begin. There are alot of photos etc showing high OC results, not no referrences to the settings. I'll read over the whole thread again, but having some basic settings would help, not just from you but anyone who might have had success with the E8400 on the newer BIOSes.

OS

[loonym]

I can tell you this much... fsb term was definitely 1.313v because that's what I always run. I couldn't get 63% of that for gtl ref because of the way the settings skip around in bios so I got it as close as I could. I seem to remember 1.35v load vcore so before droop I must have been at 1.4v or little more for the high bench runs. nb volts probably somewhere approaching 1.6v because I'm sick like that I would like to note that I kept ram as close to 800 or slightly over as possible because I didn't want ram failure to be a factor in the cpu overclock. Ok, I almost remembered... not bad for an old burnout

[AaronYuri]

Overspeed,

Make sure you have v1.17c of the USB Tool, and run the "Fix my USB key" mode (option 4).

[Overspeed]

Overspeed,

Make sure you have v1.17c of the USB Tool, and run the "Fix my USB key" mode (option 4).

Aaron, yes I did that and now am flashed to 1B3. Now looking for basic starting settings for the E8400. Lots of documentation on the old integer settings, little found since change to actual voltages.

[AaronYuri]

Sorry, overspeed, I never read this page.

As a quick note for all of you: We (well Jack, I modified some of it) wrote a guide for the flash tool here: http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=116721.0 | Most of the problems and common questions are answered in the FAQ.

[Overspeed]

Sorry, overspeed, I never read this page.

As a quick note for all of you: We (well Jack, I modified some of it) wrote a guide for the flash tool here: http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=116721.0 | Most of the problems and common questions are answered in the FAQ.

Thx Aaron, I'll keep this guide handy. In your dealings over at the MSI forum, have you found anyone who has posted setting used to get good results on the E8400 on the P7N since the BIOS was changed to actual voltages? I'm having troubles finding a base start point. Also if you get a chance, can you have a look at my post over there about USB voltages on this board?

http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=118983.0

Thx

[AaronYuri]

This is pretty much the only thread with exact settings in: http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=116830.0 | Beyond that, I would say no, not really. I'd attempt to give you some advice on settings, but I have no experience with Wolfdales. I guess you're stuck with good ol' trial and error!

I'm not aware of any voltage issue. I think the USB ports on cases only supply 5v, compared to the rear ports which provide 12v(?). Not 100% on the exact voltages, but case-attached USB ports do not supply as much current as the back of the mainboard.

[Overspeed]

I'm not aware of any voltage issue. I think the USB ports on cases only supply 5v, compared to the rear ports which provide 12v(?). Not 100% on the exact voltages, but case-attached USB ports do not supply as much current as the back of the mainboard.

Oddly enough, only two of the six of the back panel (bottom 2) USB ports allow my new USB key to operate correctly. It's concerning ... hmmm.

[malik22]

loonym I havent flashed the bios cause I have an even bigger problem out of nowwhere when I shutdown my pc from windows it shuts down the screen goes off but the rest of my components keep running fan mobo gpu what could cause this I formated but same issue.

[loonym]

That's very weird. Does it work when you use the power button? I've never had that but I suppose a few things could cause it. First thing that comes to mind is vista, is that your os? You have apci or apic or whatever it is enabled in bios? The other thing I think of is the 5vsb line in the psu could fail.

[malik22]

That's very weird. Does it work when you use the power button? I've never had that but I suppose a few things could cause it. First thing that comes to mind is vista, is that your os? You have apci or apic or whatever it is enabled in bios? The other thing I think of is the 5vsb line in the psu could fail.

I made a post about it here http://www.xtremesystems.org/Forums/...78#post3200878 how can i check to see if the psu failed i mean it works I can restart and all its shut down that dont work I can even flash the bios without problem.When I shut off like I said everything keeps running all the mobo lights stay on like the orange ones under the ram the blue one over the soundcard and the blue red blue ones in the buttom right.

[andrew2004gto]

im tired of this board and cant get it stable at q6600 3600mhz with 450fsb, if anyone has settings thats will work please share them

[loonym]

I don't think I run any of my q6600 at 450x8 for the simple reason it's much easier to stabilize 400x9 with kents. What cooling do you have?

[Overspeed]

So I threw my new Mushkin ram in 2x2GB, flashed to 1B3 and tried an OC on my E8400. Initial results wearn't favorable. I tried right away for a 8x500 to achieve 4Ghz, no post. Tried at 9x400 to acheive 3.6Ghz, no post. Settings were +0.175 on CPU, 1.4 on NB, 2.10 on RAM for all attempts, the rest auto. The only time I was able to post was at 9x375 for 3.375Ghz using the same voltage settings. I ran SP2004, an instances for each core set to blend test. I left running for 30 minutes, no errors were reported. Strange thou ... the #2 core window was at test 15 and the #1 core was still on test 1. Is this normal or could a core be bad? Maybe I need to set both priority windows to 10? I assume that to get a better OC, I need to change some of the other voltages I left on auto, but I don't know which ones or to which settings. Would value some assistance from E8400 owners. Many Thx.

Update: I set both SP2004 windows to priority 10 and this time core #1 was doing all the work and made it to test 10 while core #2 was still on test 1. This is confusing ... or maybe its normal?!?!?

[andrew2004gto]

yea i figured that out but damnit i hate this board i miss my old 680i xfx, should i just get rid of this one or get rid of the q6600, i have always cold boots and always have to unplug and take battery out, i should i just get a new board, or a e8500? i can get it stable at 3500mhz @ 437.5fsb with p70 bios but i keep getting cold boots its really anoying i tried to update bios to the new one still the same and i couldnt get it stable and was having video card problems with my 9600gt sli

[BababooeyHTJ]

Overspeed I sent you a pm with my bios settings on my e8400. I havent tried for 4ghz (Temp reasons it gets hot where I keep my pc) but Im at 3.825 stable with 1.2b1. I havent had a crash in quite a while.

[Overspeed]

Overspeed I sent you a pm with my bios settings on my e8400. I havent tried for 4ghz (Temp reasons it gets hot where I keep my pc) but Im at 3.825 stable with 1.2b1. I havent had a crash in quite a while.

TYVM Baba, i'll look for that PM shortly. To further my previous post, instead of using SP2004, I downloaded v25.6 of prime95 and now both cores are working hard. I'm going to try Baba's numbers now.

[Overspeed]

BababooeyHTJ, I tried your settings exactly as written. My PC posted right away and begun loading windows. As soon as the GUI loaded, Vista said it suffered from a crashed video driver and has restarted. Shortly after I got BSOD ... IRQ_NOT_EQUAL... etc etc. Next I tried your settings again with a little less NB. Opened IE and came here to reply ... IE crashed and eventually BSOD. Third attempt a little less NB again (1.375) and a little more SB (1.6) and a tiny bit more CPU +.025000 (yours was +.022500) and so far stable as I have been able to type this post. I'm not sure which of the 3 settings changed allowed for this session. I will check my temps now and run prime for a while.

Robert

P.S. At idle right now, Core temp says:

Core #1: 35C
Core #2: 40C

P.P.S. When you noted "gpu gtl 0.866" did you mean "cpu gtl 0.866" ???

[BababooeyHTJ]

BababooeyHTJ, I tried your settings exactly as written. My PC posted right away and begun loading windows. As soon as the GUI loaded, Vista said it suffered from a crashed video driver and has restarted. Shortly after I got BSOD ... IRQ_NOT_EQUAL... etc etc. Next I tried your settings again with a little less NB. Opened IE and came here to reply ... IE crashed and eventually BSOD. Third attempt a little less NB again (1.375) and a little more SB (1.6) and a tiny bit more CPU +.025000 (yours was +.022500) and so far stable as I have been able to type this post. I'm not sure which of the 3 settings changed allowed for this session. I will check my temps now and run prime for a while.

Robert

P.S. At idle right now, Core temp says:

Core #1: 35C
Core #2: 40C

P.P.S. When you noted "gpu gtl 0.866" did you mean "cpu gtl 0.866" ???

Yeah sorry that was a typo.
Make sure that you run 2 instances of prime95 and go into advanced select affinity and set one to 0 and the other instance to 1. That will put both cores at 100%. I didnt know that and ran just one instance with no affinity and thought I was prime stable. I had some weird issues then I found out the correct way to run it, and I failed after about 2 hours. Then I uped my voltages to that and I ran stable for 10+ hours. Ill try for 24+ at some point but I havent had a crash since. I only keep my sb that high because I have 4 drives in raid0 and found 1.65 to give me the best results. When I only had 2 drives I had it at 1.5 I think. It was only 0.1 above auto.